“Idiot, that’s not the queen. The queen’s still up on the platform.”

“Then who is she?”

“Would it kill you to keep your mouth shut?”

…

The discussion never let up. More and more people noticed Ivan sitting beneath the platform. That face was unmistakably Her Majesty the Queen’s.

But if she was the queen, then who was the woman up on the platform?

A double of Her Majesty the Queen?

Still, some of the audience had heard the rumors. Apparently, the queen had brought her daughter, who’d been living abroad, back to the palace. The news had caught the attention of some nobles, and lately there’d been more guards patrolling the city.

As more and more eyes settled on her face, Ivan wished she could dig a hole right there and bury herself in it. At this point, hiding was pretty much impossible.

And to make matters worse, Vivian was actually walking toward her from the platform.

Oh, crap!

Should she make a run for it?

She could still get out of there in time—but what would it cost her?

Ivan thought as fast as she could, but Vivian moved even faster.

“What a good daughter I have. You even came to watch my match. Would you like to come up and have some fun?”

Good daughter?

She was making the first move!

Ivan’s throat bobbed. She wanted to say something, but to everyone else, any explanation she gave would just sound like a rebellious daughter acting coy with her mother.

Fine. She’d say nothing and just stare Vivian down.

As long as I’m not embarrassed, you’re the one who’ll be embarrassed.

“The queen’s daughter? Then she must be the princess!” An ill-timed voice rang out from the other side. The white-haired little girl who’d been given a red card and sent off earlier came trotting back over.

“Whoa, she really does look exactly like Her Majesty! Um, Your Majesty, can I spar with the princess? I haven’t had enough fighting yet!”

“Susie, don’t cause trouble.” An older girl in a black-and-white maid outfit tried to stop Susie, who was charging straight ahead.

“I just want to trade a move or two with the princess. Besides, Her Majesty’s daughter must be amazing in a fight. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

“Your Majesty, Susie…”

“It’s fine. It’s only natural for children to get to know each other better.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Susie’s been a handful since she was little. I’ll have the family arrange a few more lessons for her when we get back.”

…

Watching Vivian and the maid trade lines so smoothly, Ivan slowly formed a question mark.

Did either of you ask what I thought?

“Hey, what’s your name? I, Susie, won’t fight someone who doesn’t even have a name!”

Ivan: …

Vivian looked at Ivan with keen interest. Her expression clearly said, “You don’t want everyone finding out you’re a human swordsman, do you?”

She’d been backed into a corner and left to roast over an open fire.

She had three options.

1. Shout out that she was Ivan, the human swordsman, and tell Vivian, that wicked woman, she’d never be allowed to ruin her sword heart.

2. Avoid the conflict for now. Swallow her pride and let them call her Wei Yue for a few days, while remembering that Ivan was her real name.

3. Play dead and make things awkward for Vivian.

Option one was practically a death sentence. She’d make a bold stand, sure, but they’d probably drag her away for being crazy—and Vivian might subject her to even more terrifying experiments.

She’d already been turned into a girl. Who knew if Vivian would brainwash her next? Then she’d end up a Blood Clan idiot loli who could only babble “aba aba.”

Option three looked like a good play, but it had a major drawback: she’d be handing Vivian control. Vivian could introduce her on her behalf, and once she made the final call, there’d be no way for Ivan to turn things around.

Option two was better. She’d endure it for now and wait for her chance to rise again.

“M-my… my name is Wei… Wei Yue.”

Ivan—or, more accurately, Wei Yue now—forced her mouth open with great difficulty and said the awkward, unfamiliar name.

That wicked Blood Clan queen was really making things hard for her.

She’d remember this grudge, too.

“Good daughter, you’re speaking so softly. How’s Susie supposed to hear you?” Vivian’s sleeve twitched, then quickly fell still again.

“!”

Wei Yue’s eyes reddened.

Don’t push me too far.

“It’s fine, I heard you. Your name’s Wei Yue, right? It’s just as lovely as Her Majesty’s.”

Susie clapped her hands. Her etiquette teacher had told her that when you met someone important, you should praise them as much as possible. If they were talented, praise their gifts; if they were beautiful with a sweet voice, praise their looks.

And if you really couldn’t think of anything else, just say they’d grown taller.

Getting along with nobles wasn’t hard at all. Just keep the compliments coming.

“Then let’s hurry up and fight!” Susie looked delighted. The maid behind her, on the other hand, looked worried. At least they’d run into a wise king.

People who’d dared to talk back to royal children in the past had probably been reincarnated countless times by now.

“Aren’t you going, good daughter?” Vivian ruffled Wei Yue’s hair.

That feels nice… No, damn it.

Was Vivian trying to make her fight?

Come to think of it, the two of them had never actually fought. Maybe Vivian wanted to test how strong she was now.

Then she’d just throw the match.

Once word got out that Vivian’s daughter had lost to a noble girl,

Vivian would be the one who lost face.

That’s what you get for picking on me.

Now it’s my turn!

We’ll see who wins and who loses~

As Wei Yue stood up to leave, Vivian raised a hand and called over a guard. “Quick, get the best doctor in the city. I’m worried she won’t know when to hold back.”

In reality, Vivian’s worry was completely unnecessary. Wei Yue wasn’t doing a thing on the platform.

If she was throwing the match, she had to commit to it.

But Susie and the audience below read the scene differently. After all, they’d all just witnessed the queen’s famous display of being as immovable as a mountain and as unbreakable as a fortress.

The Knight Commander had thrown a seriously powerful punch, and Her Majesty had sent him flying with a single palm.

The princess might be younger than Her Majesty, but her bloodline spoke for itself. Maybe she’d even surpass her mother.

And so a strange scene unfolded in the ring: Wei Yue stood perfectly still, doing nothing, while Susie in front of her was already sweating buckets.

Why was Her Highness Wei Yue taking so long to move—and why did she look so relaxed?

Could there be a trick to this?

What if Wei Yue sent her flying the moment she made a move? She’d seen what happened earlier with her own eyes.

Princess Wei Yue must be using that relaxed appearance to lower her guard.

She couldn’t let her guard down!

Wei Yue was getting a little bored standing there. Were they going to fight or not? She was ready. The moment Susie launched a thunderous attack, she’d hit the ground and start twitching.

That would leave Vivian thoroughly humiliated today.

Perfect plan!

But come on, Susie, make a move already.

Beat me head-on!

Susie was still powering up when Wei Yue’s palm suddenly twitched. She immediately dropped into a defensive stance.

Her move had been so quick that, to everyone else, it looked as though the princess had used some invisible technique that left Susie unable to fight back.

Seeing Susie’s smooth, flowing defense, Wei Yue started to panic. You’re making this so awkward for me!

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I have the courage to swing my sword at Her Highness the princess. I forfeit this match.”

The audience hadn’t even had time to react when Wei Yue was the first to protest.

“Susie, how can you throw the match? A true swordsman can’t lose the courage to draw their sword!”