Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 53: Encountering with Scarlett (Part-2)

She truly could not understand how this woman, who had married a disabled prince, could still carry herself with such terrifying confidence and arrogance.

Everyone had assumed Zora would fade into obscurity, wrapped in misfortune and regret. Yet instead, she stood brighter than ever, untouchable and unbothered. That alone made Scarlett furious beyond measure.

"Miss Scarlett," Zora said indifferently, not even turning her head, "if you enjoy making a spectacle of yourself in public like a street shrew, that is your personal preference. I do not share such made interests."

Those words landed like a slap to the face.

Scarlett’s complexion turned ghastly pale, then flushed a violent red. Zora had dared to call her a shrew. A street shrew. The future Crown Princess, reduced to a laughingstock with a single sentence.

The murmurs around them instantly grew louder.

The entire Neon Square had unknowingly become a silent stage. Customers paused mid-step, shop assistants forgot their duties, and countless eyes gathered around the two women locked in confrontation.

After all, who didn’t know what had happened recently?

Scarlett had just lost the title of "First Beauty of the Imperial City," and her resentment was no secret. Meanwhile, Zora had risen too fast, too fiercely. Now that the two had collided head-on, everyone instinctively sensed that sparks were bound to fly.

"She’s furious. Look at her expression."

"Ever since she became the future Crown Princess, Scarlett’s pride has been soaring higher than the eaves. Anyone who doesn’t bow to her becomes her enemy."

"This time she really kicked iron. Princess Consort Zora doesn’t look like someone who can be bullied at all."

"The composure, the bearing... just comparing them like this, the difference is obvious."

Scarlett strode forward abruptly and blocked Zora’s path, her eyes blazing with cold arrogance.

"If you do not leave this dress behind today," she declared sharply, "I will ensure that you will not walk out of Neon Square with your dignity intact."

So many people were watching. If she lost her face here today, she would be ridiculed throughout the entire Imperial City. That humiliation, she could not bear.

"Oh?" Zora finally stopped and turned back slowly, her gaze calm yet chilling. "Are you threatening me?"

Before Scarlett could reply, a low, magnetic voice drifted gently across the shop.

"Is Miss Scarlett threatening my consort?"

The temperature of the entire room seemed to drop in an instant.

Scarlett stiffened and reflexively turned her head.

Prince Kael had finally spoken.

Seated in his wheelchair, his posture was relaxed, his expression composed, yet his eyes were as deep and cold as a silent abyss. The faint smile on his lips carried no warmth at all.

For a split second, unease flickered across Scarlett’s heart.

Still, she quickly straightened her back and forced her arrogance to the surface once more. "Yes. If she does not apologize to me today, I will not let either of you leave!"

Her words were sharp, carrying deliberate provocation.

After all, in her eyes, Prince Kael was nothing more than a powerless prince crippled in both legs. Even if he was present, what could he do?

Prince Kael’s smile deepened slightly, yet the chill in his gaze grew heavier.

"So this is the upbringing of the Prime Minister’s residence," he said slowly, each word clear and measured, carrying an invisible pressure. "Arrogant, domineering, disrespectful of rank, and ignorant of etiquette. Today, this Prince has truly broadened his horizons."

The air froze.

Scarlett’s face changed instantly.

Not just her. Even the surrounding crowd felt their hearts tighten. No matter how disregarded Prince Kael might be in private, he was still an imperial prince. His words alone carried enough weight to crush Scarlett’s arrogance in public.

Scarlett’s face changed violently the moment Prince Kael’s words landed.

"What... what are you doing? You dare speak to me like that?" she shrieked, her voice trembling despite her forced bravado.

Prince Kael slowly lifted his gaze. His long lashes cast a faint shadow over his eyes, and the indifferent curve of his lips tilted into a chilling arc.

"Speaking to you?" His voice was low and steady, carrying the weight of absolute dominance. "You are not even worthy of being spoken to by this Prince."

The moment his words fell, a terrifying pressure spread outward like an unseen tide.

Scarlett’s pupils shrank violently.

