Unlike the first test, where an hour was needed, this time the magical system displayed the results within a few minutes.
The massive scoreboard once again shimmered with golden light, and only 90 names appeared.
A murmur ran through the hall—
shock, disbelief, and disappointment mixed into the heavy air.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Many of the eliminated examinees had shown excellent administrative skills on paper...
but their decision-making in critical situations revealed something darker.
From his seat, Ben stood up, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Even though many of them could have been good administrators... most made decisions that could have doomed the kingdom without realising it,"
Ben mused internally.
Ben was stunned —
He hadn't expected that many would turn out to be so cold, selfish, or short-sighted under pressure.
Some had chosen to sacrifice thousands for personal convenience, some abandoned the kingdom's future for immediate gains,
while others favoured the elite over the common people without hesitation.
It painted a very grim picture of the mentalities hidden deep within some of the kingdom's magic knights.
Ben exhaled quietly and glanced at Harry, who had a stiff expression.
Even Harry, who had seen many political schemes in the castle, was surprised at the number of hidden potential threats or wrong mentality among the kingdom's people.
"____"
"____"
In the background, captains like Fuegoleon and Charlotte wore serious faces,
while Yami snorted and muttered:
"Tch, bunch of damn snakes in knight uniforms..."
As the results were posted, the atmosphere inside the massive examination hall shifted dramatically.
The 90 successful examinees looked thrilled and relieved —
Some were pumping their fists in silent celebration, others were quietly sighing as the weight lifted off their shoulders.
They were eager and excited, knowing that the final test awaited them tomorrow.
"____"
Meanwhile, the others who had failed stood there for a moment, frozen in disbelief.
Many were confused and frustrated, unable to understand how their seemingly "perfect" answers hadn't been enough.
Some whispered among themselves, questioning the fairness of the exam, while a few simply bowed their heads and silently left the arena, disappointed.
The royal knights and staff moved quickly, politely, but firmly, escorting the eliminated candidates out of the area.
A few captains watched the departing examinees thoughtfully —
pondering how dangerous it would have been if some of those eliminated individuals had ended up in important administrative roles.
As the day ended, the arena gradually emptied, leaving only the captains, royal knights, and officials to discuss the final preparations for tomorrow's grand final phase.
Next Day...
The next morning, the 90 successful examinees stood assembled once again inside the examination hall, tension and excitement crackling in the air.
At the front of the stage,
Ben himself stood tall and imposing, his kingly robes lightly fluttering as a breeze passed through the open grand windows behind him.
Harry stood beside him, holding a scroll.
Ben's voice rang clearly across the hall, full of authority:
"Congratulations to all who have made it this far.
Now, your final test begins —
a true measure of your decision-making, leadership, and administrative skill.
Each of you will be assigned to a different village in the Forsaken Realm —
villages that need development, support, and leadership.
Your task: improve the lives of the citizens there over a period of three months."
The examinees' eyes widened.
Three months was longer than they expected.
Ben continued:
"You will be given limited initial resources. How you manage them, how you prioritise the needs of the villagers, and how you deal with unexpected crises will all be evaluated."
"Your performance will not only determine if you qualify for the Ministry of Home Affairs — but also your ranking and future responsibilities within it."
There was a heavy silence as the magnitude of the task sank in.
Harry then stepped forward and began distributing the assignments —
Each scroll detailed the name of the village, its current condition, and the known issues faced by the residents.
Some examinees were assigned to villages plagued by bandit threats.
Others are going to villages suffering from drought, poverty, or infrastructure collapse.
Every assignment was challenging in its own way.
Ben finished by saying,
"This is not a battle of magic. This is a battle of hearts, minds, and leadership. Clover Kingdom deserves more than just strength — it deserves wisdom. Prove to me that you are worthy."
With that, the final phase officially began.
Royal Knights started escorting the examinees to the carriage, which goes to the respective villages —
The longest and most difficult test in Clover Kingdom's administrative history had started.
After Ben finished explaining the details of the final practical test, there was a moment of intense silence among the 90 examinees.
One by one, each examinee was sent to their assigned village across the vast Forsaken Realm.
Flashes of light filled the arena as groups of examinees left, leaving behind only a few Royal Knights and staff to clean up.
Seeing that all preparations were complete and the examinees had departed,
Ben turned around, his royal cloak sweeping the floor behind him.
Harry followed closely, carrying a few documents and the list of villages where the examinees were sent.
Behind them, the Magic Knight captains who had acted as invigilators also began to leave —
Some chatted lightly among themselves, others lost in thought about the unusual nature of the test.
Ben's calm voice echoed:
"Now, we wait. Three months from now, the true results will reveal themselves."
