Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 152: The Third Special Enrollment of the Year (Part-2)
Reesa sighed exaggeratedly. "Senior Raphael has always been gentle and kind to everyone. He’s the dream figure of countless girls in the academy."
"Ever since people saw you walking together, they’ve decided you’re close. I’ve heard that more than a few junior sisters have cried quietly in the dead of night."
"Master, your sins are heavy," Black muttered.
White nodded solemnly. "If Prince Kael knew, he’d definitely be jealous."
Zora’s lips twitched. If those two little troublemakers weren’t currently behaving, she would’ve sent them flying without hesitation.
"It’s not that exaggerated," she said helplessly. "But I suppose I should be more careful in the future."
Reesa shook her head and grabbed Zora’s hand, her expression suddenly serious.
"What’s there to be careful about?" she said earnestly. "Senior Raphael is an excellent person. If you really ended up together, I’d be genuinely happy for you."
She smiled brightly. "A good man must be held onto when you meet him."
Seeing Reesa suddenly slip into the role of an overenthusiastic matchmaker, Zora quickly cut off that train of thought.
"Don’t overthink it," she said with a small laugh. "There’s really nothing between Senior and me. No romantic relationship at all."
Her exquisite features curved into a calm, sincere smile, her tone clear and unambiguous.
Reesa stared at her for a moment, studying her expression. "You’re serious?" she asked. "You really don’t have any feelings for Senior Raphael?"
"None. Truly," Zora replied helplessly.
Reesa let out a long sigh, her brows drooping in disappointment. "That’s such a pity. Senior Raphael is such a good catch. If you don’t want him, I wonder which woman will end up getting that bargain in the future."
Zora rolled her eyes lightly. When had Reesa’s imagination grown so wildly?
"If you’re interested, you can go after him yourself," she teased with a smile.
Reesa immediately waved her hands frantically. "No, no! Senior Raphael is yours. I’ve never had any such thoughts!"
"Oh?" Zora’s smile deepened. "Then I think you and Baldwin would be quite suitable."
Reesa’s eyes widened. "That noisy guy? No interest whatsoever!"
Zora only smiled faintly. Reesa might not have any interest in Baldwin, but Baldwin’s attention toward Reesa was far from subtle.
"But Senior Raphael is so outstanding," Reesa muttered, eyes filled with curiosity.
"Why don’t you like him? Don’t tell me... You already have someone in your heart?"
Someone in her heart?
Almost involuntarily, Zora’s thoughts sketched the image of a tall, straight figure clad in pale gold. Steady. Unwavering. Always standing on her side.
From the moment they met, he had never once hesitated. When he heard she was in danger, he abandoned everything and rushed to her without question.
However, he is too shameless for her taste, but she didn’t hate his teasing either...
Reesa had only asked casually, but when she saw Zora fall silent, her expression instantly changed.
"Zora?" Reesa leaned closer. "Don’t tell me I guessed right?"
Zora smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. "Who can say anything for certain about the future?"
Seeing that, Reesa wisely chose not to press further. Some things were better left unspoken.
**
The next morning.
Zora rose early. Yesterday, she had already received notice of the academy’s morning assembly. Today, the mysterious third special enrollment student will finally be introduced.
"I wonder if this third special enrollment is really that special," someone murmured along the way.
"It’s not easy to get special admission. Whoever it is, they can’t be ordinary."
"Besides, the beast tide caused the academy to lose many talents. Expanding recruitment makes sense."
Holding Shihtzu in her arms, Zora walked leisurely toward the assembly grounds, listening to the animated discussions around her.
By the time she arrived, Raphael and the others were already there.
As the academy’s core figures, they had come early to help maintain order. Only Baldwin and Marcus were absent, still recovering from their injuries.
"Zora, you’re here."
Raphael’s clear, made face broke into a warm and elegant smile the moment he spotted her.
She nodded lightly in return. "You came early."
"Ordinary classes start early in the morning," Raphael said with a light smile, "and our special enrollment class arrives even earlier. You and Baldwin are newcomers, so it’s understandable. The others have long been used to it."
Sylvandria walked over to Zora’s side, a trace of brightness flickering in her eyes. "Zora, I heard you passed the alchemist assessment yesterday?"
As Gerrad’s disciple, Sylvandria had learned the news quickly. Still, when she received confirmation, she could not hide her surprise.
Zora nodded calmly.
"You’re really fast," Sylvandria laughed softly.
Zora smiled faintly. "In five days, I’ll be auctioning the Elixir. Getting the certification earlier is just to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Sylvandria nodded in understanding, then her expression shifted, curiosity surfacing.
"Have you heard? Today, a third special enrollment student is joining the academy."
