Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 245: The Ancient Ruins (Part-17)

If the House Ravens chose to join, then Sigmund and Zephrin could still form a three-party alliance. With numbers and strength combined, they would have a real chance of suppressing the academy and Heaven’s Gate Spirit warriors.

But if the House Ravens refused, only House Storm and House Night would remain. Two against two, with uncertain loyalty on the sidelines, victory would no longer be assured.

What made the situation even more delicate was Elowen’s earlier withdrawal.

She had stated clearly that the House Crescent would not become enemies of Prince Kael, but neutrality did not mean harmlessness. If both sides fought until they were wounded and exhausted, who could say the House Crescent would not step in afterward and reap the spoils like a fisherman casting his net?

For a moment, the air itself felt heavy with calculation. Every Spirit warrior present weighed gains and losses in silence.

Fiona stood in the center of those unspoken expectations, her heart in turmoil.

She admired Prince Kael. That admiration had once been sincere and difficult to deny. Yet after everything that had happened, she could no longer ignore the distance in his eyes, the indifference that had never once softened for her.

And then there was Zora... the very person who had saved her life.

No matter how unwilling she felt, that fact pressed on her conscience like a stone.

Zora watched quietly from the side, the corner of her lips lifting in a faint, unreadable smile. To her, the House Ravens’ hesitation was almost amusing. Did Fiona truly believe she still held the reins here?

Even if Fiona decided to strike, Zora had already grasped a crucial lever within the House Ravens itself. Once that person stepped forward, Fiona would find herself trapped between loyalty and reason, inside and out, divided.

Before Fiona could make up her mind, a House Ravens elder stepped forward instead.

"Miss Zoraonce showed kindness to our House Ravens," he said evenly. "We will not raise our hands against her."

The words were calm, but decisive.

Fiona stiffened. She turned sharply, about to protest, only to meet the elder’s steady gaze. There was a warning there, subtle yet unmistakable. A reminder of debts owed, of consequences she could not afford.

Her shoulders tightened, then slowly fell. She said nothing.

With the House Ravens’ stance made clear, a quiet breath of relief passed through Reesa and the others. The crisis had not vanished, but it had eased. At the very least, they were no longer facing overwhelming odds.

Zora and Prince Kael shifted their attention at the same time, their gazes settling on Sigmund and Zephrin.

Now, it has become two against two.

Even if Sigmund wished to act, he now had to think carefully. Elowen’s withdrawal alone had already overturned their original plans.

Sigmund and Zephrin felt the pressure keenly. What had seemed like a straightforward grab for advantage had turned into a deadlock filled with risks.

Prince Kael said nothing. He did not need to.

The cold aura radiating from him spread silently, oppressive and sharp, like a blade hovering at the throat. His mere presence carried a suffocating warning.

Just as the stalemate threatened to harden into violence, a clear voice cut through the tension. "Sigmund," Guinvere said as she stepped forward, her expression composed but her eyes sharp, "do you truly intend to become an enemy of my Heaven’s Gate?"

Her words landed like a stone dropped into still water.

Zora’s smile deepened by a fraction, almost imperceptibly. Guinvere was indeed skilled at this. With a single sentence, she had raised a personal conflict to the level of guild hostility.

Sigmund was being pushed onto the board as a pawn.

As expected, Sigmund’s expression stiffened. Conflicts over treasure were common in ruins, but they were rarely escalated to implicate entire guilds or houses. Guinvere’s question left him no room to retreat or respond lightly.

And worse still, he could not bring himself to offend her.

This was the first time Guinvere looked at him so directly, her gaze calm, assessing, and unyielding. Sigmund met her eyes and, for a fleeting instant, felt as though the world around him had gone silent.

His throat tightened.

He realized then that he had already lost control of the situation.

Sigmund had admired Guinvere for a long time. That feeling had never been a secret to himself.

Yet he was also painfully clear about reality. With his current strength and achievements, he was still far from someone who could truly stand in her sight. Guinvere was proud by nature, her eyes fixed on the highest peaks.

Ordinary talent, ordinary background, ordinary prospects... none of these would ever satisfy her.

And yet, until today, he had still held onto a faint hope.

If he could obtain the inheritance of this ancient ruin, everything would change.

His cultivation would leap forward, his status within the family would rise sharply, and his name would no longer be spoken as an afterthought. At that time, perhaps he would finally be worthy of standing beside her.

That fragile hope flickered vividly in his heart.

But Guinvere’s question cut through those thoughts like a blade.

If he persisted now, he would not only risk clashing with Prince Kael and Zora but would also directly offend Guinvere herself. And offending her meant crushing that last thread of possibility with his own hands.

As Guinvere’s words settled, the gazes around them subtly shifted. Many people present were well aware of Sigmund’s feelings. Some watched with curiosity, others with thinly veiled amusement, waiting to see which choice he would make.

Sigmund inhaled quietly. In that brief moment, countless thoughts surged through his mind. Ambition, desire, caution, fear... all tangled together.

In the end, taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture and spoke steadily, as though the decision had cost him nothing at all.

"Guinvere, I naturally have no intention of becoming your enemy."

The moment those words left his mouth, the tense atmosphere loosened, like a bowstring finally released. Sylvandria and the others exhaled without realizing it. What had seemed moments away from erupting into chaos dissolved into uneasy calm.

Guinvere’s lips curved upward, a trace of satisfaction flashing through her eyes. When she looked at Sigmund again, the cold indifference there softened slightly, replaced by a hint of approval.

Sigmund noticed the change at once. His heart skipped, then pounded harder. To him, that subtle shift felt like recognition, even encouragement. In his mind, the decision he had just made suddenly seemed worthwhile.

Zora observed this quietly, but a faint look of pity crossed her eyes instead of happiness or relief.

Sigmund truly believed that Guinvere’s change was directed at him. He did not realize that her satisfaction came not from his choice, but from the fact that she had successfully displayed her influence in front of Prince Kael. To Guinvere, Sigmund was nothing more than a convenient piece on the board.

Sooner or later, he would learn that lesson the hard way.

Meanwhile, Zephrin, watching from the side, also caught on to the shift. A glint of mockery flashed through his eyes. He had not expected Sigmund, usually so sharp, to fall so cleanly into a woman’s hands.

With Sigmund withdrawing, the situation was settled. There was no longer any leverage to press forward.

Zephrin adjusted his expression smoothly, the earlier hostility vanishing as though it had never existed. A courteous smile appeared on his face as he clasped his hands.

"Since the stone door has already been opened thanks to Prince Kael and Miss Zora," he said pleasantly, "wouldn’t it be better for everyone to enter together and see what lies within?"

The speed of his change was flawless.

Reesa nearly choked at the sight. She leaned slightly toward Baldwin and muttered under her breath, unable to hide her astonishment. "If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d think these were two different people. One moment fierce, the next moment smiling like a spring breeze... this face-changing skill is terrifying."

In her heart, she made a firm decision to keep her distance from people like Zephrin. Someone who could turn hostility into friendliness in the blink of an eye was far more dangerous than an open enemy.

Baldwin nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Today has truly broadened my horizons," he said quietly.

The crisis had passed, but the undercurrents beneath the calm surface were only beginning to stir.

Zora’s lips curved into a calm, elegant smile, but her eyes held a knowing light.

Children of great families were all old foxes at heart. Zephrin’s ability to change his face so quickly was impressive, but such a talent cut both ways. Once people saw how easily he shifted his stance, how many would truly trust him again?