Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 240: A Parent’s Pride, A Sister’s Jealousy

Half an hour ago..

From the stone-carved balcony above the training grounds, Odin and Freya watched in silence. Freya’s eyes shimmered with a blend of pride and concern, her fingers gently twisting the edge of her silk shawl. Beside her, Odin stood with military precision—hands clasped tightly behind his back, expression carefully neutral. Only the faint tension in his jaw betrayed his thoughts.

"She’s not the same little girl from two years ago," Freya murmured, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Lara as she dipped and spun, effortlessly evading her brothers’ strikes. The girl moved with lethal grace—each step measured, each parry smooth. A tremor of sadness in Freya’s voice was softened by admiration. "She is no longer my little girl. Somehow, I could feel the change in her. She’s a bit colder and distant."

If Lara had heard what Freya said, she would have cried, for she knew that as long as she could remember, she had shown her warmest self last night.

"No," Odin agreed quietly, eyes never leaving the sparring match. "She’s more."

Freya turned to him, one eyebrow arched in mild surprise. "You don’t seem surprised."

Odin’s gaze remained steady, unyielding. "I’m not. She disguised herself as a man and fought alongside the soldiers of Northem to reclaim Calma." He watched as Lara disarmed Galahad with a swift thrust of her spear, the weapon clattering to the ground as he stumbled back, breathless. Odin’s eyes flickered with a hint of pride. "That’s where I first met her. That man, Kane Mendel, that’s what she called herself. The resemblance to Asael was... uncanny." He paused and looked at his wife teasingly. "Even I doubted if I fathered a child outside without my knowledge."

Freya glared at him and gave him a sharp jab in the abdomen. Odin just chuckled. He loved to see the blush on his wife’s cheeks as he teased her.

"What? Did she fight in the war? How could you let her?" Her voice rose, trembling with shock and anger, and before Odin could respond, her hand lashed out, striking his chest thrice.

Odin misunderstood. He thought she was angry because he joked about fathering a child outside. He realized that she was angry because Lara fought in the war.

Odin’s jaw clenched for a moment. "I didn’t know at that time, okay? I swear it. But your daughter... she’s remarkable, Freya. Far better with a blade than any of our sons." His gaze grew distant, shadowed by the memory. "She saved Asael. His wound was fatal. I don’t know how she did it, but she brought him back. That’s how she revealed herself to Asael. And then Asael told us."

Odin watched his wife closely. Should he tell her that they doubted her at first? No, he would only invite trouble for himself.

Freya’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears, her fists clenched at her sides. "You... such things happened, and you did not tell me?" She whispered, her voice cracking.

"Wife, don’t be upset." Odin reached out, his hand settling on her shoulder, gentle and warm. "Asael is okay now. Why worry you with the burdens of the past?" he said gently.

Freya brushed his hand away, lifting her chin defiantly. "Hmph! If anything like this happens again in the future and you hide it from me, Odin, I swear I will not forgive you." Her eyes flashed with unyielding fire.

"Wife... Darling... it will never happen again. I promise." He raised his hands in mock surrender. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Freya glared at Odin, and he trembled. He had faced armies, felled generals, and conquered cities. But here, in the shadow of his own fortress, with his wife’s glare fixed upon him, General Odin—the war god of Northem—felt true fear.

Who would have thought that the man feared by his enemies would tremble under the gaze of his wife?

...

After some time passed, a curtain parted in another room on the second floor. Mira had just woken up. She had slept late last night. She was happy when Lara left. All the attention was focused on her, including that of her adoptive parents and brothers. It seemed that when Lara was gone, she once again became the precious gem of the family, like she used to.

Though the two princes left right after Lara retired to her room, she had spent sufficient time with Prince Alderan during the dance. The prince was a charmer, he knew the right words to say at the right time. Mira blushed as she remembered the words he whispered to her ear.

"You looked beautiful tonight, Lady Mira. You are like a flower in full bloom in the early spring." His voice was deep and smooth.

Lady Mira. It sounded like music to her ears. Her adoptive father was now a Marquis, and his children had become nobles.

Mira lowered her gaze and smiled shyly. In a charming voice, she replied, "Thank you, Your Highness. Your words are so sweet."

When she looked up and met his gaze, she felt like time stood still. Prince Alderan looked at Mira as if she was the only woman in his eyes.

Mira’s face was painted with crimson as she looked away, her heart racing fast. If she knew what was on Alderan’s mind at that time, would she still be happy?

...

Prince Alderan smirked. Women were really all the same. It was so easy to make them fall for him.

His gaze inadvertently landed on Lara, who was surrounded by a few female nobles. She looked tired, but she still stood tall, like a regal queen looking at her subjects—no, she stood like a valiant general on a battlefield.

His half-brother had his attention on her, but Lara wasn’t even looking. She was talking to the noble ladies who were visibly attracting Reuben’s attention. Reuben, on the other hand, did not spare them a glance. Foolish women.

...

Mira’s face blossomed with a smile as she reminisced about last night’s events. However, the moment she leaned in and noticed the view, she froze, and her face darkened. On the training ground, her adoptive parents and brothers were crowding around Lara, talking and laughing.

What were they doing out there so early in the morning? The sight was especially jarring to her.

Mira gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. A dark glint appeared in her eyes and lingered there until Odin, Freya, Lara, and the little boy disappeared from her line of sight.