"This is the first time something like this has happened in the academy’s history," she added, eyes shining. "Whoever it is, they can’t be ordinary."
Raphael raised his brows slightly, peach-blossom eyes glinting with an easy smile. "Indeed. Anyone worthy of special enrollment won’t be simple."
Zora only smiled lightly, unbothered.
Whoever the newcomer was, it had little to do with her.
Just then, the principal and vice principal slowly approached.
"Greetings, Principal."
"Greetings, Vice Principal."
The gathered students bowed in unison.
Wilheim and Gerrad stepped onto the high platform together, surveying the crowd below with kindly expressions.
"Today, everyone has been gathered here for one reason," Wilheim said directly, wasting no words.
"To introduce a new special enrollment student."
As a spirit warrior, he disliked long-winded formalities and always spoke straight to the point.
The moment his words fell, a ripple of excitement spread through the crowd.
So the rumors were true. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
To be specially admitted to the academy was already extraordinary. To be introduced personally by both the principal and vice principal made it clear that this person was anything but ordinary.
As Wilheim stepped aside, a figure slowly walked onto the platform.
The man wore a light-gold robe that flowed effortlessly around his tall, straight frame.
His long black hair was bound high with a head accessory, his features sharp and made, brows long and eyes narrow, carrying a restrained elegance. His demeanor was calm and noble, like a blade sheathed in silk.
Sunlight spilled over him, outlining his figure in a radiant glow. For a moment, he looked less like a man and more like a figure descended from legend.
The crowd erupted.
"By the heavens... the rumors weren’t exaggerated at all!"
"He’s unbelievably handsome!"
"I’m done for. This is my dream man!"
The female students were instantly swept into frenzy.
For a long time, Alaric Von Seraph and Raphael had been the heartthrobs of the academy. Yet Alaric Von Seraph stood close to Sylvandria, while Raphael’s gentle attentiveness toward Zora had already crushed many quiet hopes.
Now, this third special enrollment student appeared like a bolt of lightning, surpassing even Alaric Von Seraph and Raphael in sheer presence.
Unlike Alaric Von Seraph’s mild elegance or Raphael’s warm refinement, this newcomer radiated innate nobility. Every movement carried the natural authority of someone born above others, intoxicating and irresistible.
Raphael, Alaric Von Seraph, and Sylvandria all showed subtle changes in expression.
None of them had expected the new arrival to be so outstanding.
Some people did not need words or actions. They only had to stand there quietly, and their extraordinariness would already be felt.
The newly arrived special enrollment student stood on the high platform without moving, yet an invisible pressure spread outward like a tide. It was calm, restrained, but unmistakably powerful, making the crowd instinctively hold their breath.
Even Alaric Von Seraph and Raphael, both well-traveled and gifted, felt their hearts tremble.
This man was no ordinary genius.
Below the stage, Crown Prince Philip, who was only enjoying a low key status in the academy, stared at the figure above, disbelief flooding his eyes.
Impossible.
This had to be impossible!
His thoughts screamed in denial.
Wasn’t he crippled? Hadn’t he been confined to a wheelchair for years?
Back then, this person had been the target of his mockery and disdain, someone he trampled beneath his feet without hesitation.
And now... that same "mud" stood radiant and flawless above him, dazzling the entire academy.
How could he stand again?
How could he stand so proudly?
Philip’s face twisted, his heart pounding with fear and fury.
Nearby, Nigel also stared blankly at the platform.
This man had always been famous in the imperial city. Peerless looks, noble bearing, and yet... a disabled prince. That image was deeply etched into memory.
But the man before him now showed not the slightest trace of weakness.
Tall, elegant, commanding. Where was the cripple?
Nigel’s thoughts drifted unconsciously to Zora.
Hadn’t she, too, once been ridiculed and belittled, only to shatter everyone’s expectations and rise as an undeniable genius?
A rumor from the imperial city surfaced in his mind again, one he had once dismissed as idle gossip.
"The crippled prince and the useless young miss, a natural pair."
Now, looking at the scene before him, Nigel felt his heart stir.
This wasn’t a pairing of broken people.
This was a match of heaven and earth.
Zora lifted her gaze toward the pale-gold figure on the platform. Her usually calm eyes rippled for the first time, shock and surprise flashing through them... followed by a faint, uncontrollable joy.
"Kael?"
Prince Kael had once told her he would come to her after settling his affairs.
She simply hadn’t expected him to appear in such a way.
A special enrollment student of the academy?
Did this mean he planned to remain here, cultivating alongside her?
"He’s here! Master’s husband is really here!"
Black bounced excitedly, almost somersaulting on her head.
