A Cold Man's Virtue

The man watched his opponent tip her own black king piece over, looking ill at ease as she tried to contain her displeasure. There was nothing that she could do about it when she was thoroughly demolished and placed at the very end of the game. It had been almost boring watching the game play out, save for the little reactions that she gave whenever she made a wrong move or when a flare of hope erupted in her chest.

There was some amusement to be obtained from such a person like them.

He offered her a conciliatory smile, "You tried your best—it's a difficult thing to ask you to defeat me. It was a good game."

"T-Thank you, Your Majesty." There was a falter in her words.

It was something that he found distasteful.

He eyed the woman sitting across from him, she had both of her hands resting on her lap. "Is there any problem? Do you wish for a rematch?"