The General's Daughter: The Mission

The following morning, Lara returned to Isla alongside Ares and Jack, the morning breeze curling around them as the island slowly stirred awake beneath the golden light of early morning. The moment they stepped into the Isla’s grounds, a familiar voice cut through the calm.

”Lara, where have you been these past few days?” Amelia rushed toward her the moment she saw her, throwing her arms tightly around Lara as if they had been separated for months instead of mere days.

Lara let out a soft laugh and returned the embrace. ”Wasn’t it only five days?”

”Really?” Amelia pulled back just enough to pout dramatically. ”Then why did it feel like an entire month?”

Lara laughed again and lightly flicked Amelia’s forehead.

The playful gesture made her suddenly still.

For the briefest moment, a forgotten memory resurfaced—another laugh, another carefree afternoon. She had done the exact same thing to Althea once while they teased Aldrich endlessly about the painfully awkward way he tried to court his first love.

The memory flashed through her mind like sunlight through glass.

Then, just as quickly, it disappeared.

Lara blinked, her smile fading for a fraction of a second before she tucked the strange feeling away.

From a short distance away, Liam watched the exchange in quiet surprise. Ever since returning from the treasure-hunting mission, he had rarely left Amelia’s side, yet this was the first time he had seen her so openly attached to someone else. The warmth in Amelia’s eyes when she looked at Lara was impossible to miss.

A faint smile tugged at Liam’s lips.

His gaze lingered on Lara for a brief moment—curious, thoughtful—before shifting back to Amelia, who was already tugging Lara toward the restaurant, her excitement impossible to hide.

A small smile tugged at Liam’s lips.

Wasn’t this a good thing?

The two most important women in his life—his fiancée and his sister—seemed to get along effortlessly. The warmth and ease between them felt natural, almost comforting, and for the first time in a while, he found himself quietly hoping it would stay that way.

”We’re meeting one of my favorite producer and director today,” Amelia announced, practically glowing.

Lara arched a brow, though she already suspected the answer. ”Who?”

”Lionel Brookes.”

So it really was him.

Lara’s eyes flickered with recognition. Lionel Brookes was known for moving quickly once he set his mind on a project, and that was one of the things she admired most about him.

”He’s an independent film producer,” Amelia continued enthusiastically. ”I absolutely love the movies he makes.”

”That’s good,” Lara replied with a small smile. ”I like him too.”

But beneath her calm expression, hesitation stirred.

It still wasn’t the right time to tell Amelia that she was one of the people behind Starlight Entertainment.

Amelia led Lara through the quiet halls of Isla Pavilion, her steps light with excitement. When they reached the private dining room, Lara immediately noticed the difference. It was far smaller than the lavish conference suites they had used when meeting major entertainment companies, yet the intimate space carried a warmth those grand rooms lacked.

Soft amber lights glowed against polished wooden walls, and the faint aroma of brewed coffee lingered in the air. The comfortable atmosphere made the room feel less like a business meeting and more like a gathering among old friends.

Without realizing it, Lara relaxed.

”Lara, this is Director Lionel Brookes,” Amelia introduced enthusiastically as they entered. ”Director, this is Larissa Reyes, a close friend of mine.”

For a split second, surprise flickered across Lionel’s face.

”Miss Nades,” he began awkwardly, quickly correcting himself, ”I’m actually acquainted with Larissa Reyes.”

Despite his momentary slip, he immediately stood and extended his hand politely.

”Boss, you’re here.”

His voice dropped low enough that only Lara could hear, the respect in his tone unmistakable. The subtle caution in his expression told her he had already realized she had no intention of revealing her identity as one of Starlight Entertainment’s co-owners to Amelia.

Amelia’s brows lifted slightly as she turned toward Lara, suspicion flickering in her narrowed eyes.

”When did you two meet?”

Lara accepted Lionel’s handshake calmly before answering without hesitation. ”I helped Ares with the negotiations and paperwork before.”

It was the truth—just not the entire truth.

”I see...” Amelia murmured, though curiosity still lingered in her gaze.

A moment later, however, her attention shifted completely when Lionel handed her a set of documents. The earlier suspicion vanished almost instantly, replaced by eager focus as she began scanning the pages with growing excitement.

The negotiation ended far more quickly than Lara had expected.

