Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 155: Finding Out What Happened Back Then

Chapter 155: Finding Out What Happened Back Then

A/N: I messed up Lara’s age. She should be sixteen and not seventeen. She was abducted when she was about to turn fourteen, and the story’s timeline jumped to two years after that.

After lunch, Lara announced that she wanted to visit Village 13 to check on the things that she had asked Lina to make for her. Thankfully, her master had procured two horses and a carriage. It would make their travel faster.

Lara wanted to leave because she wanted to escape from her brothers. They might continue to pester her to return with them, and if she continued to refuse, wouldn’t that hurt their feelings? While she longed to experience having a family, a loving one, she was not ready yet.

When the children learned that she would go to a village, they pestered Great Grandpa Samuel and Grandpa Jethru and said that they wanted to come along. Samuel hesitated but deferred the decision to the children’s grandfather.

Jethru, a man known for his strict demeanor, was a formidable presence to Lara, Reya and Sandoz. But when faced with the bright, pleading eyes of his granddaughter, his resolve crumbled like dry parchment. He sighed in surrender, knowing resistance was futile. With Lara leading the journey, he knew that the children would be safe and taken care of.

Before setting off, Lara thoughtfully packed the remaining food from lunch, ensuring nothing went to waste. Soon, she was out the door, her small entourage trailing behind as they proceeded to where the carriage awaited them. Their coachman, of course, was none other than the white-haired master himself. He decided to tag along at the last minute.

Her brother, Percival, insisted on going as well, taking advantage of the opportunity to bond with his lost sister.

Beneath the Last Narra Tree

Meanwhile, Reya had just finished cleaning up in the kitchen when the Norse siblings called for her to the backyard. A large wooden bench circled the base of a young Narra Tree, its trunk thick enough for an adult to wrap his arms around it. This was the last Narra tree standing in the area—the rest had long been felled to make way for homes and the alleyway, which was named in its memory. Once, this place had been a thriving Narra forest. Now, only this lone sentinel remained.

As Reya stepped into the yard, Bener’s brows furrowed. Standing beneath the shade of the mighty tree was none other than Prince Alaric, his expression unreadable, his posture casual yet commanding.

Bener’s voice held a note of wariness. What is he doing here?

"Your Highness, is there something you need?" he asked, his tone respectful and carefully measured.

Prince Alaric remained impassive. "I assume you’re here to learn more about Lara?" His gaze didn’t waver. "I can share how I met her—after you’re done questioning her servant."

Bener’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like this. The prince’s interest in his sister was unsettling, bordering on excessive. Lara had already endured enough; the last thing she needed was another powerful figure meddling in her affairs. She was only sixteen.

"Your Highness, I’m sorry, but—"

"I will obtain the information one way or another," Alaric interrupted, his voice steady, unyielding. "Wouldn’t it be more efficient for us to hear it at the same time?"

Alaric held Bener’s gaze without blinking. What would this brother do if he learned that he had already seen his sister’s naked body? Wouldn’t he be the one demanding him to marry his sister?

Bener exhaled sharply. He just let Prince Alaric be. What could he do to the prince? He was just a subject.

He turned his attention to the petite woman who stood before him, her hands clasped together, a nervous energy clinging to her. Reya looked healthier now than when he had last seen her two years ago. The acne that once marred her face had cleared, and her complexion had lightened.

He crossed his arms. "Tell me everything," he instructed, his tone as firm as ever, a reflection of his father’s and older brothers’ authority.

Reya hesitated before nodding. She began recounting the events of that fateful day—the day that had changed everything.

Lara had already given them an account of what happened in Savadra, but her version was based on Reya’s words. She had no memory of what had truly transpired.

As Reya spoke, Bener and Gideon’s expressions darkened.

"When Miss Lara woke up after three days, I was terrified," Reya admitted, her voice tinged with lingering fear. "There was something in her eyes... she didn’t recognize me. She was guarded, distant. It was like looking at a stranger. But later, I realized it was because she had lost her memories—she had no recollection of her family at all."

She paused, as if sifting through her memories.

"You wouldn’t believe how incredible Miss Lara was. In the dead of night, she woke up and stole supplies from one of the carriages that had escorted us. I didn’t even notice when she slipped away from my side—we had been sleeping on the grass because there wasn’t enough space in the carriage."

Bener’s fists clenched at his sides. Lara had been barely fourteen at the time. Those bastards...how could they let her sleep on the grass?

Reya continued, her expression troubled. "When I realized she was gone, I panicked. My reaction woke the human traffickers. They searched for her, and when they found her, she made an excuse—said she had just stepped away to relieve herself. The human traffickers were furious that their sleep had been interrupted. They warned us not to disturb them again."

Sitting on the wooden bench, Alaric stretched out his legs, his gaze thoughtful. He absorbed the story in silence, his brows slightly raised in intrigue.

Reya’s voice grew more animated as she continued. "Just before dawn, Miss Lara woke me up, complaining of a stomach ache. She insisted she needed to relieve herself. Another little girl, who had been sleeping beside us, also said she needed to go, so we took her along."

Then, Reya’s expression shifted—like she had been struck by a revelation. She smacked her forehead. "Ah! How did I not realize this sooner? Miss Lara had planned everything! The supplies she stole? She hid them along our path! And when the time was right, she retrieved them, and we escaped!"

Bener and Gideon exchanged glances, their confusion evident.

Their sister had orchestrated a daring escape at just fourteen. How could she think about that?

Of course, she was the daughter of a military family. But still...