Return of the General's Daughter

Alaric’s eyes widened in astonishment, a flicker of disbelief crossing his features. The initial shock quickly melted away, replaced by a slow, knowing grin that danced at the corners of his mouth.

Lara blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Alaric’s face. Had he truly not noticed before? But why does she feel that something about his demeanor struck her as odd — as if he were in an unusually good mood?

The gears in Alaric’s mind began to turn, slow and deliberate, piecing fragments of memory together.

Two years ago, tragedy struck the Norse family. Everyone in Savadra knew about the incident — after all, who wouldn’t know of the brave and heroic General Odin? The story had spread like wildfire. The General’s only daughter was found dead in a river, the blame falling on human traffickers. The loss had cast a long shadow over the Norse name.

Alaric’s gaze shifted back to Lara, his eyes lingering on her face. The more he looked, the more uneasy he became. Could it be... she hadn’t died after all?

Lara coughed awkwardly, shifting under the weight of his scrutiny. His stare felt piercing, almost invasive, and she resisted the urge to fidget.

"Maybe I’m General Odin’s illegitimate son?" she quipped, her voice light, teasing—a deliberate attempt to shatter the tension.

Asael, who had been observing in uneasy silence, nearly tripped over his own feet. "Hey, Kane. Don’t slander Father like that!" he blurted, his voice tinged with exasperation. "He’s a righteous man—he’d never fool around outside."

Alaric’s lips twitched, his amusement deepening. "Ah, yes. I heard a rumor," he said, feigning indifference. "That there was a soldier in the camp who resembled one of General Odin’s sons. I didn’t expect it to be you, Kane."