The wind blows softly through the open window illuminating the dazzling scenery beyond the window that contains an endless blue sky that is radiant as can be covered in warm fluffy white clouds. Lena yawns loudly as she leans back against some lavish, puffy and very comfortable pillows on a golden embroidered couch. Lena easily ignores the peaceful view pretending to read the open book in her lap. Lost in her own thoughts, Lena fails to hear her maid, Holly pushing a cart piled with food.

Holly is a short and petite female, who is quite bossy at that. But her bossy nature is often mistaken as a cute part of her character due to her physical appearance, strawberry blond hair and big hazel eyes. Holly primly soothes out her maid uniform before she places her hands on her hips and chirps, “Why must you insist on only wearing men pants and clothes, which is scandalous, to say the least! But please at least cease to wear that outlandish clothing and remove your filthy boots from the couch, that my Lady is a priceless antique!”

Lena doesn’t raise an eyebrow at Holly’s tone of voice, but rather enjoys the soothing sound of Holly’s voice. Holly is rather adorable, to begin with, and when Holly gets mad her cheeks turn rosy making her even more adorable. It was tragic to say, but Lena had an Achilles heel for cute things.

Holly sputters indignation upon finding no reaction. “Lady Lena, as the only daughter of the illustrious Duke Bartholomew of Fallujah, you should comport yourself as the proper lady that you are!” Holly firmly reprimanded as she purposely whips out the pillows from underneath her lady.

With a loud oof, Lena falls backward against the couch and finds herself staring at the upside-down face of Holly. “Holly, your mouth looks like a frog like this,” Lena teasingly said. Holly glares at her lady as she slams the soft pillow into Lena’ face. Lena lets out a muffled off as Holly stomps back to the cart and rather brusquely prepares a cup of tea.

Lena sighs as she removes the pillow from her and rises to her feet. Lena leisurely stretches her arms over her head as her back pops in relief. Trotting over to a small fine table next to an open window, Lena seats herself upon the expensively carved, cushioned chair and stares idly out the window. Some of the maid’s children play on the lawn as several squire’s spars with wooden sticks against each other. Lena’s lips curve into a small smile until she catches a glimpse of a woman’s reflection in the glass panel.

The woman wears a white buttoned shirt with a blue waistcoat and a black silk tailored trousers. She has untouched smooth skin like ivory accompanied by a proportioned face that holds bright sapphire colored eyes and luscious red lips. Her glossy, straight red hair hangs freely just barely reaching past her ample chest. In fact, this woman has a body made for sin. Her chest is large enough to be soft, but small enough to remain perfectly firm. Even though she is rather tall compared to most women, she has a curved waist, slim legs, and a rounded behind. There is just one problem, that woman happens to be Lena.

Lena’s gloomy thoughts are rudely interrupted by Holly, who rather pointedly and loudly places a cup of tea on the table with a platter of sugary snacks. Holly sniffs and politely says, “Is there anything else I can do for my Lady?”

Lena smiles ruefully as she impishly replies, “How about a smile?” Holly snorts under her breath and turns on her heels. Holly’s short figure quickly disappears as her skirts swoosh and sway away quite angrily. Lena thoughtfully reaches for a cookie and munch on it slowly, before taking a sip of the lavender tea. After a moment, Lena raises her gaze to the sky as the picturesque scenery fades away from view and she remembers her previous life.

Back then Lena had been born to her unwed teenage mother, Sarah Miller. Lena had never known either of her parents as upon being born, Lena had been handed over to social services who had, in turn, thrust her upon her uncle, John Hawkwood, (her mother’s half-brother). 28 years old, John suddenly found himself saddled with a newborn child. But for some unknown reason, he and his all-male mercenary squad, “The White Company,” decided to keep Lena. (But to Lena, John was more than an uncle, but her mom and dad. And that was exactly what she called him, Dad, to his great embarrassment.)

Lena’s dad and uncles, did their best to teach her ethics, morality and for the most part, it worked except when it didn’t. Being the only female in the group, Lena would frequently boss them around. Her family naturally gave her the nickname name, “The General.” They would tease Lena and tell anyone within earshot of her nickname.

In turn, Lena got the last laugh as at the tender age of four, Lena confessed her dreams of becoming a mercenary as well. There were tears and screams shed in the following days, but finally, a ceasefire was reached. To prepare to try and dissuade Lena from her career choice, her dad and uncles taught Lena everything there was to know: hunting, close quarters combat, wrestling, martial arts, survival trips into the wild, weapon mastery, weapon and black-market values/currency, foreign languages, etc.

