#tearmoonempire — Public Fediverse posts
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Three Kings and a Princess 三人の王様と一人の王女
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearMoonEmpire
Everything is not as it seems, as Mao has a series of visitors. -
A Prime Plot
#FanFic #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366 Prime“Do you call this #prime Sunkland beef! I wouldn’t feed that to the dogs!” the chef sputtered. In front of him was a slab of meat with nary any marbling. Even Ganudos or wild wintered Outland highlands stock would have been better.
The butcher smiled at him, undaunted by the red face of the chef. “Mince it small in a stroganoff with plenty of sour cream and these.” He unwrapped a parcel of mushrooms and showed them to the chef. “I hear they are exquisite. Prince Tearmoon will never notice the meat. All she’ll have eyes for are the mushrooms. And think of how you could keep the money you saved. A pound of this will cost you the same as an ounce of Sunkland beef. She would never know.”
The chef’s eyes grew wide, and his knuckles turned white around the hilt of his butcher knife. “Sacrilege!”
And thus ended another plot by the Serpents. (As well as the Serpent—who was fed to the dogs.)
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Three Kings and a Princess
Her Sagely Majesties’ Diary
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #woke #MastoPrompt #Frame[Continued from “O Star of Wonder”]
The Tenth Day of the 11th Month – Mia Tearmoon’s Diary
I #woke in the morning from the strangest dream, which I am going to record. Unfortunately, there wasn't any food in it, so I don't think this entry will mention food. No food ratings today! I can do that!
The Mushroom Woman was in it. She's the one I saved from eating squished mushrooms. I must remember to warn the chef never to use them. Maybe I should #frame it as a suggestion. I wouldn't want him to think that I don't respect his abilities. O'no, that would be bad. One whisper from the Serpents, and there'd be poison in my cake.
Anyway, the Mushroom Woman had been eating those red mushrooms with white warts. I warned her about them, but she must have forgotten.
I introduced myself and sang her a song to cheer her up:
O star of wonder; star of light,
the star with royal beauty bright—meaning me, of course.Before giving her a stern lecture, I made sure she knew it was for her own good. I explained how the Serpents would love it if she became my enemy and how that would lead to the guillotine.
Then, I gave her credit for the idea. I wasn’t scolding her. O’no, I was merely reminding her of her own words: “They will turn your brain to congee.'”
O’ho ho, there’s an idea: mushroom congee, with tender chunks of rabbit in it. I must xxxxxxx suggest that the chef make it.
Today, I'll go gather the mushrooms. What a brilliant idea! ⭐ X5
[Continued Saturday in Mao’s Epiolog]
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Three Kings and a Princess
O Star of Wonder
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #set[Continued from “Myrrh is Mine; Its Bitter Perfume”]
A woman wearing an identical dress to Mao’s stepped through the door. Her blonde hair shone, her blue eyes sparkled, and her pale, Frankish skin glowed. Mao couldn’t remember her name, but she thought of the woman as the Wind-head Princess.
"O’ho, ho. It is I, the Mushroom Princess, come to visit."
Mao could only gawk. She reached for Pairin, but she had vanished. The hairbrush she had been using hung in the air for a moment, then fell soundlessly to the floor.
“And who has wind in their head today?” the princess continued.
Mao struggled to understand what was happening. “Three kings and a princess have visited me.” Her memories stirred. “That song the Mad Frank sang. ‘We three kings of Orient are…’ Frankincense and myrrh…”
“O’ho, ho, I see you’re remembering,” the princess said as she began singing:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,“That’s me, a royal beauty.” The woman spun.
She stopped and smiled. “But you mustn’t get mad. That leads to the Serpents whispering in your ear. And the next thing you know, the guillotine is chasing you. I came to warn you. Like a good friend. An ally, you might say.”
With a rustle of skirts, she appeared beside Mao's worktable and pointed at the neatly cut wind-head mushrooms set next to a cup. "A little feast."
With all the skill of a Waning Aurelia, she continued, without a trace of sarcasm, "I don't need to tell you. You're the apothecary. You said it yourself: 'They will turn your brain to congee.''"
Mao remembered, “I made a distillation of....”
She slumped. “Mushrooms. Mushrooms! Of course, I tried the mushrooms.”
[Continued in “Her Sagely Majesties’ Diary”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Myrrh is Mine; Its Bitter Perfume: Part II
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt“Why would I care about how the Jinshi reacted?” Mao wondered. She had a #bond of loyalty and friendship with him, and he was useful if trying, but was there something more? Mao, seldom self-reflective, was puzzled.
It was strange; her alarm at the Emperor’s interest in her was mixed with sadness. “It’s like when I find out I missed a good meal or the herb shop just sold a rare medicine I had been looking for.”
She turned the thoughts over in her mind, like a riddle. Somewhere they must be a clue. Then she let go of it, reminding herself of something Loumen had #educated her on: “Don’t speculate. It is worse to say the wrong thing than to remain silent.”
The fragrance of myrrh drifted into the room, pungently bitter. A gift from another suitor. It was hard to picture there being a fourth.
The futility of speculation was instantly revealed when words echoing her dread and sense of loss drifted in through the door. It was a familiar singsong voice:
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.“But of who was it?”
[Continued in “O Star of Wonder”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part VI
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #flourish[Continued from [Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
Mao’s face turned green when she tried a sip of the wine. There was nothing for it. One way or the other, she was going to ruin the occasion, and it was better to trust Jinshi’s regard for her than peoples’s ire if she was ill. In a low voice she began, “I’m going to be ill. Can we do this later?”
