Chapter 1: Back to the Residence in the Capital

“Your Grace, my lady, welcome back.”

Our summer vacation was coming to an end, and Alexei and I had just returned to our residence in the capital after we’d spent the summer in the duchy. Between the purge of the nobles hostile to Alexei, the pilgrimage to the Mountain Sanctuary, my meeting with Dragon King Vladforen (plus his subsequent proposal), and the crown prince’s visit, the summer had been especially packed.

The servants of our capital residence had lined up behind our butler, Graham, to welcome us. Graham hadn’t changed one bit in the time we’d been away. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he bowed at the perfect angle when we approached. He was exactly what the butler of a powerful house with a long history of over four hundred years ought to have been.

However, I got the feeling that his smile was just a bit wider than the polite one a butler was required to wear.

“Thank you,” Alexei said with his usual briskness.

“I’m happy to be back! Have you and the others been well, Graham?” I asked.

“Yes, my lady. We’re all in good health.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” I said. I smiled at the servants in the room, and everyone returned the expression.

“And I’m glad to find you well, my lady.”

I turned around to look at the person who’d just spoken, and my face lit up. “Mr. Halil!”

“Welcome back, my lady, Your Grace.” The duchy’s trade advisor, Halil, appeared from behind Graham. His beautiful foreign features were as striking as ever. He grinned before bowing to us.

“It’s good to see you. There’s so much I hope to discuss with you!” I exclaimed.

Halil chuckled. “I had a feeling there might be.”

Graham insisted we rest and relax first, so we entered the residence.

“You seem to be in high spirits,” Alexei said, taking my hand to escort me. “Do you prefer the capital?”

“I enjoyed our time in the duchy too, but it’s in this residence that—”

I stopped myself mid-sentence. It was in this residence that my memories had fully returned. This was the place where my old self and my current self had merged to become a new me—the place where I’d been reborn.

But I couldn’t let my brother hear about any of that!

I looked up at Alexei with a warm expression. “This is where we first started spending time together. Do you remember how I collapsed right after I entered the capital? When I came to my senses, you were by my side, holding my hand, and I felt as though my entire world had shifted. It’s a very precious memory to me.”

Alexei paused, then said softly, “It’s just as precious to me.” He squeezed my hand. “I don’t care whether we are in the duchy or in the capital. Ekaterina, my dearest sister, wherever you are is my paradise.”

After the two of us had tea and relaxed for a while, Alexei went to his office. Novak and Aaron—who’d returned from the duchy alongside us—and Halil were to join him. I expected they’d be exchanging information for a while.

I stayed in the lounge where we’d had tea and asked Graham to fill me in on what had happened in the residence while we were away. This was the role of the lady of the house. I didn’t need to do much, though. Graham was one of Alexei’s most trusted servants, and he was a walking encyclopedia on the residence. Instead of giving me a report and leaving me to figure things out for myself, he more or less told me exactly what I needed to do to keep the staff of the residence unified. I was thankful for his advice, and after listening to everything he had to say, I shared the latest news about the duchy with him.

“So Raisa has become the new butler of the fortress...” Graham whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“I heard you and Raisa know one another.”

“Indeed. Duke Sergei introduced us. He thought of her as his adorable, clever ‘sister’ and joked that she’d truly grown into that role. She left the capital to marry soon after I entered Duke Sergei’s service, but the two of us had similar circumstances. I imagine that is why His Grace introduced us to one another—so we could bond over our similarities.”

Graham had once been a traveling actor. After Sergei had hired him as his attendant, he’d concealed his true background and often told those who asked that he was the guardian spirit of the House of Yulnova. Sergei had done the same for Raisa, a lowly servant from a poor village, by letting everyone believe she shared the blood of the Yulnova. Graham’s and Raisa’s statuses should have prevented them from climbing the ladder, but Sergei had made sure that wouldn’t stop them, even if he’d had to lie for them.

“Now, our residence in the capital and the main house are both in the capable hands of people our grandfather handpicked and loved,” I said. “My brother can rest easy knowing you and Raisa will protect them, and that pleases me greatly.”