Tall and freckled, Lena found romance out of sight of her parental figures. (Despite having plenty of lovers, Lena never found a permanent or long-standing relationship.) But her unique passion for History regarding military battles/ tactics allowed Lena to graduate in three years with a history teaching degree. And finally, just 19 years old, Lena was initiated into the mercenary group as the first official female member of the “White Company.” The entire purpose of the group was to provide support on Black OP missions, distracting the enemy and clearing the way. And everything was just perfect until the day of their betrayal.

Trapped behind enemy lines and left with no alternatives, the White Company faced their only choice left to fight and die together. Lena still bitterly remembers the faces of her family as they fought and fell. Out of the 17 individuals that entered the jungle that day only one woman ever made it out alive.

It took roughly fifteen years, but Lena finally avenged her family. Thirty-four years old, Lena suddenly found herself at a loss on what to do with her life, when an old friend extended an invitation to Lean to come teach in Osaka, Japan. A new program was being initiated to increase contact between the children being taught on base and off base. Without a second to lose, Lena accepted the proposal.

Naturally, Lena loved her new students even if some required extra care and attention. But after gaining a taste of her most firm loving and tender care, her students became model citizens. To make English learning stimulating, Lena took an unorthodox approach to teaching. Lena would play games or read the manga and the likes provided her students were able to correctly translate said dialogue into English. Most of the girls and boys choose otome games which Lena had never heard of, (including light novels, manga, and anime).

Lena’s students were surprised when Lena did not react negatively as the games or other alternative choices only became more risqué. Though Lena had to admit some of the character graphics even she found attractive. But swiftly afterward, Lena would most pointedly explain that such men and women in real life were no good.

Too soon, Lena found herself saying a tearful goodbye to her cute students. While in the middle of finishing her last class of the year, a white circle appeared beneath them. When they all came too, a crowned figure stood before them, a King. The King explained that they had all been summoned as via an ancient, sacred ceremony to defeat the Demon King in their world.

While the King spoke, Lena idly wondered, if perhaps, Japan was cursed by the universe. Because in all the stories she had ever read, some poor Japanese sap was always reborn or being transported to another world. But in Lena’s case, she sadly had the tragic misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, Lena’s students, on the other hand, found themselves excited at the surreal situation. Lena had wanted to lecture them and explain that their current situation was not a game, but a matter of life and death. But sadly, Lena’s students were merely children, who in the end would be unable to understand her words until they were forced to face their brutal reality.

Lena could only vow to herself to protect her students from the clutches of the Demon King, but most importantly from themselves and anyone that would use them. Because Lena blatantly refused to allow for any situation that would allow a student to become a twisted MC. Lena was not about to let all her efforts of that year go to waste, simply because of bigotry.

After the King’s speech, they were all led to a temple that held a shiny crystal ball. A temple priestess explained that the sacred orb would unlock their heroic title. The more powerful the title the stronger the heroic abilities would be. Naturally, Lena was the first to volunteer to go up. Lena’s heroic abilities awakened with the heroic title, “The General,” an A-Class hero rank with superb skills.

Innate Physical Forte: superb physical strength and health, Rank B.

Innate Magical Forte: the ability to use magic or spells, Rank D.

Innate Physical Resistance: able to resist against physical attacks, Rank B.

Innate Magic Resistance: able to resist against magic attacks, Rank C.

Weapon Domination: ability to successfully use any weapon/item considered a weapon, Rank A.

Military Knowledge: the ability to use past and present knowledge on the battlefield, Rank S.

Subordinate Radar: sensing subordinate’s location and current physical state at all times, Rank B.

Headship Control: able to lead and earn faith and trust of subordinates, Rank B.

Ultimate Cognizance: ability to resist against all mind/emotional influences/attacks, Rank S.

Lena bitterly watched her students go forth and test themselves. And despite Lena’s personal feelings, Lena would clap and cheer every time one of her students regardless of their heroic rank. The King had wanted to separate the students into high and low-ranking heroes. But Lena blatantly refused and firmly stated, that they were comrades from another world that would stick together until the end.

Some of Lena’s students were already big-headed and if given a chance, they would surely become even more so. Which led to some of her students needing a reminder of her tender love and care. Luckily for both parties, Lena’s students swiftly learned the error of their ways. Battle forced her students to grow and mature, but most especially those with low hero titles. Their titles grew at an incredible pace and evolve to rival those of a high hero rank. Despite this great joy, the first of Lean’s students died, Hana, a ranger. But worst of all, Hana was only the first.

