✓ | The Altered Version (Fate's Transgression Series, #2) [UNDER REVISION]

TAV 01: Duchess' Modifications

CHAPTER ONE : Duchess' Modifications

Clarinette | Liana

I cannot believe this is happening!

First of all, let's get these facts straight. It has been two days since my first appearance to this world, and I thought I would be greeted with historical themes: medieval design mansion; people dressed in multilayered gowns, gloves, and fashion hats; soil and muddy roads; elegant complexion and dignified men; women being addressed as feminine and conservatives. I mean, that is what I thought for I am a designer myself and so, I had made a run through with historical attire and mannerisms. But this is beyond my knowledge.

I saw how people dressed and believe me, my eyes dazzled with their perfectly aligned fashion. Walang gender inequality when it comes to dresses, just like in my previous life. They get to wear what they want and yet, traditional dresses are retained. Halos lumuwa na ang mata ko sa nakita ko at may mas ikakaluwa pa talaga ito ng makarating ako sa House of Silverstein.

Well, I thought— since I am a Duchess per se, I would be greeted with a mansion full of maids, a butler, guards, and a red carpet. None of it happened, except I saw running maids from different directions. Nang makita nila ako ay halos mamatay sila sa gulat. Well, again, I was missing for the whole day as they said and they didn't know where to find me.

Kasalanan iyon ng dating Clarinette kasi hindi niya sinabi kung saan siya pupunta. I guess I have to be careful with that. Halos mangiyak na kasi ang aking maid na si Mitch nang makita ako, at laking pasasalamat niya daw sa Kapalaran na ligtas akong naka-uwi. Fate? Blame her for my misfortune. Kasalanan ng Kapalaran na 'yon kung bakit ako nandito.

Kagaya ng nasa ala-ala ni Clarinette, ilap ang ilan sa mga maids sa akin. The Head Maid named Consuelo is the one who's incharge of the mansion, and Tierro is the Duke's Butler. Silang tatlo ang nakausap ko pagkarating ko sa bahay dahil ang ilan ay ayaw akong lapitan. Alam ko ang daming nasa isipan ng mga bwisit na 'yon.

I'm a keen individual which is one of the factors needed for my line of work, kaya hindi ko mapigilan irapan lahat ng tao kung makatitig na parang isa akong nilalang na hindi nabibilang sa kanilang uri. I'm a human, too— a cursed human. Dahil ayaw ko naman maistress sa kanila, pinagsawalang-bahala ko na.

Nang dumating ako, agad akong inayosan ni Mitch at kinausap ng Head Maid. Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na naglayas ako kuno, pero pinagbilin ng Head Maid na huwag daw bigyan ng problema ang Duke. Sinabi ko din naman na hindi na sabihin ang nangyari at laking gulat nila dahil unang beses akong nagsalita na hindi naaayon sa dating Clarinette.

Clarinette is naive and a highly aloof individual. She doesn't talk unless spoken to or unless being asked with matters she knows. Throughout the five years of her marriage to the Duke, she stayed in her chamber. Lumalabas lamang siya kapag hapon dahil ayaw niya sa sikat ng araw; nasa hardinan siya at nagbabasa ng libro o, 'di kaya magtanim. Tinayuan din siya ng isang malawak at malaking pabilyon sa likod ng mansyon kung saan malaya siyang gawin ang gusto niya.

In short, hindi niya ginagampanan ang tungkulin niya bilang Duchess sa buong pamumuhay niya dito. Lahat ng problema sa Duchy ay hawak ng Duke noong naririto pa ito bago napasabak sa giyera. Nang umalis ang Duke, ang butler ang nag-aasikaso ng mga papeles. She's living just like she wanted to. The Duke did not mind that unless she makes a problem— which never happened kasi nga mabait ang Duchess at laging sumusunod sa utos. Their marriage wasn't consumed, for they don't have any feelings for each other. Yes, I can guarantee that kasi wala naman akong naalala o naramdaman na may pagtingin si Clarinette sa asawa niya.