Defeated In One Move

Esdeath's jaw tightened as she muttered under her breath, "M-milk… I'm not a cow, you little gremlin!"

Deciding she couldn't risk another "incident," Esdeath grabbed a spare bedsheet and threw it onto the floor. "That's it. You get the bed, and I'll take the floor. No arguments!" she said firmly, glaring at Selene, who blinked innocently.

Selene, still hugging the blanket, yawned and smiled sweetly. "Goodnight, mother."

Esdeath huffed, rolling herself in the bedsheet like a cocoon and lying down on the cold, hard floor. "Finally, peace and quiet," she muttered.

And for the rest of the night, she did get her peace, though every so often, she'd glance over at Selene's sleeping form just to make sure there wasn't another surprise attack.

---

Morning arrived, and the first rays of golden sunlight poured through the dorm room window, illuminating the room in a warm glow. Despite the bright light, Esdeath remained sound asleep.

Why?

Because she no longer needed to follow her grueling physical training routine. Her strength had already reached a level where further improvement was only possible with the use of essence stones.

Moreover, there were no classes scheduled for students selected for the one-on-one duels. So, Esdeath had every excuse to enjoy sleeping in for once, allowing her body to rest until around 10 AM.

When she finally stirred, her eyelids fluttered open, and she let out a loud yawn, stretching her arms lazily. "Ah, this feels nice," she murmured groggily.

As her gaze shifted to her side, her expression froze.

Selene was lying on the floor right next to her, hugging her tightly like a stuffed toy.

Esdeath blinked in disbelief, her face heating up as a wild thought popped into her head. "I hope she didn't try sucking my breast again while I was asleep!" she thought, her fingers instinctively covering her chest.

After a few moments, Esdeath sighed in resignation. "Whatever…" she muttered, carefully untangling herself from Selene's tiny arms without waking her.

Deciding she needed to freshen up, Esdeath grabbed her toiletries and headed toward the academy's public bath.

---

As she arrived at the bathhouse, the cool morning air was replaced by the warmth of the steaming water. The faint smell of herbs wafted through the air, creating a calming atmosphere.

To her surprise, she spotted Maruti near the entrance. The girl gave her a nod and gestured for her to follow. "You're up late today," Maruti said casually.

"Had a rough night," Esdeath replied with a shrug, not bothering to explain further.

The two of them entered the bathhouse together, their footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. But as they stepped into the main bathing area, they were greeted by an unusual sight.

A large crowd of students had gathered near one side of the bath, their whispers and excited chatter filling the air.

"What's going on?" Maruti asked, frowning as she tried to peer over the heads of the crowd.

Esdeath didn't respond but tilted her head, curious. It didn't take long for them to figure it out, as the center of attention revealed herself: Princess Ravenna.

Standing amidst the crowd, Ravenna looked both graceful and slightly uncomfortable. Her long pink hair cascaded down her back, and her glowing presence made it impossible for anyone to ignore her.

It seemed the academy's recent dormitory rules, which required all students to live on campus, had finally caught up with the princess. Even royalty wasn't exempt from the academy's expectations, and Ravenna now had to use the public bath like everyone else.

The princess's pink eyes darted around nervously, clearly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people watching her every move. But then, her gaze locked onto Esdeath and Maruti.

Esdeath raised an eyebrow. "What's her deal?" she whispered to Maruti, who remained silent.

Ravenna's expression quickly shifted. Her initial discomfort melted away and was replaced with a sharp, determined look as she continued to stare.

But it wasn't Esdeath she was focused on—it was Maruti.

Maruti noticed Ravenna's intense gaze and crossed her arms with a smirk. "Looks like someone's not over what happened last time," she muttered.

Esdeath glanced between the two of them, putting the pieces together. The last time Maruti had faced Ravenna, she had defeated her entire team with ease. And from the way Ravenna's eyes burned with determination, it was clear she hadn't forgotten—or forgiven—that humiliation.

Not like esdeath and maruti care.

Esdeath and Maruti barely paid any attention to the crowd or the tension radiating from Princess Ravenna. To them, it was just another day in the academy.

Esdeath's focus wasn't on petty grudges or curious stares—it was on the upcoming competition. There were two reasons she had decided to participate, and both were too tempting to ignore.

The first reason was the rewards.

The first-place prize was a Warrior Spirit Essence Stone, a soul-path essence stone that could greatly enhance the strength of one's soul and fortify the mind. It was something both Esdeath and Maruti desperately needed, as they were lacking in soul-related abilities.

Their deal was simple: whoever won first place would keep the stone.

But the rewards didn't end there.

The second-place prize was a Six-Horned Horse Strength Essence Stone, a powerful stamina-enhancing stone. And third place offered materials and a recipe for refining a soul-enhancing essence stone. However, refining it would depend entirely on the skill of the person attempting it—success wasn't guaranteed.

Both Esdeath and Maruti were determined to come out on top. For them, this wasn't just a competition; it was an opportunity to fill the gaps in their abilities.

The second reason Esdeath decided to join was equally compelling but far more personal: SP points.

Ever since people had spotted her walking around the academy with Lortell Mariette, the infamous arch-duke's daughter, rumors had spread like wildfire. The entire academy was buzzing with gossip about their supposed "relationship."

Esdeath could almost feel the gazes of her classmates and hear their whispered speculations wherever she went.

But the most amusing part? Every time someone gossiped about her or mentioned her name in connection with Lortell, she could feel the steady stream of SP points popping up in her status window.

As Esdeath and Maruti walked past the gathered crowd, whispers grew louder. People pointed discreetly at Esdeath, their voices filled with curiosity and excitement.

"She's the one who was with Lady Mariette, isn't she?" one girl murmured.

