Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 273: His Confession

Lara descended the grand staircase moments later, her steps light but measured. She had changed into a flowing lavender summer dress trimmed with silver thread, her hair pinned with soft curls cascading down one shoulder. The morning light streaming through the tall arched windows caught the shimmer of the fabric and made her look almost ethereal.

Alaric looked up and fell momentarily silent. She had always been beautiful, but today, there was a quiet power to her presence, as if the burdens of the night before had crystallized into grace.

"I’m ready," she said softly, smoothing the skirt of her dress.

Alaric offered his arm. "Shall we?"

Lara looked around and found Gideon descending the stairs. Then she hooked her hand on the crook of Alaric’s arm, ignoring Mira’s thin-lipped stare from the hallway. As they passed the gathered family, her brothers offered a chorus of teasing farewells, but none dared follow them out.

Gideon gave her a subtle nod, then, followed the two out of the manor.

Outside, the morning had fully bloomed. The scent of blooming lilacs, jasmine, and roses hung in the air, mingling with the sharper tang of iron and leather from the waiting carriage. Birds in V formation flitted across the sky, their wings flashing white against the blue.

As they climbed into the carriage, Alaric turned toward her, his voice low. "You seemed troubled earlier. Is something wrong?"

Lara hesitated, her fingers curling around the edge of her seat. "Something strange happened last night," she said. "That servant... the one who led me to the garden. I never caught her name. I don’t understand why she said my brother was in danger but was not." Lara paused and turned to her left to look at Alaric. "I felt that I was intentionally led into that garden."

Alaric’s expression darkened. "You think she meant to lead you there deliberately?"

She nodded.

Prince Alaric exhaled slowly, the gears in his mind already turning. "Someone wanted to manipulate your emotions."

Lara looked out the window, the wind tugging at a loose strand of her hair. "Maybe yes. Or perhaps it’s nothing. But it felt... orchestrated." She paused when she heard Gideon’s voice in the carriage following them. "I am just wondering why someone would target me."

Alaric studied Lara’s face. Her cheeks had a faint flush, making her appear naturally beautiful. Didn’t she realize that she stole the limelight from the princesses last night? Their jealousy must be the reason why someone schemed against her.

"It must have been one of the noble ladies who were jealous of you," Alaric explained. He wanted to speculate, but since he was absent from the ballroom, he could not say who among the princesses orchestrated it.

The carriage rumbled through cobbled streets, passing merchants setting up stalls and city folks beginning their day. Soon, they reached the alley entrance, and they needed to get off their carriages to walk because the alley was too narrow.

Their destination came into view: the small shop. A gleaming metal sign swung over the door, engraved with a symbol—a smith’s hammer, an anvil, and a pair of tongs.

Alaric stepped out first, then helped Lara down. The warmth of his hand around hers lingered longer than necessary, and neither mentioned it.

Gideon has gotten out of his own carriage as fast as he can. He hoped to assist his sister, but Alaric beat him. He gritted his teeth as he followed them to the workshop.

Inside, the scent of oil, ash, and scorched metal embraced them. The shop was medium-sized and filled with mechanical parts and intricate gears. In one corner, an elderly man hunched over a workbench, his silver hair tucked beneath a soot-stained cap.

Lara had not seen him before, but the shop had to hire additional workers. He looked like a master with his craft.

"Prince Alaric," Mathias greeted the prince, rising and wiping his hands. "And Lady Lara. Right on time."

"We’re here to see the prototype," Alaric said.

The man nodded and gestured them to a long table, where a cloth covered a mysterious object.

"I’ve never worked on something quite like this," Mathias said, eyes glinting. "A blend of alchemy and mechanics. Whoever gave you the original sketch was either a genius or a madman."

Gideon looked at Lara, who looked undisturbed.

Mathias pulled away the cloth.

Beneath it lay a strange-looking machine—a sewing machine. The design was sleek, reminiscent of something not of this time.

Lara tried to press the foot pedal, and the machine worked.

"Amazing!’ Gideon could not help but shout with excitement.

Lara glanced at her brother, a bit ashamed, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Most of the work was actually done by Hephastus." Mathias pointed to the man at the corner. He was the same man that Lara noticed earlier.

She pulled another parchment from her backpack and handed it to Mathias.

Mathias’ eyes widened. "This is ... this .. this.." he stuttered.

"That is the design of a bicycle. For shorter distances, people can travel faster with this one without a horse."

Alaric and Gideon both leaned toward the parchment, curious to see what was drawn in there.

Lara then meticulously explained each part while Mathias and Gideon listened with their mouths wide open. Lara’s design was awesome. Mathias could not wait to start working on them, so she pushed his guests away.

As they exited the shop, the clouds gathered above the treetops, casting the capital into a sudden, eerie twilight. Distant thunder rumbled from the skies.

"We need to get out of here," Alaric said. "And fast."

The ride back was initially quiet—uneasy silence and glances through the windows.

Then Alaric spoke softly. "What do you remember... of your childhood?"

She looked at him. "I lost my memory, remember? Why are you asking?"

"Did you know you were betrothed to me when you were still a toddler?" Alaric dropped the bomb.

"What?" Lara’s eyes widened.

"Yes." Alaric took a silver necklace from his pocket. He flicked open the rectangular locket and showed it to Lara. There, she saw, a toddler and a six-year-old boy. "This is what your mother has given my mother as the betrothal token."

Lara was confused. She was from modern times, so she did not have a clear understanding of betrothals. She had a general idea but not the details.

"What do you mean by that?"

Alaric studied the miniature painting inside and said, in a serious tone, "It means that you and I are fated."

Their eyes met, and in the soft light filtering through the carriage windows, something unspoken passed between them. A promise. A beginning.