At least, that’s what she intended to say when Ukyou bowed into the room. His eyes darted around the room and finally settled on the Madam. His flustered hands fluttered indicating she should follow him.
Before she could move, four body guards swept into the room, accompanying none other than the emperor of Li himself. “Ah, Jinshi, I see you are already here.”
A sour note in Joka’s playing sounded in the suddenly silent room. Then there was a clatter as people fell to their knees.
“Rise, I’m incognito today,” the Sun Prince announced with a #flourish.
“You definitely aren’t,” Mao thought and began patting the wine she had spilled on Jinshi. “But I suppose he has to say that if he is going to leave the palace complex. There is no way he should be here.”
The Empire flashed Jinshi an evil smile. “If you weren’t my brother, I would have your head for touching the future Empress.”
[Continued tomorrow in “Myrrh is Mine; Its Bitter Perfume: Part I”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 bug (Implied) #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV”]
Finally, Pairin looked over Mao with satisfaction. “There, all ready to go. I doubt the prince will notice a few wrinkles. But that face—what crawled into your mouth?”
Mao did her best to smooth her face out. If Jinshi wished to pick wormwood there was nothing she could do about it except profit as best she could. If worse came to worst, there were ways of dealing with problems after the fact.
Outside, the shadows performed a queasy dance. If only she didn’t feel so ill, it would all be easier.
Just before entering the house, Pairin stopped her. “Here, let me #lend you this.” Pairin handed a loop of silk thread tied with elaborate notes. “I know you don’t fancy such things, but it has brought me luck.”
Entering the main house, she could feel the tension and excitement in the air. An open visit from someone in the imperial family could bring untold prosperity or ruin to an establishment. Some might say it was up to the gods, but neither Mao nor the Madam believed that. Luck played a role, but work and preparation were more important.
The incense blend had changed from the last time Mao was in the main house. Now the mixture leaned more heavily toward frankincense. “I hope they aren’t burning my share,” Mao grumbled and then put on what she believed was a happy face.
[Continued in next post]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
“I should slap you,” Pairin scowled. “Look at that dress! The cat #shed, and you slept in it. Even you should have more sense!”
Mao remained silent and let Pairin scold her. Pairin didn't often slap Mao, but there had been times when she'd deserved it as a child. This was like one of those times. It wasn't like Mao to potentially spoil a valuable item that she could trade for rare medicinal herbs. No matter how tired or sick she was.
Pairin fell silent soon and touched Mao’s face. “I’ll help you get ready, child.”
When Pairin finished straightening the dress, she began on Mao’s makeup, carefully hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Then finally, she moved on to styling Mao’s hair.
All the while, #distant sounds echoed from outside the room. Several times, Mao thought she heard someone calling out things like: “Baneberries—they’re poisonous; don’t eat them,” “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla,” and other nonsense. She even imagined replying: “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and “When they reduce your brain to congee,” along with other caustic comments. The words were familiar, but from where?
Her brain refused to settle on a rational answer; instead, it buzzed with energy. It ran in circuits through her body, rising from her toes and blooming in her head like a lotus. She wanted to dash out of the building and escape to anywhere: away from the voices, the suitors, and the illness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Periodically, Pairin scolded her, saying, “Don’t twitch,” “Calm yourself,” or “Stop muttering nonsense.”
Each time, Mao took slow, deep breaths and reminded herself: “I'm ready for this,” “It won’t be so bad being his concubine,” and “He’ll give me lots of ingredients.”
This last thought reminded her of something important, and she asked, “Besides the crown, did he give me anything else?”
“I think he wanted to surprise you with two handfuls of frankincense.”
The thought of two handfuls of the rare resin sent her pulse racing—no, being the prince’s concubine wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she could even make him rest when he was ill if she had that position.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
“I should slap you,” Pairin scowled. “Look at that dress! The cat #shed, and you slept in it. Even you should have more sense!”
Mao remained silent and let Pairin scold her. Pairin didn't often slap Mao, but there had been times when she'd deserved it as a child. This was like one of those times. It wasn't like Mao to potentially spoil a valuable item that she could trade for rare medicinal herbs. No matter how tired or sick she was.
Pairin fell silent soon and touched Mao’s face. “I’ll help you get ready, child.”
When Pairin finished straightening the dress, she began on Mao’s makeup, carefully hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Then finally, she moved on to styling Mao’s hair.
All the while, #distant sounds echoed from outside the room. Several times, Mao thought she heard someone calling out things like: “Baneberries—they’re poisonous; don’t eat them,” “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla,” and other nonsense. She even imagined replying: “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and “When they reduce your brain to congee,” along with other caustic comments. The words were familiar, but from where?
Her brain refused to settle on a rational answer; instead, it buzzed with energy. It ran in circuits through her body, rising from her toes and blooming in her head like a lotus. She wanted to dash out of the building and escape to anywhere: away from the voices, the suitors, and the illness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Periodically, Pairin scolded her, saying, “Don’t twitch,” “Calm yourself,” or “Stop muttering nonsense.”
Each time, Mao took slow, deep breaths and reminded herself: “I'm ready for this,” “It won’t be so bad being his concubine,” and “He’ll give me lots of ingredients.”
This last thought reminded her of something important, and she asked, “Besides the crown, did he give me anything else?”
“I think he wanted to surprise you with two handfuls of frankincense.”
The thought of two handfuls of the rare resin sent her pulse racing—no, being the prince’s concubine wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she could even make him rest when he was ill if she had that position.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
“I should slap you,” Pairin scowled. “Look at that dress! The cat #shed, and you slept in it. Even you should have more sense!”
