Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 214: The Banquet 2

"Who did you say she is?" Prince Reuben asked, his voice low with incredulity, a faint furrow forming between his brows. His gaze narrowed slightly, as though questioning whether he had truly heard what he thought he had—or if his ears were playing tricks on him.

Percival stepped forward, his expression a strange fusion of pride and bittersweet sorrow. "Lara," he said, his voice taut with emotion. "The sister we lost two years ago. We found her."

The words landed like a thunderclap.

For a few minutes, silence hung in the air.

Then Percival felt his entire body freeze.

Alaric and Lara both turned to him in unison, eyes sharp as blades. The intensity of their twin glares sent a cold chill racing down Percival’s spine. The fine hairs on his arms stood on end, and for the first time that evening, he began to second-guess his own words.

Gideon, ever perceptive, had already sensed danger brewing. He had been throwing anxious, sidelong glances at Percival for the past minute, silently willing him to stop speaking. A swift nudge to the ribs followed—a subtle but desperate plea to shut his mouth before it was too late. But Percival, blinded by the emotion of the moment, remained oblivious. His entire focus was on the triumphant revelation that their long-lost sister now stood among them.

It was fortunate that they were quite in an isolated part of the banquet, so it was only Prince Reuben and his knight who heard what he said.

"Lara..." Reuben repeated slowly, tasting the name. He folded his arms. "So that is why the three of you have suddenly come to Calma?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Percival replied, but his voice had lost its earlier confidence. Something in Reuben’s tone unsettled him. He realized too late that he may have said too much. Can I take it back? he wondered. Is there any way to undo what I’ve just done? I already let the cat out of the bag.

Reuben’s sharp gaze flicked from Percival to Alaric. "Brother, then tell me this—why did you introduce her to me as Lara Mendel and not Lara Norse?"

Alaric didn’t flinch. "Does it matter?" he replied coldly. "She is a Mendel. The man who raised her after she was abducted was from the Mendel family."

Reuben’s mouth parted slightly, but no words came at first. Of course, it mattered! This revelation transformed everything. Lara wasn’t just a pretty face or a mysterious newcomer—she was Lara Norse, daughter of General Odin. If Reuben could secure her as his Princess Consort, he would gain the allegiance of the Norse family, and with it, unparalleled influence in the realm. He thanked the stars that he had not yet named anyone his official consort.

Just then, the moment was pierced by a sweet, singsong voice. "There you are, My Prince. The banquet is about to begin."

Lady Amielle glided toward them, her tone dripping with sugary affection. Her gaze drifted to Lara, and for the briefest second, a flash of something cold and calculating flickered in her eyes.

She smiled, falsely warm. "Ah, so this is the beautiful lady accompanying Prince Alaric. Your Highness," she turned to Alaric with a questioning brow, "is she your new concubine?"

Before any of Lara’s brothers could spring to her defense, Lara’s voice rang out, crisp and glacial.

"I am not."

"She is not," Alaric echoed, his tone sharp and unyielding.

The synchronized rebuttal took Amielle aback. Her smile wavered, and her eyes narrowed just slightly. Was this woman not content with the idea of being a royal concubine? What did she want, then—the title of Princess Consort? She dares dream above her station? She is not worthy.

Lara held Amielle’s gaze, her expression unreadable but piercing. She was studying her, measuring her carefully. And in that moment, she understood exactly the kind of woman Prince Reuben kept in his company.

Amielle, unsettled by the intensity of Lara’s stare, instinctively moved to stand half a step behind Prince Reuben, as though seeking his protection.

Reuben frowned, clearly displeased. His voice turned sharp with reprimand. "What are you doing, Amielle? You haven’t introduced yourself to our guests."

"My apologies, My Prince." Amielle stepped forward again, her voice softer now, tinged with embarrassment. "Hello. I am Amielle, Prince Reuben’s concubine."

Lara inclined her head with polite indifference. "Nice to meet you, Lady Amielle. You can call me Lara."

After the introduction, Reuben and Amielle left to entertain other guests while the Norse brothers offered their sister wine and snacks.

Alaric, on the other hand, was pulled by some of the nobles, including Baron Yanez, who specifically came when they learned about the banquet.

When the music started playing, Reuben was coincidentally standing next to Lara. He offered her his hand as an invitation to dance.

Could I defy a prince?

In the end, Lara relented and accepted the offer. Reuben smiled smugly as he met Alaric’s stormy obsidian orbs from the far end of the banquet hall.

He was still wearing that mocking smile when they opened the dance floor.

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Prelude to the Journey

A/N: Hello all, I am providing descriptions of some of the places featured in this book to help you gain a deeper understanding of the setting.

Northem - One of the four kingdoms that comprised the big island of the modern-day country of Azurverda. Located in the North and the most powerful among the four kingdoms.

Savadra - Capital of Northem

The three other kingdoms of the ancient Azurverda: novelbuddy.cσ๓

Estalis at the East, bordered by the Alta-Sierra mountain range. Most coastal towns, except for Carles and the four surrounding towns, are territories under Estalis.

Westalis at the West, bordered by the Zandaya mountain range. Similar to Estalis, the Kingdom of Westalis was a stretch of coastal towns on the west, agricultural farmlands in the middle, and mining towns on the eastern side.

Zura at the South, separated from the North by the River Praya, a long, wide, deep river. The river was fed by the water from the Zandaya mountain range, and it stretched for 1,200 kilometers and emptied into the Estalis sea.

Centuria - A vast expanse of farmlands that used to be an independent kingdom located in the central part of the island. It was annexed by Northem when the Kromwels first established their rule.

Alta-Sierra mountain range. Consisting of twenty peaks, the five southern peaks are described below.