Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 157: The quiet talk (Part-1)

The relationship between them was becoming increasingly difficult to define. There was something tangled and unclear, yet impossible to ignore.

"You can come in now," Prince Kael suddenly said toward the door.

Zora frowned slightly in confusion. Was someone outside?

The next moment, the door opened.

A man dressed in black stepped inside. When he saw Zora, he immediately clasped his fists and bowed.

"Miss Zora."

"Alder!"

A smile bloomed in Zora’s eyes. It really had been a long time since she’d seen him.

Seeing the two of them again, a quiet joy welled up in Zora’s heart. It was an emotion difficult to put into words, yet she deliberately kept it from showing in front of Prince Kael.

Prince Kael noticed, however, that the moment Alder appeared, Zora’s expression softened noticeably. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his deep, dark eyes.

This reaction felt a little too warm.

Could it be that his lady... preferred this type? Maybe, should he behave like Alder to get her to like him?

"Miss Zora."

Alder stepped forward, his face full of remorse as he bowed. "Before the prince left, he ordered me to secretly ensure your safety. I never imagined that during the beast tide I would fail to protect you and allow you to fall into danger. I truly... have no face to meet either you or His Highness."

Zora froze for a moment.

Earlier, after Black and White’s reminder, she had already sensed someone following her from the shadows. She had even planned to wait and see who it was.

Later, she realized that the presence trailing her was like a shadow, never revealing itself, never making the slightest hostile move.

That was why she had chosen not to expose them.

She simply hadn’t expected that the one following her would be Alder.

No wonder Prince Kael had rushed over so urgently after the beast tide. She had wondered how he could have known she was in danger so quickly.

It turned out Alder had informed him.

Black’s little face lit up with excitement. "The Prince must really like Master! Otherwise, why would he leave his own personal guard to protect her?"

"I think so too," White nodded vigorously. "Otherwise, why would the Prince rush back in such a hurry?"

Listening to the chatter of Black and White, Zora’s thoughts grew complicated.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Prince Kael leaving Alder at her side. It showed how much he valued her. Yet...

"The beast tide was sudden and completely unexpected," Zora said gently. "That kind of situation is beyond anyone’s control. You don’t need to blame yourself."

Her tone was calm and understanding.

Such disasters were never something humans could foresee or stop. Even she herself could not have changed the outcome.

Alder’s survival alone during that chaos was already no small feat.

Hearing her words, Alder felt even more ashamed.

The prince had entrusted him with this task, yet he had failed to carry it out perfectly. And now Miss Baili was being so understanding. It made his heart feel even heavier.

"Miss Zora," Alder said solemnly, "I swear that from now on, I will never allow you to fall into danger again!"

One mistake was more than enough.

If it happened a second time, he would have no need to continue living.

Prince Kael watched the exchange silently. When Alder made that vow, a strange feeling surfaced in his chest.

It seemed that in the future, he would need to personally adjust his arrangements. He couldn’t leave even the slightest risk behind.

Zora smiled faintly. "Alder, there’s no need for that. Just focus on protecting Prince Kael."

Prince Kael lifted a hand. "Alder, since my lady has forgiven you, you may go."

Alder nodded, bowed once more, and quietly left the room.

After he was gone, Zora turned to Prince Kael. Her clear eyes held a trace of softness as she spoke slowly, "Thank you."

The sudden gratitude made Prince Kael pause for a heartbeat.

Then, a warm, sunlike smile spread across his flawless face. "Taking care of you," he said softly, "is what I should do."

Prince Kael’s gaze drifted down to Shihtzu nestled in Zora’s arms. "Is this the demonic beast you obtained during the royal hunting trial?"

Zora nodded lightly. "Yes. I named it Shihtzu."

"Shihtzu..." Prince Kael repeated, a faint smile curving his lips. "In the Eastern Continent, it means a little lion. A befitting name."

He reached out and patted the fluffy head. "This little fellow is quite adorable."

Zora promptly pressed Shihtzu’s head down again. Ever since Prince Kael arrived, the little thing had buried itself so deeply against her that only a ball of white fur was visible.

After being nudged, Shihtzu reluctantly lifted its head and glanced at Prince Kael.

The moment Prince Kael saw its forehead clearly, the calm on his handsome face shattered.

His fingers brushed over the distinct mark of a crown marked between the lion’s brows. Shock surged through his eyes. "This... this is a Beast king?"

Hearing Prince Kael voice the same conclusion Harold once had, Zora calmly confirmed it. "Yes. It’s a Beast king."

"You know about Beast kings?" she asked, arching her brows slightly. "I’m not familiar with them. Can you explain?"

Prince Kael nodded. "Of course."

As he spoke, Zora gradually gained a clearer understanding of what the Beast king truly represented.

Beast kings had only appeared a few hundred years ago. In her previous life, such an existence had never emerged, so it was no wonder she knew nothing about them.

Hundreds of years ago, a great upheaval had occurred within the Forest of Demonic Beasts. Countless species went extinct, while entirely new kinds of monsters were born.

Among them, the Beast King was the most extraordinary and terrifying existence.

When a Beast King appeared, all beasts bowed.

It was the sovereign of demonic beasts.

Most frightening of all, there had never been more than one Beast king at a time.

Only when the old Beast king perished would a new one be born.

Such an existence was, quite simply, a nightmare to countless powers.

Logically speaking, a Beast king should never be able to contract with a spirit warrior.

Yet here it was, quietly clinging to Zora like a puppy.

That alone was unbelievable.

"So the royal family was really that careless?" Zora raised a brow. "I’m afraid they themselves had no idea what kind of monster was sealed inside that beast egg."

Prince Kael nodded. "If they had known it was a Beast king, they would never have offered it as a reward. This is the kind of treasure that would drive every major force mad, enough to even offend the Emperor."

Zora laughed softly. Thinking back to how Shihtzu had once been treated as nothing more than a useless beast egg, the irony was almost amusing.

If the royal family ever realized the truth, they would likely regret it until their intestines turned green.

However, Prince Kael’s expression soon turned grave. "Your Shihtzu’s identity must never be exposed," he said seriously. "Once others discover it, you’ll be targeted without end."

A person who carries a heavenly treasure invites calamity from mankind.

With Zora’s current strength, she simply could not protect a Beast king from the greed of the world.

Seeing how serious he was, Zora nodded. "I understand."

"What do you plan to do?" Prince Kael frowned slightly. "Since Shihtzu is your contracted beast, it can’t stay hidden indoors forever."

Zora’s red lips curved into a confident, almost mischievous smile. "I have my own solution."

Prince Kael studied her suspiciously.

But then again, Zora had always been like this. Whenever she spoke with such certainty, it usually meant she already had everything under control.

In the end, he chose to trust her. "After I left, I also had people investigate House Griffin."

The moment those words fell, Zora’s expression tightened. The softness in her features vanished, replaced by a solemn calm.

"And?" she asked.

That jade pendant was the only proof of her origins. Ever since learning she was not the daughter of Helius, she had worn it close to her heart, as if it were a fragile thread tying her to her past.

For the sake of her own life, she needed the truth.

Prince Kael pressed his lips together, his expression turning heavy. "House Griffin sealed the news extremely tightly. I sent people to inquire, but no one from their household would speak of it."

He paused, then continued, his voice lowering. "However, one thing can be confirmed. Your father did indeed fall out with House Griffin... and the timing was exactly 16 years ago."