Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 329: Boomerang

Lara sipped her tea with deliberate calm, the delicate porcelain warm against her fingers. She nibbled on the pastries, their sweetness muted by the bitterness rising at the back of her throat. Across from her, Mira sparkled like a polished gemstone—chatty, animated, a natural charmer. Her voice lilted with laughter and exaggerated expressions as she recounted tales clearly crafted to amuse.

Princess Ceres was enthralled. She leaned in eagerly, delighting in every word Mira offered. They seemed to speak in a private language of flattery and pretense. Meanwhile, Lara remained the quiet observer, her presence uninvited in their lively duet.

After a while, she set down her teacup with a soft clink and gently cut through Mira’s story.

"Princess, Mira," she said, her voice faint. "I don’t feel well. I think I need to lie down for a bit."

The princess and Mira exchanged a swift, knowing glance—too quick to be innocent.

"Sis," Mira offered with a warm smile, "why don’t I escort you to one of the guest rooms nearby? It’s just a short walk."

Lara gave a weak nod and, as if on cue, leaned heavily against her. Though taller and stronger than Mira, Lara let herself be guided, her weight forcing Mira to struggle. Her footsteps dragged, her breaths shallow. It wasn’t long before Mira, flustered and breathless, called for assistance.

A quiet servant girl stepped in to help, and together, they led Lara to a room already prepared.

The chamber was modest but comfortable—an elegant guest suite with soft candlelight and linens scented with lavender. Mira and the maid eased Lara onto the bed. Her eyes fluttered shut, her skin pale under the lamplight.

"Leave us," Mira said smoothly, turning to the maid. "And close the door behind you."

The latch clicked shut.

Elsewhere in the palace, the atmosphere was lively. Prince Reuben and Prince Alderan hosted the Norse brothers in the opulent entertainment hall. Wine flowed freely, casting a warm haze over the room. Silk-clad dancers swayed to the music, their movements mesmerizing beneath the flicker of firelight. The air smelled of perfume and roasted spices, and laughter rang freely.

Amid the revelry, a servant slipped into the hall, bowed low, and handed Reuben a folded parchment.

"The King has summoned me," Reuben announced casually. He glanced at Alderan. "Keep our guests entertained."

Then, without another word, he rose and followed the servant through a back corridor that wound through dim stone halls. The noise of the gathering faded behind him.

She led him to a small, secluded cottage tucked behind Princess Ceres’ boudoir. The night had deepened, shadows thickening under a moonless sky. Only a single torch flickered by the door, casting more gloom than light.

Reuben smirked to himself, flushed with drink and anticipation. His mind was hazy, but the promise of a secret tryst sharpened his focus. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Inside, the air was warm and thick with the scent of mixed jasmine, vanilla, and sandalwood. A single candle burned near the bed, casting a golden halo around the silhouette of a woman sprawled under silken sheets. Her body was still, her breathing soft.

He didn’t hesitate.

Driven by wine and lust, he stripped away his clothes and climbed into bed beside her, his hands roaming, mouth pressing against her skin. The scent she wore was intoxicating—sweet and unfamiliar, laced with something primal that seemed to fog his thoughts further. She stirred faintly under his touch, soft moans escaping her lips. Reuben, lost in the haze, believed it was desire.

He was drowned in passion until he lost track of time.

Time passed in a slow, feverish blur—until a sudden bang shattered the stillness.

The cottage door burst open.

Flames flared as torches were lit around the entrance. Princess Ceres stood at the threshold, pale-faced and wide-eyed. Behind her were Gideon, Percival, and Peredur—stunned into silence.

"Where is Lady Lara?" Ceres had said just moments before, concern in her voice. "She and Mira haven’t returned. I thought perhaps..."

What they found instead was far more than anyone expected.

Reuben shot upright in bed, disoriented, the blanket barely covering him. His gaze darted around the suddenly illuminated room, locking on the intruders with a furious snarl.

"Who dares to disturb me?" he barked. "I—"

He froze. His eyes met those of his sister, Princess Ceres, who stood with her head down, cheeks flushed crimson.

"Brother..." Her voice was a whisper, trembling with shock. "It’s already late, and Mira and Lara were missing. I was... worried."

Behind her, the Norse brothers turned away, faces dark with confusion and disgust.

The torchlight flickered across the entangled forms, revealing what had once been veiled in shadows. The woman beside Reuben groaned softly and shifted beneath the covers. And then—

She opened her eyes.

And she screamed.

What happened?How could it be me?

Mira’s thoughts spiraled in chaos, her body aching, throbbing with every heartbeat. The haze of wine, perfume, and humiliation clung to her like a second skin. The torches cast flickering shadows across the room, each one seeming to mock her shame.

Then—

A calm, unmistakable voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Princess Ceres, were you looking for me?"

All heads turned.

Lara stepped into the doorway, walking with slow, composed grace from a side corridor, her dress pristine, her posture unshaken. She was very much awake—and very much not the woman in the bed.

Ceres went pale.

Her eyes widened, horror spreading across her face like ink spilled on silk. "Y-You... How... how can you be here?" she stammered, her voice barely more than a breath. "Then who—who is with the Crown Prince?"

Lara tilted her head, feigning confusion, though her eyes were sharp and gleaming. "What do you mean, ’how can it be me’? I wasn’t feeling well earlier. Mira was kind enough to show me to a guest room so I could rest. I must have fallen asleep. I just woke up."

Her tone was light—almost amused—but beneath it, tension simmered like a storm held behind glass.

On the bed, Reuben froze. The voice. His stomach dropped.

He threw off the blanket and turned to the figure trembling beside him.

"You—" he growled, voice heavy with rage and dawning realization. "How could it be you?"

Gideon and the twins exchanged grim glances. The pieces had fallen into place. The setup. The manipulation. The trap. Princess Ceres, Prince Reuben, and Mira—working together to disgrace Lara, to coerce her into a royal marriage by scandal.

"Sister—Mira!" Lara’s voice cracked, fury rising in her throat. "How could you do this and shame the family?"

Mira sat upright, her face pale and streaked with tears. She whimpered, shaking her head. "No... No, it’s not supposed to be me!" Her voice was shrill, rising with hysteria. "It was supposed to be—"

THWACK!

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