The spar ended because time was up. None of Alice and Sophie's attacks had reached Ryu, so he was declared the victor.

Catherine: "Good job! I think everyone got to know each other, so happy ending, happy ending! Let's go back and have some drinks!"

Catherine tried to forcefully create a "happy ending", but Ryu had no intention of letting it go.

Ryu: "I want you to keep your word. You said you'd quit being a noble, didn't you?"

Marie flinched.

Catherine looked flustered.

Betty glared at Ryu.

Alice remained expressionless.

Sophie looked as if she had made a decision.

— — — — — —

Marie still couldn't accept the fact that she had lost. Had he used some kind of underhanded tactic? Was he showing her an illusion...?

But when she looked at her hands, although they had already been healed with potions, the memory of the pain when her bones were broken came back vividly.

What should I have done? What if I had used that skill? What was I lacking? What did I do wrong? It's common for losers to keep replaying the fight, regretting and reflecting. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she couldn't think of a way to beat Ryu with her current abilities.

She had to admit it.

But she couldn't.

If she admitted it, she would have to quit being a noble.

(Quit being a noble? Me?...)

While she was hesitating, she heard Ryu's voice telling her to keep her promise.

— — — — — —

Catherine: "W-Well, you know, it's just a figure of speech…"

But before Catherine could finish, Sophie stepped in front of Ryu and said,

Sophie: "It's my fault for my subordinate's misconduct. First, I'd like to apologize for her rudeness. Please forgive her, here, I'm begging you."

Sophie bowed her head again.

Marie panicked when she saw this.

It was unthinkable for a "princess" to bow her head to a commoner.

Marie rushed to Sophie's side.

Marie: "Sophie-sama, please stop! A royal bowing to a commoner… That's unacceptable! I'll take responsibility!"

Sophie: "…It's my fault for spoiling Marie too much."

Marie: "But… Sophie-sama…!"

Sophie: "I am a royal, but I lack the ability to guide people. I feel a deep sense of shame. All I can do is show you with my own actions. I'll atone for my subordinate's actions. Ryujeen, anything you want. Marie said she would make you her slave, so I'll become your slave instead."

With that, Sophie knelt in front of Ryu.

Marie: "Please stop! Sophie-sama!"

Sophie: "Betty, prepare the collar of servitude."

Betty: "What are you saying, Your Highness, becoming a slave?!"

Betty hastily supported the princess, pulling her up halfway.

Sophie: "Marie, Betty, you are both destined to become forces of the country. I always hoped that you would grow into such people. If you can grow, my own life means nothing. To raise and protect those who work for the country is the duty of the royals. If that's what it takes, I'll kneel as many times as it takes, and I'll even eat dirt."

Hearing the princess's resolve and great expectations, Marie finally began to feel ashamed of her own immature actions and reflect on them.

Even Marie, she thought she was acting for the honor of the royals and the nobility.

But she had never considered that her actions would harm the dignity of the royal family and the nobility.

But the princess had such high hopes for her, even for someone like her… She wished she could live up to her expectations…

But it was too late.

Words once spoken can't be taken back.

Of course, she couldn't make the princess take responsibility.

Marie walked up to Ryu, knelt down, and bowed her head to the ground.

Marie: "I'm sorry for my rudeness. It's all my fault, Sophie-sama has nothing to do with it. Please don't blame her. I'll take responsibility. I'll quit being a noble. If you want me to die, I'll die."

Betty rushed over and knelt next to Marie.

Betty: "I, I'm so sorry for saying so many rude things. It's all my fault for being stupid, Sophie-sama has no responsibility, please…"

Catherine: "Now, now, there's no need to be so dramatic! It was just a figure of speech, you know, Marie said a lot of things, but it was all just talk, no one got hurt, right, Ryujeen?"

Ryu: "Just stop it..."

Honestly, the exchange between the princess and her maids seemed like an exaggerated "play" to Ryu.

Of course, he understood that the princess was sincere and apologizing earnestly.

Ryu had no intention of making the princess take responsibility, but he wasn't ready to forgive Marie so easily, who was ultimately responsible for her actions.

Ryu spoke to Marie.

— — — — — — — — — —

To be continued

A question of honor

Don't miss the next episode!