Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 214: The Suffocation Forest (Part-11)

Fiona came from a powerful martial family, backed by influence and resources that few could match. People like them calculated gains and losses instinctively. They never acted without weighing benefits.

The only thing capable of overturning that instinct was genuine feeling.

And Prince Kael had just laid his heart bare.

"Too domineering!" Black clapped excitedly. "I knew we didn’t pick the wrong man!"

"What’s she showing off for?" White snorted. "Our master’s only been cultivating for a year. That woman’s had over ten years. What’s there to brag about?"

Shihtzu’s fur bristled, killing intent flickering in its eyes. "Anyone who wants to kill my master will have to step over my corpse first."

Fiona’s face turned a ghastly shade of blue.

Prince Kael’s words left her no ground to stand on, yet inside her chest, fury howled uncontrollably.

In strength.

In the financial background.

In social status.

She surpassed Zora in every measurable way.

And yet Prince Kael stood in front of Zora without hesitation, shielding her from everything.

Where did that leave Fiona’s pride? "So what about Guinvere?"

Fiona lifted her chin, her voice sharp and deliberate. "If Guinverewere to oppose Zora as well, would you still protect her? Would you still teach Guinverea lesson?"

Her eyes burned with resentment. Since Prince Kael had already torn all pretense away, she no longer bothered to hold back. If she could not crush Zora, then she would drag her down piece by piece.

The moment those words fell, the air froze.

Reesa and the others exchanged confused looks. They had no idea who Guinverewas, nor why Fiona suddenly brought her up.

Sigmund and the others, however, wore expressions that instantly became complicated.

Before Zora appeared, Guinvere had been the only woman ever seen standing close to Prince Kael.

This was common knowledge among their circles.

And now, everyone was waiting to see how Prince Kael would answer.

Prince Kael’s gaze darkened.

The chill around him deepened, his handsome features hardening into frost. He looked at Fiona without the slightest warmth, yet he did not answer.

That silence was heavy.

Zora noticed it at once.

Her brows knit slightly, a faint confusion flashing through her eyes. Guinvere... this was the first time she had heard that name.

Was there really a past between Prince Kael and this woman?

An unfamiliar tightness settled in her chest, subtle but undeniable. The warmth she had felt moments ago cooled, her mood quietly dipping.

Just then, a light, melodious voice drifted down from above.

"I think I heard someone calling my name?"

Everyone looked up.

A woman in a flowing green dress descended slowly from the air, seated atop a giant green lotus. Her long hair streamed behind her, sleeves fluttering like mist. Her face was gentle and refined, carrying a soft smile, much like the clear lotus beneath her feet.

She was not as strikingly beautiful as Zora, but her temperament was serene and elegant, the kind that put others at ease at first glance.

Compared to Fiona’s sharp hostility, this woman felt warm and approachable.

"Miss Guinvere," Sigmund greeted quickly, his usual casual demeanor vanishing. Respect and faint admiration showed clearly on his face. "I didn’t expect you to come as well."

Guinvere was well-known among the younger generation. Countless men admired her, yet she rarely showed interest in anyone.

Except one.

Guinvere smiled faintly. "Since the Prince is here, of course I would come."

As she spoke, her gaze naturally fell on Prince Kael, familiarity and closeness evident without concealment.

Zora watched as Guinvere walked toward Prince Kael.

Her steps were unhurried, her bearing graceful. From Sigmund’s reaction alone, it was clear that Guinvere’s status was anything but ordinary.

So... there really was a story.

The clarity in Zora’s eyes dimmed slightly. The certainty she had felt earlier wavered, just a little.

Fiona had not mentioned Guinvere without reason.

If so many people knew about her connection with Prince Kael, then this relationship must have once been significant.

Without realizing it, Zora took a small step back, subtly widening the distance between herself and Prince Kael.

She could ignore Fiona’s provocation.

She could brush off anyone else’s malice.

But the one thing she could not ignore was Prince Kael’s own stance.

If even he hesitated now, then there was nothing left for her to say.

Sensing Zora’s subtle retreat, Prince Kael shifted his gaze to her at once. A firm light flashed through his eyes. Without hesitation, he stepped forward again, closing the distance she had just created and standing squarely at her side.

His movement was calm, natural, and unmistakably deliberate.

It did not escape anyone’s notice.

Fiona and the others stiffened, shock flickering across their faces. In front of Guinvere, Prince Kael still chose to stand beside Zora.

That choice alone spoke volumes.

For a moment, disbelief rippled through the crowd.

