Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 28: The Imperial Banquet (Part-8)

With her heart pounding in fear and humiliation, Luna turned and fled without another word, afraid that if she stayed one second longer, she would completely collapse.

Watching Luna’s stiff retreating figure, Prince Kael’s smile deepened with a trace of wicked amusement.

He then turned casually toward Zora, his tone instantly shifting back to playful ease.

"Darling, was your husband just now very heroic?" he asked with a grin. "Were you completely moved?"

Zora instantly snapped out of her thoughts and shot him a cold, sharp glare.

This man truly had a rare talent for destroying the atmosphere.

She had just felt her heart soften for a brief moment—only for it to be completely ruined in the next breath!

How could she possibly have been touched just now?

Absolutely impossible!

It must be because she had just transmigrated and was still being influenced by the original Zora’s emotions.

Yes—that must be it!

Before she could respond further, an attendant came to summon Prince Kael away.

Left alone, Zora felt a wave of boredom and wandered deeper into the imperial garden.

The royal garden was breathtaking. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Precious flowers from across the land bloomed everywhere, dazzling with color and fragrance. The night wind was gentle, carrying faint floral scents through the air.

Many young ladies were scattered among the flower paths, but when they noticed Zora nearby, they all tactfully withdrew. Whether out of jealousy, fear, or avoidance, no one dared approach her.

Before long, Zora stood alone beneath the lantern-lit trees.

Then.. a low, hoarse, suppressed voice sounded from behind her. "Why did you lie to me?"

Zora stiffened slightly. She recognized that voice instantly.

Philip.

She slowly turned around, her expression already layered with impatience and annoyance.

"I didn’t lie," she said coldly. "I only deceived someone who was deceiving others."

Philip stood rigidly beneath the lantern-lit trees, staring at Zora as if trying to carve her image into his bones. His eyes were filled with a dark, twisted obsession, no longer the calm pride of a prince, but the stubborn madness of a man who could not accept loss.

"So all these years," he said hoarsely, every word dripping with suppressed emotion, "you were pretending? You hated me from the very beginning?"

Zora let out a soft mocking snort. Her gaze was cold and distant, as though she were looking at a stranger instead of the man who had once dominated her world.

"Does it matter whether you know or not?" she replied indifferently. "Your Highness seems to enjoy strolling through the imperial garden at night. Since that is the case, I will no longer disturb you."

She turned on her heel, clearly unwilling to waste even another breath on him, and started walking toward the main banquet hall. But before she could take more than two steps, a strong force suddenly seized her wrist.

Philip’s hand locked tightly around her right arm.

His face was stormy, his veins faintly bulging as he demanded in a low, rigid voice, "Answer me first! Do you hate me that much?"

Zora frowned deeply. She shook her arm sharply, her voice instantly turning icy. "Let go of me."

But Philip did not move.

Instead, his grip tightened even further, as if he were afraid she would disappear the moment he released her.

"If you want to leave, then answer me!" he insisted, his eyes burning with relentless intensity. "Do you hate me so much?"

He truly did not understand.

In the past, Zora had clearly adored him. She had loved him so foolishly that she was even willing to die for the breaking of the engagement. How could such deep feelings vanish overnight?

Was everything before nothing but an illusion?

Had she truly never loved him at all?

Zora slowly stopped struggling. She turned around and looked straight into his eyes, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I hate you."

Philip’s breath hitched. "Why?"

Zora suddenly let out a low laugh, the sound filled with sarcasm and bitterness.

"Why?" she repeated coldly. "Then you tell me—of everything you have done to me, is there a single thing that does not deserve hatred?"

For fifteen years, the original Zora had lived in his shadow, loving him humbly, cautiously, desperately. And what had she received in return?

Humiliation. Indifference. Abandonment.

He had never once truly seen her as a person.

Philip’s fingers unconsciously loosened for the briefest moment.

Deep down, he knew she was telling the truth.

None of his past actions was worthy of forgiveness.

But he still refused to let go.

"If I promise to treat you well from now on," he suddenly said, his tone turning urgent, almost pleading, "will you come with me?"

His eyes fixed on her with obsessive intensity.

"I can’t give you the status of a princess anymore, but I will give you all my favor. As long as you stay by my side, no woman will ever surpass you!"

He could not forget the woman who had appeared in his pain like a divine savior. He no longer wanted noble status or grand power—he only wanted Zora.

He believed firmly that as long as he went to beg his father, the engagement between Zora and Prince Kael could still be canceled.

Zora stared at him silently for a moment, then suddenly asked in a flat voice, "Are you out of your mind?"

Philip’s face darkened. "I am speaking the truth!"

"Even if you are telling the truth," Zora sneered, tearing her hand free in one sharp motion, "so what?"

Her eyes were colder than ice.

"Philip, my entire fifteen years were ruined under your shadow. The rest of my life will never, ever have anything to do with you again."

Her voice was resolute, without the slightest trace of hesitation.

"Let go."

Philip staggered back half a step, his chest heaving violently.

In a distorted tone, he suddenly whispered, "So you would rather marry that crippled waste... than follow me?"

A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes. "You should remember—his life is still in my hands."

At those words, Zora’s brows instantly snapped together, her gaze sharpened like a drawn blade.

"In my heart," she said slowly, every word cutting like frost, "you cannot even compare to him."

Philip’s pupils shrank violently.

Paranoia, rage, and wounded pride surged together like a tidal wave. How could he—Philip, the dignified prince—be trampled under a disabled man?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

In the next instant, madness flashed through his eyes. He suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Hold of Zora’s shoulders with brutal force. "The woman I have my eyes on is absolutely not something anyone is allowed to touch!"

Before she could react, he lowered his head and tried to kiss her forcefully on the lips!

Zora never expected Philip to descend into such madness.

However, her instincts flared at the last second, and her legs moved sharply and her face moved back, and almost at the same time, her palm swung across his face with vicious force.

"Smack!"

The sound echoed sharply in the quiet garden.

Philip staggered back half a step, his cheek instantly burning hot. He stared at her in disbelief, rage pouring out of his eyes. "You—! You actually dared to hit me?"