The bonding trials had been organized in a circular rotation system.

Since not every activity could be held at the same time, the participating pairs would move through different stations across the estate throughout the day.

The Duchess once again stepped gracefully beside the fountain while a servant carried forward an elegant wooden box filled with folded parchment slips.

"You will now draw your first partner," she announced calmly.

Immediately, anticipation spread through the courtyard.

Mirabelle looked down at the three slips resting inside her bowl.

Three.

Only three.

Which somehow felt significantly more terrifying than one hundred.

No matter who she picked, two Beast males would inevitably be unhappy about it.

Around her, she could physically feel the attention of all three males fixed entirely on her hands.

Lucien looked relaxed.

Silas looked grim as always — though that didn’t necessarily mean anything. His broad shoulders remained loose and calm.

And Kaelith...

the hyena Beastman looked entertained by the entire situation as usual.

Did he take anything seriously?

Mirabelle hesitated briefly before reaching into the bowl and pulling out one folded slip.

Then she opened it.

"Lucien," she murmured automatically beneath her breath.

Across the courtyard, the fox Beastman visibly lit up.

Actually lit up.

His crimson tail immediately began wagging behind him with absolutely zero dignity while genuine excitement spread openly across his face.

Not his elegant amusement.

Not his charming arrogance.

Just pure, unfiltered happiness.

For one ridiculous moment, he looked like an overexcited puppy.

Several nearby females openly stared.

Mirabelle blinked in shock.

...Was he even aware he was doing that?

Meanwhile, Silas merely crossed his arms.

And surprisingly enough, Kaelith didn’t look disappointed either.

Mirabelle hadn’t expected that.

She didn’t realize the three Beast males had already silently begun accepting one another’s existence around her.

Once every female had drawn her first partner, the Duchess began selecting additional slips from the elegant wooden box to distribute the groups between different stations.

Servants immediately started guiding nobles across the estate in different directions while conversations and movement once again filled the courtyard.

Some pairs were led deeper into the manor toward indoor gardens.

Others headed toward the training grounds.

One group disappeared toward what looked suspiciously like a hunting pavilion.

Mirabelle and Lucien were eventually guided by a servant toward a large shaded area beneath several elegant sun canopies near the eastern side of the estate.

Soft white fabric drifted lazily overhead in the warm breeze while circular carpets and cushioned seating surrounded several enormous round tables carved from polished pale wood.

Despite the luxurious setting, the table itself remained completely empty.

Nearby, servants quietly prepared ink, documents, and strange carved markers made from crystal and stone.

Nessa was already sitting there.

The skunk female looked deeply unimpressed when Mirabelle approached.

Then her gaze shifted toward Lucien.

And suddenly something much uglier flickered across her face.

Jealousy.

Beside Nessa sat a massive buffalo Beastman.

Garruk.

Mirabelle blinked in surprise.

She hadn’t seen the buffalo male anywhere during yesterday’s banquet.

He completely ignored her.

Apparently Nessa didn’t mind him at all considering her hand rested possessively against his thigh. Still, judging by the irritated flicking of her tail, she clearly wasn’t thrilled about Mirabelle arriving together with Lucien.

Mirabelle sat down with Lucien in the last remaining seats beside the skunk female.

Honestly, she was relieved when the fox male automatically positioned himself between the two of them, subtly shielding her from Nessa.

Apparently, he had sensed the tension between the females.

Tension that very clearly wasn’t coming from Mirabelle.

On the opposite side of the table sat a falcon female together with a tiger Beastman whose golden eyes carefully observed everyone present.

A few moments later, another male approached the table.

He was also a fox.

Older than Lucien, though carrying the same elegant sharpness in both posture and gaze. Thin silver strands ran through his copper hair while several rings decorated his fingers.

The moment Lucien saw him, his ears twitched slightly.

"That’s my uncle," he quietly murmured toward Mirabelle while they sat down.

"Advisor Seraphel von Rotwald."

The fox male lowered his voice further.

"He’s terrifyingly intelligent. The Queen recently summoned him to serve as one of her political advisors."

That...

was honestly impressive.

Advisor Seraphel greeted the table politely before unrolling a massive map across the center of the wood.

"This," he announced, "is the territory under your management."

The map depicted a large central grassland surrounded by different resource areas.

North of the plains sat a settlement positioned beside a river that curved westward across the territory.

The western side contained livestock pastures. Several farming sections stretched along the edge.

Meanwhile dense forests occupied most of the east and south.

Mirabelle immediately recognized one important detail through inherited memories:

Agriculture in this world was still extremely underdeveloped.

Most territories relied far more heavily on hunting, gathering, livestock, and trade than on structured crop production.

"The trial will proceed through several rounds," Advisor Seraphel explained while placing carved markers onto the map.

"During each round, you will face various events, crises, negotiations, or opportunities."

His sharp fox eyes swept calmly across the table.

"The females will decide how their territory responds."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"The males may advise them."

Lucien immediately looked unbearably pleased by those rules.

After each decision, the advisor would reveal the consequences alongside the next event affecting the territory.

At the end of the trial...

the female who had governed her territory most successfully would win.

Advisor Seraphel handed each female a parchment scroll alongside an elegantly decorated feather pen and a small ink bottle in different colors.

Mirabelle’s ink was orange.

Nessa’s purple.

And the falcon female — whose name was Freya — received green.

"Please write down your strategy before explaining it aloud."

Something resembling excitement stirred inside Mirabelle.

She had always loved strategy games. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The entire setup vaguely reminded her of D&D.

She had never actually played it herself...

but she had watched an embarrassing number of YouTube campaigns.

’This might actually be fun.’

She shifted slightly in her chair while absently fidgeting with the featherpen between her fingers.

Lucien noticed immediately.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

Her reaction was ridiculously adorable.

"Before the first event begins," Advisor Seraphel continued, "I want each of you to choose a primary developmental direction for your territory. This could include settlement expansion, territorial growth, infrastructure, military development, or something else entirely."

"I’ll focus on agriculture," Freya announced confidently while writing onto her parchment.

"Pff." Nessa snorted dismissively. "Obviously I’ll prioritize military strength."

Mirabelle merely smiled quietly while hiding her thoughts.

"Very good." Advisor Seraphel nodded before turning toward her. His gaze briefly flickered toward Lucien in a strangely analytical way. "And you?"

"Trade."

Nessa immediately rolled her eyes arrogantly.

But beside Mirabelle, Lucien leaned slightly closer and murmured:

"Good choice."

Advisor Seraphel smiled faintly.

"Excellent."

Then he folded his hands behind his back.

"Let us begin."