Mao remained silent and let Pairin scold her. Pairin didn't often slap Mao, but there had been times when she'd deserved it as a child. This was like one of those times. It wasn't like Mao to potentially spoil a valuable item that she could trade for rare medicinal herbs. No matter how tired or sick she was.
Pairin fell silent soon and touched Mao’s face. “I’ll help you get ready, child.”
When Pairin finished straightening the dress, she began on Mao’s makeup, carefully hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Then finally, she moved on to styling Mao’s hair.
All the while, #distant sounds echoed from outside the room. Several times, Mao thought she heard someone calling out things like: “Baneberries—they’re poisonous; don’t eat them,” “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla,” and other nonsense. She even imagined replying: “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and “When they reduce your brain to congee,” along with other caustic comments. The words were familiar, but from where?
Her brain refused to settle on a rational answer; instead, it buzzed with energy. It ran in circuits through her body, rising from her toes and blooming in her head like a lotus. She wanted to dash out of the building and escape to anywhere: away from the voices, the suitors, and the illness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Periodically, Pairin scolded her, saying, “Don’t twitch,” “Calm yourself,” or “Stop muttering nonsense.”
Each time, Mao took slow, deep breaths and reminded herself: “I'm ready for this,” “It won’t be so bad being his concubine,” and “He’ll give me lots of ingredients.”
This last thought reminded her of something important, and she asked, “Besides the crown, did he give me anything else?”
“I think he wanted to surprise you with two handfuls of frankincense.”
The thought of two handfuls of the rare resin sent her pulse racing—no, being the prince’s concubine wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she could even make him rest when he was ill if she had that position.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
“I should slap you,” Pairin scowled. “Look at that dress! The cat #shed, and you slept in it. Even you should have more sense!”
Mao remained silent and let Pairin scold her. Pairin didn't often slap Mao, but there had been times when she'd deserved it as a child. This was like one of those times. It wasn't like Mao to potentially spoil a valuable item that she could trade for rare medicinal herbs. No matter how tired or sick she was.
Pairin fell silent soon and touched Mao’s face. “I’ll help you get ready, child.”
When Pairin finished straightening the dress, she began on Mao’s makeup, carefully hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Then finally, she moved on to styling Mao’s hair.
All the while, #distant sounds echoed from outside the room. Several times, Mao thought she heard someone calling out things like: “Baneberries—they’re poisonous; don’t eat them,” “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla,” and other nonsense. She even imagined replying: “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and “When they reduce your brain to congee,” along with other caustic comments. The words were familiar, but from where?
Her brain refused to settle on a rational answer; instead, it buzzed with energy. It ran in circuits through her body, rising from her toes and blooming in her head like a lotus. She wanted to dash out of the building and escape to anywhere: away from the voices, the suitors, and the illness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Periodically, Pairin scolded her, saying, “Don’t twitch,” “Calm yourself,” or “Stop muttering nonsense.”
Each time, Mao took slow, deep breaths and reminded herself: “I'm ready for this,” “It won’t be so bad being his concubine,” and “He’ll give me lots of ingredients.”
This last thought reminded her of something important, and she asked, “Besides the crown, did he give me anything else?”
“I think he wanted to surprise you with two handfuls of frankincense.”
The thought of two handfuls of the rare resin sent her pulse racing—no, being the prince’s concubine wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she could even make him rest when he was ill if she had that position.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #MastoPrompt[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
“I should slap you,” Pairin scowled. “Look at that dress! The cat #shed, and you slept in it. Even you should have more sense!”
Mao remained silent and let Pairin scold her. Pairin didn't often slap Mao, but there had been times when she'd deserved it as a child. This was like one of those times. It wasn't like Mao to potentially spoil a valuable item that she could trade for rare medicinal herbs. No matter how tired or sick she was.
Pairin fell silent soon and touched Mao’s face. “I’ll help you get ready, child.”
When Pairin finished straightening the dress, she began on Mao’s makeup, carefully hiding the dark circles under her eyes. Then finally, she moved on to styling Mao’s hair.
All the while, #distant sounds echoed from outside the room. Several times, Mao thought she heard someone calling out things like: “Baneberries—they’re poisonous; don’t eat them,” “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla,” and other nonsense. She even imagined replying: “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and “When they reduce your brain to congee,” along with other caustic comments. The words were familiar, but from where?
Her brain refused to settle on a rational answer; instead, it buzzed with energy. It ran in circuits through her body, rising from her toes and blooming in her head like a lotus. She wanted to dash out of the building and escape to anywhere: away from the voices, the suitors, and the illness that threatened to overwhelm her.
Periodically, Pairin scolded her, saying, “Don’t twitch,” “Calm yourself,” or “Stop muttering nonsense.”
Each time, Mao took slow, deep breaths and reminded herself: “I'm ready for this,” “It won’t be so bad being his concubine,” and “He’ll give me lots of ingredients.”
This last thought reminded her of something important, and she asked, “Besides the crown, did he give me anything else?”
“I think he wanted to surprise you with two handfuls of frankincense.”
The thought of two handfuls of the rare resin sent her pulse racing—no, being the prince’s concubine wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she could even make him rest when he was ill if she had that position.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part V”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #Lap[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part II”]
The world settled, and the madam’s face was as it should be, wrinkled and sardonic.
“A trick of light,” Mao thought. “And there are no crickets, only the dress crinkling.”
