Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 231: Princess and the Pauper

Lara’s face remained perfectly still, her expression unreadable. They watched her carefully, bracing for the crack in her composure, the outburst, the pain.

The solution had already been quietly decided: if Lara showed even the slightest hurt, they would return Mira to her family. Compensation would be given—money, inheritance, whatever was needed to make things right.

But Lara simply breathed in, slow and steady. Her eyes lingered on Mira’s perfect smile, then drifted back to her father. Could she blame them? she wondered bitterly. When she had been gone, they had been alone. Grieving... Lost... And Mira had slipped into that emptiness like a phantom, filling the void with light and laughter.

Lara straightened her back, the storm of emotion settling behind her eyes. "I understand," she said softly, her voice steady, "Thank you for explaining."

Reya sobbed openly, her face crumpled with grief and fury, both for Lara and herself. "But Miss..."

Bener shot her a sharp glance, silencing her with a flick of his hand.

"It was Mira’s two maids who struck Lara and Reya," Bener said slowly, voice low and measured, as if afraid the words themselves might shatter. "The next thing they knew, they were bound in a carriage..." He stopped, his mouth tightening.

Lara’s eyes found Galahad’s. She searched his expression, pleading for answers she couldn’t remember. Did he investigate? What did he find out? Lara had no memory of what happened. Only Reya told her about their abduction.

Galahad cleared his throat. "I investigated. The maids acted on their own. One of them was Hook’s woman. The trafficker’s original target was Mira, but the maid couldn’t bring herself to hurt her mistress. When she learned that you were coming, she conspired with Hook. The abduction was planned, and the staging of your death—that was Hook’s idea."

Lara held Galahad’s gaze, searching for cracks, for dishonesty, but found none. Her eyes drifted to Bener then Reya, who stood rigid, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles blanched white. Her gaze was pinned to the floor, but when she looked up, her eyes burned with raw, unfiltered hate—aimed squarely at Mira.

Lara noticed the way Reya looked at Mira as if she wanted to strangle her. Her maid was convinced it was Mira’s doing. Could she be right? Lara’s mind churned. Was it Hook behind the plot, or had Mira woven herself into their lives with more cunning than anyone suspected?

Galahad had found nothing, but that only meant Mira was better at hiding her tracks.ve covered her tracks well.

Lara’s eyes flicked to where Mira stood, demure and poised near the door. She looked angelic—flawless even—but Lara remembered the flicker of coldness she’d seen earlier, a crack in that serene mask. Was she imagining it? Or was that a glimpse of something far darker?

"Father, Mother, Lara must be tired from the journey. Why don’t we go in first so she can rest?" Gideon, who was silent throughout, spoke. He looked at Lara with concern. "Even I am tired, so she must be exhausted."

"Of course, how could I be thoughtless?" Freya said, her tone laced with contrition. She squeezed Lara’s hand with a burst of motherly enthusiasm. "Darling, let’s go inside. Your room is just as you left it."

Lara felt the warmth creeping up to her heart. Though she could not remember her room, they kept it and did not let Mira use it.

"Mother," Mira said, her voice pitiful. "How about we let Lara join us? Aren’t you going to present me to the guests together with Father? The guests are already waiting. We can also let people know that Sister has come back."

Asael frowned. While Lara’s dress looked decent, it was too plain for the occasion. "Lara is not appropriately dressed, Mira. Let her change first."

"I’m sorry, Brother. I was thoughtless."

Freya’s grip on Lara tightened. "Come," she urged, nearly breathless with excitement. "I kept my dress from my coming-of-age ceremony. It should fit you perfectly." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Lara was helpless as her mother pulled her by the hand and led her inside the courtyard. She glanced back at Reya, who stood there stiffly, holding Sandoz by his hand.

"Reya, what are you waiting for? Come along," Lara called back, her voice softer now. She turned toward Bener, her eyes earnest. "Please take care of Sandoz."

Bener gave a nod of understanding. He had always been the one Sandoz clung to. Among her brothers, it was Bener whom the boy trusted most.

The wooden doors of Norse Mansion swung open, revealing a sprawling courtyard that glimmered under the weight of festivity. Silk ribbons and flower garlands hung from every pillar, and guests—dressed in their finest—whispered among themselves as the Norse family stepped forward. At the far end, an elevated platform waited, draped in petals and shimmering cloth.

When Percival arrived earlier, he only announced to his parents and siblings that Lara was coming home. None of the guests knew about it.

Now that all guests had their eyes turned toward them, General Odin was compelled to introduce his daughter.

General Odin stepped forward, voice booming across the courtyard, drawing all eyes. "Everyone, as you know, two years ago, we thought that our daughter, Lara, had died. It broke our hearts..." His voice faltered, raw with unspent grief. He took a breath, steadying himself. "But Heaven is kind. Our daughter has returned to us. She did not die."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. "But didn’t we see her body?" a relative whispered, disbelief threading through their tone.

Odin’s jaw clenched. "It was a deception," he announced, voice harder now. "A wicked plot against our family. But Lara survived. Heaven protected her." His eyes shone with pride and gentleness as he looked at her.

Beside Lara, Mira stood impeccably poised, her smile unyielding. But her hands—were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white and her nails bit into her own palms. She was dressed beautifully, a vision of elegance, while Lara wore simple travel clothes. Mira straightened her back, lifting her chin and turning on her most dazzling smile.

"Doesn’t Lara look like a pauper compared to Mira? The birthday celebrant looked very much like a princess." One voice murmured

"But she just came from a long journey, what do you expect?" another replied.

But even in simple clothes, didn’t she look stunning?"

"Look at her, so tall. Mira’s eyes just reached her chin. I hope I can be as tall as her."

"Look at her chest and her waist; they are so narrow. I am envious."

Amelia, who was listening to the murmurs around her felt uncomfortable. Her gaze were trained on Lara when she entered the doorway. Of course she recognized her right away. They grew up together. She was taller than her the last time they met. But how could she become so beautiful with unblemish face and a body that resembled an hour glass?

Mira’s smile tightened, and Lara caught the flicker of coldness again—a shadow that passed too quickly to name. But Lara had seen it. And she wouldn’t forget.