Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 152: Her Identity Revealed

Chapter 152: Her Identity Revealed

After relentless coaxing from Reya and Jethru, Lara finally agreed to celebrate her birthday, albeit a bit belatedly—just not two days later, but the very next day.

Over the past two years, it had become an unspoken tradition. Whether it was Jethru’s, Reya’s, Sandoz’s, or her own, birthdays were always marked with good food, laughter, and a cake.

It started with Sandoz’s seventh birthday, when Lara introduced the blowing of the candle and the making of a wish tradition.

That day, Lara and Reya spent the entire morning decorating their modest home at the plateau. It wasn’t much, but to the wide-eyed boy, it was a kingdom of color and wonder. That day, she also attempted something new—baking a cake using the most traditional oven.

It had been a frustrating endeavor, the batter too thick at one point and too runny the next, the scent of burnt sugar nearly overpowering her patience. But when she finally placed the small, lopsided confection on the table, the delight in Sandoz’s eyes made every struggle worthwhile.

When she had set a single candle in the center and told the boy to make a wish before blowing it out, Reya had tilted her head in curiosity.

"Miss, when did you learn to bake? And why should there be a cake on birthdays?"

Lara had frozen for a heartbeat. She had regretted introducing cakes then and there, realizing she needed to explain. But she couldn’t take it back, not with Sandoz looking so eager. So, she scrambled for an answer.

"I... read it from a book once."

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Somewhere in the depths of her memory, buried beneath facts and stories from a world that felt lifetimes away, she recalled the origins of birthday cakes.

The ancient Greeks adopted from the Egyptians the tradition of celebrating birthdays with cakes, offering moon-shaped cakes to Artemis, the goddess of the moon. These cakes were often decorated with candles, representing the moon’s shine. The Greeks believed that the smoke from the candles would carry their wishes and prayers to the gods.

Simple-minded Reya believed every word. From that moment on, birthdays in their household always included a cake and the ritual of blowing out candles.

Now, with Lara’s sixteenth birthday, though a bit late, Reya was more determined than ever to make it special.

At dawn, she was already bustling in the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up and hair tied back, filled with excitement. She had enlisted a mother and daughter from the marketplace to help. Their chatter filled the house as they kneaded dough, chopped vegetables, and simmered fragrant broths. The enticing scent of roasting meat and spiced pastries promised a delicious feast ahead.

Meanwhile, Lara took the rare quiet moment to explore their new home. The previous day had been a whirlwind—her arrival, Alaric’s unexpected presence, and his long conversation with Samuel that had stretched well into the evening. By the time he had left, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and the entire town was veiled in darkness.

Lara also spent the rest of the early evening playing with the three kids. Remembering Sandoz’s dejected look when she told them to go upstairs, she made up for it by playing with them after supper and teaching them cool moves.

With the morning light streaming through her windows, she finally had the chance to take in her surroundings. She ran her fingers along the window sill, noting the sturdy craftsmanship.

Her room faced the spacious courtyard shaded by an ancient tree, and beyond, there was still space that could accommodate another ten-room house.

When she exited her room, the scent of aged parchment and dried herbs lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace of incense—her master’s doing, no doubt. It was refreshing.

’I didn’t know that my master is that rich. He must have hoarded so much gold in the last twenty five years. This house is a rare find.

...

Lara’s birthday celebration was set for lunchtime—a small, intimate affair. She had no other guests, and she preferred it that way. This was a family gathering, though their family had grown in the past year. Samuel, once an old wanderer, was now a permanent presence in their lives, and with him came the twins, Ivan and Ivy.

The spacious living room was temporarily transformed into a banquet hall. Reya had spent the entire morning decorating it, draping ribbons along the walls and fashioning paper flowers to brighten the space.

With the decorations in place, Reya marched straight to Lara’s room, determined to make her Miss look the part of a birthday girl. No trousers today—she insisted that Lara wear a gown and let her hair be styled properly. Jethru had gifted Lara a pair of delicate pearl hairpins for her birthday, and Reya used them to secure her copper-brown locks, parting them neatly at each side while letting soft tendrils cascade over her shoulders.

Her dress was simple yet elegant—a flowing gown in a shade of lemon yellow, cinched at the waist with a darker golden sash that accentuated her slender frame. The fabric shimmered subtly as it caught the light, its gentle movement giving her an ethereal, almost otherworldly grace.

When Reya stepped back to admire her work, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Miss..." Her voice trembled. "When was the last time you looked like this? Like a proper young lady?"

More than two years had passed since Lara had last adorned herself this way—since she had last looked in the mirror and seen anything other than a warrior, a survivor, a disciple.

When she descended the stairs, her family was already waiting at the dining room.

"Sister is so beautiful."

"Sister is like a fairy."

"She is like an angel."

The children’s voices—Sandoz, Ivan, and Ivy—rang through the room like sweet chimes, their excitement infectious. Lara couldn’t help but smile, warmth blooming in her chest.

"Ari, I thought it is Kane’s birthday celebration. Where is he? Who is that woman?" Agilus asked as he watched with bated breath the beautiful woman descending the stairs. When he learned that Alaric was having lunch at the House of Mendel to celebrate Kane’s birthday, he shamelessly tagged along.

Alaric barely spared him a glance, his expression unreadable. The only acknowledgment Agilus received was a fleeting glare that clearly said: Shut up.

Agilus, however, was too stunned to stop himself.

"Holy shit..." He sucked in a sharp breath, his voice hoarse. "Why does she look like Kane?"

But before his words could settle, they were drowned out by the sweet, melodic voices of Ivy, Sandoz, and Ivan, who had suddenly burst into song.

"Happy birthday to you.."

"Happy birthday... Happy birthday... Happy birthday, dear Lara."

As they sang, Agilus stood frozen in place, his brows furrowing in utter bewilderment. Now that the woman was closer, he could see it—the resemblance. The curve of her jaw, the shape of her eyes. It was uncanny.

He turned to Alaric, his voice a mix of shock and suspicion. "I don’t understand—"

Before he could finish, a loud knock echoed from the front gate, cutting through the cheerful moment like a blade.

Lara’s gaze flicked to Jethru, silently asking: Are we expecting someone else?

Jethru’s expression darkened ever so slightly. No.

Outside, the knocking came again—louder this time, more insistent.

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