Three years after arriving on the world of Gemini, they finally reached the Demon King’s castle. A fierce battle raged with neither side backing down until one of Lena’s students was capture a female mage by the name of Madoka was taken hostage by the Demon King himself.

Knowing what she had to do, Lena ordered her students to attack when the signal was given and forced them to retreat. Laying her weapons down on the ground, Lena offered a trade for herself in exchange for Madoka. Without hesitation, the Demon King snapped Madoka’s neck and tossed Madoka aside like lint as the Demon King’s blade pierced through Lena’s body.

Coughing out blood, Lena firmly wrapped her arms around the Demon King and refused to budge even under the furious attacks of the Demon King. With tears in Lena’s student’s eyes, the students cast their ultimate spells and unleashed their might attacks. The Demon King tried to desperately escape the deadly barrage of attacks to no avail.

The last thing Lena remembered is the crying faces of her beloved students in the distance. As Lean slipped into darkness, Lena finally understood her Dad’s and Uncles feelings as they watched her leave in order to live. The feeling of loss, joy, fear, sadness and lastly that of hope.

A loud cough rudely snaps Lena out of her daze causing Lena to almost choke in surprise. Lena warily turns to face her attacker as Holly emotionlessly says, “If my Lady is done, I would like to clean the study room, now.”

“Oh, yes,” Lena hurriedly said and swiftly scrambles away. Lena walks down the richly carpeted, illuminated hallway as maids and manservants go about their various duties to only pause and curtsy before Lena, before continuing on their way. With great relief, Lena finally arrives at her luxurious bedroom and lazily kick off her boots. No doubt, Holly would yell at her later, but it was well worth it. Lean lazily falls onto her fluffy soft bed to take a long nap. As Lena drifts away, she sincerely hopes, Holly won’t come back until it’s time for dinner.

* Prologue 1.2- ~ POV of Holly (Lena’s Maid) ~

Holly rather crossly finishes tidying the study. The open window curtains flutter gently in the breeze catching her attention. And for a moment Holly can see the melancholy figure of her, Lady Lena staring into the distance. Holly’s heart plummets as she bitterly sighs to herself. It’s just that she can’t stand the sight of her energetic Lady being idle. Even as children Lady Lena would always be found moving about, whether fishing for fish in the pond, climbing trees on the grounds, or running barefoot across the lawn.

Holly had always cherished how Lady Lena never treated her differently, because of the circumstances of her birth or her lowly rank as that of a maid. Holly knew that to Lady Lena, Holly was no mere maid, but a precious childhood friend.

Sighing rather loudly, Holly fails to notice, the handsome older gentlemen with glistening white hair in an immaculate butler’s suit. A polite cough interrupts Holly’s musing as her heart pounds rather loudly in fright. With a small gasp, Holly hastily curtsies apologetically to Sebastian, the Head Butler.

Sebastian’s emotionless face twitches slightly into a faint smile. “Holly, where is Lady Lena?” Sebastian imperturbably said.

Holly’s head droops forward as she shamefully replies, “I didn’t mean to be curt, Sebastian,” Holly apologized as she raises her glistening eyes, “But Milady, did nothing wrong and yet Lady Lena was falsely accused and imprisoned! And worst of all, Lady Lena has had that melancholic expression on her face for these last two years as she wastes away! I merely wish for Lady Lena to return to the way she was.”

Sebastian in an uncharacteristic act gingerly pats Holly on the head. “I know and understand your wishes, Holly. We all wish for the return of our Lady, but it shan’t be so easy,” Sebastian lightly said.

Holly sniffs as she accepts a handkerchief from Sebastian. Sebastian glances down at a golden pocket watch, before snapping it shut. Sebastian promptly says, “Holly, you are behind schedule. Please proceed to your next destination, we mustn’t neglect our duties.”

With a click of his heels, Sebastian elegantly exits the room as Holly finishes collecting herself. Holly swiftly finishes her errands before quietly entering her Lady’s room. To her surprise, Holly finds her lady tossing and turning in her sleep.

Holly hears the Lady mutter faintly in her sleep, “Sorry.” Holly’s heart plummets in her chest as she firmly decides to allow her Lady to continue to rest, before silently leaving. With determined steps, Holly’s skirt flounces as she marches to the kitchen to inform that her Lady would not be dining tonight.