Orion frowned visibly this time, discerning the underlying meaning in the King's words. It was clear that they were offering to help him find his way back to the surface, but with a condition: he would need to assist them in return. Elysia hadn't gone into detail about how they became trapped here during her lectures, but she had emphasized that it had been an exceedingly long time.
If it were as simple as finding their way back to the surface, they would have done it long ago. This raised concerns about what kind of assistance they might require from him.
"Well," the King said, snapping Orion out of his thoughts, "we're waiting for your reply. Are you willing to agree to this arrangement?"
"Of course, I am," Orion responded with a nod.
"Since you are willing to offer your help to me, then it's only fair that I do the same and offer mine as well," he added. For now, he decided to tackle the problems one step at a time, prioritizing what needed immediate attention.
"Excellent! You have made a very wise decision, both for yourself and your friend, as well as for the Prismerian kingdom. I'm confident we won't forget your assistance once we've found our way to the surface," The King expressed with satisfaction.
This made Orion's internal eyebrows twitch a bit. He had a strong hunch that White Flame was one of their problems, but he couldn't fathom dealing with a literal god, even if he was weakened.
To avoid jinxing it, Orion quickly pushed that thought to the back of his mind.
"Since we're done with that, I'd also like to take this opportunity to invite you to the Prismerian clans' Young Heirs Banquet," the King announced. Orion, with a perplexed expression, waited for an explanation.
Seeing Orion's confused expression, he immediately began to explain, "Every three to six years, when we believe that the young heirs of each clan have reached a sufficient level of growth, we hold this banquet. It's a chance for them to meet and interact with each other and to remind them of their competition," the King clarified.
Orion nodded in understanding, realizing it was essentially a gathering for the clan heirs to earn bragging rights. He knew that each clan's heir had a chance at the throne if they met specific conditions, so from their perspective, it made perfect sense to host such an event.
"And thanks to my rather impulsive daughter who interrupted the council meeting yesterday," the king added, casting a pointed look at his squirming daughter who, in embarrassment, shifted her gaze elsewhere.
He let out an exasperated sigh before continuing, "The Clan leaders are already aware of your presence. I have no doubt they'll be expecting you at the banquet. So, there's no need for you to doubt whether your presence will be welcomed, as I can assure you it will be. Please, don't hesitate to reach out to the guards if you encounter any disturbances or find yourself in an unavoidable situation."
Orion found himself torn between displaying his annoyance on his face or subtly letting the king know that he could read between the lines.
Essentially, the king was hinting that all eyes would be on his ass, and unless he didn't want to get fucked or get into unwelcome situations, he needed to stay alert and be ready to call on the guards if needed.
"Besides that, there's nothing to worry about," the king continued. "I'll personally introduce you to the other clans, and then you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the banquet on your own." This last statement offered some relief to Orion, who sighed inwardly, recognizing that there was a silver lining to this situation.
While he knew there might be more to it than met the eye, he figured it was better not to jinx it.
"Alright, I understand," Orion replied.
As Orion maintained his stoic expression throughout the conversation, the king, unable to glean much from his demeanour other than the occasional sigh, nevertheless nodded enthusiastically in response to Orion's words.
He wore a broad smile as he informed Orion, "The banquet has been rescheduled for tomorrow due to your arrival, so you may return to your room. A servant will attend to you, allowing you to rest until we leave for tomorrow."
With a nod, he concluded, "You may leave."
Orion was on the verge of turning to leave the throne room when he suddenly remembered that he needed to find someone who could guide him to the garden. He wanted to check on Saria's health and see how she was doing.
Fortunately, the queen immediately noticed his hesitation and raised an eyebrow as she asked, "Mr. Orion, is there something you would like to add?"
Orion nodded and explained, "I was hoping to find someone who could take me back to the garden so that I could check on the condition of my friend."
The Queen furrowed her brow slightly and then turned to her husband, seated beside her.
Observing his own brow furrowing and a brief sigh escaping his lips, along with a nod of approval towards her, she immediately understood his current train of thought.
"If that is all you wish to do, then you don't have to worry," the Queen responded as she refocused her eyes back on Orion. "A member of the Prismerian Healer Council will arrive to meet you later during the day and take you to the garden."
While they weren't overly concerned about Orion causing harm to their sacred garden with the presence of the Guardians of the Garden there, it still wasn't wise to send him in alone.
Therefore, it made more sense to send one of the leaders of the Prismerian Healer's Council rather than an ordinary member.
"Thank you," Orion expressed his gratitude. Internally, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, knowing he would still be able to watch over Saria and check on her well-being.
