Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 184: Has Zora started developing feelings?

Someone who could pass through his defenses so effortlessly... this was no ordinary student. This was a man whose strength far exceeded his own.

"You... you should leave immediately!" Cassian snapped, though the lack of confidence in his voice betrayed him. "This is my residence!"

Prince Kael stepped down from the windowsill and began walking toward him at an unhurried pace.

With every step, the pressure in the room intensified, invisible yet crushing. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, tinged with cold mockery. "Do you really think," he asked softly, "that you’re qualified to order me around?"

Cassian felt his breathing grow labored.

Standing before Prince Kael, he felt an instinctive sense of oppression, as though he were facing a natural ruler, someone born to stand above others. The man’s demeanor appeared casual, even playful, yet it carried an undeniable authority that pressed down on Cassian’s spirit.

"If you don’t leave," Cassian retreated step by step, his voice rising, "I will report this to the academy! I will have them punish you!"

Prince Kael laughed quietly, the sound low and dismissive. "Old man," he said, shaking his head slightly, "it seems you still haven’t understood the situation."

Cassian’s throat tightened. "What... what do you mean?"

Prince Kael stopped in front of him, his gaze turning cold. "What I mean," he said evenly, "is that I don’t intend to let you see tomorrow’s sun."

Those words struck like thunder.

Cassian’s face drained of all color as horror flooded his eyes.

He stared at Prince Kael in disbelief, unable to accept that someone would dare speak so casually about killing him.

"Do you know what will happen if you kill me?" Cassian shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. "Once this gets out, you won’t be able to remain in the academy! Are you really willing to destroy your future for Zora?"

Prince Kael chuckled, his tone light, almost amused. "Cassian, you’re overestimating yourself." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Even if you die here tonight, I can still remain in the academy without the slightest problem."

As he spoke, he stepped closer, his presence looming. "I came here tonight," Prince Kael continued, his voice turning icy, "to make one thing clear to you and those who will hear about you. Anyone who dares to target my wife must be prepared to pay the price with their lives."

Cassian’s pupils shrank violently. He finally pieced together the implication of those words, and the truth hit him like a hammer.

Zora... was Prince Kael’s wife? He didn’t know that she even had a man, forget about a powerful husband like this...

"Cassian," Prince Kael said softly, his eyes filled with cold disdain, "It’s time for you to rest. Permanently."

A murderous intent surged forth.

Cassian opened his mouth, panic overtaking him, trying to shout for help. "He—"

Before the word could leave his lips, everything went dark.

The protective formations he had always taken pride in never reacted, never issued a single warning. By the time the night wind brushed through the open window, Cassian’s residence was already silent.

Prince Kael had come and gone, clean and effortless, leaving behind no trace, as if he had never been there at all.

Meanwhile, Zora made her way toward Cassian’s residence without the slightest hesitation.

The old man had always been arrogant and ostentatious, afraid that others would not know of his status, so finding his place was hardly difficult.

As for courtesy, she had long since thrown it out the window.

Cassian had relied on his age and status as an alchemist, attempting to crush her with reputation and authority.

Someone who wielded power like that, trampling younger cultivators whenever it suited him, had likely ruined more than a few promising futures. Letting such a person continue unchecked was something she had no intention of tolerating.

"Master," Black suddenly exclaimed, his voice brimming with surprise, "isn’t the person ahead... Prince Kael?"

Zora lifted her gaze.

In the dim night, a pale-gold silhouette slowly emerged. Tall and straight, his steps unhurried, his presence calm yet unmistakably commanding. That flawless, handsome face was impossible to mistake.

Who else could it be but him?

Zora came to a stop, standing where she was. A faint smile curved her lips as she watched the figure approach.

Prince Kael also noticed her at once. The moment his eyes met hers, the coolness in his expression melted away, replaced by a perfect, easy smile.

"Darling," he said leisurely, his voice low and warm, laced with amusement. "It’s late. Why aren’t you resting in the dormitory? What brings you out here?"

Her brows lifted slightly, her dark, clear eyes shimmering like scattered stars. "You slipped out in the middle of the night," she replied calmly. "Naturally, I had to come and take a look."

Prince Kael’s eyes brightened.

His long, narrow brows arched, the smile at the corner of his lips deepening with a foxlike charm. "So," he said with a grin, "my position in my wife’s heart is still quite important. You came all this way just to check on me. Afraid I’d run off for someone else?"

As he spoke, his hands settled naturally on her shoulders. Those deep, ocean-like eyes fixed on her face, filled with unmistakable satisfaction and a hint of teasing pride.

"Rest assured," he added smoothly. "You’re the only one in my heart. I have no interest in any other woman."

Zora rolled her eyes without the slightest hesitation.

"Whether you’re interested in other women has nothing to do with me," she said calmly.

She truly didn’t know where this man drew such boundless confidence from. Listening to him, one would think she was some jealous wife lurking in the shadows, anxiously guarding her ’husband’.

Husband?

The moment the term surfaced in her mind, she felt a flicker of irritation.

Great. She’d really been led astray by this shameless man.

"Darling," Prince Kael chuckled and stepped forward, utterly unbothered by her words, "you can’t say one thing and mean another."

His smile only grew brighter, confidence radiating from him like sunlight, impossible to ignore.

Zora shot him a sideways glance. Of all things, this was precisely what she hated but also admired most about him, the sheer thickness of his skin.

"So," she asked, changing the subject, her tone light yet probing, "where are you coming from?"

As she spoke, her eyes gleamed with quiet intelligence.

From the moment she learned he had left the dormitory, a suspicion had already taken root in her mind. Now that she saw him here, that suspicion had all but solidified into certainty.

Prince Kael let out a soft laugh. His arm slid naturally around her waist, the motion familiar and unforced. "Where else?" he said lightly. "Wherever my wife goes, I will go there."

Just those few words were enough.

No explanation was needed.

Hearing Prince Kael’s answer, the smile on Zora’s lips quietly deepened.

She had to admit it. The two of them really did share an unspoken understanding. It seemed that whatever she intended to do, he had already guessed it in advance.

"Kael, let’s go back," she said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. Then her gaze drifted down, landing squarely on his hand at her waist.

This man...

Since when had his movements become so natural, so practiced?

Sensing her stare, Prince Kael’s smile brightened instead of retreating. "Darling," he said softly, leaning closer, "Don’t worry, it’s too dark, and we are alone here. No one will see."

That wasn’t the point at all.

What she minded was not whether anyone could see, but that his hand should not be there in the first place.

Yet when she met his carefree, good-natured smile, she found it strangely difficult to get truly angry. After a brief pause, she could only say, somewhat stiffly, "Take it away."

"Darling," Prince Kael chuckled, blinking innocently, "we’re already husband and wife, not even newlywed anymore. Why so bothered?"

He even gave her a look that clearly said: you understand.

Zora froze in place. Her eyes narrowed, cold and sharp, fixed squarely on him.

This man truly had no sense of restraint. Give him even an inch, and he would immediately take a mile.

Meeting her gaze that seemed like she had enough, Prince Kael finally raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright," he said with exaggerated seriousness. "Since my lady doesn’t like it, then... fine."

Zora nodded inwardly, satisfied. He is thick-skinned and shameless, but he listens to me...

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Prince Kael’s broad, warm palm quietly found her hand instead. His fingers closed around hers with effortless familiarity as he began walking forward.

"Darling," he said gently, "we should head back."

The sudden warmth sent a faint tremor through her heart. She looked up at the tall, straight figure ahead of her, and an indescribable feeling slowly spread through her chest.

It was that feeling that made her forget to pull her hand away. Just like that, she allowed him to lead her back toward the academy.