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.
He exhaled sharply, then focused on his food. A slow, amused smile crept onto his lips. ’Aramis is going to lose his mind when he finds out. Hah, I couldn’t wait.’
Once the meal was finished, Reya clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. "Alright, everyone, over here!" She ushered the group to one side of the room, then turned to the children gathered in the corner.
"One more time," she instructed, her eyes twinkling. "Sing for the birthday girl!"
The children giggled before launching into another lively chorus of the birthday song, their small voices filling the room with warmth. Meanwhile, Reya guided Lara to the center, carefully lighting the single candle atop the cake.
"Now, make a wish," Reya said with a grin.
Lara closed her eyes, murmuring something under her breath before blowing out the flame. That was the second time she had blown out a birthday candle.
Applause erupted around her. When she opened her eyes, her gaze immediately sought out her brothers, her two masters, Agilus—and finally, Prince Alaric.
"Thank you, everyone," she said, her voice carrying the weight of gratitude.
"What is the candle blowing for?" Agilus asked, curious why they would place a candle in the middle of the cake and blow it.
A small tug on his sleeve made him glance down. Ivy, the youngest among them, was staring up at Agilus, her big eyes filled with innocence.
"So, Sister Lara’s wish can come true!" Ivy chirped. "And she couldn’t tell you what she wished for because it will not come true if she does."
Agilus blinked, then scoffed internally. Childish.
Alaric, watching the entire exchange, suddenly reached into his coat. For the first time since he had met her, a real smile flickered across his lips. It was subtle, barely there, but unmistakably genuine.
He pulled out a sleek, rectangular box made of ebony and extended it toward her. "Happy birthday, Lara," he murmured.
Lara’s fingers hesitated over the box. When she looked up, her bright, clear eyes met Alaric’s, and for just a moment, the prince felt the world seemed to stand still. The noise, the people, everything else faded into the background.
"Hey, Kane—" Agilus stopped himself. "I mean, Lara." His lips twitched as he leaned in, his curiosity evident. "Open it. I want to see what kind of gift Ari would give someone. In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him give a present to a woman, not once. You are the first one. This is history in the making!"
Lara shot him a sharp and unforgiving glare.
Agilus immediately shut his mouth. Damn. Even in a dress, she was fierce.
Lara still decided to open her gifts, starting with the one she was currently holding. A gift from Alaric.
When she opened the box, her eyes widened.
It was a beautiful dagger with her initials engraved on the handle.
Agilus gawked. "A dagger?" He whipped his head toward Alaric, his expression incredulous. "Seriously?! What kind of man gives a knife to the woman he’s pursuing? What happened to jewelry? Trinkets? Something romantic?"
Lara, however, traced the hilt with reverence. "Thank you, Prince Alaric," she said, her voice steady but sincere. "It’s very beautiful. I like it."
Agilus rolled his eyes. Never mind. Clearly, they were a match.
Prince Alaric was in a good mood. His lips curled up lightly.
Meanwhile, Lara’s brothers stood silently, their emotions getting the better of them. Their eyes reddened, glistening with unshed tears. One by one, they stepped forward, wrapping their arms around their sister in a brief but fierce embrace, each whispering their birthday wishes in her ear.
"Sis, come home with us. Mother will surely be delighted to see you." It was Percival. His words were gentle, just like the spring.
"I am sorry, Brother. I will not be able to join you this time. I still have things to do here. But I will see you soon." Lara’s voice was gentle but firm.
Bener’s heart sank. Had they disappointed her so much that she felt estranged? He felt that he had forever lost the sweet and dependent sister he used to have. Just what had she encountered in the last two years?
His gaze bore into Jethru’s deep brown ones. His anger was palpable. Was it because of him that his sister seemed to transform into a different person?
Jethru raised his eyebrows as he met Bener’s brown eyes. He could feel the hostility that young man was projecting unto him.