“He brought you this,” the madam said, tossing an elaborate Frankish crown of silver and rubies into Mao’s #lap.
Then she disappeared into the fog, replaced by Pairin.
Pairin smiled uneasily. “Come on, you can’t look bad in front of your guest. Drink this.”
Mao was grateful for the ginger tea, but the sense of déjà vu returned. Hadn’t she already done this?
“Feel better?” Pairin took the cup from her and then smoothed her hair, a half-mocking smile on her face. “Then let’s get ready; we must look to your autumn. The jasmine flower loses its fragrance in summer.”
“Who would sniff wormwood and expect jasmine?” Mao’s voice was sharp.
“The night-blooming jasmine longs to entwine you. He arrived with his entourage. He’s livid about your last caller.”
“Jinshi, the Moon Prince,” the name instantly sprang to Mao’s mind. “And he should be livid!”
"I wish he’d warned me so I could have prepared. Doesn't he understand how lotuses bloom?"
“Wait!” A thought occurred to her. “What is he doing out of bed?” Just yesterday, he was recovering from a near brush with death. There was no way he should be up and around—let alone feeling amorous.
"I don't know, but we’d better hurry." Pairin shrugged and stepped back to assess the situation. The sight was less than pleasing, and she grimaced.
[Continued Thursday in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part IV”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part II
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
1/4/26 #wss366 #Turn #MastoPrompt #Fall[Continued from “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part I”]
Mao was #falling into darkness. The ground neared, sprinkled with red warty wind-head mushrooms. “If you hit bottom, you die,” she thought and woke with a start.
“Ugh,” she was clammy with sweat and her stomach twisted. “Bile,” she labeled the taste in her mouth.
Like déjà vu; she saw Gram's face in the fog surrounding her bed. “Wake up, lazybones,” the wraith said.
“Tsk,” Gram clicked her tongue. “Sleeping in that dress. If you’ve spoiled it, you’ll deal with Lady Ah-Duo.”
That made no sense to Mao. “Had Tianya stolen it from Lady Ah-due? Why would she have such a monstrosity?” Her thoughts tumbled chaotically.
Mao sat up to the sounds of crickets and cicadas. When she #turned her head to look for them, the world whirled by like a kaleidoscope with the madam’s face distorted and looking like an evil cicada at the center.
[Continued Tuesday in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part III”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part I
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #draw #MastoPrompt #Wobble[Continued from “Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew”]
Seconds ticked by as Mao stared at Tianyu. Just before the incident with the Shaoh assassin, she had seen Tianyu fleeing Dr. Liu’s wrath. But now, Tainyu stood decked out like an Eastern noble.
Then relief flooded her. It was just Tianyu. “I don’t know what you’re doing here, but if the imperial court hears about it, they’ll have your head.”
She turned to the madam. “You'd best see him out or you’ll #draw imperial ire. He is merely a surgeon in the royal court. I have no idea where he found these riches, but they are undoubtedly not his.”
The madam looked between them, concern etched in her wrinkles. A misjudgment could easily mean death.
“I did it for you,” Tianya's voice #wobbled, falling to his knees, trembling hands outstretched toward Mao.
She clicked her tongue in irritation, but said nothing.
“Out with him,” the madam said, turning to their bouncer. “And beat him soundly so no one thinks we're in league with him. Pairin, help Mao take the dress off. If the rightful owner shows up, they’ll want it. I’ll hold on to the gifts until we know for sure.”
Mao clicked her tongue again. That was money she would never see.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part II”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew: Part IIB
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
2/12 #wss366 #ScribesAndMakers #MastoPrompt[Continued from previous post “Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew: Part IIA”]
The two walked to the parlor in the main house, with Mao being careful not to trip on her new, awkward gown. Managing it was a #continuous nightmare. If people had to wear these things every day, they would be useless for anything but decoration. Just something for men to look at. The thought displeased her.
The first thing she noticed upon entering the building was the scent of sandalwood and agarwood with a touch of frankincense. “An expensive waste of precious resins,” she thought. But that was to be expected, given how important this guest seemed to be.
Upon entering the parlor, her eyes were drawn to a man dressed in a lavishly embroidered gown. His clothes were rich with gold and silver thread; no expense had been spared. A gold crown adorned his head.
He rose and called to her, “Niang Niang, at last I can reveal my true identity.”
Mao stopped. “No, no, it couldn’t be!” The thought whirled in her head.
“Tianyu,” she said in complete disbelief. The dissection-mad surgeon stood before her in regal robes, arms outstretched with a besotted look on his face. A less august person was hard to imagine.
[Continued tomorrow in “Frankincense to Offer Have I: Part I”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew: Part IIA
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
2/12 #wss366 #regard #ScribesAndMakers #Vivid? #MastoPrompt #Continuous[Continued from “Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew: Part I”]
"Your visitor brought you not only gold but a dress too. It's outlandish, but it's made of the finest material," Pairin said, as she laid out a blue dress.
Mao’s eyes widened. The dress was made of soft blue silk layered over cream-toned linen and cotton; every ruffle was cut and stitched with almost obsessive care. Red satin ribbons and a #vivid blue sapphire finished off the opulent dress. It was an absurdly costly foreign gown—clearly the work of someone with far more money than sense.
It tugged at her memory, although she couldn’t say why. No one from Li would ever dream of wearing something so impractical.
Had an eastern prince, with no #regard for common sense, decided to court her?
With Pairin's help, Mao was slowly encased in a monument of silk, linen, and layers of petticoats. Finished, Pairin stepped back and admired her achievement. “Just think what we could sell this for.”
