Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 311: The Tri-Academy Exchange Arc (Part-3)

In the next moment, he stepped onto the high platform. His posture was upright, his expression warm and confident as he surveyed the crowd.

"Today marks the exchange between our three great academies," he announced clearly. "It is also a tradition passed down since the founding of our institutions, meant to promote learning through competition and refine the cultivation of our students."

He paused briefly, letting the atmosphere build.

"Now," Principal Cindral declared, "I officially announce that the Tri-Academy Exchange has begun!"

As his words fell, thunderous applause erupted across the arena. Cheers and shouts surged like waves. Everyone had been waiting for this moment, and the long-anticipated exchange had finally begun.

"The academy exchange will still follow the lottery system," Cindral announced calmly. "Each of the three academies has sent seven Spirit Warriors to participate in today’s promotion round. However, due to his special status, Crown Prince Zion Blackstar will advance directly to the finals."

The moment these words fell, no one in the arena felt there was anything inappropriate about it.

Zion Blackstar was the pride of the Lion Dynasty. At such a young age, he had already secured first place in Thunderclap Academy. His strength was formidable, his talent dazzling, and his reputation unmatched among his peers. Granting him a direct pass to the finals was something everyone accepted without question.

"Therefore," Cindral continued, "only twenty Spirit Warriors will participate in today’s promotion matches. To ensure fairness, five Spirit Warriors, each from Lunar Academy and the Imperial Academy, will draw lots. Those who win will advance to the second round, while the losers will be eliminated."

His explanation was concise and clear, and the rules were immediately understood by the crowd. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"If there are no objections," Cindral said with a smile, "we will begin the lottery."

A wooden lottery box was placed before him. Inside were slips bearing the names of the Spirit Warriors. Representatives from Lunar Academy and the Imperial Academy stepped forward in turn to draw.

The name each person drew determined their opponent. This method greatly reduced the chance of Spirit Warriors from the same academy facing one another too early, preserving the appearance of impartiality.

Zora and Alaric Von Seraph did not step forward to draw. Whoever their opponents might be, they were already prepared.

Not far away, Ragnor Blackstar and Dravenor Blackstar were staring at Zora with dark expressions. They had never expected her to be a Spirit Warrior from the Imperial Academy.

If that was the case, then what Harold had said that day...

Was it all a lie?

After all, the Imperial Academy delegation had only arrived in the Lion Dynasty recently. How could they possibly have known Harold beforehand?

"Dravenor," Ragnor Blackstar said grimly, his voice low, "do you think we were played?"

His expression was stormy. In all his years, he had never been toyed with like this. The incident at the Leafway restaurant had caused such a stir that even their father, the emperor, had heard about it. Both he and Dravenor Blackstar had been reprimanded because of it.

If this matter truly turned out to be a deception, it would undoubtedly affect their standing in their father’s eyes. That was something he could not tolerate.

They were princes of the Lion Dynasty. To treat them like pawns was nothing short of an insult.

Even if Harold had a powerful background, this was going too far.

"Once we ask Sister, we’ll know," Ragnor Blackstar said after a moment, his eyes glinting with calculation. Harold was no ordinary figure. They could not afford to remain in the dark about this matter.

Dravenor Blackstar raised his brows slightly. "I’ll ask her."

Ever since her first encounter with Harold, Cecily Blackstar had shown an unmistakable interest in him. Even though Harold was elusive and rarely seen, her fascination had never faded.

If anyone knew more about Harold’s background and movements, it would be her.

"Cecily," Dravenor Blackstar asked as he turned to her, "have you seen Lord Harold recently?"

At his words, a flicker of surprise crossed Cecily Blackstar’s eyes. "Third Brother," she replied slowly, "why are you suddenly asking about Lord Harold?"

"The Third Brother is only concerned about your lifelong happiness," Dravenor Blackstar said with a teasing smile. "You’re not young anymore. Father has been quite pleased recently and has mentioned your marriage more than once."