“Thank you, my lady. Although I believe Raisa wouldn’t have been chosen to become the butler of the fortress if it weren’t for you.” Alexei was a competent leader, but he wasn’t the type to come up with unconventional ideas; Graham seemed to know that very well. “Still, if he hadn’t secured firm control over the duchy despite his young age, Raisa’s appointment would never have been possible. Duke Sergei could get away with unprecedented choices because he was feared as much as loved. He had a stern face that terrified many.”

I see. Alexei only ever talked about our grandfather’s kindness, but it was only natural Sergei had sides he’d never shown his young grandson. Sergei had been a sharp politician and had ruled a vast territory.

This thought brought a famous book from my past world to mind: Machiavelli’s The Prince. In this book, Machiavelli theorized that it was ideal for a ruler to be loved and feared. Perhaps our grandfather embodied Machiavelli’s ideals.

“You and His Grace both resemble Duke Sergei very much,” Graham continued. “You each inherited unique facets of his personality. It’s a true blessing to serve you.”

“Please say that to my brother, Graham. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear it.”

“As you command, my lady,” Graham replied with a smile. “It is my understanding that the biggest difference between this residence and the fortress is the presence or absence of other houses. The capital is where all the influential houses are gathered.”

“That’s true.” In the duchy, the House of Yulnova was the sole ruler. In the capital, however, we were subjects of the imperial household like many others.

“Several houses with which the Yulnovas have relationships contacted me throughout the summer. They seem to have a favor to ask. Those with sharp ears have heard about the servants His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and His Grace the Duke of Yulsein sent to visit Mr. Halil, after all.”

“My...”

During our time away, Halil had been acting as an intermediary between the emperor and Lev, my glass artisan, to discuss the glass pens the emperor intended to give his wife. The same went for the Duke of Yulsein, who’d ordered some as well. If word of these exchanges had already spread, and important families with ties to our house had started getting in touch, I imagined it could only mean one thing: They wanted preferential access to glass pens! In other words, the imperial household and the Duke of Yulsein had been the perfect advertisements I’d hoped they’d be.

When I speak with Halil later, I’ll get back my job as the boss of the glass workshop and do my best to make it grow! It’s time for another round of Project Something!

“I’ve been getting more and more questions about the glass pens. Not only from important nobles but also from very wealthy people in general. They’ll do anything to get their hands on these writing utensils that are rarer and more beautiful than gems,” Halil said, sounding pleased.

In my heart, I struck a triumphant pose.

After my conversation with Graham, I’d gone to my room to change out of my traveling clothes and into something comfortable—but still classy enough to befit the lady of a ducal house. Then, I’d taken some time to rest before I walked to Alexei’s office.

“Please leave the rest of your work for later and take some time to alleviate the fatigue of our long journey,” I’d declared once I was there. “I’d like to get Mr. Halil’s opinion on some things, and I insist you rest at least until our conversation is over. Overwork is poisonous to the body.”

My worries about Alexei and the others overworking themselves wasn’t anything new, so they’d looked at me with awkward smiles. Eventually, Alexei had agreed. He’d said that, since they’d already exchanged the most urgent pieces of information, the rest could wait, and he’d do as I said.

Truth be told, I’d been pleased with myself for interrupting at the perfect time. That was how I’d found myself discussing the glass pens with Halil.

“Who are these wealthy individuals who aren’t nobles?” I asked.

“Well, the head priests of important sanctuaries, for instance. The first to get in touch with me was the high priest of the Sun Sanctuary.”

I remembered thinking that the Sun Sanctuary seemed loaded when Alexei and I visited it. Unlike the gods at the Mountain Sanctuary, the God of the Sun seldom descended upon the Sun Sanctuary. That meant the priests were free to do whatever they wanted, and they’d pretty much transformed the sanctuary into a museum—or perhaps a theme park would be more accurate.

“The high priest has a weakness for beautiful things,” Halil continued. “He’s the patron of so many artists that the Sun Sanctuary has come to be known as a haven for painters and sculptors, in the same way the Music Sanctuary acts as a haven for musicians.”

“Come to think of it, I heard the Sun Sanctuary planned to commission a large artwork that’ll use our Celestial Blue dye,” I said. I’d met the high priest. He had white hair and a long white beard and looked every bit like a priest from a fantasy story. I didn’t know he was that sort of art appreciator.