The lack of a compliment would have insulted any other woman. Instead, Mao thought the same thing, picturing the mounds of herbs and medicine she could buy. She hoped she would have the chance to do so instead of being packed off to someone’s harem or taken to a barbarous land to the east.
“Hmm,” Mao wondered. “Or did she mean me?” It didn’t really matter; they were both practical women. Marriage for the inhabitants of Verdigris House was about money first, with love being an afterthought.
“Would you like something to help with your first time? New girls often do.” Pairin produced a small packet. “Just the first time. Any more is bad for you.”
“Poppy paste,” Mao thought. She took it and secreted it away. “But not for this. I’ll save it for when nothing else works,” picturing a maimed soldier. “Or for someone too important to feel pain.”
A smile touched Pairin’s lips as she watched Mao both accept her gift and refuse to use it. “Come, we mustn’t keep the client waiting any longer.”
[Continued in the next post “Gold I Bring to Crown You Anew: Part IIB”]
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Three Kings and a Princess
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries #TearmoonEmpire
#wss366 #PIXIVCharitySanta•──⋅☾.1 The Mad Frank☽⋅──•
Note: For those who have been following The Moon’s Hindmost Wound, this story takes place between chapters 11 and 12, before the debriefing.
When Mao got out of the carriage, she was exhausted. The events of the last two days had been draining. First, there was the Mushroom Princess, and then the attempted assassination of the Moon Prince. Everything turned out fine in the end, but Mao would rather live a peaceful life away from royalty and people with wind in their heads.
Speaking of people who were touched, she sighed. The Mad Frank was standing in front of a neighboring brothel, shouting about a guiding star, gifts, and three kings.
At least he wasn’t raving about the end of times. Some of the younger girls got worked up over that. They hadn’t learned yet that someone was always predicting the end of the world. Sometimes, their followers gathered to celebrate when the event was to occur. She had heard of one group that drank poisoned fruit juice when the world failed to end. They were either the Jonesites or the Seven Stars Approach.
Never mind. She was going to get some rest and enjoy her spoils.
“He’s at it again,” said Ukyou, Verdigris House’s bouncer, greeting her.
“Very,” she replied.
“You look tired. I’ll try to steer Madam away from you if she comes looking.”
She nodded in thanks, thinking, “A fool’s errand. Grams is unstoppable, especially if someone tries to deter her.”
She made her way to the shack she called home when she wasn’t at the palace. Luomen was out, which she was glad about. It meant she could do as she pleased.
Before going to sleep, she wanted to look over her treasures. First was the small pot of poison she had received from the assassin. Then came the mushrooms and herbs she had gathered. Of those, the best were the windhead mushrooms and bugbane berries. She carefully put the lemony deathcaps aside.
On second thought, though, she hid them. No point in risking someone eating them or a lecture from Luomen. She wouldn’t sample them, no matter how tempting. And finally, the three roasted #quail she had snagged coming back.
-
Just got the art for Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Mia’s Diary (Mushroom Hunting with a Fellow Mushroom Person)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366*** Mia Tearmoon ***
The Twentieth Day of the 10th Month
Today, I harvested some lovely mushrooms that tasted delightful when poached in wine. I amazed the chef with my culinary knowledge when I suggested the mushroom dish. He did a marvelous job pairing them with braised lamb chops and stewed yellow moon tomatoes. The mushrooms were arranged along with sprigs of wild Sealence parsley in a #circle around the chops; it was very artistic. 🎇X4
The presentation only🎇X3 But the mushroms 🎇X5+At the same time, I used the knowledge from Miabel’s book to save a fellow mushroom person from the Norns. Thanks to my warnings, she also knows not to eat squashed hedgehog mushrooms, baneberry (or is it bugbane?), wind-head mushrooms, and lemony milk-caps though she seemed a little foolish, and might ignore my warnings. Of course, not everyone is born with common sense.
Side note: Four-Eyes says he has no idea what country she's from, so we can’t send her country food aid.
Part 8 of 8: Complete
#MircoFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy #Food
@fanfiction -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Of Amanita muscaria and Amanita subjunquillea
(ベニテングタケとキタマゴタケについて)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366*** Maomao ***
Distracted by the biological panoply, Mao missed at first her companion gathering fungus into a pouch she’d made by lifting the front of her skirt. It was a rustic gesture, but one the princess performed with the grace and elegance only a true-born royal of Tearmoon could manage, or so she would have assured you. Mao, for her part, was far too polite to argue.
The true-born royal called out to Mao, “These will have the most wonderful flavor of mild lemon or vanilla. I must have them with milk tea.”
Mao almost froze, the properties of the dragonesque corpse flowers forgotten. Princess Wind-head was an idiot but not recognizing the yellow mushrooms were deadly was beyond idiotic.
Luomen, Mao’s adopted father, had lectured her on it repeatedly: “You may take your purgatives and steep your poisons. But even a kiss from the Huáng dú sǎn means death. If you taste it, have a grave dug first.” Luomen had even taken her to a village where foragers had mistaken unopened caps for matsutake mushrooms. But these were fully open; there was no mistaking them.
You couldn’t even safely experiment with Huáng dú sǎn. First, they produced a violent sickness, then recovery, and finally the Yellow Waning Disease. And no amount of liver tonic would help. She might experiment on #harbor rats or even her father, Lakan, but not on herself.
