"Although we are all Major clans, there's a deeper conflict beneath the surface that is far greater than what's visible," she said these last words in a quieter tone, ensuring only Orion could hear them.
Nonetheless, those with keen ears caught her words, and although they loathed to acknowledge it, this was the grim reality of the current Prismerian Kingdom.
With the dwindling supply of gems used to awaken their magical energies and grow stronger, as well as the diminishing fruit harvests over the years, everyone sensed that something ominous, perhaps even a war, loomed on the horizon.
The Major clans were already feeling the effects of scarcity. While Orion's presence was indeed a blessing and a glimmer of hope for their desperate hearts, the undeniable truth remained: if any of the Major clans decided to meddle and stretch this matter to its limits, the situation could easily spiral into chaos.
This implied that Orion would be thrust into the heart of this turmoil. Even though he was a foreigner and had offered them nothing more than hope, survival dictated taking necessary actions in the current situation.
King Brylon, comprehending the gravity of the matter, turned to his wife and asked, "Should I intervene?"
Queen Selene, however, shook her head in response. She was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, and why would she want him to halt the proceedings when it had just reached its climax?
Like everyone else who had overheard the eldest heiress of the Luminaris clan, she grasped the young woman's implications.
As the royal family, they were already entangled in this whirlpool of chaos.
Yet, being the current strongest Prismerion in the Prismerian Kingdom, she couldn't allow herself to be intimidated by the threats posed by the other four major clans, especially considering her status as a member of a Major Clan herself.
Queen Selene turned towards her husband and added, "I want to see how it ends." She then refocused her ruby-like irises on the stage, particularly on Orion. "Besides, it seems that he is also enjoying it, so let's wait and witness how everything unfolds before we make any decisions on what to do."
King Brylon nodded solemnly in response to his wife's words before shifting his gaze back to the stage.
Meanwhile, Princess Crystalia remained frozen in shock in her chair as she watched the unfolding scenes with astonishment.
She was seated alongside Flintor, her guard, who stood behind her and shared her disbelief.
"So you're saying that if I don't accept your proposal, the chances of fulfilling the agreement between Maya and me are slim, or perhaps impossible. But if I do, I get to keep you and have my wishes granted without complications," Orion asked.
Originally, testing his strength through this opportunity had been fun, but now he realized the potential problems he might face by becoming embroiled in these matters were both uncomfortable and annoying.
'Why does it have to be so complicated for me to get a Prismerion wife?' he thought wearily.
Although Merida felt a twinge of bitterness at his words, she nodded and replied, "When you put it that way, yes. At least this way, the Luminaris clan would have to choose only one of us, as they can't remain idle and pretend that nothing of the sort ever happened after their two heiresses made such promises and failed to keep them."
Orion raised an eyebrow sceptically. "And how can I be sure that you'll keep your promise? After all, your sister made similar vows when she stepped onto this stage."
Merida furrowed her brows in response, letting out a sigh as she began to lower her expensive deep green panties.
She had almost pulled them down when she heard Orion's voice, causing her to pause her actions.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Orion asked, a baffled expression on his face as he observed Merida slightly bending down to remove her beautiful pair of panties.
Merida raised her head and immediately comprehended the source of Orion's confusion.
She let out a tired sigh and explained, "When a woman removes her panties and offers them to a man as a symbol of her promise, it signifies her unwavering determination to fulfil her commitments, regardless of her status or position. And if she fails to uphold those promises, she will forever live in shame, having not only broken her word but also lost her dignity."
Hearing her words, Orion's eyes immediately widened in surprise.
'So there's something like this,' Orion thought before he cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem, don't worry, I will take your word for it." After all, no matter how tempted he was to receive the panties on stage, he wouldn't be comfortable allowing her to walk around with her pussy exposed in front of such a large audience that seemed larger than he could count.
"There's no need for me to put you through any embarrassing circumstances since I am confident that I am going to win."
"It seems that he is far more reasonable than I had thought," Meala Luminous, Clan Mistress of the Luminaris clan, remarked with a light smile on her face as she sat in a special area high above the seating area with her husband, near her daughters.
"Indeed, it seems so. Otherwise, I would have stopped this nonsense by now if he weren't," the Clan Head of the Luminaris clan said, annoyed as he watched the scene play out.
If he hadn't received a message from the Gemheart Clan Head, he would have already taken action.
"When we get back to the clan's Manor, you need to teach these girls some manners," he added, displeased with his daughters' behaviour.
Looking at his youngest daughter still in her seat, he was glad that at least one of them hadn't jumped onto the stage yet.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Merida let out a deep internal sigh after hearing Orion's words. 'Maybe he isn't lying about not being able to currently control his strength,' she thought, looking at Orion in a different light. However, she quickly shook her head and dismissed those thoughts.
