Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 225: The Journey: The Enigmatic Woman

Lara chuckled. "Your Highness, are you shy?" She said in a teasing tone.

Alaric gritted his teeth, a surge of frustration bubbling beneath the surface. How could this woman remain so calm and unaffected? She was acting as if she was accustomed to witnessing such sights? The rugged mountains had surrounded her for over two years now, shielding her from the world—yet here she stood, unfazed and serene, in front of a half-naked man.

Lara felt that Alaric would stay in the tub unless she left. She didn’t expect that men were so ’prim and proper’ in ancient times, unlike the men during the 21st century, who would parade their naked bodies with pride.

She went to check on Agilus who was still sleeping. She undid the bandage and applied medicinal salve on his wound before dressing it, then left the room in a hurry.

Alaric heaved a sigh of relief. He hurriedly left the tub and got dressed before joining the others in having breakfast.

...

Their subsequent journey was uneventful. They only made stops when necessary to make up for the lost time. Even lunch was taken in a rush.

Then they arrived at the town of Legares and had to stay the night. It was the same inn where Kane and Aramis had previously stopped to change horses and to have dinner.

Like most inns in the towns, the ground floor was designated as dining hall and the sleeping quarters were on the second and third floors. Since the restaurant would soon be closed, Alaric and the Norse siblings decided to have dinner first before settling at the second floor.

There were only a few guests in the dining hall, and they occupied only two tables. They were travelling merchants whose weary faces were illuminated by flickering candlelight placed on the rustic wooden tables.

They stopped sharing tales from their travels; all eyes were drawn to the woman who entered with her servant and little boy.

Her dress was simple, but Lara looked stunning. She was wearing wide-legged black pants and a comfortable powder blue blouse with loose sleeves that stopped a little below her elbows. The sleeves’ hems were sheared, and there was a cute little ribbon on them.

Her grace was magnetic, and the way she moved through the room commanded their attention, leaving them momentarily spellbound. They exchanged glances, then gawked at her.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" Percival was pissed off by the way the rowdy men who have a few drinks were looking at their sister. They were following Lara behind, but they were delayed by something. Now the three protected her, blocking her from the merchant’s line of sight.

When the merchants saw the fierce-looking men and guards accompanying Lara and Reya, they gave up the idea of hitting on her. With companions like that, they wouldn’t dare be within a meter’s distance from her.

The Norse brothers scrambled to pull a chair for Lara. She could not help but smile as she watched her brothers do everything they could to please her. A warm, fuzzy feeling enveloped her.

When Alaric entered the dining hall, his brows furrowed when he noticed Lara’s table was fully occupied. Alaric could only choose a table beside them. He gave instructions to Aramis, and in no time, he moved the table and joined it with Lara’s table. He was now sitting opposite Lara and flanked by Redon and Aramis.

Halfway through the meal, Lara saw the same woman who had approached her last time approach Alaric. She said a few words, and Alaric’s face turned cold.

"Throw her out," he stated in a voice devoid of emotion. His eyes were cold and piercing.

The woman trembled. "Sir, have mercy," She pleaded, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. "If you refuse to see her, I will undoubtedly face a punishment worse than death." Her words were filled with desperation.

Lara’s gaze landed on Ararmis, who was sitting beside Alaric. Aramis smiled, as if he remembered something. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"Then, die," Alaric said without mercy.

The woman continued to cry as hysterically as she was being led away.

"What are you smiling at?" Alaric asked, irked by how Aramis and Lara looked at each other as if they knew something he did not.

Aramis suddenly closed his mouth and turned serious. "Your Highness, last time that we were here, that woman approached Kane and said exactly the same thing.

A mesmerizing fragrance wafted through the room as a tall and slender woman glided in through the back door. She was like a black swan emerging from a tale spun in the moonlight. Her gown flowed around her like liquid rubies, the blood red color a striking contrast against her fair skin. She radiated an intoxicating blend of allure, sophistication, and undeniable seduction, captivating all gazes in her direction.

"Holy shit! I should have pushed Kane to accept if I knew the one inviting was a beauty like her." Aramis exclaimed.

Lara was surprised. If Aramis, known for his disinterest in women, was showing signs of being captivated, what then of the Prince Alaric? " Would he be under her spell? She looked toward her brothers and saw the same look of infatuation.

"How wonderful. So many handsome men tonight. I am so lucky." The woman sat beside the vacant seat beside Aramis, as Redon had not come back yet.

Alaric seemed in a daze, his gaze unfocused as if he was peering through a dense mist that enveloped his thoughts. He blinked slowly, fighting a battle against the weight of confusion pressing down on him. He shook his head, attempting to clear the fog that clouded his mind, though it clung stubbornly, shrouding his mind’s clarity.

Lara suddenly figured it out. There was something about the woman’s fragrance.

"What did you do to them?" She asked in a cold voice.

The woman laughed. It sounded like heavenly music to the men who were in the room. "What do you mean, little girl? Are you jealous because the men accompanying you are intoxicated by my beauty?"

Lara moved fast. She took something from her backpack and...

"Ahhh!"