Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 145: Marry You

Chapter 145: Marry You

Alaric dived into the water and pulled Lara’s limp body out. Her lips were tinged blue, and her skin was deathly pale. He cradled her close, feeling the faint rise and fall of her chest—a fragile flicker of life.

Scanning the area, he spotted a low-rise, smooth, flat rock formation near the east wall. He carefully spread his cloak over the surface, turning the rock into a makeshift bed. Gently, he laid Lara down in prone, her body slack like a broken marionette. Her head lolled to the side.

Alaric knelt beside her, his hands moving instinctively, rubbing slow, firm circles over her back. "Come on, Lara... breathe." His voice was hoarse, thick with urgency.

Lara let out a shallow cough, and water spilled from her lips; then, she passed out.

Alaric exhaled a shaky breath, but the relief was fleeting. His gaze swept over her—her arms, her torso —all of it battered and bruised.

His pupils constricted when he noticed how her soaked garment clung to her like a second skin, the contours of her body not hidden from his eyes.

His hands trembled as he gathered the courage to lift her shirt. Beneath the bindings that concealed her chest, dark bruises marred her flesh—angry splotches of black and blue.

Alaric forced himself to breathe evenly. Carefully, he retrieved a small tin of ointment from his pocket, scooping a thin layer onto his fingertips. As he spread the cool salve over her bruises, he massaged gently, coaxing the blood to circulate into her battered muscles.

His touch faltered when his eyes landed on the python’s carcass nearby—its thick body sliced into half. It was his doing. When he saw Lara fall into the water and the python following after her, he threw his knife into the air, and the sharp blade cut the snake into two. Blood pooled onto the jagged rocks. Crimson tendrils seeped into the water, staining the crystal-clear water of the spring.

Lara’s arms had also turned bluish purple, and Alaric applied the ointment. He hesitated, but eventually, he turned Lara over.

He blamed himself for not coming in earlier. He had already noticed something was wrong because he heard a gasp and an eerie silence. He did not know how Lara escaped from the python, but when he saw that the knife was missing from the sheath tied on her thigh, she must have managed to free her hand and stabbed at the python.

Alaric finished applying the medicine, and his face was beet red. He had never tended to a woman before.

"Don’t worry, Lara. I have seen and touched your body so I will take responsibility," he whispered. He gently stroked her face and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Alaric was considering how to rescue Lara. The opening in the limestone wall was only big enough for one person to crawl through, so he couldn’t carry her out. He checked on her again and was relieved when he confirmed that her breathing and pulse were normal.

He went to where the python was. His gaze sharpened as he inspected the dead beast. The lower half of its body bore several shallow stab wounds, and higher up, he spotted something even more astonishing. Teeth marks.

Did she bite it? So that’s how she got away?

A flicker of admiration flared in his chest. She had been cornered, strangled, her body failing her—yet she still fought.

Alaric returned to where Lara was lying on the rock. The sun was already high in the east. A shadow fell over Lara. It was that of the towering limestone that blocked the sun’s rays from the east.

He rummaged through her travel pack and found a small bamboo tube. As soon as he uncorked it, a sharp, herbaceous scent filled the air—camphor, mint, eucalyptus, and lavender. His sense of smell was sharper than an average human’s, so he could identify the faintest scents. He held the tube beneath her nose, waiting.

After a moment, her lashes fluttered, long and delicate, like the wings of a butterfly stirring from sleep. Then, her eyes opened—clouded at first, then sharpening with recognition.

"You are awake," Alaric murmured, his voice laced with relief. "How are you feeling?"

Lara blinked up at him, her expression dazed. Then her body tensed.

"The snake," she whispered hoarsely, attempting to sit up.

Alaric’s hands pressed gently against her shoulders, steadying her. "Don’t move yet. You might have broken a rib."

Her brows furrowed. "You killed it?" Lara’s gaze drifted toward the python’s corpse.

"It was already injured," he admitted.

"How did you find me?"

Alaric hesitated, then exhaled. "I saw you leaving and... I followed you."

"This is normally a safe place; snakes don’t just come here." Lara narrowed her eyes as she scanned the surroundings.

"Perhaps it was carried by a bird and dropped along the way? I saw claw marks on its body."

Lara hummed. It was the most plausible explanation.

Testing her injuries, Lara shifted slightly and exhaled in relief when she felt no sharp pain in her ribs. With slow, deliberate movements, she reached for Alaric’s outstretched hand. He pulled her up carefully, his grip firm but cautious.

Then, something soft slipped from her chest and fluttered into the water.

Alaric stiffened. His breath hitched. A deep flush crept up his neck.

"I... I’m sorry," he stammered, his voice uncharacteristically unsure. "I took advantage of you."

Lara, still groggy, blinked at him in confusion. "What?"

"You were badly hurt," he blurted out. "I had to apply medicine. I... I removed your inner garment." His eyes darted anywhere but at her, his entire face burning.

A slow smirk tugged at Lara’s lips. Amusement danced in her tired eyes.

Ah, right. This was an era where a mere touch between a man and a woman could spell marriage.

Alaric swallowed hard, then straightened, his expression solemn. His gaze met hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I’ll take responsibility," he declared firmly.

Lara arched a brow. "What do you mean, take responsibility?" her voice was teasing.

Alaric clenched his fists, his resolve solidifying. "I’ll... I’ll marry you," he said, his voice unyielding. "I’ve already seen your body."

For a beat, silence hung between them.

Then Lara burst out laughing.

Alaric stiffened. "What’s so funny?" he asked, visibly flustered.

Lara shook her head. "You are a prince. I know that your marriage could not be simple."

His brow furrowed. "It’s the right thing to do."

"It is just the two of us. Don’t worry, I will not tell anyone. You saved my life, so I will not take advantage of you."

Alaric’s expression turned sour. Does she not want to marry me?

Lara sighed, a smile still lingering on her lips. "You’re sweet, Alaric. But let’s get out of here first."

Alaric exhaled, pressing a hand over his face. He had fought battles, led warriors, and slain beasts, yet a single injured woman had completely unraveled him.

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