Female Man

Chapter Three – The Visitors.

The Royal Army also mourned their General. Deputy Commissioner Wright was to be sworn in as General soon.

Lillian came visiting the camp.

“Lillian, wait, please. Lillian” screamed Prescott, a soldier of the royal army. He had a dark long hair that seemed to glitter, and emerald eyes that seems deep.

“What a loss. I heard of it. The a*******n of the General. I’m so sorry" he said.

Lillian just stared at his eyes. It made her feel strange, she snapped out of it, and then she sent him a hard glare.

“Oh, yeah. You heard it, now…Since last week. And now it’s Lillian…Plain Lillian. Right?” she asked.

“Umm… No disrespect but we’re just friends now. I mean your dad isn’t my teacher anymore. I always wanted to call you by your name without titles so we can just be normal friends, right?” Prescott’s voice seemed like he would cry.

Lillian felt disgusted. She looked at those emerald eyes with pure hatred but why, her father always commended him. But she knew why? They all failed to protect her father, they fought brave for their kingdom but forgot their General. And now her father is being replaced with some gifts and a box of pure gold coins and some useless honors.

“Friends? Look Prescott, I’m going through a lot I don’t have time for this……I don’t have time for this” responded Lady Lillian while she made an attempt to leave.

Prescott came in front of her saying “I’m the son of the Duke of Kansai capital city of our great Latvian. Despite the fact that I’m your father’s subordinate doesn’t mean you should look down on me. I won’t.... ”

“What’s your point exactly…… you are a duke son and all? Because I know all that already” interrupted Lady Lillian.

“I mean...” he said and walked towards Lillian till he was close enough to see her brown eyes shaking with…fear? Or worry? He wasn’t sure. “I’m worth being your friend.” he continued. This time Lillian blinked due to the closeness. She cursed the wall behind her preventing her from moving backwards.

Their eyes were glued to each other’s. Just at that awkward moment, there was a sound of a trumpet. It was a victory trumpet. Lillian pushed Prescott away and moved towards the sound. Prescott followed her with curiosity. “What? How?” were her last words before she fainted. The General was back.

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Looking at the visitors, Princess Amelia could easily guess that they weren’t Latvianites but neither were they Konian or from any kingdom she knew. “They could be local travelers” she thought. She was still clueless on how they had saved the General from the Konian forces. She was thankful to them, for taking care of him. She also hoped they weren’t magic users. Now, she just had to wait patiently for them to finish eating and cleaning up then they would meet the court to earn their benefits. “All is well again” the Princess smiled.

The visitors; a little girl, and two men explained that they were farmers who were farming when they saw the general laying amongst the crops. Well, looking at their dressings, the little girl had her hair styled and her skin glowed. She was putting on a casual cloth but it didn’t look like a poor farmer’s clothes.

The men, well one of them, wore a blue gown on a farmers boot, he had a hat on. The other man wore a big black shirt on red trousers. He wore some boots and a hat on too. The King knew they don’t look like farmers but he wouldn’t enquire just yet. “Thank you, my daughter would give you your rewards as a sign of gratitude from us” the King said as he made to leave.

“Thank you, your highness but I have a better favor to ask”.

The King glanced at the elderly man that had spoken. What other favor did he need? “And what is it?” the King’s voice was now stern. There was silence for a while. The little girl nudged at the younger man to speak up but he didn’t. “You can ask your favors tomorrow, sirs” said Princess Amelia breaking the silence. All eyes went to her. “The King needs his sleep for it is late. You need rest too. We are still grateful to you for your help” she continued. The king left angrily. The elderly man and the little girl bowed at her and began leaving but for some reasons unknown, the younger man kept looking at her.

Amelia was used to getting admired by men. Like when a Konian Prince had asked for her hand in marriage for an alliance, she had refused even if it was for the best of her kingdom. She would never want to serve idols like the Konians or watch her children practice sorcery. Lillian had decided to be married off in her stead.

The younger man’s gaze was intent holding no emotions. “Kiera” the little girl called. For a split second, Amelia wondered if ‘Kiera’ wasn’t a female’s name. She peered into the young man eyes and realized that ‘he’ could be a ‘she’. He really looked feminine in a way. His eyes stretched to his sides. He had soft, light pink lips and his jaw sloped downwards smoothly. “Kiera” the girl called again. He didn’t still move. What was wrong?

As Amelia slept that night, her mind drifted to the drama that happened that day with the younger man and the little girl. Well Amelia wasn’t sure what gender he was but she could find out the next day. The ‘girl man’ had kept looking at her intently till the little girl brought out a red handkerchief and waved it in front of him. He blinked and looked away shyly. “Why shyly?” Amelia thought. As he walked towards the elderly man, the elderly man made to slap him but he held his hands and dropped it down. All this in front of the court. Amelia noticed he walked like a young woman, step by step. He had not spoken yet so perhaps he was a woman. The elderly man had introduced himself as Sam, the little girl, who he added was his daughter, as Jolly but the younger man, nothing was said about him.