Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 172: Kael’s agressiveness

"When did the matters between my lady and me become something an outsider can interfere with?"

Kael’s voice was calm, yet laced with unmistakable threat. Raphael’s words had already displeased him, and now this open reproach pushed his patience further.

He did not wish to ruin relations in front of Zora, but that did not mean he would tolerate accusations without response, and that too not from some other male.

The moment those words left his mouth, Raphael stiffened. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He had not expected Prince Kael to respond so sharply, nor to strike directly at his sore spot.

Yes... What right did he have to say such things? He is only a friend who didn’t know her for a long time, either. On the other side, it was her husband with whom she had a wedding.

Reesa stared at the scene in disbelief. This was beyond anything she had imagined.

A head-on clash between Raphael and Prince Kael? This was practically a confrontation between a secret admirer and the rightful husband. She kinda wished that Zora hadn’t married Kael.

How amazing would this look, if Zora is unmarried and two of the most handsome men she encountered, Kael and Raphael, argue for her, or perhaps even fight for her...

Meanwhile, Sylvandria’s expression shifted slightly, surprise flickering through her beautiful eyes.

She had long sensed that Raphael was different. On the surface, he treated everyone warmly, but that polite smile of his often felt colder than frost, keeping all at a distance.

Only after Zora appeared did Raphael truly change.

During their time in the White Mountains, she had already noticed his unusual reactions. After returning to the academy, his concern for Zora became even more evident.

Now, seeing Raphael lose his composure like this, Sylvandria finally understood.

His feelings were no longer hidden.

"See, I told you Raphael likes Master," Black muttered softly, sympathy flashing in his eyes. "Honestly, he’s kind of pitiful."

"Don’t overthink it," White replied, blinking. "The Prince is also very good. Aren’t you always supporting him?"

"Ah..."

Black let out a long sigh. "This is really troublesome."

Shihtzu lifted its head to glance at the two bickering on Zora’s shoulder, utterly confused. This was clearly the master’s choice. What was the point of them getting tangled up like this?

Seeing the tension escalate, Alaric Von Seraph finally spoke up, his tone calm but firm.

"Prince Kael, don’t take it to heart. Raphael is only worried about Zora."

Prince Kael’s gaze turned sharp, his eyes locking onto Alaric Von Seraph.

"So," he said slowly, voice as cold and stern as an iceberg, "are you saying that I don’t care about my own lady?"

Prince Kael’s handsome brows lifted slightly, his long, narrow eyes dark and sharp, carrying a faint but unmistakable threat.

His concern for Zora needed no explanation. With the tacit understanding between them, many things did not even require words. Even when Zora said nothing, he could already discern her plans.

Yet now, these two people dared to stand before him and question him?

He was no longer the powerless prince of the past who had to endure everything in silence. With his current status, who would dare to point fingers at him so casually?

More importantly, these two were far too concerned about his woman.

The moment Prince Kael spoke, the atmosphere instantly froze. His words were calm, but the provocation within them revealed his displeasure clearly.

Zora had not expected matters to escalate like this. She had noticed the tension earlier but never thought it would develop to this point.

"The understanding between ’MY WIFE’ and me," Prince Kael said coldly, stressing the word wife, "is not something outsiders can comprehend."

As his voice fell, his arm had already settled firmly around Zora’s shoulders. The gesture was possessive, domineering, and filled with an undeniable pride.

Reesa and Baldwin exchanged glances, both startled by Prince Kael’s natural dominance.

Raphael could not help but feel irritated. As a man, he understood Prince Kael’s hostility. He knew he had no standing to accuse him of anything, yet seeing such a display still left him deeply uncomfortable.

Zora lifted her gaze and looked at Prince Kael.

She had originally wanted to say that his behavior was somewhat inappropriate. But the moment she met his eyes, the words stuck in her throat.

Those deep eyes were filled with genuine emotion. Beneath the overbearing confidence was a trace of softness, even a hint of unease, as if her denial alone could wound him.

Her heart softened.

After all, in her current identity, she was Prince Kael’s wife. Faced with Raphael’s accusations, Prince Kael was merely responding in his own way.

With that thought, she swallowed the words she had been about to say.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior," Zora said gently. "I’ve already considered this matter carefully. In fact, Kael had anticipated what would happen today long ago."

She knew better than anyone how much he cared.

If he did not care, he would not have rushed back at such a critical moment simply to ensure her safety.

If he did not care, there would be no reason for him to remain in the academy at all.

From beginning to end, Prince Kael had come to the Imperial Academy for only one reason.

Her.

Hearing Zora’s explanation, everyone’s expressions shifted.

They had all assumed Prince Kael was unaware of today’s developments. They never expected that he had already foreseen everything yesterday.

In that case, had they not wronged him completely?

Reesa parted her lips slightly, guilt flashing through her eyes.

Even she had secretly felt that Prince Kael did not care enough. As a husband, wasn’t it natural to be attentive to everything concerning his wife?

Yet the truth was the opposite. Not only did Prince Kael care deeply, but he was also remarkably perceptive. It was she who had worried unnecessarily.

Raphael stood stunned, unable to speak for a long while.

Alaric Von Seraph also fell silent, his cold expression unchanged, yet his gaze carried a trace of contemplation.

Sylvandria’s eyes shimmered with complicated emotions. She had not expected such a matter to become the fuse for open conflict.

Whether it was Prince Kael, Reesa, Baldwin, Raphael, or Alaric Von Seraph, none of them treated Zora as an ordinary person.

There was no need to mention Prince Kael or Raphael.

Even Alaric Von Seraph, who appeared cold and distant on the surface, showed concern in his own restrained way.

To others, his silence might seem indifferent, but Sylvandria understood clearly. For someone like Alaric Von Seraph, the fact that he spoke even a single sentence already proved that this matter weighed heavily on his mind.

At that moment, a faint sense of bitterness rose in Sylvandria’s heart.

In the past, she had been the admired goddess of the academy. Whether it was her appearance, cultivation, or talent in alchemy, she stood above the crowd, basking in praise and admiration, living like a star held high in the clouds.

But since Zora appeared, everything had changed.

Zora was never inferior to her, and in some aspects, even surpassed her. What troubled Sylvandria the most was not the comparison itself, but the fact that Zora was entirely different.

Sometimes, she was like a blazing sun, capable of blocking others’ eyes from seeing any stars, and other times, she was like a luminous moon. Even when there are stars around, she ends up being the center of attention.

In the end, Sylvandria could only sigh in her head and stay silent.