With that, Ben exited the examination grounds, followed by his royal guards.
The arena —
Once bustling with excitement and nervous energy —
gradually emptied out, falling into a quiet, expectant silence,
awaiting the return of those who would prove themselves worthy of shaping the Clover Kingdom's future.
King's Castle...
The afternoon sun bathed the royal garden in a golden glow.
Ben and Charlotte were sitting on a stone bench, sipping tea and casually chatting —
Something rare considering both of their busy schedules.
Charlotte had decided to visit him since she had finally got some free time from her duties.
Their conversation was light, filled with rare smiles and teasing exchanges.
Just when Ben was about to share a funny story, Harry rushed into the garden, bowing slightly before speaking urgently:
"Your Majesty, I apologise for the interruption,"
"But urgent news has arrived — a new dungeon has been discovered near the border!"
"According to the scouts' preliminary report, it appears to be a large and extremely dangerous dungeon."
"There's a high chance that valuable treasures or ancient artefacts are hidden inside."
Hearing this, Ben's eyes sharpened instantly, the relaxed air around him shifting into seriousness.
Charlotte, equally intrigued, calmly placed her teacup down and stood up, her magic knightly instincts kicking in.
After receiving more detailed reports, the location of the dungeon was confirmed:
It was situated dangerously close to the border shared with the Heart Kingdom.
Sensing the importance —
and possible risks —
The Wizard King immediately issued an official order:
"Three Magic Knight squads will dispatch teams to investigate and secure the dungeon."
"Each squad will send three capable members. Crimson Lion, Golden Dawn, and Blue Rose will take part."
Upon hearing the order, Charlotte quickly made her decision.
Since she couldn't go herself, she chose Sol, her trusted vice-captain, to lead the team.
She also selected Mary and Annie, who had both been working exceptionally hard to grow stronger ever since Ben ascended the throne.
Charlotte sent an order in a scroll to the base, which contains the candidates she has chosen for the dungeon.
The letter content was:
"This mission is of the utmost importance. I am entrusting you with it not just as your captain, but as someone who believes in your growth."
"Stay alert, work together, and bring glory to the Blue Rose."
Blue Rose Magic-Squad Base...
Sol pounded her fist against her chest with her usual fiery spirit after reading the scroll:
"Leave it to me, Sis! I'll protect Mary and Annie — and we'll definitely come back with results!"
Mary and Annie nodded determinedly, their hearts burning with motivation.
After hearing they were chosen to go to the dungeon.
They were fully aware: this was their chance to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Crimson Lion and Golden Dawn were also preparing their selected squads, each picking their finest candidates for the dangerous yet rewarding expedition.
King's Castle...
After sending the mission scroll to the Blue Rose base, Charlotte relaxed slightly, her posture softening.
The tension of duty gave way to something warmer, something more personal.
She glanced at Ben, who was leaning casually against his desk, his usual calm confidence radiating off him.
Their conversation slowly shifted —
from magic and missions to subtle smiles, lingering glances, and unspoken words.
Charlotte, usually so composed and reserved, tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
"____"
Ben caught it immediately. His lips curled into a smirk, a knowing look in his eyes.
Without saying a word, he stepped closer, the air between them thick with tension —
But not of battle.
Of something far sweeter.
Ben gently took her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, before tugging her softly toward the hallway.
Charlotte didn't resist.
She couldn't resist.
He led her into his bedroom —
a large, warm space filled with soft lighting and the faint scent of cedarwood.
Thud~
As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Ben pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest.
Their lips met in a fiery, desperate kiss —
a clash of passion built up over countless days of restraint.
Smooch~
Charlotte wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, surrendering herself completely to the man she trusted more than anyone.
Ben's hands moved with slow, deliberate reverence —
tracing the curves of her body through her uniform before starting to undo the buttons with surprising gentleness.
Charlotte shivered under his touch, her heart pounding against her ribs.
"____"
"____"
They undressed each other with a mix of tenderness and urgency, as if the world outside no longer mattered.
When they finally came together, it was like two halves of the same soul reuniting.
Every kiss, every touch, every whispered name was filled with raw, aching devotion.
Their bodies moved in perfect harmony, the passion between them igniting like a wildfire.
Soft moans and whispered confessions filled the room, drowned only by the sound of their beating hearts.
That night, under the dim glow of the bedside lamps, Ben and Charlotte lost themselves in each other completely —
No titles, no duties, no kingdom to rule.
Just two souls, finally allowing themselves to love without fear of interruption.
And when the first light of dawn crept into the room, they lay tangled together beneath the covers, Charlotte resting her head against Ben's chest, listening to the steady, comforting rhythm of his heartbeat —
Her heart was finally at peace.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): Thanks for reading the chapter!
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