"Forgive his clumsiness. He’s a good apprentice... he just hasn’t quite learned to control his growing limbs. And his instincts are often faster than his mind."

His gaze fell to the books... then to Mirabelle’s ink-stained fingers.

A spark of excitement lit up inside him.

Was the young Lady finally ready to study properly?

"I’ve heard you’re interested in beast abilities. I’d be happy to answer any questions."

That caught Mirabelle off guard. Embarrassed, she searched for an excuse:

"That’s very kind of you. But I don’t want to waste your time. Let me read these first, so I can build a solid foundation.

Then I’ll come to you if I don’t understand something."

She gave him a bright smile — and this time, the old beastman clutched his chest.

Then he bowed.

"Very well. I look forward to your visit."

Once he had left, Mirabelle let out a relieved breath.

The former Mirabelle knew alarmingly little for someone who was supposed to inherit a duchy. And even now, she didn’t fully understand everything in the memories — because the former Mirabelle hadn’t understood them either.

That was why she wanted to read first.

The last thing she needed was to ask something so obvious that it would raise suspicion.

She didn’t even want to imagine what might happen then.

Just as she reached for the first book, there was another knock.

A hawk beast with sharp, intelligent eyes stood in the doorway — the one responsible for the air control.

Now Mirabelle’s eyes lit up.

And she began explaining what she needed him to do.

Dinner took place in the same setting as the day before.

The two beast nobles, who had been noticeably absent for the rest of the day, now sat across from her as if the conversation from that morning had never happened.

Mirabelle, however, remembered it very clearly — and had no idea how to behave.

So she stayed quiet and focused on her food.

She focused so much that she missed her mother’s question. Only when Leontis, seated beside her, nudged her did she realize.

"Sorry, what did you say, Mother?"

"I heard you’re interested in beast abilities. I’m surprised."

What she actually meant was: I’m surprised you’re choosing to learn on your own.

Mirabelle’s ears turned red.

’It wasn’t me who was lazy... it was the previous Mirabelle.’

But of course, she couldn’t say that.

"As the future Duchess, I carry a great responsibility. And since it’s time to start choosing my first husbands, it only makes sense for me to learn more about it."

Internally, she cringed at her own model-student answer.

But her mother seemed pleased. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Then came the jab.

"How about letting our guests assist you? After all, I’ve heard they both possess abilities."

Kaelith immediately jumped in:

"Beastmen from Zasar have a much higher chance of developing abilities than beasts from other kingdoms."

"Then it can’t be that special," Mirabelle shot back without hesitation.

"Besides, all of my fathers are strong ability users. I don’t see why that should impress me."

For a moment, the table fell quiet.

All of the Duchess’s husbands listened with quiet pride.

Beastmen considered all children their own — even if their biological ones held a slightly different importance.

But since Mirabelle had grown up without her father, each of them had taken on that role in some way. And female children, in general, were simply... protected.

Silas gave the hyena a faint, almost amused look — one that didn’t quite match his usual composed demeanor — before joining the conversation.

"A Duchess should only choose beasts with strong abilities."

Mirabelle’s mother said,

"Of course. A Duchess doesn’t choose weak men."

Mirabelle glanced at the hyena and the panther.

"And what if she’s forced to?"

Once again, tension filled the room.

’She just can’t help herself,’ Silas thought. He knew she was only trying to provoke them. He rose above such things.

But Kaelith — who carried a faint sense of inferiority from being the youngest among his siblings, often seen as the "weakest" — felt the remark hit.

Especially when Leontis answered the question seriously:

"If your mate is weak, your authority weakens with him."

Leontis took a sip of his drink, his voice calm and steady.

"A weak mate cannot hold territory. He cannot defend you. And he cannot stand beside you when others challenge your rule."

His gaze rested on Mirabelle.

"And when a Duchess is seen as vulnerable... others will test that."

One of the other husbands, Varim — a boar beast — joined in:

"A weak mate won’t survive at your side.

The moment a stronger contender appears — one who dominates him and refuses to accept him — he won’t survive."

Mirabelle swallowed.

That was something she hadn’t fully processed yet.

In this world, death was a consequence of weakness — something spoken about without emotion, almost casually.

The lynx female’s gaze returned to her suitors.

She was curious how they would react.

Kaelith was visibly shaken.

Silas, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected — as if he stood above it all.

’Of course. He’s royal. And he’s reached the fifth cultivation rank. He’s clearly not weak.’

Then the panther’s melodic voice filled the room.

"If you’re forced to choose..."

A brief pause.

"...Then choose someone no one would dare challenge."

His gaze held hers captive.

"No one will force a female noble."

His eyes darkened.

"Not if she stands with the right man."