Grandma Celia's lips curled into a cheeky smile in response to his words. Among the women who were hearing his heartfelt sentiments for the first time, some couldn't help but blush at his passionate response.
Just as Orion was about to transition to proposing to Lyra, who was seated nearby, Grandma Celia surprised him by flicking his head with her fingers.
"Even though I'm the first woman to get pregnant for you, don't you think it's a bit unfair that I'm one of the last you're proposing to?" she quipped, her tone lighthearted and teasing.
'Yeah, she has a point,' Orion thought to himself. While Reena had cleverly kept him in the dark about the surprise recovery party they had organized for him by making him stay in their hut, the fact remained that he had fucked her immediately and had tried to make sure that he would cum balls deep inside her, after he had understood the logic and culture of this world, to confirm its validity.
Observing Orion's thoughtful expression as he wrestled with a response, Grandma Celia took matters into her own hands.
Gently pinching his nose between her knuckles, she playfully wiggled it from side to side, her voice a soft whisper in his ear. "No worries, I understand how demanding your time has been. But if you want my forgiveness, you'll need to give me a few privileges as the first mother of your child, akin to the status your mother holds as your first partner."
Her lips came close to his ear, continuing in a teasing tone, "I'm sure it's not too demanding a request, right?"
Listening to her words, Orion's smile played at the corners of his lips as he leaned in and whispered back, "If it's only that, then I can handle it." The assurance came easily to him; after all, he knew how to make each of his women feel cherished in their own unique way. He added, "Of course, let's keep this our little secret. We wouldn't want to make your sisters too envious, would we?"
Shortly after, a burst of melodious laughter rang out in the air as Grandma Celia pulled back and nodded her head. "Of course, I would even prefer it like that if we leave it that way," she said, bobbing her head in agreement.
Receiving one last kiss from Orion's lips, Grandma Celia watched him leave as he moved towards Lyra.
Settling onto one knee yet again, he readied himself to propose to the woman with fiery crimson hair, its ebony undertones revealed only to those who paid close attention.
Casting a glance toward Ursa, he noted her antics, her fingers finding their way to her mother's leg, attempting to keep her still as she rocked with excitement, a wide grin adorning her face.
"Lyra, will you be my partner?" Orion asked, observing as Lyra swatted her daughter's hand away from her lap. She then proceeded to look at him from head to toe and remarked, "I'm not sure how you came up with such a creative proposal, but honestly, I can't say no to this."
With a grin that displayed her neatly aligned teeth, Lyra added, "Yes, I'll be your partner." Activating her gift, she extended her hair to create a protective sphere around them, effectively shielding their conversation from prying ears.
"I have no idea what you and Celia were talking about, but considering the glowing expression on her face—which I haven't seen in a while—I don't think it would be fair if I don't also join in on the conversation," Lyra whispered.
Orion's smile was warm as he replied, "Don't worry, you and I will have our own private chat later."
Leaning in, he kissed her on the lips. When he pulled away, he teased back, "Still, you wouldn't want anyone to think that we are sharing something in secret right now, would you?"
Understanding Orion's words and realizing that others might suspect she was plotting something, Lyra felt a headache coming on. She understood that it would be difficult for them to believe her if she were to tell them that she and Orion hadn't engaged in any private discussions.... at least not yet. She deactivated her gift, allowing their presence to be known to everyone in the room.
Quickly stretching her lips to steal one final kiss from his lips as he stood up, Lyra winked at him and whispered, ''Just make sure not to forget, husband...." before leaning back to her normal position, as Ursa gave her another pinch on her thigh.
Orion nodded and replied, "Don't worry, I won't," as he stood up and headed toward the last person, Grandma Ingrid.
"You... It's as if you don't want your mother to experience even a moment of happiness." Orion could only allow a smile to form while holding back a chuckle at Lyra and Ursa's banter.
Stepping before Grandma Ingrid, Orion lowered himself onto one knee, "Ingrid, will you be my partner?" he asked.
Grandma Ingrid, having observed his previous proposals, could only smile warmly at his question. Just as she was about to answer, her expression shifted, her eyes glistening with moisture.
She placed her left hand on her lap, using it to shield her face. Initially, it seemed as though she was simply wiping away the tears, but as drops began to escape her grasp, it became apparent she was struggling to contain her emotions.
"I'm sorry," she managed to utter through the emotion. "I just never thought you'd ask."
Tenderly, Orion encouraged Grandma Ingrid to uncover her face from her hands.
Meeting her teary gaze, he couldn't help but point out, "You're aware everyone's watching, right?" The room had fallen into a hushed stillness, a contrast to what he might have expected. Additionally, considering Grandma Ingrid's reputation for being stern and authoritative, he understood the significance of her emotional display.
In response, she used her other hand to wipe away the remaining tears and nodded sincerely. She said, "Yes, I will be your partner."
