The price of the gift stunned everyone.
Even ten million gold would have been considered an outrageous dowry in this region.
Twenty-five million?
That was beyond imagination.
For several long seconds no one spoke.
Finally one of Bunny's brothers broke the silence.
"We could sell that… and never work another day in our lives."
His wife immediately nodded in agreement.
Others around them began murmuring the same thought.
"That kind of money changes everything."
"That's more wealth than most families see in generations."
But Bunny's father slowly shook his head.
He closed the ornate box carefully and held it in both hands.
"This is a thoughtful and generous gift," he said calmly.
"We will not be selling it."
His voice carried quiet authority.
The murmuring stopped.
Jax spoke casually.
"If anyone here is looking to make extra money," he said, "I have several businesses in Hairbro that could use reliable workers and managers."
That statement immediately split the crowd.
Some looked intrigued.
Others clearly preferred the idea of instant wealth without effort.
Not everyone had been convinced by the dowry.
Several of Bunny's older brothers were still studying Jax carefully.
Rabbitkin lived very physical lives.
Most were farmers.
Others were adventurers.
Only a small number pursued crafts or business.
Strength and endurance mattered in their culture.
And Rabbitkin had plenty of both.
Their powerful legs made them incredibly fast and capable of working long hours without exhaustion.
It was also one of the reasons the Slave Guild targeted Rabbitkin so often.
Two of Bunny's brothers and one of her brothers-in-law stepped forward toward Jax.
They were roughly his height.
A few inches taller.
A few shorter.
All solidly built from years of farm work.
One of them casually threw an arm around Jax's shoulders in what looked like a friendly embrace—
But the pressure behind it was deliberate.
"We gotta make sure he can pass the test," the brother said with a grin.
"Can't just let anyone marry Aurabelle."
Nyxian's response was immediate.
Her voice cut through the gathering like a blade.
"You want to test the leader of an S-Rank adventuring party to see if he's good enough to marry your sister?"
The bluntness of the statement froze everyone.
The brothers paused.
The entire crowd of nearly thirty Rabbitkin stopped talking.
The brother cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Um…"
"It's tradition," he said with noticeably less confidence.
One of the brothers-in-law nodded quickly.
"Even I had to do the trials."
The tension lingered in the air.
Bunny's father stepped forward again.
Still holding the box with the knives inside.
He shifted the box to one arm and extended his free hand toward Jax.
"We look forward to spending time with you, Jax."
Jax accepted the handshake like a merchant closing a deal.
"Thank you, sir."
"I look forward to getting to know all of you."
The mood softened quickly after that.
Within minutes the entire family was ushering the Vixens and Jax into the farmhouse.
The house itself was enormous.
Nearly twenty rooms, Jax guessed.
Every one of them occupied.
It was one of the wealthier homes in the village, but still humble by city standards.
As introductions continued, something surprising happened.
Jax remembered every name.
Every sibling.
Every cousin.
Even the twins that sometimes confused family members.
He greeted each one correctly.
That alone earned him a few approving nods.
Rabbitkin valued attention like that.
Before long the celebrations began.
Rabbitkin had a well-earned reputation for their work hard, play hard lifestyle.
Wine appeared.
Then stronger drinks.
And it was barely three in the afternoon.
Jax and the Vixens found themselves surrounded by curious family members.
Questions came nonstop.
"What are the dungeons really like?"
"How did you meet Jax?"
"What's the scariest monster you've fought?"
Nyxian answered that last one immediately.
"Oh, the scariest creature we've ever faced?"
She leaned toward Zee.
"That would be Zee if she hasn't had enough sleep and her coffee isn't prepared correctly."
Laughter filled the room.
Zee glared at her.
Nyxian grinned proudly.
The afternoon slowly turned into evening.
Groups mingled around the house.
Stories were traded.
Drinks were shared.
At one point, one of the younger Rabbitkin children approached Llandra.
Her eyes locked onto the large wedding ring on Llandra's finger.
"Is that a wedding ring?" the child asked.
"It's so pretty."
Llandra smiled politely.
"Thank you."
But the questions kept coming.
"Where is your husband?"
"Did he stay in Solmere?"
"Is he an adventurer too?"
Llandra hesitated.
She wasn't sure how to answer.
This wasn't really her place to explain.
"Why thank you," she said instead, hoping to redirect the conversation.
"I'm very proud of it."
But Bunny happened to overhear the comment.
She hadn't heard the earlier questions.
Only Llandra's answer.
The kids kept pressing.
"So where's your husband?"
Bunny answered instantly.
"Oh."
She pointed directly at Jax.
"Jax is her husband."
The children blinked.
"But… I thought you were marrying Jax."
"I am," Bunny said cheerfully.
"And he's going to marry Zee and Nyxian too."
The news spread through the house like wildfire.
Within minutes everyone was whispering.
"Jax is already married."
"He's engaged to the others."
"He's marrying all of them?"
Rabbitkin knew what polygamy was.
It simply wasn't common in their community.
Their tradition was simple.
One man.
One woman.
And usually a very large family afterward.
Among nobles, multiple marriages were more common.
But in a farming village like this—
It was unusual.
Bunny's father eventually spoke.
His voice calm as ever.
"Well."
"That is between them."
"If that is the life Aurabelle wants."
That settled the matter—for now.
By six in the evening, dinner preparations were in full swing.
Jax stood near the kitchen entrance watching in amazement.
Nearly ten people moved through the kitchen like a perfectly choreographed dance.
Eight women.
Two men.
Food appeared everywhere.
Bread.
Vegetables.
Roasted meats.
Huge pots simmering over fire.
Nearly fifty people would be eating tonight.
And somehow the kitchen handled it without chaos.
It felt less like a household—
And more like a small community.
Jax smiled to himself.
Tonight was filled with laughter.
Food.
Stories.
And celebration.
But tomorrow—
Jax would face the Trials.
And those trials would determine whether he truly earned the right to marry Aurabelle.