Chapter 154: The Wish
As the meal began, the dining hall buzzed with conversation and laughter, and the clinking of dishes filled the space. Lara had never felt so happy eating lunch before.
Her gaze drifted to Agilus, who, for once, was eerily silent. The man who usually couldn’t go two minutes without running his mouth was now staring at his plate, unusually subdued.
She arched a brow. "What’s wrong with you, Agilus?"
Still, he said nothing. The silence stretched unbearably, and Lara, never one to ignore an oddity, decided to break it.
Agilus stiffened, a tinge of crimson creeping up his face. How could he possibly tell her that, for the longest time, he had harbored... improper thoughts about her relationship with Alaric? That he had assumed things—very embarrassing things—only to find out he had been painfully wrong?
It was not only him but also Aramis and the other soldiers. It was good that Angus always reprimanded Aramis not to speak of those things; otherwise, all the soldiers of Alaric would have viewed him negatively.
Finally, he sighed, setting down his fork. "We’ve been with you for quite some time, but I’m still struggling to process everything. You’re not Kane Mendel. You’re not a man. You’re a woman—and not just any woman, but the daughter of General Odin and sister to some formidable commanders." His voice was quieter than usual, tinged with something almost like shame.
Lara met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small shrug, she said, "Well, it would have been difficult for me to dress as a woman and still interact freely with men."
Agilus nodded slowly. He understood—of course, he did—but that didn’t make the revelation any less shocking.