“Stop, fool!” Mao shouted. If Wind-head had been a real princess, Mao wouldn’t have dared speak so bluntly, but she was just some qi-addled, faux noble. “If you must destroy yourself, continue consuming wind-heads” and she pointed to the ones with red caps. “When they reduce your brain to congee, pray your husband doesn’t abandon you by the wayside to save the drain on your dowry. Sample this other, and he will only need to cover your funerary expenses.” By now, she was pointing at the lemony caps the Princess Mai was planning to partake with milk tea.
“You mean they’re poisonous?” Mai gasped, releasing her skirt. Red, tawny, and lemony mushrooms cascaded, spilling out over the ground.
“Yes, Princess Mushroom, I do. And if you’re done, then let’s return to the road. My carriage must be fixed by now, and your tenders will be looking for you.” Mao mentally rolled her eyes. Even Lakan’s tenders must have it easier than hers.
Then, in a rare display of generosity, Mao said, “Have these mushrooms. They are quite tasty stewed in wine.” It was a token gesture, but it would repay Mai Tearmoon for showing her the baneberries and Wind-head mushrooms.
Part 7 of 8: To be continued.
#TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy
@fanfiction -
# Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
## Pretty Little Murderers (綺麗な小さな殺し屋たち)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire*** Maomao ***
“Pretty little murderers,” Mao announced with glee. She was glad Princess Wind-head had shown her the “baneberry.”
Then, louder: “Congratulations, you did good. I would expect nothing less from the Mushroom Princess.” It was, after all, a name Mai had chosen for herself and was more convenient than “*Princess (Wind Head)*.”
The princess responded to her “praise” with a smile and the proud look of someone who had just bested a root vegetable in debate. Mao resisted the urge to bow.
Humming to herself, Mao returned to the red berries, picked a bunch, and hid them in a fold of her clothes. “Let’s see a busybody find it there,” she said, already planning how to test them. Decocted with something to cut the bitter taste, she decided. Maybe use the *Gān Cao* she had so much of that at the moment. One berry would probably be safe. But just in case, she’d have charcoal and a purgative on hand.
In the meantime, the princess had wandered off. When Mao caught up with her, she was in a stand of tall pines, #blotted here and there with pine fungus. Around her stretched a wilderness garden of mushrooms: gorgeous, freckled, red wind-heads; pale umber matsutake; delicate, fairy-like white caps; and bold, lemony clusters. Ghost-white flowers grew among them, their curved forms reminding Mao of a dragon. Extremely yin…
She glanced up, stopping mid-thought, her breath hissing out, saying, “Idiot!”
Part 6 of 8: To be continued.
#TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy
@fanfiction -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Baneberry (ベインベリー)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366*** Mai Tearmoon ***
While Mao gathered Hou Tui Mo, Princess Mai walked ahead, talking to herself. “What a strange girl. I should ask her what country she’s from. If the famine there is so bad that she’d eat a squashed hedgehog mushroom, they might attack us for food. I’ll speak to Four-Eyes about it.”
“Oh, look,” the Sage Princess said, spotting the baneberries with their bright clusters of red berries.
“A wise person always checks for danger,” she said, looking around for any gray-hooded women in the shadows. “I guess the Norns aren’t here. That’s a good thing, because I’d give them a stern lecture if they were.” Fortunately for Mai, her resolve went untested.
Still talking to herself, she continued, “I’ll just wait for that lady to catch up. If I don’t warn her, she might eat them. She knows lots of big words but doesn’t have my foraging skills. I’m sure she could have found something more edible than squashed mushrooms.”
When Mao arrived #later, the Wood-wise Princess pointed at the berries and announced, “Baneberries. They’re poisonous; don’t eat them.”
The apothecary stared at them, mumbling, “Bright red, glossy-smooth skin like lacquer, in plain sight.” Then she asked the Great Sage of the Empire, “Baneberry, are you sure you don’t mean bugbane? Either way, it’s not a bad name. Bane implies danger.”
“Baneberries?” The Wood-wise Princess temporized. “Did I call them baneberries? It was a slip of the tongue. Of course, I knew they were bugbane. Baneberry is what my granddaughter calls them.” Mai believed in being agreeable, even if it meant crediting Miabel’s childish vocabulary, as any devoted grandmother would. After all she was sharelater as in if share the credit, you won’t get blamed later if something went wrong. Besides, Miable would never know about it.
Mao crouched beside a stalk, brushing aside a leaf to expose the root crown. “Some variety of ‘Sheng Ma.’ Sweet, slightly cold, excellent for boosting yang qi.” She crushed a sole berry between her fingers, describing what she found. “Slightly waxy; clear juice, watery, no scent.” She touched her tongue to the liquid and spat. “Bitter.”
And finally, gleefully announced, “Pretty little murderers.”
Turning her attention from the berries, she smiled up at the princess. “Congratulations, you did good. I would expect nothing less from the Mushroom Princess.”
The princess beamed. It was an honor to be recognized for her wisdom by another mushroom person. She resisted, just barely, the temptation to bow.
Part 5 of 8: To be continued
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy #FanFic
@fanfiction -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Lion’s Mane (山伏茸) 4 of 8
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366 8/8*** Maomao ***
“That explains the wind in Her Highness’s head,” Mao thought, after hearing she was hunting Spirit-head mushrooms. “Too much spirit-travel has permanently disturbed her qi. I must try them, though. Risky, of course… but at least once.”
Once they were under the trees, the odd princess shook herself like a wet dog, confirming Mao's suspicion that the girl was not a noble. She was probably the spoiled child or wife of a wealthy merchant. Either way, her dowry must be huge; otherwise, no one would marry her.
