Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 52: Encounter with Scarlett

Their destination was Neon Square, the most famous cloth and garment shop in the entire Imperial City.

Whether noble ladies or wealthy merchants’ wives, anyone who pursued quality would end up here. The prices were far higher than ordinary cloth shops, yet the business inside remained booming every day without exception.

The moment Zora and Prince Kael entered, the lively shop fell into a strange, brief silence.

No one had expected this pair to appear here together.

After the emperor personally attended the wedding, the status of Prince Kael had invisibly risen in everyone’s hearts. Even if the prince was often mocked in the past, such disrespect was limited to royal members. Ordinary officials and merchants no longer dared to show even the slightest rudeness.

The proprietress, Seraphina, reacted faster than anyone.

She quickly walked forward with a warm, practiced smile. "What an honor! Princess Consort Zora’s presence truly lights up my shop. Is Prince Kael here to personally select garments for the princess?"

This was the first time Seraphina had seen the couple up close.

Prince Kael, though seated in a wheelchair, sat upright with perfect posture. His expression was gentle, calm, and noble, without the slightest trace of dejection. As for Zora, her beauty needed no description at all. Even standing quietly, she naturally became the focus of the entire shop.

Seraphina had seen countless noble ladies, but seldom one whose temperament alone could overwhelm the entire room.

Prince Kael smiled faintly. "Indeed."

He then turned his head toward Zora, his voice gentle. "Darling, take your time and look around. Choose whatever you like."

He waved lightly toward the proprietress. "Shopkeeper, you may attend to your business. We will browse on our own."

Seraphina immediately understood and bowed slightly. "If there is anything Your Highness or Princess Consort Zora needs, please call for me anytime."

With that, she tactfully withdrew.

The shop soon returned to its bustling rhythm, though many gazes still drifted subtly toward the couple.

Zora slowly walked along the rows of exquisite garments.

Whether it was the material, the embroidery, or the craftsmanship, everything before her eyes was of the highest quality. Threads shimmered faintly under the light, and even the most understated robes revealed meticulous care upon closer inspection.

No wonder Neon Square’s reputation stood unshaken year after year.

As she examined the clothing with quiet focus, Prince Kael watched her from the side, his gaze soft and unhurried.

At that moment, another figure stepped into Neon Square.

The chatter in the shop softened subtly, as if an invisible ripple had passed through the air.

It was Scarlett, the current fiancée of the Crown Prince, the treasured daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence. Draped in silk and escorted by maidservants, she entered with the poised arrogance of someone long accustomed to being the center of all gazes.

The moment her eyes caught sight of Zora, her brows tightened almost imperceptibly.

So it was her again.

A trace of displeasure flickered across Scarlett’s delicate face like a shadow sweeping over calm water.

Meanwhile, Zora was calmly selecting garments. Her taste still leaned toward plain, simple white, but now that she carried the title of Princess Consort, she knew that she would inevitably appear in court and formal gatherings. Wearing nothing but understated white at all times would no longer be appropriate.

Thus, she had chosen several other colors as well.

Just as she lifted a long white dress from the display rack, her movements suddenly paused.

The fabric was pure as freshly fallen snow, adorned only with a few faint Apple blossoms scattered near the hem. The design was simple, elegant, and refreshing, carrying a quiet vitality that made one think instantly of spring.

Her thoughts drifted to the Apple forest in the courtyard.

A faint, genuine smile appeared in her eyes.

This dress... she truly liked.

But just as her fingers tightened around the silk—

Another slender hand fell upon the same piece of fabric.

The atmosphere in the shop shifted instantly.

Zora slowly raised her eyes.

Scarlett was standing beside her, chin slightly lifted, her gaze cold and full of possession as her fingers rested arrogantly atop the white dress.

"This dress," Scarlett said coolly, her voice sharp with undisguised authority, "I want it."

The words landed with the weight of an order.

Not a request.

The corner of Zora’s lips curved faintly into an unreadable smile. "Miss Scarlett..." she said lightly, "this dress was in my hands first. By reason and precedent, it should belong to me."

Scarlett’s face darkened instantly.

"I said it’s mine," she snapped, her tone suddenly forceful. "Then it is mine!"

The arrogance in her voice filled the shop like a blade scraping against glass.

The surrounding customers instinctively fell silent, sensing the rising tension.

Zora’s expression remained calm, but the chill in her eyes slowly deepened. "Miss Scarlett’s way of speaking is truly domineering." Her fingers tightened around the dress once more. "Unfortunately, this sort of tyranny has no effect on me."

With a smooth pull of her wrist, she drew the dress fully into her own hands.

That decisive motion struck Scarlett’s eyes like a slap.

"Zora!" Scarlett’s voice rose sharply, anger flaring openly. "I am the future Crown Princess. How dare you offend me like this? Do you want to die?"

"Oh?" Zora let out a soft, almost lazy laugh, though the warmth in her eyes had completely vanished. "Miss Scarlett speaks with such confidence. But last I checked, you are not yet married into the Crown Prince’s residence. You are merely the future Crown Princess."

Her gaze lowered slightly, sweeping over Scarlett with faint disdain, the meaning unmistakable. "Since you are not yet married, Miss Scarlett should at least show some restraint and virtue. Arrogance suits you poorly. After all, the so-called future Crown Princess has changed two times, haven’t they?"

Those words struck precisely where it hurt most.

Scarlett’s face flushed, then paled.

She had thought her status alone would crush Zora into submission. She had not expected the woman to counter her so directly, so mercilessly.

Ever since Luna’s fall from grace, Scarlett had smoothly inherited the title of the "First Beauty of the Imperial City." She had enjoyed standing at the peak, admired and envied by countless people, certain that no one could rival her.

Then Zora appeared.

Not only did she take away the glory of the "First Beauty," but she also married into Prince Kael’s residence with overwhelming splendor.

The eyes of the entire Imperial City had shifted.

And Scarlett felt it keenly, painfully.

"You—!" Scarlett’s chest heaved with fury. "No matter what, I am still the future Crown Princess! You are merely the wife of a crippled prince. What right do you have to oppose me?"

"Future?" Zora’s lips curved faintly, her tone calm and disdainful as she lifted the hem of her dress. "Then come talk to me again after you actually become the Crown Princess. Then, we talk about right and opposing... At the moment, you are nothing more than the daughter of a Prime Minister, while I am an actual Princess Consort. Do take note of our standings before even shouting foolishly..."

With that, she turned lightly and took a step forward, clearly intending to continue browsing as if Scarlett were nothing more than passing air.

That single movement pierced Scarlett’s pride like a blade.

"Zora, you’ve gone too far!" Scarlett snapped, her voice tight with fury.