Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 189: Raphael’s troubling emotions

"No problem!"

The response was unanimous and loud from everyone.

Sebastian’s smile deepened at that.

After the last monster beast incident, the academy had lost several outstanding students. Naturally, they were far more cautious this time.

To ensure safety, both he and Miel would follow along. Their role was simple: protect the students when truly necessary, and otherwise give them room to grow.

If students always relied on mentors to step in, they would never be able to stand on their own in the future.

Zora and the others understood this perfectly and were more than willing to cooperate.

"Good," Miel said. "Go back and make your preparations. Tomorrow, we gather at the academy gates."

"Yes!" everyone answered.

Zora turned and headed toward the dormitory. To be honest, she’d only just heard about the blue mission today. And that too, a bit too soon after a beat tide? She couldn’t help but find it slightly suspicious.

"Darling, what are you thinking about?" Prince Kael asked, walking at her side with an easy smile.

"Nothing much," Zora replied with a shrug. "Just wondering what exactly is hidden inside that forest."

Her beautiful face carried a faint, thoughtful smile.

That smile reflected in Prince Kael’s eyes, softening his gaze without him even realizing it.

"What’s inside doesn’t really matter," he said lightly. "What matters is that I’ll be there with you."

Zora shot him a sideways look.

No matter the topic, this man always managed to twist it back to something shamelessly sentimental. She was truly at a loss with him.

However, Prince Kael’s next sentence made Zora pause in her steps.

"This time," he said softly yet firmly, "I won’t let you fall into danger again."

His voice, usually lazy and teasing, carried an unmistakable seriousness. When Zora met his gaze, she found it filled with warmth and deep affection, so sincere that it left no room for doubt.

Faced with such sincerity, she could no longer respond with her usual indifference or casual banter.

She believed him.

Although she had never witnessed Prince Kael’s reaction when he learned of her encounter with the monster beast, she could tell from his subtle changes, from the way his gaze lingered on her now, just how much that incident had weighed on him.

When Zora remained silent, Prince Kael’s eyes curved into a smile, soft and genuine. His lady, in moments like this, was truly... adorable.

Not far away, Raphael’s gaze swept over the two of them. The composure on his handsome face could not completely conceal the bitterness and loneliness hidden beneath.

Ever since Prince Kael appeared, the distance between him and Zora had only grown wider and wider.

He deliberately kept his space, afraid that getting too close might spark Prince Kael’s displeasure. Worse still, he feared becoming a source of misunderstanding between them, something he would never wish upon Zora.

Yet no matter how hard he tried to steady his heart, he found he could not truly look away from her.

After such a long time, he had finally been forced to face the truth.

He liked Zora.

He did not know when it began. By the time he realized it, his feelings had already taken deep root, growing quietly and uncontrollably.

Even back when he had first met her, the emotion had been there, only unnoticed until Prince Kael’s presence made it impossible to ignore.

But no matter when he became aware of it, he was already too late.

He had always lived freely, unrestrained, never imagining that one day a woman would quietly take residence in his heart. Yet after spending time with Zora, her figure had carved itself deeply into his mind, impossible to erase.

Perhaps it had begun the very first time he saw her.

Dressed in white, dismounting from her horse, facing a group of bandits without the slightest fear, calmly turning danger into victory with wit and resolve.

From that moment on, he had been drawn in by her courage and clarity.

Or perhaps it was in the White Mountain Range, when he failed to hold onto her hand and allowed her to fall into danger. When he awoke alone in that cave, frantic and shaken, he already knew.

If Zora were not married, he could still pursue her openly, without regret.

But now... what right did he have?

Perhaps it was destined that he would remain in the shadows, just as he had failed to hold her hand back then, and just as he would never have the chance to hold it in the future.

A quiet ache spread through his chest, heavy and desolate. How could anyone easily forget a woman as radiant and resolute as she was?

Alaric Von Seraph’s deep gaze lingered on Raphael. He could also see that over this period of time, Raphael had changed more than anyone else.

The polite, ever-present smile that once defined him seemed fixed in place, but no longer reached his eyes. The carefree air he once carried had faded, replaced by long hours of silent cultivation.

Unknowingly, Raphael had begun to resemble Alaric Von Seraph himself.

Sylvandria also glanced at Raphael, a faint sigh hidden in her eyes. She could not help but envy Zora.

It seemed that without even trying, she drew the hearts of others toward her.

How many women longed to gain Raphael’s affection, yet his gaze had always lingered on Zora alone.

Sylvandria herself had worked tirelessly, hoping to make Alaric Von Seraph notice her, but such things were always easier said than done.

Compared to her, Zora not only won Raphael’s unspoken fondness, but she also possessed an outstanding and devoted husband.

This alone was enough to make countless women envious.

Whether it was cultivation talent, medical skill, or alchemy, Zora excelled in all of them.

Even Sylvandria, who had always carried herself with pride, could not deny the faint, indescribable sense of loss that crept into her heart after spending time with Zora.

As she watched the sunlight fall on Zora’s smiling face, that quiet envy deepened.

Perhaps some people were simply born to be admired.

*

After returning to her residence, Zora began preparing for the upcoming journey to the White Mountains. After the previous incident, she knew better than anyone that danger in that place could appear without warning.

If she failed to prepare properly and encountered an emergency, regret would come too late.

With that thought, she pulled Shihtzu into her arms and placed it on her lap.

Smiling, she gently stroked its head. Ever since learning the little fellow’s true identity, her worries about the White Mountains had eased considerably.

After all, with a Beast King at her side, what monster could truly threaten her?

"Master, what are you planning to do?" Shihtzu asked, blinking up at her.

Zora smiled faintly. "Nothing much. I just want you to behave yourself in the White Mountains. Don’t go chasing things recklessly."

She had already witnessed Shihtzu’s power. This time, if it suddenly revealed its true ferocity... she could easily imagine the looks on everyone else’s faces.

Shihtzu nodded obediently, though it clearly didn’t fully understand.

Last time, it hadn’t done anything wrong and still got scolded by its master. Now it was being warned in advance...

Sigh. It really just wanted to be a quiet, well-behaved pet.

After giving Shihtzu a few more instructions, Zora left the academy. She needed to purchase some medicinal herbs.

Since the Mercenary Union had issued such a high-reward mission, the so-called Suffocating Forest was certainly no simple place.

As for dealing with miasma and suffocating spiritual energy, she had several methods at her disposal.

A thousand years ago, such environments were not uncommon. She had explored them countless times and was thoroughly familiar with the dangers they held.