Village Head's Debauchery

Observing the Queen's silence, Orion patiently awaited the carriage's arrival at the castle, eager to check on Saria and ensure her well-being.

…....…

The Luminaris Clan

"Clan Leader Garnet, receiving your letter yesterday was quite unexpected, and I must admit, I didn't anticipate you'd be so eager to speak with me during this banquet," Owen Luminous, the Clan Head of the Luminaris Clan, remarked.

He exchanged a smile with his wife, Clan Mistress Meala Luminous, as they settled into their opulent crystal chairs, their gaze fixed on Garnet seated across from them.

"After witnessing the events of today's banquet, I surmised that a quick conversation with you, Clan Leader Owen, would be wise," Garnet replied, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

As Garnet spoke those words, Clan Head Owen and Clan Mistress Meala's expressions turned notably solemn.

Meala cast her gaze toward the empty space beside Garnet, a curious expression on her face. Her eyes then returned to him as she asked, "And where is Clan Mistress Elara? I find it hard to believe she would miss such an important discussion."

Having known Elara for years and understanding her assertive nature when it came to managing clan affairs, Meala couldn't fathom her absence from such a critical meeting.

Garnet cleared his throat and offered a bright smile. "Clan Mistress Elara has decided to embrace a more carefree lifestyle lately. She's entrusted me with the Clan's affairs, so there's no need to worry; she's perfectly fine," Garnet replied.

Lately, he had been striving to prove himself and demonstrate to his wife that he could capably handle the clan's crucial matters.

His success had been evident, and he recalled how she had wished him good luck and cautioned him to be cautious when he'd mentioned his impending visit to the Luminaris clan immediately before the banquet had concluded.

Clan Mistress Meala nodded thoughtfully as she reclined in the exquisitely designed chair. She couldn't help but consider the possibility of leading a carefree life akin to Elara's. After all, her husband had proven himself more than capable of handling the clan's crucial affairs, if not even more so than her.

With these thoughts in her mind, she cast a glance at her husband, who was about to speak.

"Alright, Garnet. So, what's this important matter that prompted you to pull us away from the banquet?" Owen inquired.

Garnet didn't waste any time getting to the point. A serious expression settled upon his face as he spoke, "The descendants of the forgotten clans are planning to ambush the royal carriages on their way back to the castle."

The news left Clan Head Owen and Clan Mistress Meala wide-eyed with shock.

"This... Thi..." Owen stammered, temporarily lost for words. He quickly regained his composure and fixed a serious gaze on Garnet.

"How many?" he asked solemnly.

The severity of the attack on the royal carriages depended entirely on the number of descendants of the forgotten clans involved. If it were just a dozen, it might be seen as a group of disgruntled Prismerians venting their anger at the royal family.

However, if their numbers swelled to five dozen, it would be viewed as an attempted assassination. In such a case, the descendants would be apprehended and brought back to the castle for questioning.

Anyone capable of rallying these descendants, who had lost their stable foundations but still possessed a rich background, couldn't be an ordinary individual. Owen was certain that the royal family would delve deep into this matter to uncover the mastermind, and that could lead to future complications.

Garnet casually reached for a glass filled with tangy, freshly squeezed fruit juice. He took a light sip before calmly stating, "Two hundred."

Hisss!!

Clan Leader Owen and Clan Mistress Meala sucked in sharp breaths, their eyes widening in shock.

"Don't tell me that you are responsible for this?" This time, it was Meala who spoke, her voice carrying a tone of disbelief. Forget labelling this as an assassination attempt; this could very well be the beginning of a full-scale rebellion.

"Do you have any idea, Garnet, how incredibly risky this is?" Owen's voice crackled with anger.

He leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Garnet's. "If the Queen discovers your involvement, even the protection of the Gemheart Clan won't shield you from the consequences of this atrocity. The Luminaris Clan also won't be able to save you," he warned, interrupting his wife before she could continue speaking.

"Of course, I am aware of that," Garnet responded, fixing his gaze intently on Owen and Meala.

"I was well aware of the risks when I gathered the two hundred descendants of the forgotten clans, so you don't have to worry. In fact, to ensure that everything goes smoothly, two specially trained undercover divisions of the Gemheart clan have been dispatched to assist in the ambush and guarantee its success," he added.

Every clan had their own secretly trained warriors, who, though not necessarily stronger than the Clan Heads of their respective clans, were still formidable.

These specially trained elite divisions played a crucial role in determining the overall strength of each Major Clan. Without them, the clans would be like grand buildings with barren interiors.

As such, when Owen heard that Garnet had also dispatched two elite divisions from the Garnet Clan, he became dumbfounded almost immediately and couldn't help but scrutinize Garnet once more.

Nevertheless, Owen shook his head in confusion and asked, "I don't get it, why are you in such a rush?" His gaze remained fixed on Garnet. "If we wait until we receive news from the Crystalforge Clan that we can all find our way out of here with that young man's help..."

"Because we don't have enough time," Garnet interrupted. "The garden is dying, which means the fruit we eat and the gems we use to grow our strength are diminishing day by day. We are still trapped in this mountain with nowhere to go, and we have a bloodthirsty god looming over us like a plague, a curse that has haunted us for generations."