At first, Amelia had listened carefully as Lionel explained Starlight Entertainment’s proposal—the production budget, filming schedule, marketing plans, and the company’s vision for adapting the project.

She asked questions with surprising seriousness, occasionally glancing through the documents while Lionel answered each one patiently.

Then Ares entered the room, and the entire atmosphere subtly shifted.

The casual ease from earlier faded as attention naturally gravitated toward him. Even Lionel straightened unconsciously in his seat. There was something about Ares’ presence—quiet yet commanding—that made people instinctively pay attention whenever he spoke.

Without making it sound important, Ares casually revealed that he had recently become one of Starlight Entertainment’s shareholders. He explained that one of the reasons behind his investment was his desire to bring the story of Calma and the lost empire of Azuverda beyond the country’s borders and introduce it to the rest of the world.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Amelia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as she turned toward him. ”You invested in Starlight just to promote Calma?”

Ares leaned lazily against his chair, completely at ease despite the attention now focused on him. One arm rested carelessly along the armrest while the corner of his lips lifted into a faint smirk.

”Mm. Partly,” he answered calmly. ”I don’t invest in things that won’t make money.”

The confidence in his voice was effortless, almost arrogant, yet no one in the room found it unreasonable. Ares had built a reputation for seeing opportunities long before everyone else did. If he chose to back something personally, it usually meant he already knew it would succeed.

But beneath his blunt response, Amelia could still sense something deeper.

For someone like Ares—who rarely involved himself in anything without purpose—to invest because he wanted the world to remember Calma and Azuverda... that alone carried weight.

Amelia stared at him for several seconds before slowly lowering the documents in her hand. Everyone in the room knew Ares’ reputation in business. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, his instincts when it came to investments were frighteningly accurate. Projects he touched rarely failed.

More importantly, Lara trusted him. And Amelia trusted Lara.

If Ares was willing to attach his name and money to Starlight, then it meant the company was far more stable and promising than the rumors circulating outside suggested.

The hesitation she initially carried disappeared almost instantly.

”In that case,” Amelia said decisively as she closed the folder, ”I’m willing to give Starlight the filming rights.”

Lionel blinked in visible surprise, clearly not expecting the negotiation to conclude so smoothly.

”That fast?” he asked carefully.

Amelia laughed lightly. ”Director Brookes, I may not understand the technical side of business, but it is fact that I love your movies.” Her gaze briefly shifted toward Ares before softening. ”And if Mr. Zuvel believes Starlight is worth investing in, then I believe it’s worth trusting too.”

Beside her, Lara quietly observed the exchange without saying a word.

She knew Amelia’s decision was not entirely based on business logic. Trust, loyalty, and personal feelings had played a large role in it. Ironically, Amelia had unknowingly placed her confidence in the very person sitting quietly beside her.

Lara lowered her gaze slightly, hiding the complicated look in her eyes.

...

”Lara, Grandfather gave me a scroll,” Amelia said excitedly, unable to hide the anticipation in her voice. ”And do you know what it contains?”

Lara glanced at her curiously. ”What is it?”

Amelia carefully unfolded the ancient scroll in her hands, her movements unusually gentle, as though afraid the fragile parchment might crumble if handled too roughly.

”It contains a fragment of Empress Lara’s lost years,” she said softly. ”It tells the story of the time she disappeared after she was abducted by human traffickers... and how she met her master, Jethru Mendel.”

Her eyes brightened with fascination as she continued.

”The scroll described how he trained her relentlessly until she became a warrior and how she saved Carles with her wit. It said he turned her from a lost princess into someone strong enough to survive war, betrayal, and bloodshed.”

The moment the name left Amelia’s lips, Lara’s expression subtly changed.

Her eyes flickered.

A a painful longing settled within them as memories long buried stirred violently in the depths of her mind.

She remembered the discipline that her master had imbued in her, the harsh training, her hands bloodied from gripping a sword far too heavy for her younger self. She remembered Jethru Mendel’s cold, merciless gaze as he forced her to stand every time she collapsed.

He taught her not to show any weakness...not to hesitate... but to show mercy when needed.

Those were the lessons he carved into her soul.

To the world, Jethru Mendel was a legendary master who forged the empire’s strongest warrior.

But to Lara... he had been far more complicated than that.

A teacher. A father.

And, in many ways, the closest thing she had ever had to family during the years she was lost.