Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 269: Meeting old friends

"But I am cultivating at the academy," Prince Philip countered. "Most of the time, I won’t even be in the..."

Empress Penelope waved her hand, cutting him off, her expression resolute. "You are the future ruler of Elysia. Sending you to the academy is meant to hone your strength and broaden your horizons, not to turn you into an ordinary Spirit Warrior. One day, you will become the Emperor of Elysia."

Her gaze sharpened as she continued, "At the academy, you can get to know many talented young Spirit Warriors. If you encounter those with potential, you can win them over. Most students there have promising futures, and building such connections will only benefit you later."

"That is precisely why your father and I allowed you to go to the academy in the first place," she said solemnly. "Cultivation is important, but it is not your ultimate path. Your destiny is tied to the throne. Do you understand?"

Prince Philip’s expression shifted. Since entering the academy, he had indeed been influenced by the pure pursuit of strength shared by other Spirit Warriors. Hearing Empress Penelope’s words now, he realized that, without noticing, he had begun to lose sight of his original position.

"I understand, Mother," Prince Philip said quietly, nodding.

Seeing this, Empress Penelope felt a measure of relief. After everything he had experienced, Prince Philip was clearly more composed and mature than before, which reassured her greatly.

"In that case," she said thoughtfully, "when we host the banquet, we might as well invite Miss Scarlet as well. Once we see her in person, it won’t be too late to decide how to proceed."

Zora and Prince Kael settled down in the Prince’s residence, and their days flowed by with an ease that felt almost unreal.

Compared to the tension and restraint of the past, everything now carried a lighter tone. With no urgent matters pressing on them, the two treated this period as a rare holiday, occasionally strolling through the streets together, browsing shops, and enjoying the bustle of the imperial city.

Within the city, it was already common knowledge that the Prince and the Princess Consort shared an exceptionally harmonious relationship.

Their closeness had become something many young men and women admired, even envied. More than a few people secretly hoped that, one day, their own marriages might mirror that of the Prince and his consort, growing old together in mutual affection.

One day, Zora paid a visit to Apollo Apothecary. The moment Eric Welsh saw her, his face lit up with genuine delight.

The two exchanged warm greetings, their conversation easy and familiar.

For Zora, Eric Welsh had been her first true friend after crossing into this world. He had always treated her like a younger sister, offering help and protection without hesitation, and she had never forgotten that kindness.

"Miss Zora," Eric Welsh said cheerfully, looking her over with a smile, "how has life been at the academy? I haven’t seen you in so long, and you seem even more radiant than before."

"You’re exaggerating again, Big Brother Eric," Zora replied with a laugh, her eyes curved in amusement. "Things are going well. I’ve met many like-minded friends at the academy, and the days have been fulfilling."

"That’s good to hear." Eric Welsh nodded, then hesitated briefly before asking, "And the Prince... he treats you well, doesn’t he? I heard his legs have already recovered. Is that true?"

The smile on Zora’s lips deepened slightly. "You’re very perceptive, Big Brother Eric. He treats me extremely well. Now he even accompanies me to the academy to cultivate."

Eric Welsh paused in surprise, clearly unaware of this detail. Then, seeing the unmistakable happiness in her expression, he broke into a broad smile. "That’s wonderful. To be honest, I was worried back then that you might suffer after marrying the Prince. Now it seems you were far-sighted from the start and chose a truly good husband."

Hearing his words, a faint warmth welled up in Zora’s heart.

When they had first met, Eric Welsh had helped her without reservation and had even worried about her future marriage. In a city as vast as this, he had been one of the few people to show her such sincere concern.

"Oh, right," Eric Welsh added, as if remembering something, "your Origin Medical Hall is also doing extremely well. With Storm and Silver managing it, the place is always busy. These days, whenever someone in the imperial city feels unwell, the first place they think of is your clinic."

Zora smiled knowingly. "Both of them have genuine talent in medicine. With enough guidance and practice, it’s only natural that they’ve reached this level."

Storm and Silver were simple, kind-hearted people. She had always liked them, which was why she had left them her medical notes and experience in the first place. Seeing how well the clinic was running now, she felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. What had begun as a way to make a living had grown into something far more meaningful.

Still, her current focus lay elsewhere. Cultivation demanded nearly all her attention, and she simply did not have the time to manage the clinic personally. Leaving it in their capable hands was the best choice.

"I understand," Eric Welsh said with a hearty laugh. "Your ambition has always been cultivation. No matter what path you choose, we will support you."

After chatting with Eric Welsh for a while longer, Zora left Apollo Apothecary and headed toward her Origin Medical Hall. Just as Eric Welsh had said, the place was bustling with activity, its doors constantly opening and closing as patients came and went, a clear testament to how far it had come.

Silver and Storm were genuinely delighted when they saw Zora return. If not for her, they knew very well that they might still be wandering without direction, unsure of where their future lay.

"You’re back!"

Silver set aside what she was working on and hurried over, the joy on her delicate face impossible to conceal. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Zora, as if seeing an old benefactor rather than merely a visitor.

Zora smiled and nodded lightly. "The academy is on holiday, so I came back to take a look. You’ve both worked hard managing the Origin Medical Hall."

"Princess Consort, this is the business you left behind. Storm and I wouldn’t dare neglect it for even a moment," Silver replied with a grin.

In her heart, admiration for Zora had long since taken root. A woman who could achieve such heights, both in cultivation and ability, was truly someone to look up to.

Storm also stepped forward. He had always been introverted, and for a moment, he did not know what to say, but the honest smile on his face clearly revealed his excitement.

"Princess Consort," he finally said, "the Origin Medical Hall is doing very well now. The income has all been carefully recorded. We were just waiting for you to come back so we could hand it over."

Zora waved her hand lightly. "I don’t have the time to manage the clinic anymore. From the beginning, this place has been under your care. Naturally, the earnings should belong to you."

As soon as she said this, both Silver and Storm hurriedly shook their heads.

"How can that be?" Silver said at once. "We’re only helping you manage it. Everything here belongs to you."

Zora’s gaze softened as she looked at them. "The two of you have real talent in medicine. This Origin Medical Hall was established by me, but leaving it in your hands puts my mind at ease. If you’re the ones managing it, I’m willing to hand the clinic over to you."

Her words were calm and sincere.

She had long since stopped paying attention to worldly wealth, and keeping the clinic for herself no longer held much meaning. Giving it to the right people was the better choice.

Hearing this, Storm quickly spoke, his tone earnest. "Princess Consort, you’ve already taken us in and taught us medical skills. That alone is a blessing we must have accumulated over several lifetimes. But this clinic is your foundation. Silver and I only wish to help you care for it. We can’t accept it outright."

Silver nodded vigorously beside him. "Yes! You don’t have time to manage the clinic, so we’ll take care of it for you. That’s already enough for us."

Seeing how firm their attitudes were, Zora hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. She knew their temperaments well; once they made up their minds, persuasion was useless.

"Very well," she said at last. "Then we’ll do it your way. The Origin Medical Hall will remain under my name, but all the earnings belong to you. How about that?"