Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 30: Moving into Prince Kael’s residence

From the moment she was five years old, Zora had already been branded a waste body—a useless existence that could never cultivate mana. For more than ten years, that judgment had followed her like a shadow. And now, she was standing before them, calmly telling them that she could cultivate.

What was even more unbelievable was this—there had never been a training manual in her hands. No master had guided her. No resources had been given to her. Yet she stood here today, steady and unshaken, having just blocked General Helius’s attack with her own strength.

Luna and Jasmine exchanged glances in shock, their expressions stiff and disbelieving.

For so many years, they had mocked her, bullied her, toyed with her as if she were nothing but a useless toy. But now, it felt as if the roles had been quietly reversed—like it was they who had been dancing in the palm of her hand all along.

"When did I start cultivating?" Zora spoke at last, her eyes filled with faint ridicule. "Tell me—what does it have to do with you?"

That light, mocking gaze pierced straight through General Helius’s dignity.

His face darkened instantly. "I asked you a question. I didn’t tell you to question me back!"

His voice dropped lower, filled with cold authority and undisguised threat.

Zora sneered softly. "You ask, and I must answer? Since when did you ever fulfill your duty as a father?"

Her gaze turned cold and distant.

"For fifteen years, you never cared whether I lived or died. Now you suddenly care how I am and where I stand? Don’t you think that’s laughable?"

She paused briefly, then chuckled. "As for when my eyes recovered—if you had even once thought of finding a doctor for me all these years, wouldn’t you already know the answer?"

Her words were light, but every single sentence struck like a blade.

General Helius flew into a rage. "Insolent! How dare you speak to me like this!"

In the entire military household, his authority was absolute. No one had dared to challenge him like this before—especially not this daughter whom he had always regarded as a stain upon his name.

But Zora did not retreat even half a step.

"Helius," she said coldly, calling him by name for the first time and even dropping that general title of his this time, showing direct disrespect, "you never fulfilled even a fraction of your responsibility as a father. What right do you have to demand that I fulfill my duty as a daughter?"

Her voice was calm, yet resolute.

"Between us, no one owes anyone anything."

Those words fell like a final verdict.

Any lingering expectations she once had toward this so-called father had completely vanished the moment he forced her to attend the Imperial Banquet as a public spectacle.

Their bond was already broken beyond repair.

"If you have the ability, then get out of this House!" General Helius shouted angrily. "From today onward, I have no daughter like you!"

Zora lifted her eyes slowly, indifference written clearly across her face.

"Don’t worry, I already planned on doing that.

She turned around without hesitation and walked straight toward the main gate.

"From today onward," her voice drifted back coldly, "I have no connection with House Phoenix or you three."

With that, she stepped out without even looking back.

When she chose to appear before the world in her true form tonight, she had already decided—this place was no longer her home.

General Helius stood frozen in place, staring at her retreating figure. For once, he found himself unable to utter another word.

*

Outside the General’s residence, the night wind brushed against Zora’s sleeves.

A sense of quiet loneliness slowly spread through her heart.

She stopped beneath the towering plaque of the General’s House and lifted her gaze toward it. For fifteen years, she had lived under this roof. Yet not once had it ever felt like home.

The people inside were never her family.

Perhaps... from the moment she crossed over into this world, she had already been destined to walk a lonely road.

The shadows in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by cold determination.

Loneliness was not a weakness.

From this moment on, she would live only for herself.

But just as she turned to leave, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the street.

Alder stood quietly there.

When he saw her come out of the gate, a smile spread across his face.

"His highness really predicted it accurately," he said with a grin. "He said you would definitely walk out before long—and you really did."

Zora was slightly surprised. "Why are you here?"

"The prince said you left the General’s House in a hurry. You probably didn’t have time to prepare everything," Alder replied. "So he told me to bring you something."

Alder put forth a storage pouch to her.

After taking the Storage pouch from Alder’s hands, Zora casually swept her divine sense inside. Quilts and inks, fresh clothes, daily necessities—everything was neatly prepared. Even the smallest details had not been overlooked.

For a brief moment, her fingers paused.

Since arriving in this world, she had relied only on herself. No one had ever taken the time to prepare such things for her so attentively. This small, silent thoughtfulness made something warm quietly spread through her chest.

"What else did he say?" she asked softly.

Her voice was no longer as cold as before. In such a moment, at least one person was thinking of her—and that alone was enough.

"His Highness said the Origin Medical Hall is not suitable for living," Alder replied respectfully. "It’s too conspicuous. If you are unwilling to enter the palace, he has another residence prepared for you."

Zora’s eyes flickered slightly with surprise.

She had never heard that Prince Kael owned another residence in the Imperial City.

Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Alder quickly explained, "That courtyard was bought by our prince a long time ago. He rarely stays there, so almost no one knows of its existence."

Zora instantly understood.

Tonight’s events had already stirred too much attention. If she were to stay openly at the Origin Medical Hall, word would spread through the Imperial City overnight. With her current identity as the disabled prince’s fiancée, any rumor could easily spiral into trouble.

Prince Kael was protecting her reputation—quietly, without saying it aloud.

"If the young lady does not mind," Aldersaid with a hint of expectation in his eyes, "I’ll escort you there now."

Zora paused for a moment, then nodded lightly. "Then I will trouble you."

The Imperial City was vast and bustling, yet the residence Prince Kael chose was hidden in a quiet northern district. Far from the noisy streets, it seemed separated from the dust of the mundane world.

—

The moment Zora stepped through the gates, a faint fragrance drifted into her senses. Looking up, she saw a whole forest of trees in full bloom.

Soft and delicate white to pink petals fluttered down with the night breeze, covering the ground like scattered clouds. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

She couldn’t help but smile.

Dressed in white, she slowly walked through the forest. The moonlight filtered through layers of branches, falling gently upon her figure.

As she walked deeper in, a pale golden figure entered her sight.

Under the silver moonlight, Prince Kael sat quietly beside a stone table. The glow of the moon draped over his tall figure, outlining his refined features with an otherworldly gentleness. Even seated in a wheelchair, his posture remained straight and elegant.

"You’re here," he said calmly.

Only two words—yet they carried absolute certainty.

Zora nodded lightly. "Moonlight, forest, stone table, fine wine... You seem to be enjoying yourself."

Prince Kael shook his head with a faint smile. "Not quite. Moonlight, forest, falling petals, beauty, and wine—that makes it complete."

Zora rolled her eyes at his shameless remark and sat down opposite him.