Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 263: Back to the Imperial City?

Shihtzu had been planning to show off little by little. Who would’ve thought Prince Kael would see straight through it at a glance?

Zora was also momentarily stunned by the revelation. She hadn’t expected Shihtzu to have reached the fifth level already. That kind of speed was... outrageous.

"Shihtzu," she asked, disbelief mixed with delight, "have you really reached the fifth level of the Red Realm?"

Since it had already been exposed, Shihtzu lifted its chin proudly and nodded, radiating smug satisfaction.

Zora burst into laughter. "Haha... You’re incredible, truly!"

No wonder she couldn’t sense its exact cultivation. Its strength had already surpassed hers by a wide margin.

Hearing her praise, Shihtzu seemed both pleased and shy. It nuzzled closer into her arms, acting adorable with shameless enthusiasm.

But to Prince Kael, this scene looked entirely different.

Up until now, he had only thought of Shihtzu as a powerful, contracted beast, loyal and useful. He had not expected this little thing to be so... bold, showing off such affection with his wife.

That was supposed to be his territory.

A territory he himself hadn’t even fully claimed yet.

Absolutely unacceptable.

Without another thought, Prince Kael reached out and calmly lifted Shihtzu out of Zora’s arms.

Shihtzu blinked, suddenly airborne, utterly confused.

Being lifted so suddenly, Shihtzu flailed all four paws in midair, its round eyes filling instantly with grievance as it looked helplessly toward Zora.

Seeing this, a trace of helplessness flashed through Zora’s eyes. "Kael, what are you doing?"

Prince Kael wore an innocent, charming smile as he held Shihtzu securely in his arms. "Nothing much. I just think this little fellow is very cute. I felt like holding it."

"Oh." Zora laughed softly and nodded. "It is quite cute."

Truth be told, no matter how many times she looked at it, Shihtzu never stopped being adorable.

Prince Kael stroked Shihtzu’s fur with an unhurried motion. As expected of a beast king, its coat was unbelievably smooth and glossy.

Shihtzu squirmed nonstop, clearly unhappy. It did not enjoy being hugged by a grown man at all.

Yet no matter how much it struggled, Prince Kael held it effortlessly, his smile unwavering. "This little thing really recognizes its master. Look at it, I hold it for a moment, and it already wants to leave."

"Master!" Shihtzu wailed silently in its heart, though no one paid attention to its inner cries.

Prince Kael then sat down beside Zora and said casually, "Zora, in a few days, the academy will go on break. How about we return to the imperial City?"

Zora blinked slightly, surprise flickering through her eyes. "Is there still a need to go back to Elysia?"

Prince Kael nodded, then shook his head again, a faint gleam flashing through his dark eyes.

"I spent three difficult years there. Going back now wouldn’t be a bad thing." He looked at her steadily. "Don’t you want to go back and take a look?"

Zora fell silent for a moment.

Whether for her or for him, Elysia Empire was not a pleasant memory. That place carried too much humiliation and hardship.

Yet now that everything had changed, returning no longer felt unbearable.

Finally, she let out a soft breath and smiled. "You’re right. We should go back."

Her red lips curved into a captivating smile. After this return, perhaps there would be no reason to ever go back again.

For the Elysia Empire, where she had lived 16 years, she had long since settled her grudges. The old Zora was already gone, and those who had once bullied her had all paid the price.

There was nothing left unresolved.

Meanwhile, Black and White were instantly excited when they heard they were returning to Elysia. Back then, people had mocked their master and Prince Kael endlessly, calling them a useless waste and a crippled prince, a "perfect match" in ridicule.

Now?

They were very curious to see how those same people would look at them.

*

Seven days later.

At the entrance of the academy, Zora and Prince Kael stood side by side, with Reesa and the others gathered nearby.

"After a month’s break, we’ll meet again," Zora said with a smile.

The academy’s winter recess had begun, and many students were using the time to return home and visit family.

"Alright. See you in a month."

Everyone nodded. A month would pass quickly.

Just as Zora and Prince Kael were about to depart for Elysia, a familiar figure hurried over.

Nigel stopped beside them, smiling brightly. "Hey, Zora, Prince Kael, you’re heading back to Elysia, too?"

Seeing Nigel, a trace of genuine warmth appeared on Zora’s face. Since entering the academy, she had been caught in a relentless cycle of cultivation and training, leaving her with very few chances to meet old acquaintances.

