This is a side, but I really do have beef with the trope so I'll argue about it here anyway.
The problem is one of the flunkees goes on to become an S-rank adventurer good enough that someone with meta knowledge hired her for her skills as a "the best that money can buy" sort of deal. And...
"Here, use this to make money."
"You've given me the opportunity for great revenge and the ability to obtain power to do it! Thank you, Great Moon!"
I'm sure there's much posturing in nobility, but acting like that towards a count feels...dangerous? They're really confident in this if they're...
Oh yeah. This trial was never gonna get them because Anna is pure and both girls have a vested interest in the other one succeeding. To the point they might choose to be betrayed if given the choice.
Aaah. Okay, so that bit about being able to put them out was just an unnecessary complication.
Still, betraying while the other person knows they've been betrayed and can betray you in turn feels rigged against it. At most, you do it at the last second, which would require a clock or something...
Anna was too pure for a trial like this.
...Okay, so I get that it's a prisoner's dilemma, but I might need some help with understanding the setup.
Person A can use magic to light Lamp 2 while looking at Lamp 1.
Person B can use magic to light Lamp 1 while looking at Lamp 2.
If both use magic...
The text was rather clear about the cause being the schemes of a corrupt noble. So what you should really be keeping an eye on are nobility hostile to the family-or for some reason want you out of the way.
Learn to investigate them and find any hidden connections they have to businesses or...