She was disqualified after giving up, having been systematically drained by the relentless chain of opponents.
Klaus, from his vantage point in the VIP section, observed the proceedings with a detached gaze.
He saw the subtle flicker of rage in Lord Blackwood's eyes, the patriarch of the Blackwood family, who was seated a few rows away.
Lord Blackwood's face was a mask of strained composure, but Klaus could perceive the barely suppressed fury radiating from him.
An injured Rose, her gown torn and her breathing ragged, was immediately attended to by her family's servants, who rushed onto the arena floor to escort her away.
The public humiliation of the host family's daughter was complete.
As Rose gave in, the fights from then on went normally for a while, at least in their predictable structure.
Challengers came, fought, and won or lost, but there were no more overt, consecutive targeting attempts for a brief period.