“This way, I think?” The woman said, #starting down a path.
Was the woman a brilliant woodsman or an idiot? Mao wasn’t sure. Caution and observation led her to the latter conclusion, and she marked the trees as they went. “At worst, I wasted some effort. At best, they’ll get me back out of the woods,” she said to herself.
After five minutes, Mao stopped. A smile slowly spread across her lips as she gazed at an object beside the path. “Aren’t you a beauty,” she said, the tip of her tongue darting along her lips. She slowly stooped and stroked the object of her attention with a finger. “Hou Tui Mo, just like described. A fungus, like a white lion’s mane: noble and rare.” Her smile moved up to her eyes.
“What’s that?” The princess’s voice was right at her shoulder. “Eww, you can’t eat that! It will make you sick.”
Mao started then snapped back, “The uglier the fungus, the more useful it usually is, and this is very useful.”
“You can have all of it.”
Mao didn’t bother answering but thought, “Good. I wasn’t planning on giving you any.”
Part 4 of 8: To be continued.
#TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy #Mushroom
@fanfiction -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Mushroom Buddies Are the Best (きのこの相棒は最高)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366 #MastoPrompt*** Mia Tearmoon ***
Mia Tearmoon, Future #Crowned Empress of Tearmoon, examined the woman, checking on her. “She sure dresses funny. A commoner with a funny name, like a cat meowing. Why couldn’t nobles have interesting names like that? What would they call me? Mushroom Mushroom? No, that sounded terrible. I know ‘The Mushroom Princess.’" Of course, no one would be so disrespectful as to call Mia that. Definitely not!
She repeated her name. “I’m Mia Luna Tearmoon, the Mushroom Princess.” Well, no one but Mia herself.
“Princess of where?” Mao asked.
“Oh, that’s not my actual title; it’s ‘Mia Luna Tearmoon, Princess of Tearmoon.’”
“I have never heard of Tearmoon. Is it to the far west or beyond the Eastern Sea?”
Mia blinked. “Never heard of Tearmoon?” Was the woman touched in the head or perhaps just simple? Not that it mattered—after all, not everyone could be brilliant like her. And besides, she was a mushroom person. Mushroom people were always trustworthy. “Well, except maybe the Norns, with their funny business.”
“I can show you all the best mushrooms,” she said. “But if you see some women in gray hoods, run. Those are the Norns and aren’t to be trusted. Even if their rabbit stew is tasty.”
Mao looked around, eyes lingering on the trail she had followed from the wagon, and Mia wondered, “Is she looking for the Norns? That would be silly; they’re in the forest. Or was she thinking of running? Maybe she was late for supper. I’d run home too then—if I knew the way.”
With a little more sugar, the Wisdom of the Empire might have arrived at the correct answer. Something like Perujin sweet #potato pie, with Equestrian mélange toasted a light brown. The princess’s mouth watered at the thought. It wasn’t this thought that derailed suspicions. Oh no, it was Mao who interrupted her sluggish speculation, asking, “Have you seen any Lingzhi or Zhu Ling? I’m especially looking for them.”
“I’ve never heard of those. Are they tasty?”
“No. Lingzhi boosts qi and calms the spirit. Zhu Ling is a water fungus born of rot. It helps regulate water flow.”
“She knows her stuff.” The princess was always on the lookout for talent to share her burden. “I bet Ludwig, that old four-eyes, would understand her. Or that Wandering Wiseman back at Saint Mia Academy. What was his name again?”
“I haven’t seen those, but there are red mushrooms with white freckles in the forest,” the princess said, eager to show that she too was forest-wise.
“Spirit-head mushroom,” Mao said, smiling as she rubbed her hands together. “I’d very much like to find some of those.”
“I thought she was going to run away for a bit. But we’re best friends now. Mushroom buddies are the best!”
Part 3 of 8: To be continued.
#TootFic #NMV366
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries #Fantasy #Manga #LightNovel #Anime -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Mao Rescues Mia (猫救助ミーア) Part 2
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
#Wss366 7/28*** Maomao ***
“You’re not a Norn, are you?” the woman asked. “Never mind, I can see you’re not.”
Had she landed on her head or if she had wind in it, Mao wondered.
“Just Maomao. No clan, Norn or otherwise.”
“Are you hunting mushrooms? I was thinking of doing that, since my horse ran off,” the woman resumed. Then began searching her clothes. “#nuts I had some praline nuts. Nuts, I ate them.
“Mushrooms? You’re a mushroom hunter?” Mao left unspoken the more pressing question: “Who hunts mushrooms on horseback?” Still, if the woman truly knew her fungi, perhaps she was worth accompanying. People with Spirit Disturbance were seldom dangerous, at least to others. She eyed the woolly outfit again.
And if she really had struck her head, Mao could monitor her.
“Oh yes, I’m an expert. My name is Mia Luna Tearmoon.”
Sequel to: "The Norns" https://www.pixiv.net/novel/series/14017710
Part 2 of 8: To be continued.
#TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy
@fanfiction -
Princess (Wind Head) 王女様（風頭）
Mao Rescues Mia (猫救助ミーア)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries x #TearmoonEmpire
*** Maomao ***
The girl landed with a thump. Maomao noted the unusual, fluffy riding outfit the woman wore. “An excellent choice for a novice rider,” she said to the small #arched stems of the “Yín Yáng Huò” she was examining, its anchor-shaped leaves faintly brushing her #shin. “The question is, did the bulky outfit work?” If the woman had been hurt, helping her would be a lot of trouble; however, didn’t Mao have a duty to help her?
