Chapter 630: Chapter 630 - Taming the Fifth Year - First Exams - 2

The first battle had been won.

But there were nine more exams to go.

EXAM 2: PRECEDENCE MANAGEMENT AT EVENTS

Luna studied the scene for exactly three seconds. Her eyes moved fast and methodically across each noble’s information thanks to her augmented perception. Then her hand moved with decisive confidence, placing markers in specific positions.

"Correct," the evaluator announced with surprise evident in her voice, eyebrows rising slightly.

EXAM 3: TERRITORIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION

"You are presented with the following scenario," began the third evaluator, a man with sharp eyes. "Two noble families under your jurisdiction dispute the water rights of a river that crosses both properties. Both families have valid historical claims. How do you proceed?"

Lady Morgain smiled internally.

For three months, she’d hammered into Luna a specific philosophy: "Tradition over innovation. Historical claims are sacred." She’d presented case after case where respecting antiquity had been the "correct" answer. Had made Luna repeat the principle until it should have been burned into her brain.

And had presented even a Starweaver territory example.

But that wasn’t the approach the Consortium currently favored. The new doctrine emphasized "pragmatic and equitable solutions" over "rigid adherence to tradition."

Luna didn’t hesitate.

"I would order an independent hydrological analysis to determine the river’s sustainable flow. I would establish a shared rights system based on demonstrated needs of each property, with seasonal adjustments and help from the water elementals when healing isn’t the priority according to availability. I would implement a joint management council with representatives from both families to oversee equitable use."

She paused, her voice taking on added firmness.

"Historical claims would be considered but not as a determining factor. Resource sustainability and the welfare of dependent populations without water elemental tamers would take precedence over antiquity of title."

The evaluator blinked, clearly impressed.

"Exemplary. That’s exactly the kind of progressive thinking we’re looking for."

Lady Morgain felt her jaw tense, muscles jumping beneath her skin.

EXAM 4: OFFICIAL MOURNING PROTOCOL

The evaluator nodded with approval. "Correct in all aspects."

EXAM 5: OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION ETIQUETTE

A scenario was presented: Luna had to draft an official letter responding to a formal complaint from a neighboring Lord about alleged border negligence.

Lady Morgain had spent weeks teaching Luna a florid and elaborate correspondence style. "Elegance of language demonstrates sophistication," she’d insisted, forcing Luna to practice flowery phrases until her hand cramped. Long phrases, complex metaphors, obscure literary references.

But the modern style favored by the Consortium was exactly the opposite: clarity, concision, directness. "Effective communication over linguistic ostentation."

Luna took the pen offered to her. Her hand moved across the parchment with decisive strokes, no hesitation, no second-guessing.

Brief. Clear. Direct. Professional without being cold. Respectful without being servile.

The evaluator read the letter and nodded with evident approval, a small smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. "Excellent official communication."

In her seat, Lady Morgain felt as if something inside her was beginning to crack.

EXAM 6: PUBLIC CRISIS ADMINISTRATION

"An outbreak of illness has affected three zones in your territory," presented the sixth evaluator, a woman with stern features and no-nonsense demeanor. "Medical resources against mana poisoning are limited. How do you prioritize distribution?"

♢♢♢♢

"Perfect."

EXAM 7: INTER-TERRITORIAL NEGOTIATION PROTOCOL

"Two neighboring territories dispute the mining rights of a border zone," explained the seventh evaluator, spreading maps across the evaluation table. "You have been designated mediator. How do you proceed?"

♢♢♢♢

"Excellent..."

EXAM 8: SHARED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

♢♢♢♢

Morgain’s fissure was becoming a chasm.

EXAM 9: PROTOCOL FOR ASSIGNING MINOR TITLES

"A distinguished citizen of your territory has performed exceptional service," explained the ninth evaluator, her expression curious, as if testing something specific. "You wish to grant them a minor title of recognition. What process do you follow?"

This was subtle. Lady Morgain had taught that Lords could grant minor titles by unilateral decree. Technically correct according to ancient law. The kind of thing that would seem right to someone who didn’t know better.

