Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 274: The Banquet for Kael and Zora (Part-4)

The moment Prince Kael’s words fell, Scarlet’s expression froze. The smug smile that had been hanging on her lips turned stiff and awkward, almost ridiculous.

"What... what do you mean by that?" she asked, forcing a laugh, as if she had misheard him.

In her heart, she could not accept it. Lyssandra was a rare beauty, and any man should have leapt at such a chance. How could Prince Kael reject her in such a way?

Lyssandra was just as stunned. The shy blush on her cheeks turned into a mix of humiliation and anger. Being rejected so bluntly in front of so many people felt like a slap to her face.

For a woman who prided herself on her looks, this was unbearable.

"I don’t need anyone except my Zora," Prince Kael repeated coldly.

His voice was calm, his tone firm, and there was not the slightest room for doubt. His eyes held no warmth at all when they passed over Lyssandra. In his world, only Zora existed. Every other woman was nothing more than a passing shadow.

"If Miss Scarlet really enjoys playing matchmaker," Prince Kael then went on lightly, "then you should put that energy into helping the Crown Prince instead. From what I see, your distant cousin suits him quite well."

Then his gaze sharpened.

"As for my own affairs, I don’t need you interfering."

A ripple of shock spread through the hall. None of the officials had expected such a response. Scarlet offering a beauty to Prince Kael should have been an easy win, yet not only had he refused, but he had also turned the tables and thrown the matter back at her.

Scarlet’s face darkened, the earlier pride completely gone now.

"I was only being kind," she insisted through clenched teeth. "Lyssandra would have served you well."

A faint, mocking smile tugged at Prince Kael’s lips, hearing those words. His eyes slid over Lyssandra once, as though weighing her, before he raised a brow. "This woman? Worthy of me?"

Those two words struck like a blade.

Scarlet’s face turned ashen. In her eyes, Lyssandra was flawless. How could Prince Kael dismiss her so casually? And if Lyssandra was unworthy, then what did that make Zora?

Lyssandra’s eyes reddened with humiliation and fury. She had come forward with genuine hope, only to be trampled underfoot by such a cold rejection. Her chest tightened as she struggled to keep herself from breaking down.

Even Prime Minister Henry, who had secretly supported this plan, was stunned.

He had thought that slipping Lyssandra into Prince Kael’s household would be a perfect way to stir trouble between him and Zora. Who would have guessed that Prince Kael would crush the idea so completely, without even the slightest hesitation?

"Ha! That was satisfying," Black whispered excitedly.

"That’s how you deal with trash," White added, clapping its tiny paws.

Shihtzu, now relaxed in Zora’s arms, merely flicked its tail in contentment. Scarlet had humiliated herself without anyone else needing to lift a finger.

"Prince Kael," Scarlet said stiffly, trying to salvage a shred of dignity, "no matter what, I am still the Prime Minister’s daughter. Isn’t that a bit too much to dismiss my suggestion so coldly?"

"I’ve always spoken like this," Prince Kael replied lazily as he popped a grape into his mouth. His gaze drifted elsewhere, completely uninterested in her. "If Miss Scarlet can’t handle it, then better to stay away from me."

With that, he ignored her entirely, leaving Scarlet standing there, humiliated and furious, with nowhere to vent her rage.

Scarlet’s eyes burned with anger as she stared at Prince Kael, who was acting as if she did not even exist. Her gaze immediately shifted, sharp and resentful, toward the person sitting calmly at his side.

Zora met her look with a faint, amused smile. The curve of her red lips carried quiet mockery. From the moment Scarlet had tried to provoke her, this ending had already been decided. There was no other possible result.

"Don’t get too smug, Zora," Scarlet snapped coldly.

Zora raised a brow, her expression unhurried and relaxed. "You care so much about my affairs, Scarlet. Don’t worry, after the Crown Prince arrives, I might even bring this up with him as well."

Those words struck Scarlet like a bolt of lightning. Her face darkened instantly as an ominous thought rose in her heart.

Could it be that Zora was planning to use the same trick on her?

At the thought of Lyssandra being pushed toward Prince Philip, Scarlet felt a tight knot form in her chest. She had struggled so much just to become the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

How could she allow another woman, especially one as seductive as Lyssandra, to get close to him?

"Don’t even think about it," Scarlet hissed. "That is impossible."

Zora merely shrugged, clearly unconcerned, as if Scarlet’s threats were no more than a breeze.

The more indifferent Zora appeared, the more uneasy Scarlet became. Gritting her teeth, she turned abruptly and grabbed Lyssandra, intending to leave at once. She had to get Lyssandra away before anything else happened.

But just as she moved, a sharp voice rang out through the hall.

"The Emperor arrives! The Empress arrives! The Crown Prince arrives!"

Scarlet’s steps faltered. Her heart thumped wildly as she froze in place. All around, the civil and military officials quickly stood and bowed as the imperial family entered.

Under everyone’s gaze, the Emperor and Empress took their seats at the center of the high platform, with Prince Philip beside them.

"Greetings to His Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Prince," the hall echoed in unison.

"Rise," Emperor Alexander said, his face wearing a warm smile, though the natural majesty of a ruler still radiated from him, quietly pressing down on the room.

"Today’s banquet is to celebrate the Crown Prince, Prince Kael, and Princess Consort Zora’s return from the Imperial Academy."

As he spoke, Emperor Alexander’s eyes drifted toward Kael. When he saw him again after so long, he could not hide his shock. The man before him was still the same in appearance, but the calm confidence and faintly oppressive aura now surrounding him were completely different from before.

Just looking at Kael made Emperor Alexander feel a subtle sense of pressure.

The ministers, however, were filled with doubt. Why was this celebration not just for the Crown Prince, but also for Prince Kael and Princess Consort Zora? In the past, those two had never been treated with such importance.

One was once mocked as useless by the General’s household, and the other had been scorned as a cripple and an illegitimate son. Why had the Emperor suddenly changed his tone tonight?

Not only Emperor Alexander, but also Empress Penelope and Crown Prince Philip himself could not help turning their eyes toward Prince Kael. Everyone present understood in their hearts that although this banquet carried several names, the true focus of tonight was only one person.

Scarlet, however, had eyes only for Prince Philip. The dark pupils that usually held calculation now shimmered with infatuation. She had admired him for years, and now that she was finally his fiancée, seeing him again after so long made her heart pound uncontrollably.

After exchanging a meaningful glance with Empress Penelope, Prince Philip stepped down from the high platform and walked slowly toward Prince Kael and Zora.

Scarlet’s breath caught. She thought Prince Philip was coming for her, and anticipation bloomed in her eyes. Yet to her surprise, Prince Philip did not spare her even a glance. His gaze was fixed solely on Prince Kael.

"Prince Kael," Prince Philip greeted.

Prince Kael lifted a brow lazily and looked at him without rising from his seat, his posture relaxed, as though this were no more than a casual encounter.

At once, murmurs rippled through the hall. The ministers all noticed it.