When Alexei and I had visited the sanctuary, he’d shown us tons of millennia-old artworks from the days of the Astra Empire that would have been classified as cultural heritage in my previous world, and yet, here he was, having new stuff made! He was like the pope who’d gotten Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

While you could see the high priest’s choices as wasteful spending, if it resulted in masterpieces like Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, tourists would flock to admire them for hundreds of years to come. Even if you ignored the future economic boons, he was still lifting the artistic level of the empire, so it couldn’t exactly be called wasteful. Renewing your attractions was vital for a theme park to stay popular.

I wonder if he’d become one of Lev’s patrons after seeing his work...

“It seems the high priest would love to see you and His Grace again, by the way. He praised your beauty.”

Huh?

I almost blurted out “No way!” but the corporate drone in me booted up. I gazed at Halil with a very serious expression on my face. “Mr. Halil, I’m sure you’re well aware my brother should never be bothered with such things. He’s far too busy. I, on the other hand...wouldn’t be opposed to negotiating large transactions. If my presence can be useful, that is.”

I’d never been in sales, even in my past life, but as a working adult, I knew a thing or two about dealing with clients. I could entertain a prospective buyer for a while.

My suggestion seemed to take Halil off guard, and he shook his head frantically. I’d never seen him quite so flustered.

“I would never ask such a thing of you, my lady. In fact, the high priest was simply saying he’d love to show the two of you his art collection, and...” Halil paused, and his face became solemn again. “In fact, if his collection interests you, I could set up a meeting for you to see it. I’d accompany you, of course.”

“That sounds nice,” I said. You can’t fight your merchant instincts, Halil, can you?

With Halil by my side, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. If it would secure us a big contract with the Sun Sanctuary, I could totally praise some old man’s art collection with a smile on my face.

Halil cleared his throat. “Anyway, let us get back on topic. The wealthy people I mentioned also include important merchants. Now, the tricky part is, while they want to purchase glass pens for their personal use, most also hope to get the right to sell the glass pens for you. I suppose they’re thinking of assessing the product first.”

“That’s...”

My eyes widened in surprise. I hadn’t expected that. We could only produce a small number of pens, so I didn’t see what good these merchants could bring us. We’d just lose their margin. At the moment, the support of the duchy’s trade division was more than enough.

“There is no need to entrust glass pens to merchants just yet,” Halil said easily. “However, once others besides Lev master the technique and production is in order, it may be good to think about selling to foreign royalty and nobility. Different firms have connections to different countries. If they have access to foreign palaces, it could be worth it.”

“Oh, I understand!” That made sense! At the moment, the glass pens were superexpensive luxury items aimed at rich clients. That meant our potential client base was limited. Exporting to other countries so we could reach more wealthy clients was a great idea. Unfortunately, some royal palaces didn’t do business with just anyone. They usually only relied on their official purveyors. In comparison to the costs and efforts needed to get access to royal palaces, sacrificing a margin to an already established firm would be far less expensive.

“You’re amazing, Mr. Halil!” I exclaimed, my eyes sparkling with admiration. “I would never have thought of the fact that every firm has its own sales routes. I was so focused on the fact that we’d eventually need to create a low-priced edition of the glass pens that I didn’t even consider other options. We shall let these merchants assess our product so we can be prepared for the future. I’ve learned so much thanks to you.”

“It’s an honor, my lady... Although I once again have to admit I’m impressed with your perspicacity myself. You understood the implications so quickly.”

Halil smiled despite himself before changing the topic. “Lev is a wonderful talent. He listened to His Imperial Majesty’s messenger’s requirements and immediately found inspiration. He’s also swift and efficient. He told me he was eager to show you the glass pens he made for Her Imperial Majesty as soon as you returned.”

“Goodness, I completely agree. Lev is outstanding. I’m sure he’s made the most beautiful pens for Her Imperial Majesty.”

I knew I could count on you, Lev. I’m looking forward to seeing your latest work.

On the following day, Lev came to our residence with Toma, the lens expert in charge of the development of our microscope. Despite their very different personalities, the two seemed to have become fast friends.

“It’s been a while, my lady.”

“Welcome! I was awaiting your arrival,” I said. I beamed at them.

Lev faltered for a moment, as though he were squinting at the sun. The three of us sat down in the lounge and, after Mina served us some tea, I started with an apology.