"I heard they're really close! There must be some dirty secret between them," another girl whispered, leaning toward Ravenna to share her suspicions.

Ravenna didn't react much. Her expression remained calm, but her sharp pink eyes flickered with thought. She had already suspected something was going on between Esdeath and Lortell, though she wasn't entirely sure what.

With a slight nod, she acknowledged the girl's comment but didn't say anything.

----------

After her bath, Esdeath returned to her dorm and changed into her academy uniform. However, unlike her usual gyaru style, where she exposed a good portion of her skin, this time she dressed as neatly as possible. Her shirt was properly tucked in, her skirt wasn't scandalously short, and her overall appearance was polished and elegant.

There was only one reason for this sudden change: Lortell Mariette.

Esdeath knew Lortell preferred neatness and proper attire, so she took extra care to make herself presentable. She didn't care about what others thought—it was all about leaving a good impression on Lortell. After all, the arch-duke's daughter was also going to be at the competition, and Esdeath wanted to good impression.

By the time the competition was about to start, the arena was packed once again. Almost every seat was occupied, and the air buzzed with excitement.

Up in the royal section, a new chair had been added, clearly reserved for Lortell. However, she hadn't arrived yet, leaving an air of anticipation hanging over the crowd.

Meanwhile, in the middle section, which was designated for academy students, Ethan sat with his three girlfriends: Emma, Violet, and Sylvania.

Ethan's situation, however, was far from comfortable. He fidgeted in his seat, feeling incredibly awkward as all three of his girlfriends seemed unusually quiet, their gazes locked on something—or rather, someone.

Esdeath Crimson.

She was sitting directly beside Ethan, completely unbothered by the glaring stares coming her way. Her presence seemed to dominate the space, even as she casually nibbled on a carrot.

Emma, clearly irritated, crossed her arms and broke the silence with an annoyed tone. "Today was my turn to sit beside Ethan! What the hell are you doing here, human vampire?"

The nickname "human vampire" was one of the many that students had come up with for Esdeath. Others included "ghost girl," "whitest doll," and the ever-popular "strongest pudding." These nicknames mocked her delicate and fragile appearance, which starkly contrasted with her immense strength.

But Esdeath didn't flinch at Emma's words. Without sparing her a glance, she took another bite of her carrot and replied in her usual deadpan tone, "Shut your mouth, big tits."

Her delivery was so calm and casual that it caught everyone off guard. A wave of laughter rippled through the surrounding students, making Emma's face flush bright red.

Emma instinctively looked down at her chest, then huffed in embarrassment. "Hmph… It's not my fault my breasts are big!"

Despite her flustered state, Emma didn't press the argument any further. Instead, she reluctantly moved to sit behind Ethan with Sylvania, still grumbling under her breath.

Meanwhile, Violet quietly took the seat on Ethan's other side, her expression calm but her hands slightly fidgeting in her lap.

Esdeath remained unbothered by the commotion. Her attention was focused on the arena below, her expression blank as she continued munching on her carrot. Her relaxed demeanor only seemed to irritate Emma more.

The referee raised her voice, commanding the attention of the crowd. "So now, whoever wins the matches will proceed to the semi-finals," she announced, her words sending waves of anticipation through the audience.

After a brief pause, she continued, "The first match is between Princess Ravenna versus Maruti from Class B, uhh… Class A."

The correction wasn't unnoticed. Esdeath and Maruti had recently been officially promoted to Class A after their previous performances. Yet, the matchup itself sparked curiosity and whispers among the spectators.

Maruti versus Ravenna? It couldn't possibly be a coincidence. Not when Maruti had defeated Ravenna and her entire team before. Now, fate seemed to have brought them face to face once again, offering Ravenna a chance to reclaim her lost pride.

But this wasn't fate—far from it. The truth was clear to those who understood the politics at play. This duel was carefully orchestrated, scripted by the royals who had gathered to watch. They wanted to restore Ravenna's glory, to erase the humiliation of her previous defeat by ensuring she triumphed over Maruti in this public setting.

"Hehehe…" The royal guests exchanged smug smiles and quiet laughter, their confidence in the outcome as unshakable as the crowns on their heads. Seated high above the arena, they looked down with satisfaction, fully expecting Ravenna's victory to be a foregone conclusion.

Both combatants entered the arena from opposite sides. The contrast between them was stark.

Ravenna's eyes burned with determination, her expression fierce and unyielding. She held her whip tightly, her weapon of choice exuding elegance and precision. Every movement she made radiated confidence, as though she were already envisioning her victory.

Maruti, on the other hand, seemed completely indifferent to the atmosphere. She strolled casually into the arena, her steps unhurried, her posture relaxed. A yawn escaped her lips as she lazily rested her Bec de Corbin—a long polearm with a sharp spike—on her shoulder. Her demeanor made it seem like the match was more of a chore than a challenge.

The referee stepped into the center, raising her hand high. The crowd fell silent, their anticipation palpable.

"Start!"

Her voice echoed through the arena, signaling the beginning of the match.

Yet, nothing happened.

Ravenna stood still and pinche with her fingers.

And then on the other side.

Maruti didn't even lift her weapon. She simply stood there, staring at Ravenna with half-lidded eyes, as though she had better things to do.

The audience shifted uncomfortably, their excitement giving way to confusion. What was happening? Why weren't they moving?

Then, without warning, Maruti staggered. Her weapon slipped from her grip, clattering to the ground. Her legs wobbled, and before anyone could react, she collapsed, unconscious.

The arena was silent.

Ravenna hadn't moved a single step, hadn't raised her weapon. Yet Maruti lay defeated on the ground, she lost in just one move.

The referee blinked, clearly as shocked as the rest of the audience. Slowly, she raised her hand toward Ravenna. "Winner: Princess Raven–