CHAPTER 1: ACT III
CHAPTER 1: ACT III
𝑩𝒂𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
The trio of aliens, namely Rune, Theo, and Deus, were running laps on the garrison for their training. Sweat continuously dripped from their neck to their exposed, toned body as they ran.
"She didn't punish you but made you write a guide about the different types of women in the capital?" Hindi makapaniwalang atugal ni Theo habang nililingon si Deus na siyang pinakahuli sa kanila sa pagtakbo.
"I told you, she's gone crazy! I mean—I was thankful she didn't beat me to pulp! But isn't it weird? Why does she need that?" Pabagsak na umupo ang mga ito sa lupa habang kinakapos ng hininga.
"The Warlord announced her engagement with the third prince days ago. Compared to us, you frequently go to the capital for the report. Maybe she was curious about the women in the capital and wanted to learn their ways since she will tie the knot with the prince soon." Tumango-tango ang mga ito sa naging paliwanag ni Rune. It makes sense if he puts it that way.
"You mean the Lady General is putting efforts because she's in love?" Nakangiwing side-comment ni Theo. Bumalikwas ng upo si Rune at Deus.
In love? It must be the end of the world.
Dahil nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip ang mga ito ay hindi nila napansin ang pagdating ng heneral.
"That's not right. How can she be in love? She spent years with us! Sa gwapo nating tatlo dapat isa sa atin nagustuhan niya na!" Sabay na naigulong ni Theo at Rune ang kanilang mata dahil sa sinabi ni Deus. He's really bent down to prove that he's handsome.
Kapagkuwan ay pumalakpak si Deus. "Besides, she hasn't even seen the third prince. There must be another reason," dagdag niya pa.
"What reason could it be?" Aniya ng heneral sa kanilang likuran.
"Ha! Since the Lady General changed into a fair lady, maybe she appreciates my talent in poetry and has taken a liking to me!" He declared confidently. Umaktong nasusuka si Theo samantalang napailing na lang si Rune.
"May saltik ka ba sa utak? Ang korni nga ng pinagsasabi mo kahapon! You're lucky she's down bad pretending to be a nice lady! Kung hindi ay baka hindi ka na nakakalakad ngayon sa rami ng pasa sa katawan mo!" Panenermon sa kanya ni Theo.
"Correct. Besides, you're not even my type." Sagot ng heneral na ikinatango nila.
"Yeah, you're not—" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Rune nang ma-realize nitong nasa likuran nila ang heneral at kanina pa nakikinig sa kanila.
Awtomatikong nagmurahan ang mga ito sa kanilang utak at sabay tumayo nang may kabadong mukha. We're doomed. That's what they thought. Remembering how she used to punish them when she once caught them speaking behind her back made Deus' knees weaken in fear.
She tied them with a rope as the horse ran and galloped, dragging them along the rough road. Naalala pa nila kung paano ito ngumisi sa kanila habang nakasakay ito ng kabayo at pinapanood ang pagdurusa nila.
"L-Lady General—" Hindi pa man nakakaisip ng palusot si Deus ay tinuro na siya ni Theo at Rune.
"He started talking behind your back first, Lady General." Sumang-ayon naman si Rune sa sinabi ni Theo samantalang napaamang naman si Deus dahil sa pagtataksil ng mga ito.
"Tama. Sabi niya pa ay isa ka raw baliw dahil sa biglaang pagbabago mo," gatong ni Rune na ikinasinghap lalo ni Deus.
"Y-you! Lady General, I'm being slandered! I was just—" She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at them.
"Enough! Do I truly have a bad reputation for you to be that scared?" Hindi niya maiwasang itanong matapos makita ang naging reaksyon nito nang mahuli niya ang mga ito kanina.
Nagkatinginan silang tatlo na para bang may tinanong itong bagay na super obvious. Bad reputation? It's more than that. People in the garrison might respect her as a superior, but they talk behind her back every day because of her lack of compassion. A single mistake can lead you to be crippled for the rest of your life.
Her rules are absurd, and she's just sick in the head.
***
"When a beggar tried to steal a sack of rice from our ration, you whipped him ten times and hung him in the gates for a day and locked him up for another day with no food or water to drink." Couer bit her lower lip after hearing Theo's sentiments. That was indeed too much for a child. He was already whipped and hung. What's the use of locking him up and starving him for another day?
"When the new cook accidentally mixed a poisonous mushroom in our food, you tortured and interrogated him. You resorted to finding his family members and also poisoned them until he confessed and committed suicide to spare the lives of his children." Siyang turan ni Theo bago ilapag sa mesa ang inihaw niyang manok.
Wow, that's pretty excessive.
"In the capital, you are also quite famous, Lady General." Bumaling naman ang tingin nila kay Deus na ngumunguya ng mani. He tossed it in the air and opened his mouth to catch it.
"The first lady of Van Saussure, an immoral woman who killed her unborn sibling. An ugly fat beast no man would ever engage with." Her brows were unconsciously raised.
An ugly fat beast? Sa ganda ng babaeng 'to? Wow!
"Some are even questioning her chastity for staying in the frontier surrounded by hundreds of men," Deus continued. "To them, she's no lady but a brute who only knows how to wield a sword and fight like a madman. To them, she's just a vulgar woman not worthy of any diamonds and gold." Hindi maiwasang matawa ng dalaga sa narinig.
She was speechless at how detailed those insults were, as if those people were so invested in spreading negative rumors about her. It almost felt like a page of newspapers was dedicated to ruining her reputation.
Dahil sa pagtawa nito ay nagkatinginan ang tatlong itlog na kapwa napatigil sa pagkain. They expected her to turn the table over and start throwing things—but she didn't. Sa pagkakataong 'to ay walang bahid ng galit o sarkasmo ang tono nito. Animo'y tuwang-tuwa lang talaga ito sa narinig at hindi mapigilang bumunghalit ng tawa.
Awkward na nakitawa ang mga ito upang sabayan siya. They didn't expect her to care about her reputation as a lady before—knowing that she had lived her life trying to gain her father's acknowledgment by pretending to be a man.
But considering her changes these past few days, they thought she was trying to inquire about her reputation because she wanted to clear her name. But that wasn't the case.
Napakislot ang mga ito nang hampasin ng heneral ang mesa gamit ang kaliwang palad niya. Napaangat ng tingin ang mga ito at napakurap nang makita itong nakangisi sa kanila.
"Well, isn't that exciting?" Napapalakpak ito.
"Imagine what their faces would be if I became someone who is the exact opposite of those rumors?" Pinasidhan nipa ng tingin ang heneral.
She wore a white dress that flowed down her ankles and a delicate white ribbon adorned with a shimmering pearl brooch at the center of her neckline, giving her the image of a pure and well-mannered lady with a noble character.
However, this graceful exterior wasn't enough to conceal the sinister smile on her lips, hinting at a more ominous nature hidden beneath her poised facade.
Ah, I couldn't wait to get the show started.
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