Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 181: The New Magistrate

Chapter 181: The New Magistrate

When Lara left the village, the sun had disappeared from the west, and a black veil shrouded the entire landscape; thick and quiet, interrupted only by the whisper of wind brushing through the trees. Shadows stretched and danced along the path like restless spirits, but they were lucky the moon gave off enough light to guide them, its silver glow filtering through the branches overhead.

By the time the carriage pulled into Narra Alley, Reya was already outside the gate. Her shoulders sagged with relief the moment she saw the familiar outline of Lara stepping down. She leaned forward, squinting into the night to confirm it was really her, and exhaled sharply, like someone had just released her from a long-held breath.

Lara’s heart warmed. Reya, her maid, was standing in front of the gate, her expression reminiscent of a worried mother waiting for her troublesome daughter to go home.

She searched her memories, sifting through years of hollow recollections, but couldn’t find a single moment where her father or the woman she was forced to call ’mother’ had ever waited like this. Not once had they stood at the gate. Not once had they left a dim light open for her when she came home from a late mission. The house would always be shrouded in cold silence, the corridors dark and indifferent.

"Miss, what took you so long?" Reya’s worried voice pulled her from her daze.

"I had a long talk with the old woman," Lara replied softly, "and lost track of time."

Lara turned and glanced back to see that Aramis was still waiting outside, standing stiffly beside his horse.

"Aren’t you going back to the inn?" She thought that they were still staying in the inn.

He shook his head once.

Lara thought he was staying to guard her. "I am already home. It is safe here. No need for you to stay."

"The prince is inside. I will wait for him here."

Lara blinked. "...the prince?"

What is he doing here at this time? She turned around and followed Reya inside the house.

"The children are done eating. I’ll heat the food for you." With that, Reya disappeared to the kitchen.

"Sister, you’re back!" Sandoz bounded down the staircase, throwing his little arms around her thighs like a vine clinging to a tree. He held her tightly, as if someone might tear her away.

Lara frowned. Why was Sandoz acting like that?

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, Sister. I just missed you... and I am afraid someone would send me back to my family." His eyes flicked nervously toward the dining room, a subtle movement that didn’t escape her notice.

"Girl, hurry up and come over. Aren’t you starving? What time is it?" She heard Jethru’s impatient voice coming from the dining room.

Lara gave Sandoz a gentle pat on the head. "Go back to your room. I’ll talk to you later."

She slipped into the dining room, unsurprised to find a guest seated at the head of the table.

Prince Alaric.

How did Aramis know that Alaric was inside the house? She did not see a carriage parked outside.

Then a horse snorted outside. It was coming from the right side of the house.

Lara: "..."

The prince looked entirely at ease, a mug of hot chocolate in his hand. Beside him sat Samuel and Jethru, similarly relaxed, as if sharing a quiet evening with royalty was the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh, we have a guest." she said casually. Jethru glared at her. She rolled her eyes before giving out a formal greetings to Prince Alaric.

She appeared nonchalant, but deep inside, she wondered why Prince Alaric visited them. He even stayed to have a meal with them. Was it normal for a prince to dine with commoners like them?

Unbeknowst to Lara, Alaric had no qualms about it. He was used to dining together with his soldiers. He did not care about his royal status at all.

She slid into the seat beside Jethru and began eating. The tension from earlier, the emotional drain from her conversation with the sisters, had left her hollow—but her hunger was sharp and demanding.

She ate with gusto.

"If I don’t know any better, the way you devour the food, I would think you have starved for three days," Jethru commented as he watched his disciple gobble up her food without finesse. Will General Odin blame him for what his daughter has become?

"I am just hungry, Grandpa. Please let me eat in peace." Lara said after swallowing a mouthful of food.

"Tsk. Ivy eats like a noble lady more than you," he grumbled.

Lara ignored him, too tired to care if a prince was watching her shove food into her mouth. She needed energy. Desperately. Was she stress eating?

She ate fast, so she finished early.

"May I ask why the prince is here?" she inquired while wiping the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

"Well," Samuel set down his cup, his fingers visibly trembling. "The prince has asked me to serve as magistrate. Temporarily—until someone from the capital arrives."

Lara’s eyes widened. Was the prince crazy? Wouldn’t that put the old man’s life in danger?

"Grandpa, wouldn’t that endanger you? Not only you but also the children? What if Alaric’s weeding out of evil people would result in them retaliating?" She waited, but Samuel kept quiet. "I am pretty sure that those who were favored by the magistrate before would expect the same from you. And if you refuse..." Lara’s voice trailed into a whisper as if she remembered something painful.

It was not that Lara was not for justice. She was just a little bit selfish. She did not want her newfound family to be compromised or hurt.

Alaric peered into her eyes. His gaze was steady. Lara was also looking at him, meeting his gaze boldly. His admiration for Lara rose a notch higher and his respect grew even deeper.

"You have a point," he said. "But it’s only temporary. And my men and I will remain until reinforcements arrive from the capital."

Lara stared at him.

He’s staying?

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