Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 224: The Journey: Intimate moments

"It was the Norse sibling who investigated, Your Highness." Aramis started recounting what happened when they arrived last night. They traced the culprit to the waiter, who later on revealed that he was offered a hefty sum to tamper with the water, introducing the medicine that caused an upset stomach. freēnovelkiss.com

Alaric pursed his lips. He underestimated Reuben’s cunning. But what was his purpose? He confirmed one thing, though. The mayor was his person, but why did he let the others die?

Alaric was thinking deeply for a few minutes, and Aramis hesitated before asking.

"When do we leave, Your Highness?"

"Let the soldiers rest for now. We shall depart around mid-morning." Alaric knew that his men were exhausted after a long night punctuated by the constant trips to the outhouse. The fatigue hung over them like a heavy shroud, and he felt a pang of sympathy for their plight.

"The other soldier, the one injured by the arrow, how is he?" Alaric inquired, concern etching lines across his brow.

"The wound is merely superficial, Your Highness. Rene is recovering well." Aramis replied, his voice steady, offering a reassuring smile amidst the tension.

"The two prisoners, since they are already dead, let the mayor send them back to their families in Calma. Let two soldiers accompany them. Tell the family that it was the bandits who harmed them, and it is my mercy that I return the body to them."

Aramis nodded, then he shifted his gaze to Lara.

"How is Agilus?’ He took the bold step to ask Lara directly instead of Alaric.

"He looks better than last night." Lara, who was standing on the side of the bed, took his pulse and deemed it normal.

"By the way, make sure that they boil the water that will be served later," Lara said without looking at Aramis. Her focus remained on Agilus, who would be waking anytime soon, judging by how fast his eye movements were/

Aramis nodded and headed down the stairs.

Lara left Alaric’s room and entered the room opposite his. She was still tired and wanted to catch up on sleep.

Reya and Sandoz were still sleeping peacefully. She slipped into the bed closer to the wall and entered dreamland immediately.

When Lara woke, the soft scent of lavender and steam hung in the air. The wooden tub nestled near the door—partially hidden behind a modest folding screen—was already filled with water that shimmered faintly with warmth. Reya and Sandoz were nowhere to be seen. Likely, they were outside inspecting the place.

The bathing area wasn’t truly a separate room, merely a curtained-off corner that borrowed privacy from a woven partition. Nearby, an empty wooden bucket rested neatly against the wall, ready for rinsing. Reya had prepared everything just the way Lara liked it. She always washed her hair first, letting the warm water cascade over her scalp before she settled into the bath. She did not want to get the tub dirty when she rinsed off the shampoo in her hair.

She preferred to take a bath in the morning rather than in the evening. She felt fresher if she started her day with a morning bath.

Lowering herself into the tub, Lara let out a quiet breath as the water enveloped her body. But as the heat began to soothe her muscles, a subtle unease crept in. Her brows knit together. She hadn’t heard a single thing—not Reya filling the tub, not the footsteps, not even the opening of the door. That wasn’t like her. She was trained to wake at the softest sound, the faintest shift in air.

Was I that exhausted? she wondered. Or are my instincts dulling? The thought settled like a stone in her chest. In her world, lowered awareness was a luxury one couldn’t afford. What if someone with ill intent had entered instead of Reya?

What she didn’t know was that Alaric had quietly slipped Reya a small satchel of incense the moment the servant went out of the room. It was an herbal blend designed to deepen rest. He wanted her to sleep even for a few hours. And it had worked.

After her bath, she knocked on the opposite door but nobody opened it. She knocked on the opposite door, expecting no response. Perhaps Alaric had gone down to fetch something. When no answer came, she turned the handle and stepped inside, the door yielding easily beneath her hand.

What she saw made her pause.

Steam curled in the air, veiling the room in a soft haze. Behind the partition—one made of thin, translucent reed paper—stood the unmistakable silhouette of a man. Broad shoulders. Tapered waist. Water gliding down his back in quiet rivulets.

Prince Alaric.

Lara was not flustered, but she apologized. "I am sorry, Your Highness. I thought you were not in the room." With that, she turned around and reached for the door handle when Alaric’s voice stopped her.

"Can you please pass me that linen cloth on the chair?" Alaric asked, his voice deep and smooth.

Lara turned around and saw the linen cloth that looked like a towel. The cloth was neatly folded, draped over the back of a nearby chair. She picked it up without comment and approached the partition. Without a hint of fluster, she extended her arm and handed it to him.

Alaric’s hand brushed hers as he took it. His face was flushed, whether from heat or embarrassment, she couldn’t say. But Lara’s expression remained unchanged—cool, composed, unreadable.

She didn’t avert her gaze. Didn’t rush away. Just offered a polite nod before stepping back.

Was she oblivious? Unmoved? Didn’t she like me? Alaric’s thoughts were chaotic. And his heart was beating fast. He tried to compose himself as he wrapped the cloth around himself and muttered a quiet, "Thank you," his voice still deep, and hoarse.

"Why is your voice so hoarse, Your Highness? Are you sick?" Lara asked in a concerned voice. She stepped beyond the partition, wanting to check Alaric ’s temperature.

Prince Alaric was taken aback when he found Lara standing in front of him beside the tub.

The wooden tub almost toppled over when he hastily submerged himself in the water.

Lara: "..."