“Lev, first of all, there is something I must apologize to you for... I ended up offering the rose hair ornament you gave me to a god.”

Lev blinked in astonishment. “Huh?”

I summed up my encounter with Selene for him.

“It greatly pleased her,” I said. “She told me how glad she was to touch a flower for the first time in two thousand years and praised the rose’s great beauty. Still, you were kind enough to give it to me, and I ended up regifting it of my own accord. I’m sorry for that.”

“Don’t apologize, my lady. It’s an honor. I’m glad to hear my rose brought solace to such an incredible being.” Lev’s smile seemed genuine. “I shall make you another one, my lady. Would you be so kind as to accept it?”

“You’re too nice, Lev. But you’ll only get busier from now on, so I’d rather you took time to rest outside of work.”

“It’ll help me brainstorm design ideas for glass pens, so please, allow me to make another one for you.”

Lev was always so gentle that he sounded a little timid, but he spoke with such resolve that I was taken aback.

“Are you sure...? If it is part of your daily work, I have no objection to you making anything you’d like to. I just need you to promise me you won’t neglect your health and forget to eat or sleep.”

Lev nodded eagerly. “I won’t, my lady. Thank you. I will make you something worthy of you. That shall be more than enough for me.”

I tilted my head to the side. I wasn’t sure I really got what he meant, but if he was happy, that was good enough. For some reason, though, Toma patted his shoulder.

Anyway, I had to thank Toma for the microscope he’d sent me while I was in the duchy!

“My granduncle, Professor Isaac, was overjoyed,” I said. “You did a wonderful job recreating what I described to you, and the lens magnification power was even higher than I’d hoped for. You’re amazing, Toma!”

“No, um...thank you, my lady,” Toma said, scratching his head in embarrassment. He had a bit of a brazen personality, but praise from a highborn lady flustered him nonetheless. “It was all thanks to the people of the trade division. They introduced me to a skilled blacksmith. I was surprised that he so easily managed to build the complex system needed to adjust the focus by moving a small lens up and down.”

“The Yulnova Duchy is the largest producer of metal, so most of the best metalworkers are affiliated with us in one way or another,” I said. “Truth be told, though, I was also impressed by the level of skill of the artisans of the duchy. There’s just one thing...”

Isaac specialized in the study of minerals, and most of them weren’t suited to being observed with a reflector. The only reason Isaac had been able to get a good look when he’d tried out the microscope was because he’d been looking at a rainbow stone, which was transparent and emitted light.

Isaac had told me he’d think of ways to make good use of it, so I trusted he’d find a solution. Geniuses like him were amazing like that.

“Is there an issue, my lady?”

“Not at all! Please keep researching the special lenses we discussed, Toma.” I was talking about achromatic lenses. By combining convex lenses and concave lenses, achromatic lenses could limit chromatic and spherical aberrations.

“I’ll do my best, my lady. To be honest, nothing is going well at the moment, but the topic is fascinating, so I’m having fun.”

“That’s what matters. You’ve only just begun, so take your time and see how it goes.”

Now that the important things I wanted to discuss were out of the way, I turned to Lev, my eyes sparkling with excitement. He nodded with a knowing look and took out a long and narrow velvet box.

“Here, my lady. These are the pens I made for Her Imperial Majesty.”

The box was a deep crimson. While the color of the emperor was purple, the color of the empress was crimson.

I opened it to reveal three glittering pens inside. The base color of all three was a beautiful teal that immediately reminded me of the waters where coral reefs grew. Lev had done an amazing job replicating Magdalena’s hair color.

The first pen had a twisted handle with a teal filament and a sky-blue filament. It was like the heavens and the sea were hugging one another—a very close design to one of the pens Alexei had presented to the emperor. The second had a thick handle that gradually tapered to a thin tip. Only the thick part was clear, and inside it was a beautiful illustration of a sailing ship. The white sail was spread, and the ship seemed to be speeding along the waters, aimed for a faraway land. I imagined the inspiration was the ships that traveled far and wide, all the way to the eastern nations beyond the Summit of the Gods. The drawing was as small as the tip of my finger but so detailed and vivid that it almost seemed real. On the exterior of the pen were fine white lines. At first, they made me think of whitecaps, but a close look showed me they were lilies—the symbol of Magdalena’s birth house, the House of Yulsein.

