The stage and many of the seats were packed to capacity with guests. As Orion surveyed the crowd, it was clear that every individual present held a position of influence or status.
This was particularly evident in the women who boldly showcased various gowns that did little to conceal their buttocks or their alluring panties.
Although Orion felt the temptation to sneak a glance at Queen Selene and Princess Crystalia's attire, he wisely refrained from doing so to avoid any potential trouble.
Furthermore, he couldn't help but notice the Gemheart clan's members stealing glances at him. Nonetheless, he made a conscious effort to act as though he was oblivious to the attention.
As they made their entrance, Orion observed several individuals stepping forward to greet the king and his royal family.
A middle-aged woman, her deep green locks cascading down, donned a fiery red dress with a daringly wide slit at the front. This left her fiery red panties on display for all to see, creating an attention-grabbing entrance as she approached them.
In her wake, a middle-aged man followed, accompanied by two young men. One appeared to be in his early twenties, while the other seemed to be still in his teens.
As they advanced and halted in front of the royal family, Orion suddenly felt a pinch on his thighs. When he glanced in the direction of the pinch, he discovered that it was Princess Crystalia discreetly gesturing for him to lower his ear closer to her.
Curious about what she had to say, Orion discreetly leaned in closer to Princess Crystalia, eager to listen. She whispered, "That is Olivia Quartzwraith, the current Clan Mistress of the Quartzwraith clan. Unfortunately, unlike the other clans, the Quartzwraith clan puts on a facade for the public about their men being in charge. However, those from the other major clans can easily see through the act. So, if you are able to speak with her, be sure not to offend her as she's the one in charge."
Princess Crystalia continued her hushed explanations, "The man beside her is her husband, Jadeus Quartzwraith. He might not hold as much power as the Clan Mistress, but he is still the Clan Head of the Quartzwraith Clan. Treat him with respect. Behind them are their children: the eldest son, Lazurian Quartzwraith, and the youngest, Garnex Quartzwraith."
"Although one is older than the other, they both shockingly possess the same level of strength. Rumour has it that the youngest son is the top candidate for the future Clan Head of the Quartzwraith clan because his talent clearly surpasses that of his brother."
Orion acknowledged the detailed information with a nod, observing as Olivia Quartzwraith greeted each member of the royal family, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before refocusing on the King and Queen.
"The Quartzwraith clan welcomes the royal family to our Clan's Manor," Olivia Quartzwraith expressed. "I do hope that you enjoy the banquet to the fullest."
She then turned towards the Gemheart Clan family and continued, "The Quartzwraith clan also welcomes the Gemheart Clan. We hope that you are also able to enjoy the banquet to the fullest."
Clan Head Garnet responded with a smile, "Of course, we will also be able to hear a lot of interesting things before the end of the day."
His words drew a sharp glance from Olivia, and they exchanged a knowing look.
They had both noticed the young man with the scarf tied around his face who bore a striking resemblance to the foreigner from the throne room, so Olivia quickly grasped Garnet's implication.
She replied with a wry smile, "I hope so too, Clan Leader Garnet."
Then she turned her attention to Elara Gemheart, the Clan Mistress of the Gemheart Clan, nodding in acknowledgement before gesturing to the awaiting servants to guide them to their seats.
As they made their entrance, escorted by the Clan Mistress of the Quartzwraith herself, they were welcomed by the leaders of some of the most influential clans at the banquet.
These included the Luminaris clan and the Prismaflow clan, each accompanied by one or more of their younger members and several other individuals.
Princess Crystalia had identified them as members of the remaining stable clans that had endured throughout the millennia, both before and after they became trapped in the mountain.
Orion, however, paid close attention to her words as they reached their seats, which were positioned prominently two steps above the regular ones.
These seats were specially designed for the King and Queen and were flanked by rows of servants and guards, all provided by the Quartzwraith clan. On the left side of the Queen, there was also a special seat reserved for Princess Crystalia.
However, since no one had anticipated the King bringing along the foreigner from outside the mountain, no seat had been arranged for him.
Consequently, he was left to stand at the side, alongside Flintor, who was guarding Princess Crystalia, making it appear as though he too was part of the guard detail.
On the grand stage, and across the seats, the news that the royal family had arrived had already spread among the guests. With everyone in attendance, the moment had finally arrived for the banquet to commence.
King Brylon rose from his seat, extending his hand toward the Queen. With graceful poise, she placed her hand in his, rising from her seat elegantly.
A servant handed them crystal-clear glass cups filled with a deep red wine, crafted from fruits grown in the garden. King Brylon took a glass and handed another to Queen Selene.
Then, he raised his glass, capturing the attention of the room with his authoritative presence. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today—both the five major clans and the smaller minor clans—for the Ceremonial Prismerian Clan Young Heirs Banquet. It's an occasion for the heirs of each major clan to interact and be reminded of the competition for the throne," he announced.
Pausing for effect, he continued, "But before we proceed, I have an important announcement to make. I kindly ask everyone to lend me your ears, as what I'm about to say holds great significance." He cleared his throat and subtly gestured for Orion to step forward.
