Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 62: Royal Hunting grounds (Part-2)

After a while;

Everyone gathered around in silence, and the Emperor took the center stage

"The one who claims first place in today’s royal hunting game," Emperor Alexander announced calmly, "will be rewarded with a beast companion."

The moment those words fell, it was as if a massive stone had been hurled into a still lake.

The entire hunting ground exploded.

Eyes widened. Breaths hitched. Even seasoned cultivators couldn’t suppress the surge of excitement that rushed through their veins.

A beast companion.

That single phrase was enough to drive practitioners mad.

On the Holy Mystic Continent, some monsters could be captured while young and bound through a soul contract, growing alongside their masters and becoming the most loyal of partners.

Once bonded, betrayal was impossible. Life and death were shared.

Such beasts were more than companions. They were shields, blades, and silent guardians.

And above all—

They were rare.

So rare that even high-ranking officials often went their entire lives without ever possessing one.

For the emperor to offer a beast as a prize meant only one thing.

This royal hunting game was no ordinary contest.

Zora’s eyes sharpened instantly.

Every royal hunt had rewards, but never anything like this.

A beast companion...

Her pulse quickened, but her expression remained calm.

This first place—

was hers.

Emperor Alexander watched the crowd’s reaction with quiet satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

But he wasn’t finished.

"Second place," he continued, his voice steady, "will receive a Bone-Cleansing Potion."

The crowd gasped again.

"And third place," he added, "will receive a Cloud Lotus."

The air nearly ignited.

"This is insane!"

"I’ve never seen rewards like this in my life!"

"The royal family is really going all out this time!"

The Bone-Cleansing Potion could refine the body, remove impurities, and greatly improve cultivation efficiency. The Cloud Lotus was also a rare spiritual herb coveted by alchemists and cultivators alike.

Any one of these rewards was enough to make people fight to the death.

This wasn’t just a competition anymore.

It was a battlefield.

Luna’s heart thundered with excitement.

To her, this felt like destiny itself was clearing the path. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Scarlett, who had always competed fiercely with her, couldn’t even show her face now. With that disgraceful injury, she was completely out of the picture.

As for the others—

Strong, yes.

But not strong enough.

As for Zora?

Luna’s lips curled faintly.

So what if she can cultivate now?

She had been a waste for over ten years. A few months of progress could never compare to true accumulation. Also, she is a doctor, not a fighter. Without the backing of Prince Kael, who isn’t here right now, Zora isn’t a threat to her.

At worst, she would lose to Prince Philip.

Second place was already within reach.

And if Philip took first...

She could accept that.

After all, she had always been by his side.

Yet the Crown Prince himself wasn’t thinking of her at all.

From the moment Zora appeared, his gaze had clung to her like a shadow.

Her calm posture.

Her radiant presence.

That effortless confidence that no longer belonged to the girl he once dismissed.

The contrast stabbed deep.

Was it because of Prince Kael?

Because she married him, she became like this?

The thought twisted something ugly inside Philip’s chest.

That woman—

The woman he once held power over—

Had slipped from his grasp and landed in the arms of a man everyone called a cripple.

And yet... she shone brighter than ever.

"Master," Black whispered from within the chaos ring, "that Philip has been staring at you this whole time."

Zora didn’t even bother to glance his way.

"Let him stare," she replied coolly.

To her, Philip had long ceased to matter.

Whether he regretted it, resented it, or burned with jealousy—

None of it concerned her anymore.

Black chuckled softly. "Looks like the master’s charm is truly fatal."

Zora’s gaze shifted toward the vast hunting grounds ahead, her eyes calm, focused, and cold.

Beast companion.

Bone-cleansing Potion.

Cloud lotus.

Whatever stood in her way—

She would take them all.

*

Meanwhile, Emperor Alexander slowly swept his gaze across the younger generation gathered at the hunting grounds. After a brief pause, his eyes settled on Henry, a trace of doubt flashing through his expression.

"Prime Minister Henry," he asked evenly, "why do I not see Scarlett today?"

As the future Crown Princess, Scarlett’s participation would have drawn considerable attention. If she performed well in the royal hunting game, it would only further solidify her status.

The moment those words were spoken, a subtle ripple spread through the crowd.

This was a sensitive moment.

Everyone knew what had happened yesterday at Kael’s residence, even if the Prime Minister’s household had tried desperately to suppress the news. With the emperor bringing up Scarlett now, it was impossible not to smell trouble.

Sure enough, Henry’s expression darkened instantly.

The anger in his eyes burned undisguised as his gaze swept toward Zora.

"This question, Your Majesty," he said coldly, "should be directed at Prince Kael and his consort."

At once, countless eyes shifted toward Zora.

Emperor Alexander also followed their gaze, his brows knitting slightly. He had heard vague rumors about a dispute between Zora and Scarlett at the Neon Square, but he had never paid them much attention.

Could it be that things had escalated?

"Prime Minister Henry," Emperor Alexander said slowly, his tone restrained, "your words are rather direct. I do not quite understand your meaning."

Zora’s expression remained calm and unhurried.

She knew very well that Henry was waiting for this moment, waiting for a chance to strike back. But whether he made trouble or not made no difference to her.

Her indifference only deepened Henry’s resentment.

"Your Majesty," he said sharply, his voice rising, "the Prince Kael and his consort have grown increasingly arrogant. Yesterday, within Prince Kael’s residence, they openly ordered an assault on my daughter!"

His words grew more impassioned with each sentence.

"Scarlett wished to participate in the royal hunting game," Henry continued, "but her injuries are severe. She is simply unable to appear today. Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for my household!"

As soon as he finished speaking, both Emperor Alexander and the Empress’ expressions changed.

From Henry’s demeanor, it was clear that he was not fabricating the story. Yet what shocked them more was not the incident itself, but the one who had allegedly dared to act.

Prince Kael.

For the past three years, Prince Kael had been silent, restrained, and seemingly resigned to his fate. Because of that, the royal family’s attitude toward him had gradually shifted from indifference to neglect.

And now—

Suddenly, he dared to strike the Prime Minister’s daughter?

Was this merely blind rage for the sake of his wife?

Or...

Did he now possess the confidence and backing to do so?

That second possibility sent a chill through Emperor Alexander’s heart.

If Prince Kael truly had regained his footing...

Then the balance of the imperial court was about to change.

"Princess Consort Zora," Emperor Alexander asked slowly, his gaze fixed on Zora, "is what Prime Minister Henry says true?"

Zora lifted her eyes slightly, a faint, mocking smile touching her lips.

"Prime Minister Henry speaks of injuries," she said calmly. "Why does he not first explain why Scarlett went to our residence yesterday?"