At those words, Cecily Blackstar’s expression shifted subtly. "Third Brother, don’t tell me you’re repeating something Father said again?"

Dravenor Blackstar shrugged, his attitude casual but his gaze sharp. "I know you admire Harold, but we just don’t want you to end up lonely with your unrequited feelings while someone else snatches him away, behind your back?"

"That’s impossible!" Cecily Blackstar replied instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

"Oh?" Dravenor Blackstar raised an eyebrow. "You’re that confident?"

"Of course," she said firmly.

Yet even as she spoke, a trace of suspicion crept into her eyes. Dravenor Blackstar had never been interested in such matters before. For him to bring this up now was strange. Far too strange.

If something was abnormal, there must be a reason.

"Third Brother," Cecily Blackstar said slowly, fixing him with a probing look, "what exactly happened? Say it clearly."

Seeing that she would not be brushed off, Dravenor Blackstar stopped circling the issue. "A few days ago, Second Brother and I saw Harold holding a child while accompanying a young woman. He even addressed her as ’my lady.’"

Cecily Blackstar’s pupils shrank.

"At the time, we believed it," Dravenor Blackstar continued. "But today, that same woman appeared among the Imperial Academy’s exchange team. That’s why I felt something was off and decided to ask you. If Harold truly already has a wife and child, you shouldn’t be kept in the dark."

As members of the royal family, emotions were often treated lightly. Still, Cecily Blackstar was his sister, and she was serious about Harold. Dravenor Blackstar did not want to see her deceived.

The moment his words ended, Cecily Blackstar’s face turned pale.

"How could that be?" she blurted out.

She had never heard such news before. Every time she saw Harold, he was always alone. Not to mention a wife, she had never even seen a woman by his side.

Her thoughts churned wildly, but suddenly she caught on to a crucial point in Dravenor Blackstar’s words.

"Third Brother," she asked sharply, "who is the woman you said was part of the academy exchange team?"

Among all the women present today, who could possibly compare to her?

And if Harold truly treated that woman differently, then, regardless of whether he was married or not, it was something she could not ignore.

She wanted to see for herself which woman dared to snatch a man from her.

Dravenor Blackstar lifted his chin slightly and glanced toward the Imperial Academy’s group. "That beauty in white," he said slowly. "Zora."

Cecily Blackstar followed his gaze, her eyes landing on Zora almost immediately.

She had noticed her earlier. It was impossible not to.

Even if she was unwilling to admit it, Cecily Blackstar had to acknowledge that Zora possessed a beauty that was hard to overlook, the kind that drew attention effortlessly.

"But she’s from the Imperial Academy," Cecily Blackstar said, frowning deeply. "How could she possibly know Lord Harold? They’re worlds apart."

She shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. "Third Brother, are you sure you’re not mistaken?"

Dravenor Blackstar shrugged indifferently. "If even I could be mistaken about something like this, then I wouldn’t deserve to be called your Third Brother. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who saw it. Second Brother witnessed it with his own eyes as well."

After saying this much, Dravenor Blackstar had no intention of explaining further. He turned around and returned to his seat, leaving Cecily Blackstar standing where she was.

Seeing how serious Dravenor Blackstar had been, Cecily Blackstar no longer doubted his words. Instead, a cold fire ignited in her heart. Her gaze could not help but drift toward Zora.

This lowly commoner actually dared to snatch the man she had set her sights on?

She was a princess of the Lion Dynasty, noble and untouchable. How could someone like Zora even compare to her?

No matter what, Harold was the man she had chosen. She would make him hers, one way or another. As for any obstacles in her path, she would erase them completely.

At that moment, Zora was quietly waiting for the results of the draw when she suddenly felt a sharp, resentful gaze land on her. She instinctively looked in that direction and met Cecily Blackstar’s eyes.

The hostility in that look was unmistakable, filled with disgust and hatred, as though they were mortal enemies.

Zora’s dark eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. "Hmm?"