Return to City Of Mist

City Of Mist, except for the single southern road leading outside, is surrounded by towering mountains, like a pearl cherished in long fingers. Surrounding the city is a solid gray stone wall and a thin purple curtain like an iris petal falling overhead. Under that shield, people can still see the clear sky, the golden sunlight shining overhead, creating a brilliant scene.

The people in the city are starting their new day's work. They are not used to being busy and in a hurry. Their life is usually calm and leisurely. The orchards close to the city walls, filled with ripe yellow or red fruits, always have the sound of talking and laughing mixed with the song of birds. They come in search of food. After feeling full, they freely jump around without fear of humans.

A little nearer, there are bustling markets with many people passing by. Sellers are happy while buyers are gloating, crowded but orderly.

Right in the middle of the city, there's a palace made of light red stone blocks. People call it Camellia House - a very graceful structure, massive but not heavy. It stands with curved domes rising high in the sky, both magnificent and elegant.

In the middle of a room filled with books on all four sides, on the highest floor, two people - one old and one young - are sitting around a round ebony table. Their expressions are all worried, but what makes them frown is different.

Alvor wears a gray robe. He's about seventy and could be considered Grand Duke of two dynasties. He was an advisor to Constance's mother, the female city owner who unfortunately passed away seventeen years ago. At that time, Constance was still a seven-year-old child. He guided and helped her grow little by little and inherit her position. He and Daria, in charge of Constance's health, became the two closest people and were respected by Constance. Therefore, even though she has a stubborn personality and does not like to talk too much, she still gives in and listens to them.

Alvor's habit that scares Constance the most is nagging and clinging tightly, which increases in severity as he's older. Like now, he is asking in a tone ready to complain:

- I heard you meet an assassin outside this time, right?

Constance's reading the list of things she must handle after her absence. Her eyes are sore. When she hears it, she raises her head and shows a face brighter than a newly bloomed flower:

- What killer? His sword is a low-quality waste product, and people don't even bother to give it to woodcutters to chop wood. And his body is as round as a dumpling. The kind of dumpling's very soft and flaky! If you see him, you will roll on the floor laughing! It's just a misunderstanding!

- If someone comes to kill the city lord, what's the point in laughing? I heard that you allowed him to stay in the city. Is it true that your head is damaged?

Seeing that she could not pass this test by just smiling brightly, Constance changes her attitude and answers seriously:

- Mr. Alvor! The fat assassin knelt to the ground, bowed his head, and begged me to spare his life. He said he was a fool all the time in his village. So he was tricked into debt and was so broke that he took the risk of stealing. Unfortunately, he met me for the first time stealing. When caught, he was so scared that he used his sword carelessly. At home, he had an old mother and a poor wife. Look, I don't want to kill an idiot to make myself tired. Although he's a bit fat, he can still do well when cooking, chopping firewood, and doing laundry. For a family of three to come here, it's like we have more people in the city, just a few more servants!

- Wow, it's funny! Ask me if you want to find more servants. Do you need to work hard to bring someone from far away? If you like to help, say you want to help but pretend! For these types of assassins, I honestly just want to chop them up to raise fish on the Big River - he grits his teeth and puts his fist on the table several times as if imagining the actual preparations of food for the fish. After finishing, he concludes with great reluctance - But if you agree, the guy and his family are allowed to stay and observe for a while. If they have bad intentions, we will not forgive them!

Constance burst out laughing:

- I told you he looks like a dumpling inside and out! Don't worry too much!

Seeing Mr. Bach glaring at her, she immediately closed her mouth, crossed her arms, and bowed her head with an exaggerated gesture:

- You are such a wise man. Nobody can compare to you! I'll listen to your instructions!

- Don't think a few flattering words will make me forget everything - Alvor clears his throat, trying to keep his face calm even though it's about to bloom like a flower, then raises his voice to warn - While you went out, Daria and I had arranged everything. In about ten days, the bodyguard competition will start for you. So, you must come and watch!

