She surrenders to avoid humiliation.

As John speaks softly into her ear, his voice unearthing deep feelings of uncertainty within her mind, Sasha resists another wave of humiliation as her body betrays her in response to his warm breath caressing her cheek. Realizing that she does indeed value her social standing above all else, Sasha reluctantly relents her weapon and drops the dagger upon hearing his ultimatum. Lowering her arm slowly and shaking with shame, she disobeys her mind’s order to fight back and accepts the outcome with scared resignation. Glaring at his cruel smile outlined by his black hair, she mutters quietly, "I give in," as her wide, tear-filled blue eyes momentarily meet his, now glinting boldly with ultimate triumph.

Keeping his word, he lets her go and waits for her to recover. Shaking her hand as if it was a fair fight, the winner announces for everyone to hear "This was a difficult fight and no one should underestimate Sasha and her skill. I might have won this time but it wasn't easy." Ending his speech, he lets her speak, trusting her to follow him to his room afterwards.

Hearing his praise causes conflicting feelings for Sasha. On one hand, she appreciates the recognition of her talent, but on the other, memories of her defeat still linger vibrantly in her mind, was he even telling the truth with how easily she was defeated? His mention of winning only serves as a reminder that she had failed in her duty, resulting in her reputation taking a significant hit. Tears well up once again in her eyes but pride holds them back. Feeling not only flustered but demoralized as her peers begin to congratulate the winner, Sasha nods along with each compliment, sinking deeper into her loss. When given the chance to reply, she accepts the opportunity resolutely. Forcing a gentle smile to mask her disappointment, she says something she never thought she would utter: "Yes, thank you. He showed exceptional skill today, and I commend his talent." Even though her words may appear genuine, it would take a lot more than genuineness to completely mask her vulnerability. What lies ahead after this is cloudy, but Sasha keeps walking despite her overwhelming anxiety.