Chapter 14: Emerald Frostflow
When staying in Six Leaf Forest, travelers usually have three options.
The first recommendation is the Brave Man’s Inn, the one strongly endorsed by the young centaur Kaga.
This building stands dominantly on the most prominent height of the Central Plaza. Its elevated position offers a broad view, excellent light, and ventilation. The structure itself blends elegance with ruggedness, and its internal resting and dining environment has an outstanding reputation. It can be called the “five-star” hotel of the forest land.
Apart from being expensive, it has no shortcomings!
Second is the centaurs’ own “livestock shed.”
It is a space with a roof and half a drafty wall. On the other side of the wall, animals snort and swish their tails while tied up; on this side, travelers huddle on floor bedding. The smell and sounds of livestock fill the air. For anyone whose nerves are not made of steel, it is nearly impossible to fall asleep in such an environment.
Apart from being cheap, it has no advantages.
The last option is camping in the wilderness. It does save money, but you must bear the risks yourself.
The Brave Man’s Inn has tight defenses, and even the livestock shed at least has centaur night patrols. But if you do not pay your coins, then sorry, the great centaur chieftain will not shelter those reckless travelers.
If you wake up and still have your underwear left, it only means the little thieves in the camp are not skilled enough.
Or the underwear was too dirty for them to touch.
However, for Princess Liushuang of the Emerald Duchy, camping alone is actually the safest and most comfortable option.
A circle of tents, large and small, clustered around the central main tent like stars around the moon. Guards from her family and hired mercenaries serving as guides had set up temporary watch posts. Under the moonlight and the lamps, the faint cold gleam reflected from the weapons at the waists or in the hands of those patrolling guards was enough to deter any evildoers.
Princess Liushuang of Cloud Mist Territory was reclining sideways on a thickly padded armchair. Her long hair, like a waterfall of clouds, draped down to her waist. Her delicate little face was full of exhaustion. Forcing her heavy eyelids to stay open, she helplessly submitted to the “spiritual lecture” of Chief Maid Linda.
“Honorable Your Highness, you have not yet completed today’s homework. As the Twenty-second Heir of Cloud Mist Territory of the Emerald Duchy, only by maintaining sufficient self-discipline can you display your family’s upbringing at any time and place, and uphold the glory of your territory.”
“Yes, Maid Linda, I understand!” Liushuang answered weakly, her lips high in a pout, resignedly lifting that brick-thick volume of 《Noble Etiquette》.
Though Linda was nominally just a maid, in truth she had been the personal maid of Liushuang’s late mother, serving mother and daughter for over twenty years. Rigid, serious, meticulous, she was like a precision clockwork mechanism.
Her mother passed away early, and her father was busy with territorial affairs while also dealing with more than a dozen wives and concubines and dozens of children. If Maid Linda had not devoted herself fully to caring for Liushuang, the Little Princess might not have lived so safely to this day.
Therefore, no matter how reluctant she was, Princess Liushuang had to force herself to stay alert and take up that thick tome of 《Noble Etiquette》.
“Audience Ceremony, category twenty-one,” Maid Linda’s voice sounded like she was reciting a scripture, clear and resolute. “When facing lords and lord madams with no familial relationship, whose titles are equal to or higher than that of your own family, the procedures follow the progressive hierarchy below. None may be omitted, and the order must not be altered.”
“First level: neat appearance.”
“Clothing must strictly comply with the stipulations of chapter three of the 《Kingdom Ceremonial Code: Foreign Affairs Section》. The main colors shall be based on the family’s symbolic colors, （cloud-mist white and emerald green）, supplemented with patterns appropriate to the season and occasion.”
“The specifications, materials, and inlays of crown, sash, and family crest ornaments must reflect equal honor, without overstepping or disrespect. All ornaments must be spotlessly clean; any crease or stain may be regarded as desecration toward the host.”
“Appearance must be solemn and dignified: hair must be tightly bound and ornaments secure; the face must be clean, with light and elegant makeup appropriate to one’s status.”
“……”
“Second level: presenting credentials.”
“At the beginning of the audience, the chief attendant or the designated ceremonial officer must first submit the formal calling card and proof of identity to the host’s ceremonial officer.”
“The first choice of credential is a letter of introduction or a duplicate of the calling card bearing your own family crest seal and signed personally by the head of the family. The second choice is identification documentation of a core member of your family, ensuring that the crest or seal on the document is clearly legible.”
“The token of credential must be placed on a tray of three inches and three lines, to be received by the ceremonial officer on velvet cloth bearing the family insignia. It must never be passed from hand to hand directly.”
“……”
The Little Princess held the book in her hands. Her vision blurred; the words seemed to clump together into blobs of black shadow before her eyes.
Poor Maid Linda—she did not even have the book in her hands, yet could recite such unbearably boring text in full paragraphs without missing a single word.
It was not over yet. Maid Linda continued to read, word by word.
“Third level: ceremonial steps.”
“The order of entry follows status: the lord or representative goes first, companions follow according to rank, spaced three steps apart, moving in unison.”
“The gait must be steady and dignified, with moderate stride. From the main gate to the audience position, the ‘respectful ceremonial step’ must be used. Each step lands heel first, then rolls onto the full sole, the rhythm synchronized with the ceremonial officer’s calling of names.”
“At seven steps before the audience position, or at the marker designated by the host, you must halt and quietly await the ceremonial officer’s proclamation of your name and purpose.”
“……”
“Fourth level: the rites of audience.”
“After the proclamation, the lord （or representative） must perform the ‘Cloud Mist Territory Audience Ceremony’.”
“The movements are broken down as follows:”
“First, place your right palm inward over your left chest at the heart, and bow slightly fifteen degrees. This salute is to the lord, signifying ‘let my loyal heart be your witness’.”
“Second, maintaining the bowed posture: if in hunting attire, lightly place both hands at your sides; if in a gown, lift the skirt slightly with your left hand, let the right hand hang naturally at your side, and draw your right foot half a step back with the toes touching the ground and left knee slightly bent, performing a ‘half curtsy’ to express respect toward the lord.”
“Third, maintaining a humble stance, lower your gaze to the ground about three steps before the lord’s and madam’s seats, and quietly wait for the lord or madam to signal ‘you may rise’.”
“……”
Listening to this lecture of meticulous angles, step counts, movement breakdowns, and symbolic meanings, the little girl’s head began to droop again and again like a chick pecking grain. The thick volume of 《Noble Etiquette》 wobbled on her knees, and she was about to topple over into sleep once more…
She had only one thought in her mind: stop dragging it out, stop dragging it out, if you keep dragging it out I’m going to fall asleep…
Suddenly, urgent and forceful footsteps sounded from outside the tent.
“Princess Your Highness! Madam Maid, the centaur guide has brought an undead summoner here, requesting treatment! The Captain of the Guard asks for your instructions!”
Liushuang instantly perked up. With a cheerful cry, she deftly flicked up her skirt and sprang off the chair in one smooth motion, rushing eagerly outside.
In all her life, the Little Princess had never seen one of those legendary necromancers, so ambiguous between righteousness and evil.
Maid Linda sighed helplessly and could only immediately follow with dignified steps. As she hurried after her, she whispered reminders, “Your Highness! Mind your bearing! Your bearing!”
“The hem! Your steps! Your Highness, slow down!”
After circling past a guard tent in front, the view opened up, and Liushuang immediately saw the group standing on the open ground at the edge of the camp: a centaur warrior with knotted muscles, a quietly standing skeleton whose bones gleamed faintly under the lamps, and a somewhat uneasy young apprentice.