The last pen started teal, then turned to a bright green that resembled the stem of a lily. A glass lily in bloom was linked to that stem and a beautiful bird peeked out from it. It was the same bird that appeared on the empress’s crest, the one that was said to be the companion of the lion because of famous poems that had been written in the days of the Astra Empire. The bird had a silver body and wings decorated with black details, while its eyes were bright orange. This sculpture was also very small, but the fine enamel paint made every detail pop.

While the bird depicted was beautiful, birds of that species were in fact ferocious predators whose favorite food was the venomous snakes that even mighty lions feared. These birds knocked out snakes with a single hit of their long, powerful legs and devoured them whole. That was why they were called “snake-eating birds.” According to legend, since lions despised snakes, they cohabited with these birds and even protected their nests. They would supposedly let the birds groom their manes and sleep on their backs. There were plenty of ancient tapestries depicting such scenes.

I had a vague recollection that these birds had existed in my past world too. I remembered reading an article on the internet about how a fire-bird god from a certain manga had been modeled after them. In Japanese, their name translated to “snake-eating birds” or something along those lines. I’d never heard anything about them actually coexisting with lions, though, so maybe that was only a thing in this world.

“They’re gorgeous...” I whispered, enthralled by the glass pens in front of me. “Lev, your talent truly knows no bounds. How can you create such detailed artworks on glass? And that gradation from teal to green, and then from a lily to a bird... It’s all so small, yet so precise. It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like them, my lady,” Lev said with a smile. “My old coworkers have returned to the workshop, so I’ve been asking them for advice whenever I come up with a specific design idea. They’ve all taken a keen interest in glass pens.”

“Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less from the former workers of the Murano Workshop. You are all so outstanding!”

How do I put this...? I know, I feel like Lev leveled up again!

And it sounded like the day when other workers would master the manufacturing method for glass pens wasn’t far off. I was looking forward to that too.

“His Imperial Majesty said he’d do everything in his power to help us fulfil his request, and he truly did. He lent me a painting of the ship he wanted me to reproduce and even allowed me to visit the snake-eating bird that is being kept at the palace. He truly wants to make Her Imperial Majesty happy. As a subject of the empire, my heart was warmed,” Lev said.

Neither lions nor snake-eating birds lived in the empire. They inhabited a distant continent far to the south. However, people from that nation sometimes gifted these animals to the imperial family because of their significance. That was how Lev had been able to see a live snake-eating bird at the palace.

“I completely understand. I’m sure His Majesty came up with this idea because of the lion on one of the pens he received. The harmony between them is a wonder to witness.”

The one who had chosen the snake-eating bird as the symbol of the empress had been Pyotr the Great’s wife, the first empress, Lyudmila. She’d been a childhood friend of the four brothers who founded the empire and had been known as a great beauty. However, that hadn’t been all. In the early days of the empire, when the country had still been unstable, she’d taken command and held the castle when enemies had attacked in her husband’s absence. Many thought of Lyudmila as a better military leader than Pyotr, who’d been a poor commander on the battlefield.

Nowadays, empresses were expected to be ladylike and graceful, and Magdalena had often received criticism for acting like a man, but if you looked at the history of the empire, you could say that Magdalena had simply returned to the starting point. She was a lot like the first empress.

I wondered if Konstantin was trying to say that Magdalena was a fitting empress with this gift. If he’d simply tried to represent the role of the empress, he would have asked for the pen to be crimson—the color of the empress. But he hadn’t done so; he’d asked for the same teal as Magdalena’s hair and had even included references to her birth house. He must have been trying to say Magdalena, and no one else, was his partner.

“I’m sure His Imperial Majesty will love them. My brother has an audience scheduled with him tomorrow. I shall ask him to deliver them to him then.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

“I look forward to seeing the Duke of Yulsein’s pens.”

“I’m sorry for taking so long with them. I’m still struggling to decide how to draw the Goddess of Beauty he requested.”

Apparently, the more he tried to draw her, the more she ended up looking like another goddess.

Craftsmen sure have their hangups, I thought as Toma patted Lev’s shoulder once more.

After our conversation, I did have the opportunity to show Alexei the pens before his visit to the palace the next day. Just as I expected, he was as moved by their beauty as I’d been.

“Your artisan has improved by leaps and bounds,” he said.