For the first time in her life, she felt her body go stiff against her will. Her limbs turned ice-cold, her breathing grew erratic, and her heart pounded as if it were about to tear out of her chest.

This... this was the true pressure of a cultivator far above her.

How could Prince Kael be this strong?

How could he be so terrifying?

"You... you wouldn’t dare hurt me!" Scarlett’s voice cracked as fear finally bled through her arrogance. "The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince will never let you go!"

She clung desperately to that final lifeline, as if those words alone could protect her.

Prince Kael let out a soft, disdainful laugh.

"Anyone who dares threaten this Prince," he said slowly, every word dripping with frost, "will not be given the chance to regret it."

Scarlett’s heart plunged into the abyss.

At that instant, she finally understood.

This was not a cripple she could trample on at will.

This was a true prince who could crush her without lifting a finger.

The surrounding spectators were completely stunned.

For years, rumors had painted Prince Kael as weak, useless, and easy to bully. But at this very moment, his aura alone forced even Scarlett into submission. No one dared to breathe too loudly.

And then it hit everyone at once.

The Prince was no longer alone.

He now had someone he was willing to protect with absolute force.

It was Zora.

Seraphina rushed forward in a panic, her face full of anxious smiles as she tried to smooth things over before the situation exploded beyond control.

"Your Highness, Miss Scarlett was momentarily impulsive. Please do not take offense. This is still my shop... if trouble breaks out, I will suffer greatly."

She bowed repeatedly, fear glinting in her eyes.

Only then did Zora speak.

Her voice was calm, carrying not the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Scarlett," she said, dropping that last bit of formality too. "If you insist on picking fights, at least learn to choose your opponent wisely next time."

Her tone was gentle.

But the meaning was merciless.

Then she turned slightly toward Prince Kael and smiled. "Your Highness, don’t waste your temper on someone like her. It isn’t worth it."

The killing pressure around Prince Kael gradually withdrew.

"Since my consort has spoken," he said indifferently, "this matter ends here. But if you provoke her again—"

His gaze flicked toward Scarlett like the edge of a cold blade.

"You will not be spared a second time."

Only then did Scarlett realize she had been holding her breath all along.

Cold sweat drenched her back.

Her legs had already gone weak.

Zora turned and said lightly, "Your Highness, wait for me outside. I have a few private words to exchange with Miss Scarlett."

Prince Kael gave her a deep look, nodded once, and signaled to Alder.

The moment Prince Kael disappeared from sight, Scarlett’s humiliation surged violently back into her eyes, burning with resentment.

She spat bitterly, "First, Philip and now even Kael Moonstone has been seduced by you. Your talent for bewitching men truly isn’t truly small at all!"

Zora slowly turned back.

Her lips curved into a faint, elegant smile that held not a trace of warmth.

"Thank you for the compliment," she said softly.

Then, with eyes colder than frost, she added in an unhurried voice:

"But compared to you... I at least don’t cling to men for status I haven’t even secured yet."

Scarlett’s face instantly turned ashen.

Scarlett was furious.

She had never imagined that a woman could speak and act with such ruthless precision, every sentence striking exactly where it hurt the most.

Zora, however, did not even spare her another glance.

"Since I am in a good mood today," she said calmly, her tone detached and unbothered, "I won’t continue arguing with you."

Then her eyes lifted slightly, carrying a faint but cutting smile.

"I only wish to advise Miss Scarlett of one thing. Some words are better left unsaid before the matter is settled. After all... being the future Crown Princess does not mean you will definitely become one. Don’t forget my dear sister, Luna... for example..."

The words fell like quiet thunder.

Without waiting for a response, Zora left the dress and turned and walked out of the Neon Square with steady, unhurried steps.

Scarlett stood frozen where she was.

By the time Scarlett recovered her senses, that slender figure had already vanished beyond the door.

However, when she looked down at the dress in her hand, her anger turned into a smile. "Hmpf... she just likes to talk big... in the end, I get what I want..."

She didn’t notice the faint translucent black powder on the dress, which slowly transformed into invisible dust particles as they flew toward her face.