What kind of woman was Zora, to make Prince Kael place her above Guinvere?

Guinvere, however, appeared as serene as ever. Her expression did not change in the slightest. With a gentle smile still on her lips, she walked over and stopped near Prince Kael, as though everything before her was perfectly natural.

"Kael," she said softly, "I guessed you would be here the moment you heard news from the White Mountains. As expected."

Before Prince Kael could reply, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.

Large groups of spirit warriors were approaching.

"Our people have arrived," Zephrin said with a faint smile. Each of the great families had come prepared. They had arrived later, but not by much.

Soon, respectful voices rose one after another.

"young lord."

"Miss."

The members of the four great families gathered behind their respective leaders, forming clear camps around the open ground.

Fiona cast a provocative glance at Zora before turning to her followers. "Find a place to rest first."

"Yes."

The other families followed suit, all eyes quietly drawn to the ancient ruins that were still emerging from the earth.

Guinvere turned back to Prince Kael, her tone gentle and familiar. "I happened to be nearby, so I rushed over when I heard the news. The guilds will probably arrive later."

Prince Kael nodded slightly. "You’ve traveled far. Rest first."

Guinvere’s brows knit faintly. "You’ve been away from the guild for quite some time now. Many people are thinking of you."

"I won’t be returning for now," Prince Kael replied evenly.

A trace of concern surfaced in Guinvere’s eyes. "If you’re not there, I’ll be alone. You should come back earlier."

Her words were soft, intimate, and unguarded. Anyone listening could sense the closeness between them.

Reesa frowned, her discomfort obvious. "Who exactly is this Guinvere? Why does she sound so close to Prince Kael?"

"She should be from the same guild as him," Baldwin said quietly, his expression thoughtful.

With so many powerful forces gathering, the pressure in the air grew heavier by the second. Compared to them, the group from the academy suddenly felt far more insignificant.

In Zora’s sea of consciousness, Black bristled. "White, don’t you think this woman is even more annoying than Fiona?"

Fiona was openly hostile, sharp, and unpleasant. Guinvere, on the other hand, never said a single offensive word—yet every sentence felt more unsettling than the last.

White snorted softly. "She’s acting like the master doesn’t even exist."

That, somehow, felt worse.

White’s little face darkened. This woman didn’t look vicious on the surface, but from beginning to end, she hadn’t spared their master even a glance.

That was the real problem.

Hearing this, Black instantly caught on.

"Yes! That’s it!"

Now it made sense why Guinvere felt even more uncomfortable than Fiona. Fiona was openly hostile, sharp, and loud. Guinvere, on the other hand, was quiet, gentle... and completely dismissive. As if Zora simply did not exist.

Shihtzu narrowed its eyes. Today’s list of irritating people was truly impressive. Fiona was annoying, but this Guinvere was on another level.

At first glance, Shihtzu had known it. Guinvere was no pure lotus. The pride etched into her bones made her look down on most people. Because she looked down, she didn’t bother acknowledging them.

And because she didn’t acknowledge them, her indifference felt sharper than outright insults.

This kind of temperament was common among overly favored prodigies.

Compared to Guinvere, Fiona’s arrogance was almost clumsy. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Understanding this, Zora felt no urge to remain where she stood. Since this was clearly an old acquaintance between Guinvereand Prince Kael, her presence seemed unnecessary.

She took a step back, intending to return to her group.

Before she could, a hand closed around hers.

Zora paused and looked up, frowning slightly at Prince Kael. He met her gaze with a gentle smile, warm and steady.

"I came out this time," he said calmly, "to see the person I miss."

Guinvere, who had maintained her serene composure all this time, finally showed a crack.

"The person you miss?"

Prince Kael nodded and, without hesitation, drew Zora back to his side. His tone was light, but his meaning was unmistakable.

"Yes. My Wife."

For the first time, a trace of haze flashed through Guinvere’s eyes. She had not expected him to emphasize Zora’s identity so directly, and in front of her.

Still, she quickly regained her composure, her gaze settling on Zora with renewed scrutiny.

"Zora," Prince Kael continued naturally, "this is my junior sister, Guinvere."

The intimacy in his tone made Fiona’s eyes widen.

"He actually said that in front of me?" she muttered, stunned.

Elowen watched the scene with a soft smile. "In my opinion, Prince Kael truly likes Zora. Guinvere may be flawless, but in the eyes of someone in love, flawlessness doesn’t always matter."

She tilted her head slightly. "And honestly, don’t you think Zora’s temperament is better?"

The other three exchanged looks. Though reluctant, they had to admit she had a point.