Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 41: If you dislike him, I will dislike him even more
"It’s absolutely true!" Eric Welsh laughed. "The news just came out, but it’ll spread through the city in no time. The House Phoenix finally tasted what it means to be bullied!"
A faint smile curved at Zora’s lips, but beneath that smile, her heart shifted. "Kael..."
She didn’t need to think who it was. There is only one person who will act this way, on her behalf...
At the same moment, the General’s Residence was in complete turmoil.
Icarus had just received emergency treatment. Though the doctors managed to reconnect the bones in his broken arm, the recovery would take at least three full months.
The Royal Hunting Tournament was only weeks away.
His chances were ruined.
Jasmine, the lady of the house, was furious beyond words. She paced the room like a trapped beast, her face pale with rage.
"Our son has never suffered such humiliation in his life!" she cried. "Dear, you must destroy that little monster!"
But General Helius said nothing.
He simply sat there, pale and drenched in cold sweat, his right arm wrapped tightly in thick layers of bandages.
Jasmine finally noticed something was wrong.
"Dear... what’s wrong with your arm?" she asked cautiously.
General Helius’s expression twisted.
"Enough," he said hoarsely. "Don’t ask."
How could he speak of it?
Last night, a shadow had appeared inside the General’s Residence without anyone noticing.
Before General Helius could even react...
Crack!
His right arm was broken cleanly, instantly.
He hadn’t even seen the attacker’s face.
Before disappearing, that person had left behind only one sentence that chilled him to the bone.
"Do not touch Zora again. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourself."
That warning had pierced straight into his soul.
For the first time in his life, General Helius felt fear.
Not fear of loss.
Not fear of disgrace.
But fear of annihilation.
He now understood something terrifying.
Behind Zora...
There stood a force he could not even begin to provoke.
And only at this moment—
Did regret finally crawl into his heart like a venomous snake...
Had he known earlier...
Had he not chosen Jasmine over Elizabeth (Zora’s mother)...
Had he not abandoned Zora...
Then today, perhaps the Origin Medical Hall, the endless wealth, the awe of the imperial city—
All of it would still belong to him.
Instead, he had personally carved out an enemy who now stood beyond his reach.
And outside, far away from the chaos of the General’s Residence, the Origin Medical Hall continued to shine brightly under the setting sun...
Unaware that the storm it had awakened was far from over.
Seeing General Helius’s unusually grim expression, Jasmine finally sensed that something was deeply wrong. She did not dare press him further and could only grit her teeth in hatred.
"Master, no matter what," she said bitterly, "you must still take revenge for Icarus!"
General Helius’s brows twitched violently. His heart was already in chaos, and these words only added fuel to the fire.
"Revenge?" he snapped coldly. "His own skills were inferior, and he got himself beaten. Do you want me to drag my old face out there to lose even more dignity for him?"
His gaze suddenly turned sharp and landed on Luna.
"From today onward, you are not allowed to stir up trouble outside. Especially don’t provoke Zora again. Do you understand?"
Luna froze in place.
Her mind went blank.
Why... why was father suddenly protecting Zora?
Jasmine was also stunned. Last night, General Helius had spoken with murderous fury, saying he would personally teach Zora a lesson today.
Yet after just one night...
His attitude had completely changed.
Once the bandages were wrapped around his arm, General Helius angrily waved his sleeve and strode out, his steps heavy and chaotic. The events of the past day had shattered his pride to pieces.
*
Meanwhile, the morning sun bathed Zora’s Manor in a warm golden glow.
Bird chirps drifted through the Apple trees, and the air was filled with faint floral fragrance.
When Zora stepped out of her room, she immediately sensed something was off.
The usually quiet courtyard was bustling with activity. Servants rushed back and forth, carrying silk attires, lacquered boxes, and long trays wrapped in brocade.
For a moment, she even wondered if she had walked into the wrong place.
Following the familiar path through the Apple forest, she made sure this was indeed Zora’s Manor, then headed toward the entrance with increasing confusion.
Before she could reach the gate, cheerful voices rang out in unison.
"Congratulations to Miss Zora!"
"Congratulations to Miss Zora!"
Zora halted in her tracks, completely bewildered.
Before she could ask a single question, she saw it.
Outside the gate, carriages arrived one after another, unloading chest after chest of dazzling gifts.
Gold, jade, silk, jewelry, spirit stones, rare medicinal herbs...
All stacked into small mountains.
Only one word surfaced in her mind.
Dowry.
Her brows lifted slightly.
At that moment, Prince Kael slowly stepped into view, a lazy smile resting at the corner of his lips. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Woman," he said lightly, "are you satisfied with this bridegroom’s sincerity?"
Zora glanced at the mountains of gifts and curved her lips faintly. "Barely... passable."
"Barely?" Prince Kael clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. "Turn around and take another look."
Suspicious, she followed his gaze and lifted her eyes.
The plaque above the gate had been replaced.
The original inscription of "Kael’s residence" was gone.
In its place were three powerful yet elegant characters: (Zora’s Manor)
Her pupils shrank slightly.
"This courtyard," Prince Kael said casually, "is also part of your dowry."
Previously, he only jokingly called it her manor but it wasn’t official. Now, its name was changed officially.
Only then did Zora truly fall silent.
This was no longer just generosity.
This was open-handed extravagance.
Such a grand display had long attracted the attention of the surrounding streets. People gathered outside in waves, whispering in amazement.
"Isn’t Zora supposed to be betrothed to the Crown Prince?"
"No, she’s engaged to Prince Kael!"
"Then why is Prince Kael not going to the General’s Residence to deliver the betrothal gifts?"
"Because Miss Zora doesn’t live there anymore. She lives here now."
Realization dawned on the crowd.
So that was why.
Then the exclamations surged even louder.
"This Prince’s wealth is terrifying... This dowry is even more lavish than what other princes offer for formal princesses!"
Standing amid the endless gifts, Zora slowly lifted her eyes to look at the man beside her.
Prince Kael was smiling.
But beneath that smile was something deeper.
Something resolute.
Inside Zora’s Manor, servants hurried back and forth carrying the last of the dowry into the courtyard. Red silk fluttered like flowing fire among the Apple blossoms.
Zora watched quietly as each chest was placed in order. The smile on her lips grew softer, gentle yet unshakable.
At this moment, the voices outside gradually faded from her awareness.
For the first time in a long while, she truly felt at ease.
Only then did she turn to Prince Kael beside her.
"In doing things this way, aren’t you afraid of completely offending General Helius?" she asked calmly.
His long brows lifted slightly, the corners of his lips curving into a lazy smile.
"The reason a son-in-law fears his future father-in-law is only because that man still holds the right to decide the daughter’s marriage. Since you have already chosen me, then from today onward, your grudges become my grudges."
His voice was light, but the meaning behind it was sharp as a blade.
"If you dislike him, then I will dislike him even more."
