Chapter 842 — The Dragonkin
Blade of Dawn · Page 3 of 4
"I pay my respects to you, Emperor of Cecil; I pay my respects to you, knight among knights, pioneer among pioneers... founder of the old nation of Ans and the new nation of Cecil," Sir Golosh said solemnly, showing not the slightest excess of curiosity or prying toward this "Pioneer" who was a legend in the human world and had even worked the miracle of rising from death. A long string of titles and standard formal phrases came readily to his lips. "I bring the greetings of the ruler of the Far Northern Mountains, guardian of the Dragonkin nation, lord of rock and ice and snow... the mighty and wise Grand Duke of Dragon Blood, His Majesty Bayang'er, along with the friendly intentions of the Holy Dragon Duchy."
"Welcome to Cecil," Gao Yang replied, far more simply and directly. "Cecil and the Holy Dragon Duchy have always been close neighbors. We forever welcome visitors from the Far Northern Mountains."
At the same time he felt a touch of surprise—it had been a long while since he had heard such standard opening remarks, with their long string of honorific titles and flattering formalities. This Dragonkin envoy came from a world cut off from human nations for many years, yet his choice of words was unexpectedly quite in the ancient human style.
It seemed that in the distant north, many Dragonkin's impressions of humanity were still stuck in the Ans era of the past.
—To prevent any clash of etiquette and culture, and to ensure the ceremony proceeded properly, the envoys had already familiarized themselves with some of Cecil's etiquette before coming to Xuanyao City, having adapted in advance to the audience procedures with Victoria's help. Yet though the procedures had been rehearsed beforehand, the envoys' words of audience had been drafted by the Holy Dragon Duchy itself (Duchess Victoria had merely confirmed that nothing in these phrases violated any taboo).
And now, certain turns of phrase in these rather classical words even gave Gao Yang a feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Of course, his outward expression remained calm and placid, revealing nothing.
Having presented the letter of state, completed the necessary audience ceremonies and mutual introductions, and gone through all the agreed procedures, Gao Yang did not subject the guests who had come from afar to any further endless formalities, but went directly to the main feature of Cecil-style hospitality—declaring the banquet open.
As dazzling dishes were laid before the guests, as light and pleasing melodies echoed through the hall, and as attendants began guiding the guests to their seats, Sir Golosh drew close to Asharena and could not resist murmuring: "Though I learned something of it in advance, the etiquette of the 'Cecil Empire' still seems much simpler than I imagined... not at all like the human nations described in the records, with their countless rules and elaborate ceremonies."
Asharena tilted her head slightly and glanced at Sir Golosh: "So do you prefer simple procedures, my lord, or elaborate rules?"
Sir Golosh smiled faintly at that: "Personally, I of course prefer this—simple and straightforward dealings suit my taste better."
Asharena smiled, but said no more.
In her impression, humans were fond of using elaborate and convoluted etiquette and rules to display their own "orthodoxy" and "depth," and this was very different from the dragonborn. Though the dragonborn also valued tradition and adhered to rules, theirs was more a respect for tradition and an "obedience" to ancient teachings, whereas the human insistence on etiquette and rules appeared in dragonborn eyes as an utterly unnecessary "external adornment"—rather than having any practical meaning, it was more like sticking decorative feathers all over one's body, etiquette for etiquette's sake, rules for rules' sake.