Although the mist still veiled the surroundings, Orion could discern what she was wearing. She was adorned in a knee-length, silvery-grey gown, much like the attire of the other maids he had seen.
The woman scrutinized him from head to toe, then seemed to reach some conclusion before meeting his gaze. She asked, "Are you the one?" as if seeking confirmation.
Orion briefly noticed her crystal-white locks before firmly nodding his head. "Yes," he replied, locking his gaze with her black pupils framed by crystal-white iris.
The woman surveyed him once more before giving a confirming nod and turning to her left, heading toward the pool. As she walked away, Orion couldn't help but notice that, despite her resemblance in build to the queen, she possessed an incredibly elegant and slender figure.
Her figure reminded him of one of the healers from the Prismerian Healer Council he had met earlier.
Although she was somewhat leaner than his preference, even compared to Mrs Shani, who had a fuller figure, Orion couldn't deny that her tall and lean physique gave her a unique appearance, almost like a model.
He continued to watch as she halted on the left side, near the pool's edge. Peering through the lingering mist, he observed her bending down to whisper something into the ear of another hazy figure, whom he quickly deduced must be the queen.
After their brief exchange, he observed the woman nodding and standing upright. She turned and walked back towards him. However, instead of stopping in front of him, she proceeded past him and halted behind him.
There, she clapped her hands together rhythmically. Orion didn't need to guess her intention when he noticed the mist gradually dissipating until it became almost imperceptible, revealing the queen who had been observing him.
The maid then arrived in front of him, gesturing for him to follow her as she led him in the direction of the queen.
"You are here," the queen said with a smile playing on her lips as she gazed at him. "Does your presence mean that you are ready to talk?"
Orion was well aware of the act she was attempting to pull off, so he simply nodded in response.
Seeing this, the Queen's smile transformed into a smirk as she replied, "Very well, go ahead. I want to hear all about where you came from, who you are, and how you managed to enter the mountain. If you choose to tell me the truth, I will grant you permission to enter our garden where you can find a tree. I will also make sure you are not treated as a criminal or prisoner but rather as a guest of royalty," she said, her attention now fixed on the water before her.
Having already organized his thoughts and planned what to say beforehand, Orion nodded and began to speak.
He first shared that he came from a secluded village devoted solely to Naka's worship. He went on to explain how the village was protected from the Vylkr vines by their warriors, mentioning that he was one of them.
However, he then described how he and Saria had been betrayed by one of their leaders during a mission involving the hot air balloon. He detailed how the leader had spared their lives and instead stranded them on top of the mountain before disappearing.
Orion continued by recounting his descent down the mountain and his journey through the caves to evade the Vylkr vines. He concluded by explaining how he had encountered White Flame and, eventually, Princess Crystallia, who had come to their aid.
Once he ended his explanation, Orion observed the Queen's eyes widen, followed by a deep thoughtful nod. She tapped her index finger thoughtfully on the floor's edge while her other arm remained in the pool, fingers gently swirling the water's surface, her elbow resting on the pool's edge.
Meanwhile, the maid stood beside him, seemingly dazed and quiet, her gaze fixed on him, lost in thought.
The Queen began to speak, "I see... everything you're saying seems to make sense." She turned her head in his direction, gazing up at him. "Though I can sense you're still holding back some information. It's understandable, considering we're just getting to know each other. For now, I'll let the matter rest."
She shifted her focus forward, her tone becoming more decisive. "You may leave. The healers will escort you to the garden, where you can attempt to save your friend. Once I've verified this information, I'll request your presence again."
Orion didn't have any concerns about how she intended to validate the information he had provided. He remained confident because everything he had shared was rooted in truth, albeit with a few exaggerations.
"Elysia, convey my orders to the healers and make sure they understand," the Queen instructed the maid beside Orion, pulling her out of her contemplation.
"Of course, your highness," Elysia responded, quickly regaining her composure. She motioned for Orion to follow her out of the bathing chamber, but he had one more question to pose.
Clearing his throat, he fixed his gaze on the queen's form, hidden beneath the misty pool, and asked, "I've noticed some differences in our cultures during my stay here. I hope I can be assigned someone to help me understand the Prismerian kingdom better, to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings that could have been easily prevented."
He got straight to the point, disregarding the disapproving glare from the maid beside him.
The Queen, however, turned her attention to him, studying him with a contemplative expression, her brows knitting together in amusement.
"Very well," she responded, "I will arrange for the palace's private royal teacher to visit your quarters once you've finished here. It's not every day she has the opportunity to educate someone from outside the kingdom about our ways and the Prismerian kingdom. I'm sure you'll find it quite enlightening."
Orion sighed with relief, thankful that the Queen appeared to be more easygoing than her demeanour suggested. He turned and followed the maid out of the bathing chamber, heading toward the door where the healers were waiting.
After Elysia had explained the queen's response to them, they nodded in understanding and escorted him back to the room, where he planned to take Saria to the garden with him and attempt to wake her up.
He earnestly hoped that he could succeed, not only to ease his troubled heart but also to learn more about the culture of this race, particularly the intriguing habit of some women he had encountered who proudly exposed their panties.
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