Daria is over sixty years old. She is also the Grand Duchess of two dynasties. Compared to Alvor, her temperament is much calmer and more leisurely. But once you make her angry, it's maybe terrible. Since Constance was a child, Daria has looked after her health and loved her very much. Her position in the Mist City is not inferior to Alvor's. Once she wants, she will be willing to mock or argue fiercely with him. Because of these arguments, Constance sometimes feels miserable and doesn't know what she needs to do with them. However, they are the type of longtime friends who fight a little for "fun," maybe sometimes it turns out a little too "fun," but it's not something to worry about. If it's a big problem in the city or related to Constance, the two can easily coordinate with each other and join hands to solve it.

- Mr Alvor, do we have to recruit people? - Constance is now lying on the table, looking bored as if she was about to put a giant shackle on her body. She doesn't dare to raise her voice and mutters nonstop: "There are many guards in the city and the castle. I can take care of myself. We also have the sword. Why recruit people?"

- This is completely different. I want to find you a bodyguard who will always follow you by your side day and night. I have warned you many times, but you always run out alone, which is not good at all. Let's ignore the fact that your health is not good. This time the killer is just a fool guy, fortunately, but who knows who will come next time? Stop talking about this. Let's do what I ask. Next ten days from now, we have to be ready for the competition. Come to see the fights, do you hear me?

- I didn't go out to play. I went to learn experience elsewhere!

- The problem is not what to do when going out but staying with someone you can trust.

- Bringing someone along is very troublesome. I like...

- Like to be alone? Like quiet? Oh! Just send me away. I will not complain or worry about many things. It will probably be silent.

"He's angry again! He likes to make things difficult for me! Let me open my mouth and agree! Otherwise, peace will never come!" Constance thought to herself, then suppressed a sigh and nodded

- I will come. Can we discuss work now?

- A good child!

Alvor does not hide his triumph, stroking his beard and smiling.

- The Lord! Let us work!

But before Constance could breathe a sigh of relief, Alvor frowns and shouts suddenly:

- Wait!

- What happens again?

Constance's face turns pale. She holds her head and laments in her heart: "If he does not blame at least three things a day, he probably will not eat well."

- I told you a city lord needs to dress more elaborately

He studies her, then shakes his head dejectedly at her difficult-to-teach behavior

- This simple and light outfit cannot highlight your identity!

Constance also looked at herself. She had just returned to the city after a long trip. When outside, she often had to wear men's clothes and change into women's clothes occasionally. Now she clearly has the appearance of a queen. The long dark pink dress just touched the ground. Although the sleeves are a bit simple, they are bright and pretty. Her jet black hair falls down her back, with two soft curls hanging on her shoulders, increasing her elegance. On her head is a delicate, sparkling necklace that Daria had given her. She does not see anything wrong.

- What is wrong with the way I dress? I do not lack the appearance of a noble city lord!

- I said you have to be more gorgeous. You have to add more jewelry!

- We are not receiving envoys from elsewhere right now, nor are we on the Feast of the Mist. I can not see any reason to wear a bunch of jewelry on my head and neck or put dozens of layers of ceremonial clothes on my body. I have no interest in torturing myself. I do not need to practice my carrying ability. The clothes you chose were really cumbersome. They are inconvenient to move around everywhere.

- You are the most stubborn female city lord, with a bad temper! When your mother had given you the name Constance in the past, I should have spoken out to stop her. I should have given you a gentler name.

- My name is to remember my father's hometown! Why did you turn from clothes to grumbling about my name? Are you going to complain later about why my mother gave birth to me alone?

Alvor waves his hand

- There is kindness that is not understood! I will not talk anymore. Let's work.

"You scolded me until you were satisfied. Now you bring up the main issue. If you had focused from the beginning, you would have solved countless problems. It is really taking advantage of old age to bully children."

Constance blames and listens by herself. Because she knows that if she said it out loud, he would bother her all day.