I would spend most of my free time playing with them, making them feel I am their friend, not the king who has to reign over his land and possessions.

reign 来自古法语"reignier"，由拉丁语"regnare"（统治）演变而来。作为动词表示"统治、支配"，特指君主对领土的统治权。这个词常带有正式、权威的意味，强调统治者的主权地位而非具体管理行为。