"Yes," she replied with a smile, her tone relaxed. "There’s nowhere special to go during the break, so going back seems like the best choice. Are you heading back too? If so, why don’t we travel together?"

Hearing this, Nigel glanced instinctively at Prince Kael before letting out a light laugh. "If I went with you, I’d probably feel like a huge third wheel. I just happened to see you here and came over to say hello."

Zora nodded, understanding perfectly.

Truthfully, if Nigel really did accompany them, the awkwardness would only grow thicker with every mile. Sometimes, knowing when to step aside was also a form of tact.

Not far away, the Crown Prince, Philip’s gaze lingered quietly on Zora and Prince Kael. Back in the imperial city, he had once been the center of attention, the figure everyone admired. After entering the academy, however, that former brilliance had faded, replaced by the dazzling presence of Zora and Prince Kael.

Ever since the news of Prince Kael’s true status had spread, Prince Philip had felt an unspoken pressure weighing on him.

No matter what, this was someone he absolutely could not offend. The scene of tens of thousands bowing in reverence had been etched deeply into his memory, an unmistakable reminder of Prince Kael’s terrifying background.

What puzzled him most was how that same man, once dismissed as useless mud beneath his notice, had transformed into an existence so lofty it could not be touched. Even now, his father had offered no clear explanation, only telling him that everything would become clear after this return.

As for Zora, Prince Philip’s feelings were far more complicated.

She had once been his fiancée. Someone he bullied, someone he threw away...

He never imagined that she would one day stand beside Prince Kael so openly and naturally, forming such a perfect pair.

With her strength and presence growing by the day, her charm had become impossible to ignore. Even if he occasionally indulged in regret, Prince Philip understood all too well that there was no longer any possibility between them.

It was, perhaps, the greatest regret of his life.

Sensing a persistent gaze behind her, Zora turned her head. When she met Prince Philip’s eyes, her expression remained calm, a faint indifference flickering briefly through her gaze before disappearing just as quickly.

"Darling, let’s go." Prince Kael said, mounting on his horse. Bathed in sunlight, his tall figure seemed wrapped in a golden glow, his handsome features and composed bearing striking enough to draw the eye effortlessly. He extended a hand toward Zora, his smile easy and inviting.

She took a step forward, then paused, her brows knitting slightly. "Where’s my horse?"

They had clearly prepared two horses. Yet now, only one remained.

She glanced around, momentarily confused. Had she been distracted for that long?

Hearing her question, the smile at the corner of Prince Kael’s lips deepened. "I noticed Nigel was traveling alone and hadn’t prepared a mount," he said smoothly. "So I gave him yours. After all, there are only two of us. Riding together should be just fine, don’t you think, my wife?"

Zora turned her head and, sure enough, spotted Nigel not far away, awkwardly holding her horse’s reins. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

She slowly looked back at Prince Kael, narrowing her eyes. This man’s shamelessness seemed to grow by the day.

"It won’t be comfortable for two people to ride one horse," she said coolly. "I’ll go buy another."

Just as she turned to leave, Prince Kael reached out, caught her wrist, and pulled her effortlessly toward him. In the next instant, she was already seated against him, her balance completely stolen.

Caught off guard, Zora stiffened, a mix of shock and annoyance flashing across her face. "Kael, you—!"

Prince Kael’s arms settled naturally around Zora’s waist, steady and unhurried. He leaned closer, his lips brushing near her ear as he spoke in a low, teasing voice. "Darling, it’s the academy’s break today. Everyone’s rushing home to see their families. Horses are in short supply. If you go buy another now, who knows when you’ll find one?"

His warm breath grazed her ear, carrying a faint heat that sent an unexpected shiver through her.

The closeness was too intimate, too sudden.

Almost instantly, color crept up Zora’s cheeks, blooming all the way to her ears.

Prince Kael caught sight of that faint blush, and the smile hidden in his eyes deepened. For someone who could face danger without blinking, his lady was surprisingly defenseless in moments like this.

"Kael... enough already. Let’s go." Unable to endure the thickening atmosphere, Zora spoke quickly, her voice a touch sharper than usual. This man was shameless beyond redemption. He had clearly discovered her weakness and was making full use of it.

"As my lady commands," Prince Kael replied lightly, clearly enjoying himself. His arms tightened just a little, pulling her closer before he urged the horse forward.