It was a question to consider seriously. Her father had followed his conscience, and look where that got him—the tendons removed from his knee for doing his best to save a baby of imperial birth
She sighed. As much as it pained her, helping was the right thing and probably wouldn’t have such dire consequences. Parin would have to make do with the “Raunchy Goat Medicine”—as Parin called it—the apothecary had already gathered.
Rain pattered around her, its rhythm deepening as she neared the fallen woman. The wind sighed low in the grass. If Mao had been superstitious, she would have thought it said, “You’ll be sorry.”
The day had begun badly and was getting worse. First, she’d been called out on mysterious business in the country. Next, the carriage in which she had been riding had thrown a wheel, and now this woman. The rain; however, didn’t bother her. She was hoping to spot Zhu Ling, Fang Feng, or Tu Fu Ling. She preferred to dig them when the soil was soft after a rain. The last of those was always popular at her shop, a sovereign cure for men’s sores of shame.
It might be a profitable day. She had already found some Mu Tong along the road. And yes, she was sure it wasn’t Guan Mu Tong; only a novice would make that mistake.
As the young apothecary approached as the woman sat up. “Are you hurt?” she asked.
The woman paid no mind, looking after her horse. “I can’t believe a horse betrayed me.”
“Why the woman wasn’t thrown more often, Mao asked herself. Considering her supine riding posture, she did not seem an experienced rider. Instead of saying that, she asked again, “Are you hurt? If not, I have herbs to gather.”
“I’m fine. But thank you for asking,” the woman replied.
Mao studied her. Her smile was innocent. She was healthy with ample flesh, a surplus even, clearly not poor. One didn’t get that weight on a poverty diet unless you were ill. Her padded clothes were unusual. She resembled a chimera: part human and part sheep. They were well-tailored and had properly protected the woman.
Well, if she was alright, Mao could get on with her herb gathering. As soon as they repaired the carriage, she would need to leave.
Part 1 of 8: To be continued.
Sequel to: "The Norns" https://www.pixiv.net/novel/series/14017710
#TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#薬屋のひとりごと #ApothecaryDiaries
#LightNovel #Manga #Anime #Fantasy #botany #SliceOfLife -
#wss366 6/23 #TimeTravelAuthors Alternate History aspects [Note 1]
#FanFiction #TearmoonEmpire**** The Norns ****
*** Chapter 4: The Book of Fate ***“Mmm...” Mai murmured, savoring the rabbit stew the Norns had offered. “So warm, so rich. The wild sage is a pleasant touch,” she enthused over the stew, not noticing the three women hadn’t gotten a bowl for themselves.
The mushrooms were bitter, but they had soaked up the broth and were palatable. Spoonful after spoonful of stew daintily entered Mai’s mouth. “Mum, so yummy,” Mai said around one of those spoonfuls.
Pieces of rabbit and mushroom swam around the bowl, inviting her to dig in. Her spoon took a longggg dive toward the food. It was such an odd spoon. The handle must have been a foot longggg with a ssmiling face.
“Better to reach the fooood,” Mai thought. “Why are you dddoddggging,” Mai thought as the pieces swam away from her sssspoooon. “At last,” she thought, only to have a piece of rabbitttt jjjjump offff her spppooooon.
She looked up at the women to see if they had noticed. Their faces shifted in the firelight. Wwwaving like llllillies in a field. Swwweeeet lllilliees, blessessed by the sunnn.
“Ddddoes itttt ttttast gooood,” Ver… The mature one said? The voice came from very far away.
“I woveeee the Mushhhhrrrrrooom threaaad innto your weeeave… your weeeave… weeeave… eve.”
Like the #pound of surf in a tide worn cave.
Mai didn’t feel good. Her stomach twisted into a knot. Rabbits danced in big, heaping jumps. Mushrooms danced in her head.
The three mushrooooommmm ladies in gray hoooooddddds, smiled. Their lips twisted like the knots in her stomachhhhh…
“Lady Mai. My lady,” it was Anne’s voice issuing from the forest.
“Anneeeee, Anne,” she cried back. “Come, try the steeewww.”
“My lady, Belle is here to see you.” Anne’s voice held a touch of command and cut through Mai’s visions.
Mai opened her eyes. In her lap was the book of fate. She had been reading it because she couldn’t go out for a ride today. The page was open to show a picture of mushrooms with white freckles on their red caps dancing in a circle.
Mai was glad she had read the book. She had learned one important lesson. Never trust women in gray hoods, even if they make the tastiest rabbit stew.
She closed the book and moved on to plan her day. One of her first tasks would be asking the cook if they had any of those red mushrooms.
<Part4 of 4 - #Serial Conclution>
[Note 1] For this one, yes. As a result of reading the book, Mai will avoid eating that batch of poisonous mushrooms. The Norns also referred to several other time-altering events, not that I wrote those.–For my silly ones, not so far.
#microfiction #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMTTA
#Anime #Manga #LightNovel #Fantasy #Mushrooms #psychedelic
#ティアムーン帝国 #JNovelClub -
Today's #AniAnimal is this horse from "Tearmoon Empire". It really looks like a model for a shampoo commercial.
今日の #アニアニマル は『ティアムーン帝国物語～断頭台から始まる、姫の転生逆転ストーリー～』のこの馬です。まさにシャンプーのCMモデルのようですね。
More info and other AniAnimals at: https://www.anianimals.moe/scene/t4J~-gvF4s3YbRRg6n0pVV/