A Royal Arrangement: The General's Daughter (Short Novel)

Chapter 1

Prince Zihan, himself

It was now fall.

Standing in front of the large wooden gate of the Wu estate was Wu Yuren. The cold wind of the season blew through her straight hair, which was neatly resting on her back with half-braids tied in a bun.

Her dress was shorter and dyed a darker color than the traditional attire, revealing shoes that almost reached her knees.

A warrior. Despite her straight posture and serious expression reminiscent of one of the general's warriors, Yuren was emotional.

She stood almost on the verge of tears as she waited with her mother and two older cousins, Jin and Fang, for the arrival of the famous General Wu.

The message announcing the general's return and the victory of the last war had arrived at their estate a week prior. Her mother had cried tears of joy upon hearing the news and had instructed all the servants to clean the entire estate and gather various ingredients for the feast.

The Wu mansion, which had been peaceful and quiet for nearly four summers, was now bustling with activity.

Yuren couldn't help but feel both joyous and thankful. Despite the general's numerous missions and his rare visits to the estate, four summers was the longest time she had gone without seeing him.

For almost two summers, there had been no letters or signs of the general, so the old parchment announcing his arrival had eased her worries.

"Father..." she whispered into the wind.

She saw a group of men approaching along the streets of the capital. The crowd cried out in joy and praised him as he rode at the front, smiling in their direction.

A white cloth was wrapped around his left arm despite the heavy armor he wore. Yuren knew that beneath that armor lay more injuries and scars, but his face conveyed a different story.

"Lang!" her mother called, almost running towards the general.

The general dismounted his horse and embraced his wife, joy in his eyes. Young Yuren could not help but run towards them and hug her father as well.

"My daughter, you've grown" he said, as she hid her face with her hands while crying.

She missed his voice and warmth.

She wondered how the general, a man who had won so many battles and slain countless enemies, could also be the same man who always spoke so gently to her and her mother.

"Do not worry anymore, Lyn. I am here now," he said, hugging her crying mother once more.

"I am sorry. I am just so glad," her mother said. The general chuckled softly.

After exchanging greetings with his soldiers and commander, they all went inside the estate for the feast.

Her mother knew that the troops had already been treated to a feast at the palace, so most of the food on the table consisted of different kinds of fruits and desserts.

The soldiers were pleased and thanked the general's wife for the delicate patterns and sweet flavors of the food they had been longing for.

...

As dinner came to an end, the joyous atmosphere of the feast gave way to a quieter, more intimate dinner for the Wu family.

The soldiers had said their goodbyes and departed to reunite with their families in the capital, while some had already fallen asleep in the quarters provided for them by the general.