Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 64: Sharing The Night

Chapter 64: Sharing The Night

It was about time for dinner.

Lara’s stomach clenched as she watched the soldier who volunteered to cook prepare to ruin their dinner.

He was about to toss the freshly cut chicken into a pot of plain boiling water—no seasoning, no care, just a cruel, thoughtless dunk. The very idea made her grit her teeth. These pheasants had died for them. They deserved better treatment.

"Step aside," she ordered, taking the knife from his hands before he could protest.

She worked swiftly, her fingers moving with practiced efficiency as she prepared a broth infused with papaya, moringa leaves, and lemongrass. A medicinal stew—one she learned in her past life.

As the scent of simmering broth filled the air, Lara tried not to dwell on the price of this meal. Three chickens gone. Sandoz would rage when he found out. He had counted the chicken, after all, and he wouldn’t expect to lose three in a single night.

Then again, Sandoz might never make it back to the plateau with her master’s resolve to be there for his grandchildren.

The thought lodged in her mind like a thorn. She should send him home.

Agilus entered the cramped kitchen, and the rich aroma of cooked rice and steaming broth wrapped around him like a warm embrace. His stomach growled, a deep, primal sound, and for a moment, he forgot his simmering resentment toward Kane.

"Hmm, that smells delicious," he murmured, scanning the small space. His eyes landed on six coconut-shell bowls stacked neatly beside three porcelain ones on the banggera. He picked up one of the coconut bowls, turning it in his hands. Simple, yet beautiful. Why had he never seen anything like this in the Capital?

There was even a ladle made from coconut. Functional. Clever.

He carried the bowls to the table. There were too many mouths to feed. They would have to eat in shifts.

Lara stepped in front of him, standing between him and the steaming pot of chicken and rice. She raised her hand, palm up.

Agilus blinked at the gesture.

A handshake? Was he finally making peace with him?

Relieved, he reached out to grasp his hand—only for him to yank it back as if he’d grown fangs.

"What are you doing?" she snapped.

"Uh... aren’t you trying to—?"

"I’m asking for payment."

Agilus stared at her. He was trying hard to suppress the rage that threatened to burst.

"You owe me silver for your dinner," she clarified. "The house? No rent is required. But food? That costs."

Agilus exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. Without a word, he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out a small pouch. He tossed her a gold ingot.

"For saving General Alaric. I suppose I owe you more."

Lara grinned as she pocketed the gold. "There are also rabbits in the northern part of the plateau. You might want to try them if you’re tired of chicken."

"Rabbits?" Agilus swallowed as if he was already trying to savor the roasted hare.

"And there’s a pond near the waterfall in the south. A fishpond. If you can catch anything, then it’s yours."

Agilus sighed.

Lara, completely unfazed, sat down and finally dug into her meal.

She did not bother to bring food to Alaric, as Agilus took care of that. She barely had time to enjoy her food before she spotted Agilus exiting her room.

"Kane," he called, wiping his hands on his trousers, "can you check on Alaric? His wound dressing—"

Lara frowned. "I already cleaned it this morning. No need to change it yet."

Agilus shrugged.

"He asked for you to tend to his wounds."

Lara rolled her eyes but stood, brushing off crumbs. She hesitated. "Did you help him change his clothes?"

Agilus blinked. "No. Why?"

"There’s a clean set on the shelf. You should help him into them."

Agilus hesitated. "You... can do it, right?"

Lara nearly choked. "What?! No way!"

Agilus gave him a long, amused look. "Why do you look like I just asked you to commit an abomination?"

Lara realized her mistake.

She cleared her throat and muttered something under her breath then returned to her food.

"Help him change first," she said finally. "You both know each other for a long time. He’ll be more comfortable with you."

Inside the room, Alaric scowled the moment he saw Agilus instead of Kane.

"Where’s Kane? I asked for Kane."

Agilus placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "Ari, you’re hurting my feelings."

Alaric glared.

Agilus smirked. "Kane asked me to help you change first. Unless you’d rather he do it?"

Alaric flushed. He’d completely forgotten about that.

Agilus rummaged through the shelf, pulling out a fresh set of clothes. He had just started to remove Alaric’s pants when the door swung open.

Lara stood there, holding a basin of water and a washcloth.

"You didn’t bring water. Were you not planning to wash him?" she asked flatly.

Agilus, unfazed, took the basin from her. Alaric, on the other hand, went rigid.

He waved frantically at Agilus, signaling for a blanket.

Agilus, oblivious, turned and set the basin on the floor, leaving Alaric in all his half-dressed, mortified glory.

Lara, entirely unimpressed, barely glanced at him. She’d seen plenty of men more naked than him, those who were down on their swimming trunks. While she had seen them, physical contact was an entirely different thing—one that she resented.

Alaric scowled. His heart was hammering like a war drum, and she didn’t even give him a second look.

...

With so many people in the house—all men—Lara found herself in a predicament.

The bench under the ladder was occupied by a soldier with a leg injury.

She sighed, eyeing the wooden chair beside the bed. If she slept there, she’d wake up with an aching back.

Alaric realized the reason for her pacing back and forth, her hands across her chest.

"I can move to the floor. This is your bed in the first place."

"How could that be? You are seriously injured. I’ll go and sleep on the table." Lara said.

The table? Also taken.

With a heavy sigh, she grabbed a mat from the shelf and prepare to lie down on the floor away from the bed.

Agilus appeared, eyeing the mat longingly. "You know... you could just sleep in the bed with Ari. It’s big enough for two."

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