Time quickly reached 3 PM.
After four matches, it was finally Mia's turn to step onto the stage.
The moment news spread that the Empire's only princess was about to compete, crowds flooded in from all directions, packing the arena to the brim.
As Mia walked onto the platform, her posture was poised and elegant—nothing like an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl.
Arriving at the table, she first bowed politely to her opponent, then turned to the audience with a reserved smile, raising her hand in greeting.
The crowd immediately erupted into cheers and applause.
Her opponent, however, was visibly shaken—stammering through even the simplest greeting.
"So she does take etiquette lessons seriously?" Ron teased. "I thought you just let her do whatever she wanted, Eileen."
"How could that be…" Eileen sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Her Highness is usually very well-behaved. It's only around you that she becomes… lively. And a bit unreasonable."
"Alright, I stand corrected." Ron chuckled. "But with that kind of entrance, she's already crushed her opponent's momentum."
"If he can't recover mentally, he's going to have a hard time."
At this point, the atmosphere had completely shifted into Mia's home ground.
The audience was fully behind her, turning her opponent into the "away side."
As Emperor André III's only daughter, Mia had always been doted on by her father and brothers.
While that made her a bit spoiled at home, her royal upbringing ensured she maintained an excellent public image.
Coupled with her regular appearances leading disaster relief efforts, she enjoyed immense popularity among the people.
If one had to name the most beloved woman in the entire Empire—
It would undoubtedly be Mia.
Amid the roaring crowd, the match began.
Perhaps still affected by the pressure, her opponent made frequent mistakes in the first round.
Mia seized every opportunity and shut him out completely.
When the third fireball above his head exploded—
Thunderous applause filled the arena.
That only worsened his mental state.
He grew tense, nervous—his fingers trembling.
In that condition, there was no way he could play properly.
So in the second round, his performance was even worse.
Another complete shutout.
Cheers erupted once more.
Mia secured her first victory in the main round with a flawless opening.
Watching Mia bow politely to her opponent again, then wave to the audience—triggering an even bigger reaction—
Ron stood up and said to Eileen:
"Let's go wait for her outside. It's too crowded here—she won't be able to get up."
As they walked out, Ron used Battle Aura Vortex to transmit his voice, telling Mia to head straight to the control room after the match.
He and Eileen returned first.
"How's the progress? Any issues?" Ron asked.
"No major problems, but…" Nora hesitated before continuing.
"In Hall 1 on the third floor, a noble lost to a commoner."
"He felt humiliated and tripped the other player, then insulted him loudly…"
Ron frowned immediately.
"That's no problem.' Is the commoner alright?"
Nora quickly added:
"The moment the noble acted, Wardson rushed onto the stage, beat him up, and threw him out."
"After that, the noble requested to withdraw from the tournament, so we're adjusting the schedule."
"As for the commoner, he's fine—just a minor scrape from the fall. We've already apologized and compensated him."
Ron rested a hand on the table, nodding.
"What's the noble's background?"
"A baron's illegitimate son."
"…That's it?" Ron let out a short laugh. "We recorded everything, right?"
"Yes, it's all on Mimic Grass."
Ron tapped his fingers on the table, thinking for a moment.
"Write up the full incident—clear and factual. Pair it with the recording and display it in the corridors."
A baron's illegitimate son—
Still a noble, but at the very bottom.
Perfect for making an example.
By publicizing this as a negative case, and having players like Wardson set the tone—
The idea that 'losing to a commoner and throwing a tantrum is far more disgraceful than the loss itself' would spread.
Over time, this would become the norm among noble players.
Anyone who didn't follow it would be seen as lacking noble dignity—and be ostracized.
It was a subtle way to ease tensions between nobles and commoners in the game.
Nora understood immediately and began issuing instructions.
At that moment, Mia strode in proudly, chest puffed out.
She walked up to Ron with a smug grin.
"Well? Impressive, right? A clean sweep~"
"Mm-hmm." Ron nodded perfunctorily, then ruffled her light golden hair to knock down her arrogance a bit.
"It's just one match. You still have nineteen more."
"According to the rules, you need at least twelve wins out of twenty to have a real shot at the top 128."
"You'll definitely face stronger Gold-ranked players later. Don't get cocky."
Mia tilted her head, grinning.
"But today's opponent was Gold rank~"
"Oh?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't paid much attention earlier.
Clearly, though, that player wasn't among the top-tier Gold players—otherwise Ron would've recognized him.
"Still, don't get careless," Ron said. "Your opponent just couldn't handle pressure."
"He probably didn't even show half his real strength after being overwhelmed."
"You think you can just casually shut out Gold players like that?"
"Alright, alright~ I get it!" Mia pouted, then quickly changed the subject.
"Lyle should've arrived in the Royal Capital by now."
"He's probably at the hotpot restaurant on Central Street."
"Ron, want to go see him?"