ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ １： ＡＣＴ ＩＩ
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚

"Have you heard what happened to the general?"

"She fell in the well and suddenly lost some memories!"

"Really? Maybe that's why she's acting like a different person nowadays."

"I hope she forgets our training routine! Every day, I fight for my dear life, not trying to die with her exercises!"

"Acting like a different person? She's possessed!"

In their eyes, the female general has gone completely crazy after hearing her commanding her subordinates to buy a bunch of clothes and make-up rouges for herself.

Not only that, she also refused to drink alcohol and prefers a healthy and balanced diet. Her manner of speech changed her habits and even her mannerisms.

She was known as a beast who only knew how to kill—a woman who only cared about serving her nation and detached herself from the pleasures of life.

"Your name was Ponie?" Kunot noong tanong ni Yue rito.

"You don't remember?" He asked in a low voice, hinting that he was sad that she could not remember him. "I was a runaway slave, and you saved me," pagpapaalala niya pa.

Ponie? She doesn't remember that name ever mentioned in the novel. He must be a minor character.

Pinasidhan niya naman ito ng tingin. If he's a minor character, why does he look fine? Hindi naman sa porket side character panget na, his features were just different.

He was tall, curly ginger hair with freckles underneath his eyes, and though he had a rough face due to his armored suit and slightly long hair, he would look like a nobleman if appropriately dressed.

"Lady General?" Bumalik siya sa realidad nang muli siyang tawagin nito.

"At least you have a normal name." Iyon na lang ang nasabi niya.

"You named me Ponie, short for Ponieta." Uubo-ubo itong uminom ng tubig.

The old Coeur is really bad at naming people!

"I will rename you. From now on, your name will be. . .Rune." He was about to ask her the reason for his sudden change of name, but someone cut him off.

"Lady General! Your orders have arrived!" Kulang na lang ay sumayad sa lupa ang dila ni Theo sa hingal habang hinihila ang malalaking kahon na puno ng mabibigat na tela ng damit at ornamento.

Rune hurriedly ran towards him to help. Samantalang napapalakpak naman ang dalaga at halos magningning na ang mga mata  dahil sa wakas ay dumating na ang mga ito.

With all those layers of clothes and the heavy armor, she's struggling to move and walk. But alas!

She excitedly opened the boxes and started flipping on the things she ordered. The world-building of this story is a mess. However, the clothes were inspired in Western dresses, which explains the vintage clothes in front of her.

"You're telling me you are going to wear these clothes?" Kunot na kunot na noong tanong ni Theo. His arms were tightly crossed in his chest while looking at her sheepishly.

Never in his life did he imagine the general wearing a lady's dress. Naaalala niyang mas pipiliin pa nitong magsuot ng basahan kesa sumuot ng damit pambabae. Her father was disappointed because she was born a girl and always wanted a son, that's why she's been acting and dressing like a man.

"Hey, do you think she's okay?" Kaagad na tanong niya kay Rune nang lumapit ito sa gawi niya.

He shrugged his shoulders as an answer and also watched her from afar. "Maybe the Lady General has finally embraced her femininity and decided to be herself." Umiling si Theo, he was not convinced.

"What are you still doing here? Gusto niyo ako panoorin magbihis?" Nagkatinginan ang dalawang binita at uubo-ubong umalis sa loob ng tolda (tent).

"Why do you think she suddenly changed?" Hindi maiwasang tanong ni Theo nang makalabas na silang dalawa. "All these years, I've never even seen her looking in a mirror to check her face. But now, she suddenly cares?" Tila ba'y isa itong malaking palaisipan sa kanya.

"You're overthinking too much," Rune muttered. "People change, commander. Their preferences change as they grow," He continued.

"But—" Bago pa man ito muling magsalita ay hinila na siya paalis ni Rune.

Yue, on the other hand—or should we say, Coeur was carefully wearing an earring made of a lustrous pearl. The long white dress adorned with layers of ruffles fitted her perfectly, and the black corset wrapped around her waist added an aura of elegance and sophistication.

"In fairness, body goals si accla!" Irit niya nang mapansin kung gaano kaganda ang hubog ng katawan nito.

The corset showcased her alluring figure and plump chest—which was never highlighted before because she wrapped it with a tight cloth to conceal it.  Not to mention all those baggy clothes and armored suits, the lethality of every curve of her body was kept hidden.

"Wala man lang salamin dito?" She rolls her eyes and purses her lips. Talagang walang pakialam ang orihinal na Coeur sa hitsura niya.

But, well, who needs a mirror? She chose the right rouge for her lips and applied it gently. She also made sure to fix her hair into a crown braid before choosing the accessories that compliment her style.

She straightened her posture and held her chin high before leaving her tent. Sa paglabas niya naman ay kaagad na napalingon sa kanya ang mga kabalyerong naroon. Ang kasalukuyang nasa kalagitnaan ng pagsasanay ay napatigil at napabitaw ng kanilang sandata nang masilayan ito sa malayo.

The archers failed to hit the bullseye, and those riding a horse for a race fell. Ang ilang masayang nakukwentuhan habang kumakain ay natulala at nabilaukan dahil sa gulat. May iilan pang biglang nanlambot ang tuhod at nagdugo ang ilong.

There's a beautiful woman in the garrison! Who's that bold to march in a military facility full of men?

"P-pakiramdam ko may bumabang d-dyosa sa langit. Sampalin mo nga ako baka nananaginip a—" Imbis sampalin ay sinuntok siya ng kasama kaya bumulagta ito sa sahig.

"Potang—"

"Akala ko sa digmaan ako mamamatay, sa kagandahan lang pala ng dilag na ito." Halos mahimatay na turan ng isa pang kabalyero habang sinusundan ito ng tingin.

A fair lady walking gracefully with confidence on her face. The Vermillion Army has conquered many lands and cities, have seen different beauties, but none can be compared to the woman in front of them.

"But isn't she a bit familiar?" Nagkasalubong ang kilay ng mga ito. Habang papalapit ito nang papalapit sa kanila ay para ngang pamilyar ang mukha nito.

"She came from the Lady General's tent, r-right?" Utal na tanong ni Zaki nang may mahinuha ito. Isa siya sa mga kasamahan ni Theo at Rune.

"Yeah! Who knows the Lady General have such a beautiful friend? Watch me!" Deus winked at him before approaching the woman.

"Are you lost, My Lady?" Tanong nito habang nakaharang sa daan. She raised an eyebrow. 

Ano 'to sinaunang 'Are you lost, baby girl?'

 "I'm Deus, the hottest commander in Vermillion Army. I've been to the mountain and the seas, to different towns and cities. But my lady, I've never seen such a breathtaking beauty."

Muntik na madapa si Theo nang marinig ang pinagsasabi ni Deus, at kasabay no'n ay ang pamimilog ng mata niya nang makita kung sino ang sinabihan nito.

"That bastard must be courting death." Bulong ni Theo habang nakatitig lang sa heneral na may blankong ekspresyon sa mukha.

"Hmm, you think she will beat him or flog him to death?" Tila ba'y natutuwa pang aniya ni Rune sa tabi nito.

Fair lady? To hell with that!