But modern protocols required a more transparent process to prevent nepotism. The kind of corruption that had plagued noble houses for generations until recent reforms.

Luna described the current procedure: formal documentation of services rendered, review by territorial council, period of public comment, granting ceremony with official witnesses, registration in central archives.

"Transparency in title granting maintains the legitimacy of the recognition system," she concluded.

The evaluator smiled, the expression transforming her stern features. "Exceptional understanding of modern governance."

♢♢♢♢

EXAM 10: SEAL ACTIVATION FOR INTEGRATION OF NEW ROYAL POLICIES

The final exam was the most complex. Luna was presented with a scenario where the King had issued a new decree that contradicted local traditions of her territory. She had to explain how she would implement the change.

This was Lady Morgain’s last bastion of hope. Her final trap. She’d taught Luna the procedure of feeding mana to the seal but in "mirrored order" and that "local traditions take precedence in absence of direct danger".

Respect for territorial autonomy.

It sounded reasonable and was used when the king was gone for a while, not long ago. It sounded like respecting the people you governed. But it was exactly the opposite of what the Consortium wanted to hear after the recent crisis.

Now the emphasis was on "kingdom unity" and "coherent implementation of central policies".

The lesson from the invasion was clear: divided responses led to disaster. Unified command saved lives.

Luna took the "official document" with the "new policies". Her movements were firm but careful, showing none of the nervousness that must have been coursing through her. She transcribed them onto parchment that had the "old policies"...

Finally, she stepped forward and touched the minor territorial seal. An artifact of governance that every noble heir had to learn to use. Mana began to flow slowly, carefully controlled, and...

It activated perfectly.

A soft light illuminated the artifact as it erased the previous policies and sealed the changed document.

The technical portion alone was difficult. Many students failed simply because they couldn’t control the mana flow properly. But Luna’s control was flawless.

"Royal authority takes precedence over local traditions," Luna began with firmness that carried through the silent auditorium. "My responsibility as a noble of the kingdom is to implement the royal decree effectively while working to minimize social disruption."

She described a gradual implementation plan. Public education campaigns explaining the benefits of the new policy. Open dialogue with local community leaders about concerns. But always making clear that the decree would be implemented.

"I am an administrator of the territory in the kingdom’s name, not an independent ruler. Loyalty to Yano is primary."

The tenth evaluator, the eldest of them all, stood slowly. He looked at Luna with eyes that had seen decades of noble students, had watched countless young people try and fail to navigate the complexities of governance.

"Ten out of ten," his voice announced, resonating in the silent auditorium. "Perfect score."

The echo of the words lingered for a moment...

Then the auditorium erupted in applause.

Luna descended from the platform with the same serenity with which she’d ascended, but Liora could see the gleam of triumph in her eyes when she passed Lady Morgain. It was subtle, easily missed if you weren’t looking for it, but it was there.

Pure, unadulterated victory.

The tutor was paralyzed in her seat, her face a mask of shock and disbelief that she couldn’t quite hide despite decades of practice at noble neutrality. Three months. Three months deliberately teaching obsolete information. Three months of confidence that Luna seemed lost and would follow her instructions. Even the sealing procedure, the most difficult to memorize, hadn’t gone wrong.

Luna had been pretending the entire time.

Playing the role of confused student while learning the real material elsewhere. Acting uncertain while building genuine competence in secret.

In the royal section, Larissa no longer contained her smile. It was wide, victorious, and directed straight toward Lady Morgain with all the subtlety of a declaration of war.

The tutor’s expression when she met that smile was one of pure horrified comprehension. She knew, in that exact moment, that she’d been completely outmaneuvered.

Not just by Luna.

By Larissa Dravenholm, who had been teaching Luna in secret this entire time. Who had identified every trap Morgain had laid and systematically dismantled them. Who had turned three months of sabotage into three months of wasted effort.

The game had been lost before it even began, and Morgain was only now realizing it.