And honestly, this was a new experience for Fiona, as she had never been in a situation like this before. Nevertheless, she couldn't resist answering all his questions with a smile, as the young man in front of her was becoming increasingly intriguing and captivating.
"Now, for my final question?" Orion said, feeling a twinge of disappointment knowing he had to be at the village chief's compound soon. But if he didn't have to go, he wouldn't mind staying longer to fulfil his barter here. With that in mind, he posed his last inquiry, "Do you have a partner?"
Fiona's expression shifted into a frown, and her gaze scrutinized him from head to toe before she released a hesitant smile and replied, "No, I don't have a partner, and I'm not expecting one anytime soon." Her thin lips spread into a resigned smile as she added, "Besides, I was only able to participate in Kushi because of my status as a warrior. So, finding a partner is not a dream I can afford to have."
After Fiona finished speaking, she shifted her gaze downward to admire her large and firm bosom. However, frustration quickly set in as she began to compare her current voluptuous figure to her slender and petite past, longing for a body that had remained unchanged as she grew taller.
Without realizing it, Fiona's hands began to roam, caressing her left breast as if to will it back to a smaller size. Her movements were so vigorous that they caused her top to shift, revealing even more cleavage than before. However, to Oron's great disappointment, even though he had taken notice of their presence, he was unable to fully appreciate their beauty or get a better view due to the frustrating height difference between them.
After a few fleeting moments lost in her own mind, Fiona jolted back to reality with a suddenness that surprised even her. She cringed inwardly, wishing she hadn't displayed such an embarrassing lapse in composure in front of the young boy standing before her. "Sorry about that," she stammered, trying to recover her poise. "I was just thinking about a few things."
Before Orion could even utter a response, Fiona's expression darkened and she shot him a pointed frown. "But can I ask why you're asking me that question?" Her tone was guarded, and had she not already known him through their previous conversations, she might have suspected him of mocking her - especially since it was no secret that women like her had a hard time finding a partner.
However, after answering all of Orion's queries, Fiona found herself growing increasingly curious about the reason behind his initial question - even if it was based on a shallow motive.
Orion chuckled, eager to dispel the sudden tension that had descended upon their conversation. "I asked because I was genuinely curious," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I wanted to know the man who was lucky enough to have a beautiful woman like you as his partner."
To Orion's surprise, Fiona's frown deepened, and the lines of her face etched with an unexpected gravity. She tried not to jump to conclusions, but the more she pondered Orion's response, the more she couldn't help but feel like he was subtly mocking her for being single.
After all, Fiona had once been a warrior, and if that wasn't enough to win a proposal, then her supposed lack of attractiveness was plain for the entire village to see. She had always tried to ignore the whispers and rumours that surrounded her life, but Orion's words had struck a nerve that she thought she had forgotten.
As Orion caught sight of Fiona's reaction, he began to feel a sense of unease. Perhaps she had misunderstood his intentions, or worse yet, misinterpreted his words entirely. Seeking clarity, he decided to reiterate his point, "I don't know if you understood me earlier, but what I am trying to say is that a woman as impressive as you, coupled with your status as a warrior, must have had received some proposals…"
Orion's sentence trailed off abruptly as he witnessed Fiona's face contort into a scowl. It wasn't the playful and mischievous expression his mother had shown him when exacting revenge; rather, it was a displeased and angry one that revealed the depth of Fiona's disappointment. Her reaction made it clear that his words had missed the mark, and he was left to ponder how to correct his mistake.
With a tired sigh escaping his lips, Orion decided to ask Fiona what was on her mind. "If…." he began, but was cut off abruptly by Fiona's sharp voice. "It's okay," she interrupted. "I'm old enough to understand even the most obscure words and hidden meanings." As Orion watched Fiona turn around and stretch her hand over the well, he started to say, "But, you are..." but was cut off once again. "Put your clay pot closer to the well," she instructed. "Remember, you mentioned having a busy day."
Fiona left no room for Orion to respond, so he calmly picked up his clay pot and set it down near the well. He watched as she activated her gift and filled up his clay pot with water, waiting patiently until she was done and turned around.
Before Orion could even say a word, Fiona waved her hand dismissively and said, "Don't worry about the payment for our trade. I'll use the kalna fruit you gave me to cover it." Orion stared at Fiona as she responded, and he could see the serious expression settling on her face. It was the same expression he had seen when he first laid eyes on her, which left him unsure of how to react.
Although Orion wanted to say something more, he could tell from the way Fiona had silenced him that it was best to keep quiet. With a resigned sigh, he picked up his clay pot and began to make his way towards the village chief's compound, hoping he would make it in time for their meeting.
