However, Orion knew he couldn't express such opinions directly.
So, he frowned and narrowed his eyes at Isadora.
"This isn't a matter I can overlook just because of your words, Miss Isadora. I personally came to you to give you my instructions, yet you disobeyed them, brandished your weapons to attack the warriors, and even damaged a portion of the district you were instructed to stay away from. Considering these actions, I don't believe you deserve to have your punishment mitigated if you can't even follow a simple instruction," Orion responded, shaking his head as he sighed deeply.
Hearing Orion's words, Isadora's eyes widened. "Mr Orion…," Isadora pleaded, immediately collapsing to her knees before him. "Please, I beg you. I know we have disobeyed your orders, and we are well aware that we must face the consequences of our actions. But I also know that the punishment could result in the expulsion of some of the Four-eared elven race from the Orion's Cities. So, I beg you to show mercy. I swear in the name of my god that such a thing will never happen again."
Isadora could feel the sharp gazes of the people around them as they walked past, but she paid them no mind.
Whether she was the daughter of Patriarch Rylan, a former leader of a Runaway City, none of that mattered at this moment. In fact, none of their statuses mattered at all.
In Orion's presence, they were reduced to nothing more than refugees, clinging desperately to the familiarity of the Village for survival. Yet, they repeatedly ignored the village rules, jeopardizing their survival.
So, at this moment, nothing else matters but Orion's response.
Observing Isadora's actions, Orion narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her as if searching for any hint of falsehood in her words.
Feeling Orion's gaze sweep over her, Isadora shivered under intense scrutiny.
Orion withdrew his gaze, exhaling loudly. "Okay. I'll do my best to mitigate your punishment by only holding those responsible for the attack and rule-breaking accountable rather than punishing the entire Four-eared Elves race," he said, feigning resignation. "However, there won't be a second chance if there is another violation of the rules. The Four-eared elven race will be swiftly expelled from the Orion's cities."
Isadora felt relief wash over her at Orion's words, nodding in understanding. "Thank you," she replied, her expression turning serious instantly.
She understood that actions spoke louder than words now; they needed to obey the rules to avoid expulsion from the Orion's Cities.
"You misunderstand, Miss Isadora. Truthfully, among all the other races in my Cities, the Four-eared elves are the only ones who haven't yet provided value beneficial for everyone. Instead of thanking me, you should focus on rectifying that. Also, suppose you have time to cause trouble. In that case, it means you no longer need the extended duration of time given by the Village Chief, so I'll be taking that away," Orion responded.
He knew that this would make no one doubt his judgment and make reducing their punishment more acceptable.
Isadora's shoulders slumped as she nodded in understanding. She hadn't expected Orion to reduce their punishment due to her pleading, so hearing the conditions he set forth, she sighed in relief.
Patriarch Rylan exhaled tiredly after witnessing the emotional scene unfold before him. He knew that his Four-eared Elveen race had once again escaped a challenging situation, and this time, it was all thanks to his daughter.
'Maybe it's time I retire and hand over control of the Four-eared elven race to her. She seems much more capable of handling the situation than me,' Patriarch Rylan thought.
"If that is all, you can return to your homes; I have several important matters to attend to," Orion said. However, as he was about to turn around and leave, Isadora's voice sounded again, "Mr. Orion, I would like to ask you for one more thing."
Orion halted his steps and narrowed his eyes at Isadora, "What is it?" he responded.
Isadora opened her mouth to speak, "I…I…" She stammered before biting her lip and instantly regaining control, "I've thought about it deeply, and I would like to work under you. You don't need to pay or give me anything as a reward. Also, you said it yourself: we haven't yet proven that we can provide any value to the Orion's cities, so why don't you use this opportunity to see if I am fit enough to contribute," she responded, her hands tightening into fists as she looked at the ground, not daring to meet Orion's gaze with the fierce expression on her face.
This was also one of the reasons she wanted to meet Orion. As the architect and founder of the Orion's Cities, his authority held as much power as the Village Chief, if not more. Also, the fact that she wouldn't be able to have the privilege to meet him except by chance, like now, made her realize that this was the perfect opportunity to try her luck and see if she could work under him.
This way, not only would she be able to see him without relying on luck, but she could also learn more about the Orion's Cities and understand the best approach for the Four-eared elves to provide their value to the city and settle within it without further issues.
Listening to Isadora's words, Patriarch Rylan could no longer remain silent. "Isadora, what do you think you're doing?" he asked.
It was one thing for him to stand helplessly on the side and watch his daughter beg for forgiveness on behalf of their entire race, but it was another for him to observe his daughter present herself as a beggar to work under the young man before them.
Patriarch Rylan was well-versed in the village's culture and traditions, which he respected as he had seen cultures much stranger than it. He had imparted this knowledge to his children and the gods' chosens, so he couldn't fathom what could be going through his daughter's mind when she uttered such a word, especially after understanding its implications.
