### Chapter 103: No One Dares to Treat Me Like This
“… Carlos.”
I stared blankly at him as I spoke.
The red-haired man, whose name started with “Ya” or something, looked like he’d just been hit with a freeze ray.
“Uh… Carlos?” He forced a smile, his lips curling up with all the naturalness of a rusty hinge. “Miss, your name is… haha!”
That laughter was drier than a desert. I figured he probably intended to shower me with compliments the moment I revealed my name—something along the lines of, “Your name is as beautiful as your person,” or “Your lovely name has me utterly enthralled.” But it seemed that today was not his day, and all he could manage was a dry, “It’s… distinctive.”
A fittingly awkward display, I must admit. Poor guy.
“I know that,” I nodded at him. “Can you move aside now?”
Seeing that I was about to walk away, he immediately stretched out his arm to block me again.
“Miss Carlos, I’ve given you my full name, so as per noble etiquette, you owe me yours in return.”
Hahaha, Miss Carlos!
I went from peeved to giggles upon hearing him address me that way.
But no, must keep it together!
He seemed like the type who wouldn’t let up until he got what he wanted, so let’s just wrap this up.
“I am Carlos Gonzalez.”
“Uh, Gonzalez…?” The red-haired man’s confusion only deepened. “That last name is pretty rare in the Western Continent. Aren’t you from the Winter Moon? Where are you actually from?”
“Huaxia.”
“…What country?”
“Carlos Gonzalez… why does that name sound a bit familiar?” A guy behind him frowned, deep in thought.
“I remember! Isn’t that the name of the Pope Knight?” Another guy snapped his fingers as if a lightbulb had gone off. “Oh! The Silver Flash who walks the Abyss—yeah, that’s the one!”
“Alex, this girl’s messing with you.”
With those reminders from his friends, the red-haired guy quickly pieced it together and realized I was pulling his leg. His expression soured in seconds.
“…Impertinent little girl, I’ll give you one last chance. Now, come clean with your name and your elective courses, and I might just overlook this little deception.”
He was already tall and intimidating, and when he pulled a serious face to deliver that threat, he looked downright terrifying. Time to get crafty.
I blinked innocently, clenched my tiny fists to my chest, stepped back, and adopted a timid stance as if he had truly frightened me, whispering my name.
“Vi… Victoria…”
Sweet voice, fragile look—talk about a lethal combo! The red-haired guy froze in place, his eyes darting away awkwardly as his face softened.
“Alex, you scared her!”
“Don’t lose your temper; the little girl was just joking with you… Seriously, have a little patience, will you?”
“Uh, Victoria dear, don’t be afraid.” Someone stepped in, casually draping an arm over the red-haired guy’s shoulder with a smile. “This guy is just a bit too eager; he means well. Don’t take it personally—oh, by the way, I’m Nelly.”
“…You go away!”
The red-haired guy shot him a glare, then turned back to me with a surprisingly gentle smile, looking like a completely different person than just moments ago.
Ha, men.
I had my reservations, but I kept up the façade of innocence: “C-can I leave now?”
“Cough, cough… not yet~ You still haven’t told me your full name.”
The red-haired guy cleared his throat and adopted an exaggerated playful tone, clearly trying to act like the big brother figure. But with that face, it was hard to see him as anything but odd.
Yet I decided to play along.
“Elizabeth Victoria…” I tilted my head slightly. “Or, Victoria Elizabeth?”
He suddenly froze.
The previously cheerful atmosphere turned ice cold the instant I said that name.
“Hey Alex, she said her name is Elizabeth… that’s…”
“I don’t need you to remind me!” Alex growled back, shooting daggers with his eyes. “Little girl, are you messing with me? Goodness, you’ve got guts to even use Her Majesty the Queen’s name!”
I looked at him, wide-eyed and innocent.
“Actually, I’m quite cowardly…”
“Ha!” The red-haired guy let out a scoff. “Aren’t you scared I’ll tell Her Majesty about this?!”
Upon hearing those words, I thoughtfully rested my finger on my chin.
“Hmm… should I be scared or not? Why don’t you tell her and find out?”
Ha! Threatening me with that woman? Not a chance!
“You…”
Seeing my fearless demeanor, the red-haired guy pointed at me, but the insult he’d meant to hurl faltered on his lips.
“Alex, I think this girl might not be as simple as we thought…”
I overheard the guy whispering to him, and the red-haired man nodded, turning back to me with renewed determination. “Tell me your father’s name.”
“Skarlij Cornwall Land Winter Moon.” I answered without hesitation.
“So you really are from Winter Moon…” His expression was instantly smug, but then disbelief flashed across his face. “Wait, did you say your father is Skarlij… the Duke of Shanter Castle?!”
“Yup.”
With my confirmation, the people behind him erupted in chaos.
“No way…”
“This girl… this young lady, is the daughter of the King of Tricksters?”
“Does Duke Skarlij even have a daughter?”
“Beats me!”
“I only knew he had a son named Lafael; I hadn’t heard anything about a daughter.”
“Is she trying to pull one over on us?”
“Clearly trying to fool us.”
“The two princesses of the empire… if I remember correctly, they’re both already married, so there’s no way she could be here.”
“So who is she then?”
“Could she be a branch of the family? What bravery—such character!”
“Poor Alex… totally played.”
“And what are we then…?”
Alex, back to boiling with rage, seemed to have made up his mind about me messing with him. His face was turning beet red.
Seriously, why doesn’t anyone believe me when I tell the truth? Was I that much of a hermit? Or a nobody? I only acted tough at home, but outside, it’s like I’m invisible…
“Little girl. Do you know who I am?”
“Yep.” I nodded. “You’re, ya whatever-ski.”
Who gave him that tongue-twisting name? “Abe” is way easier to say.
“…I’m really angry right now. NO ONE has ever dared to treat me like this. Ever.”
