Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 51: First Beauty of the Imperial City

At daybreak, pale sunlight poured in through the window lattice.

The newlyweds rose early to enter the palace together and formally express gratitude to the emperor and empress.

Meanwhile, the events of the wedding from the day before had already spread through the imperial city like wildfire.

Within a single night, countless versions of the story had appeared in the streets and alleys.

"It turns out that General Helius was the one who first cut off the relationship with his own daughter. No wonder Princess Consort Zora refused to leave from the General’s Residence and chose Zora’s Manor instead."

"Now that you think about it, General Helius must regret his actions to the point that his intestines have turned green. Who could have imagined back then that the so-called ’waste daughter’ would rise to such heights?"

"Compared to Princess Consort now, Luna truly cannot measure up at all. What martial genius? That was just a frog at the bottom of a well."

The General’s Residence, once a symbol of authority and dignity, had quietly turned into the biggest topic of ridicule in the imperial city.

Wherever tea was poured, wherever people gathered to chat, the name "Helius" was always brought up in connection with sighs, mockery, and regret.

"I heard my young master personally went to watch the ceremony yesterday. Princess Consort was so stunning that the entire front hall went silent."

"Yes, I heard that too. Frankly speaking, even Scarlett, who is now called the first beauty, cannot compare to Princess Consort Zora at all."

"Precisely. From now on, if anyone still dares to call Scarlett the first beauty of the imperial city, I will be the first to disagree!"

By the time Zora and Prince Kael returned from the palace, the title of "First Beauty of the Imperial City" had already fallen squarely onto her head.

The city was noisy with praise, surprise, envy, and countless speculations.

But Zora felt no joy over any of it.

After escorting her back to the palace residence, she quietly said, "I want to return to my room and rest for a while."

From the wedding of the previous day until now, her mind and body were both exhausted.

Prince Kael looked at her pale yet composed face and smiled faintly. "Then I shall also return to rest. After all, I, too, had a long and tiring night."

Zora curved her lips faintly and nodded. "Then, Your Highness, please take the next room."

Prince Kael raised his brows, his bright eyes filled with meaning as he looked at her. "Darling, this is normally the room where husband and wife sleep."

Zora lifted her brows in return, entirely calm. "Then... I will go next door."

Last night’s chaos still lingered vividly in her mind. She was absolutely unwilling to let that kind of situation repeat itself.

For once, Prince Kael did not insist. He spread his hands slightly in a helpless gesture and stepped aside to make way. "Then I suppose I can only go next door."

"Oh."

Without hesitation, Zora closed the door behind her. The moment the latch clicked shut, her tense shoulders finally relaxed, and the faint trace of alertness in her eyes faded away. Returning alone to her room felt far more comfortable.

Prince Kael stood outside her door for a moment, the corner of his lips lifting slightly in amusement, before turning toward the adjacent room.

If Zora were to enter it one day, she would find that both rooms were nearly identical in layout and furnishings. Everything had been prepared long ago. From the moment the marriage was decided, Prince Kael had already arranged everything in advance.

After entering his room, he gently tapped the table with two fingers. Alder appeared almost instantly, kneeling respectfully.

"Your Highness."

"Send people to investigate the House Griffin and Lucien," Prince Kael said quietly. "This matter must be done in absolute secrecy. No one is allowed to notice."

Alder was stunned for a brief moment. The House Griffin stood at the very apex of the Holy Mystic Continent. Investigating them was no small matter.

Yet he did not hesitate even for an instant. Seeing the seriousness in Prince Kael’s eyes, he immediately accepted the command.

"This subordinate obeys," he said, then disappeared into the shadows.

The room fell silent again.

Prince Kael’s gaze grew distant.

If everything they suspected turned out to be true, then the enemy Zora would one day face would be unimaginably terrifying. The House Griffin was not something a single person could contend with, no matter how gifted.

And yet, judging by her temperament, once the truth was confirmed, she would never retreat.

For the first time in a very long while, Prince Kael felt a faint, unfamiliar worry settle deeply in his chest.

*

In the next room, Zora did not go to sleep.

She sat cross-legged on the bed and entered training almost immediately.

Originally, she had already planned to strengthen herself as much as possible before the Royal Hunting Tournament. Now, after learning about the House Griffin, that urgency had doubled.

If her enemy truly stood at the peak of the continent, then without sufficient strength, she would not even be qualified to stand in front of the truth.

She did not desire revenge blindly.

But she absolutely refused to live in ignorance.

Strength was the only key to everything.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the fourth morning, Zora finally prepared to head to the Origin Medical Hall. After the wedding, she had not gone out for three days, and many matters there still required her attention.

Just as she was about to step out, Prince Kael’s voice sounded from behind her. "Is my wife heading to the medical hall?"

She turned her head and saw Prince Kael slowly approaching in his wheelchair, sunlight falling softly across his made features. His lips carried a gentle smile.

"Mm. It’s time to go back," she replied.

Prince Kael stopped beside her, his mood seemingly good. "The weather is quite pleasant today. Since you’re going out anyway, shall we stroll around together?"

Zora looked at him in slight confusion.

Shopping?

With Prince Kael’s temperament, he did not seem like someone who would enjoy such a thing.

Perhaps noticing her doubt, he added lightly, "You are now the Princess Consort. Your status is no longer the same. Some appearances cannot be avoided, and some things should no longer be as casual as before."

She understood what he meant.

Now that she stood at the center of attention, her every move represented more than just herself.

After a brief pause, she nodded. "Alright."

Prince Kael’s smile deepened slightly as the two set off together, leaving the palace behind and stepping into the bustling flow of the imperial city once more.

*

Alder pushed Prince Kael forward at an unhurried pace, while Zora walked beside him. The three of them stepped onto the bustling main street of the Imperial City together, instantly drawing countless gazes.

There was no need for an introduction.

Their presence alone was enough to declare who they were.

"Quick, look, it’s Prince Kael and Princess Consort Zora!"

"They’re actually out together in public. It seems their relationship is truly good."

"Princess Consort Zora really deserves the title of the First Beauty of the Imperial City. Every movement is elegant. Even her shadow feels made."

The flowing whispers drifted into Prince Kael’s ears. His long brows lifted slightly as amusement flickered in his eyes.

"First Beauty of the Imperial City?" he asked casually.

Alder, who had been pushing the wheelchair, revealed a proud expression without even trying to hide it. "Your Highness may not know. Ever since your wedding, this title has completely shifted. No one dares dispute it now."

"In the past, it hovered between Scarlett and Luna. Now, there isn’t even any suspense."

Zora heard this and gave an indifferent laugh. "Can this ’First Beauty’ title be eaten as a meal? As long as life is peaceful, that’s enough."

She had never liked hollow labels.

Prince Kael turned to look at her.

Sunlight poured down slantwise from above, coating her slender figure in a thin layer of glowing gold. Without the need for heavy makeup, her face remained clear and bright, her temperament fresh and composed, like a jade lotus rising from clear water.

"The First Beauty of the Imperial City," he said softly, his gaze steady. "Worthy of the name."

Zora was slightly stunned. When she looked back at him, she found no trace of teasing on his face. It was genuine praise.

She did not respond, only turned away quietly, the faintest ripple passing through her calm heart.