Suddenly, Mandipha regains consciousness, as if waking from a dream.

"Good morning," Algipha greets her, stroking Mandipha’s hair with a complicated smile.

Mandipha quickly sat up, realizing she was still in the gym, and immediately looked around for Kemiro.

"Are you feeling any discomfort?" With his enigmatic smile, Kemiro asks calmly.

Seeing Kemiro’s expression, Mandipha struggles to keep her own expression from distorting as she reflects, “I understand he is more competent than he shows, but for him to knock me out like that. I have no idea how he did it. As if a perfectly refined body wasn’t absurd enough, he also has some Art capable of attacking the Intention? What other secrets is he hiding?”

"No. It feels like I just woke up from a deep sleep. How long was I out?" Mandipha asked as she stood up.

"That’s good. For about ten minutes. Your Ma'Jia’s flow still seems a bit disturbed; it wasn’t my intention, but I had to reverse your transformation because your Ma'Jia went out of control when you passed out."

"Eh?"

Shocked, Mandipha finally checked her body, realizing she was in her human form. She glanced at her sister, who only smiled nervously, her eyes conveying just as much confusion.

“How was he able to do that? Our transformation doesn’t reverse without explicit intent. He managed to analyze the flow of my Ma'Jia in both forms and controlled it without me exploding.” Mandipha reflects shuddering.

For the first time in nearly a year since she proposed her engagement to Kemiro, Mandipha felt fear, beginning to understand why her goddess was interested in him.

"Hehe! What’s with those drooping ears? Are you regretting proposing to someone you didn’t know? There’s still time to call it off if you want. I’d even let you blame me. My reputation is already tarnished; one more stain won’t make a difference."

Hearing Kemiro, Mandipha realized her apprehension had manifested physically. Sighing to calm her mind, she smiled and responded, "Not at all. I won’t deny I’m shocked by your qualities as a Ma'Ji being superior to my expectations, but please don’t say something so sad. The more I learn about you, the more certain I am of our engagement."

Kemiro simply observes her. Mandipha continued smiling, gazing back at him. Everyone around them stays in silence, intrigued by their interaction.

"If you’re so determined to say that, then it’s only fair I respond in kind. Would you join me for a private conversation in my office? Just the two of us."

Hearing Kemiro’s suggestion, the members of the Hauveron House suddenly changed their expressions. They all saw Kemiro not only subdue Mandipha, but the most frightening part was him controlling her beast transformation. Even so, Alber remained silent, understanding Kemiro’s intent. However, Algipha, out of deep affection, protested, "Kemiro, even as fiancés, I don’t believe it’s prudent or necessary for such privacy for such a young couple."

Mandipha opened her mouth to speak, but Kemiro was quicker. Turning his attention to Algipha, he says, "Whether it’s prudent or not doesn’t concern me. Whether it’s necessary is up to me to decide."

"You…" The Hauveron members were taken aback by Kemiro’s sharp remarke. But he wasn’t done. Raising his left hand to stop her, he continued, "This is the perfect time to clarify some things in this whole situation."

Kemiro turned his attention back to Mandipha. "I sincerely hope the Hauveron House doesn’t believe that by choosing me as a fiancé to fulfill the Royal family’s decree, they have any right to dictate how our relationship should progress. But don’t misunderstand, I know and respect your customs. However, if they are used as a ‘justification,’" — Pausing, Kemiro glanced at Alber and Algipha, adding, — "I’ll go over anyone who dares to stand in my way! If you marry me, Mandipha, you’ll be my wife."

Alber flashed a fierce smile, clenching his fists to stay calm. Almer, standing behind his master, thought Kemiro was being impulsive, but recalled how Kemiro had helped him the night before with a problem that neither he nor his family could solve. He couldn’t help but look at Kemiro with respect for his courage in challenging the Hauveron House in front of its descendants, and especially his master.

"You’ve got a lot of nerve saying such words in front of us. You should be more careful with your words." Algipha couldn’t contain herself at Kemiro’s provocative intent, yet she admires him, thinking, “Such audacity is rare, even within our house. So soon after the truce between our Houses, many already have their fangs ‘dulled.’ For the first time, I’m envious of Mandipha.”

Sighing internally, Algipha watches Mandipha take a few steps toward Kemiro. Mandipha says, "I understand your concern, and you’re not wrong to think that way."

"Mandipha?" Algipha interjects, surprised by her sister’s unexpected sincerity, but Mandipha only raised her hand to stop her and continued, "However, I need to correct, or rather establish, a few facts. I was the one who devised and pushed for this engagement."

Kemiro couldn’t hide his expression of surprise, but Mandipha went on, "Indeed, there are still voices of resistance to the idea of our engagement, but that’s not unexpected. Now, you say you know and respect our customs. Do you happen to know about the custom: Right to Conquest?"

"Unfortunately, I am not familiar with that." Kemiro was once again surprised at not having obtained this information, even after his investigations.

"You don’t need to be so surprised. Even within our House, it’s a custom rarely used. In fact, it’s usually invoked when a suitor wishes to court the daughter of one of the leading families of Hauveron House."

Noticing Kemiro’s interest, Mandipha smiles and continues, "The Right to Conquest states that if a man desires to court a woman, where the families of both do not have a prior union agreement, the candidate may demand his Right to Conquest, which the woman’s family cannot refuse." Her smile broadened, and even her tail began to move erratically. "Starting from her brothers up to the grandfather, the candidate must defeat all men in the woman's family. However, before facing the family members, any other man who wishes to court the same woman or believes the candidate to be unworthy may come forward, demanding the Right to Challenge, which the candidate cannot refuse."

Mandipha paused briefly to observe Kemiro’s reaction. She was surprised when he commented, "The candidate must prove that he is capable of protecting his woman better than her family and can shield her from other adversities. A compelling custom." Still looking at Mandipha, he smiles and asks, "And what of the candidate who succeeds?"

"Naturally, he silences all voices of protest and can rule his family as he sees fit. Do you believe you have what it takes to win my hand against my family? Just so you know," Mandipha stepped closer to Kemiro, whispering in his ear, pressing her body against his saying, "For a Maran woman, there is no more honorable courtship than the Right to Conquest. If you are able to pass such a test," Pausing briefly, Mandipha adopted a sultry tone that sent chills down Kemiro’s spine; she continued whispering, "I will be completely yours."

Stepping away as if nothing had happened, leaving those present confused and curious about what she had said, Mandipha taunted, "What do you say? This is the only way for you to achieve your goal. By the way," Mandipha walks over to Alber, spinning around and leaning on his shoulder. She says, "In case you didn’t know, Alber is my uncle on my mother’s side and one of the challengers you’ll have to face."

Smiling at Mandipha’s little performance, Kemiro looked at Alber with a sympathetic smile and said, "I’ll apologize now, Uncle Alber, but I’m going to have to use you as a stepping stone!"

"GAHAHAHA!" Alber laughs heartily, barely able to contain himself from jumping at Kemiro out of sheer excitement. He says, "Excellent! A man without that level of audacity wouldn’t be worthy of joining my family." Maintaining his fierce smile, Alber spoke seriously, "After your greeting last night, I couldn’t have hoped for a better development. Now that we’ve been properly introduced, I can’t wait to see your true potential."

Waiting for the right moment, Safix intervened in the conversation, "Lord Kemiro, I’ve been informed that breakfast is ready. Lady Aine is already waiting. Would you all please follow me?"

The group, now a little closer, followed Safix’s call.