Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 334: Return to the South

A week after Mira became a concubine at Prince Reuben’s palace, Lara quietly left the capital for Calma, joining a caravan of merchants.

Surprisingly, two unexpected companions joined her: her mother, Lady Freya, and the genius metalsmith Hephastus. Their presence lent weight to the otherwise humble procession.

They were not the only ones on the move. General Odin and Gideon also rode with them, heading toward Carles on duty—to allow Galahad and Bener, to return to the capital. The general and his men traveled on horseback, while Lara, her mother, and Reya remained comfortably inside a carriage that rocked gently over the uneven terrain.

As they passed through the southern gates and the dense noise of Savadra faded behind them, Lara leaned out slightly, inhaling the crisper, cleaner air of the countryside. She turned to her mother and said with a trace of humor, "Mother, Calma is nothing like the capital. It’s quiet. Peaceful. You might even find it boring."

Lady Freya arched an elegant brow. "I want to see my brother. That brat—he didn’t even think to come home after all this time." Her voice was sharp with mock scorn, but beneath it was an unmistakable note of longing.

Lara smiled, a small one. So much had happened in the past few weeks that her sense of time had blurred. It took her a moment to recall that Primo Lenard was indeed her uncle—her mother’s younger brother.

"And besides," Freya added, softening as she clasped her daughter’s hand, "I’ve been trapped in Savadra too long. A change of scenery sounds... refreshing. And I’d like to thank your master in person—for everything he’s done for you."

Lara nodded, but her thoughts drifted to plans she had for the future. She could no longer stay in Narra Alley, especially with her mother accompanying her. Her siblings might also visit from time to time.

She had already discussed the idea with Alaric—no longer disguised as Kasmer, though he still wore a mask to protect his true identity. The conversation had turned serious when he reminded her of a critical detail: under Northem law, she couldn’t legally own land.

"But I can gift it to you," Alaric had said without hesitation, "as a betrothal gift."

Lara had blinked, startled. "Haven’t you already given me a necklace and a bracelet?"

"This one is different."

"But... an estate? Isn’t it owned by the mayor or his heir?"

"It’s mine now," he explained. "Remember, Calma was granted to me as a fief. All former royal properties—including the mayor’s estate—belong to me."

Lara had said nothing then, but the idea had taken root. A home of her own. A future unbound by the narrow alleys of Narra. A future she would shape with her own hands—even if it came wrapped as a gift.

The road to Calma unfurled like a ribbon through the heart of the countryside, weaving between golden fields and quiet forests that shimmered in the early summer sun. With each passing league, the noise and weight of the capital slipped further behind them, replaced by birds’ songs and the creak of wooden wheels.

They passed through the town of Hamili and took their lunch there. Alaric, with a mask on his face, disappeared with Agilus, who was still posing as the merchant Nasser. They visited an inconspicuous house behind the inn and sent out two homing pigeons back to the capital. Alaric took with him over a few dozen young pigeons, which Orion had trained to send messages.

After a quick respite, the caravan continued at a steady pace. General Odin with Gideon and the guards rode ahead and behind, ever alert, while the rest of the travelers chatted softly or dozed beneath the fluttering canvas of the covered wagons. Inside their carriage, Lady Freya reclined against embroidered cushions, fanning herself with a paper fan.

Reya, seated opposite them, watched the scenery passing by and felt nostalgic. "Two years ago, we were travelling inside a closed carriage, Miss was unconscious and bleeding on the forehead." Her eyes reddened as she recalled the memory.

Lara cleared her throat. "Reya, it is all in the past. Let’s forget it. The important thing now is to live in the present and plan for the future."

She smiled faintly, then her gaze was distant, fixed not on the passing scenery but on the path ahead, inward as much as outward. Her thoughts kept circling back to Calma, to what would come after this journey.

She felt the carriage slow down as they approached a stretch of rough terrain where the forest pressed in close to the road. The shadows under the trees were thick and cool, and for a brief moment, a hush settled over the group. Birds went silent. The wind died. Even the horses seemed to tread lightly.

"What is it?" Freya asked with a frown.

Lara shook her head, and Reya started to tremble; her face grew pale.

"Bandits?" Freya stuck out her head outside of the carriage’s window and tried to check where her husband and son were.

Odin spurred his horse to where his wife’s carriage was.

"Possibly," Odin replied from the front, scanning the tree line. "This stretch of the southern road is known for the occasional ambush. But we have numbers and steel. Nobody would dare attack. "

Freya relaxed.

Lara shifted in her seat, her fingers brushing the dagger strapped under her cloak. She didn’t feel fear exactly—just heightened awareness.

But the moment passed. No bandits emerged. No arrows flew. Just a deer bounding across the path ahead, followed by a pair of smaller ones, vanishing into the underbrush. The tension released like a held breath, and the caravan resumed its pace.

That night, they camped in a clearing just beside the river where wild lavender grew in thick tufts and the stars stretched wide above the treetops like scattered silver coins. Tents were pitched. Fires crackled. Some of the guards roasted the rabbits and pheasants that they caught earlier, while Odin and Gideon poured over a map by torchlight. They did not make it in time to the town center of Lilac hence they were forced to camp in the open.

Lara stepped away from the others for a moment, climbing a short hill that overlooked the road. The moon hung low and full, painting the forest in soft, pale light. She felt her mother’s presence before she heard her steps.

"You’re quiet," Freya said, drawing her shawl around her shoulders. "What are you thinking?"

"Mira, Mother."

"Mira?" Freya asked, her face full of confusion.

"With Reuben at her side, she has more power now. She isn’t a simple woman."

"Don’t worry. Your father and brothers are powerful and valued by the king."

Lara was silent. She hoped that her mother was right.

They stood in silence for a while longer before returning to camp, where the fire was burning low and the stars had begun to shift in the sky.

Read 𝓁atest chapters at fr(e)ewebnov𝒆l.com Only