“Hasn’t he, brother?! I’m truly blessed to have crossed paths with Lev!” I gushed.

Despite my jovial tone, I was a little worried deep down. The pens I’d given Alexei weren’t as good as the empress’s. As a self-certified Alexei fangirl, I wasn’t sure I was okay with that.

“I’ll have new ones made for you, brother. I’m sure Lev will make them even more beautiful this time. I want you to have the best.”

Alexei smiled. “I already have the best. I have the pens that my kindhearted sister gifted me for my birthday. Up until now I... I thought that celebrating birthdays was foolish. I thought they were just days like any other. Now, I see that what matters isn’t the day but the fact that those dear to me are here to celebrate with me. You’re the one who taught me that, Ekaterina.”

Alexei put his hand in my indigo-blue hair. His touch was soft and gentle as he combed his fingers through it. One of the pens I’d given Alexei contained intertwined ice blue and indigo blue filaments—Alexei’s hair color and my own.

“Whenever I look at the pens you gave me, warmth fills my chest, and I’m reminded of that,” Alexei continued. “No matter how beautiful Her Imperial Majesty’s pens turned out to be, I’m still positive that mine are the best. They’re my treasure.”

I felt my eyes water as I looked up at Alexei. “Brother, you have no idea how happy hearing that makes me.”

I’m so glad! A look at my gift warms his heart, he said! I knew he loved me a lot, so maybe it was only natural, but I’d put all my heart into this gift. Hearing that he treasured it that much delighted me.

“I said something silly. Please forgive me, brother. The heart decides the true worth of things, nothing else. Knowing that my gift warms yours brings me much happiness.”

“I wish you’d always be happy, my dear Ekaterina. For your joy is my most cherished treasure—far more precious than even the glass pens I hold dear. There is still some time before that day comes, but I’ve invited an artist for dinner. He’s the one who painted that picture of grandfather and me. I’d like you to welcome him and dine with him if you will.”

I wasn’t sure why he’d suddenly changed the topic, but I enthusiastically agreed. “Of course, brother. I shall do as you say.”

After bidding my brother goodbye, I welcomed the guest I was awaiting.

“My lady, thank you for calling upon me!”

Camilla Croce, my favorite designer, was full of energy. She seemed to be doing better than ever these days. I’d asked her to try to promote Celestial Blue, and it had become so incredibly popular that she’d been flooded with orders. The clothes she herself was wearing were more intricate, a clear marker of her success. Despite all that, she’d been so kind as to rush to me when I invited her.

“I hear your work is very popular these days,” I said. “Congratulations. I’m thankful to you for promoting Celestial Blue so well.”

“Please, don’t thank me, my lady. I should be thanking you! I’ve been able to broaden my horizons because of you,” Camilla replied. Her eyes were gleaming with expectation.

“Well, I should tell you. There were more of my grandmother’s dresses in the duchy.”

“I knew it!” she cried. “Ahem, sorry. Do tell?”

“I’ve had them moved to this residence. They’re in the dress hall, so please have a look if you’d like.”

Camilla bowed to me. “Thank you, my lady!”

I’d had all of the dresses stacked in the northeastern wing of the Yulnova Fortress—the area where my grandmother had resided—sent to the capital. I’d had no idea what to do with them when I first found them, but I’d figured someone in the capital might have a use for them. That someone was Camilla. She could use them as reference material and study their design and construction. This actually wasn’t the first time Camilla had looked at my grandmother’s dresses. Before I gave away most of the ones in the capital to my classmates, I’d let her see them.

The designers of the empire had very few opportunities to take a good look at dresses other than the ones they made themselves. I’d never given that any thought before hearing it from Camilla, but I got it once she said it. After all, a designer couldn’t attend the parties of the nobility, which was where the ladies wore their most exquisite dresses, nor could they exchange tips and ideas with business rivals.

Most designers started out as apprentices and eventually inherited their teacher’s techniques. Camilla, however, had no teacher. She’d learned on her own based purely on her instincts, which was why it’d taken her so long to reach success. Needless to say, when Camilla told me all that, a scruffy violinist popped into my mind and started playing the theme of that Passion Continent show with fervor.

I’d always loved these sorts of stories.

By now, Camilla already had an established style, so if she started copying the styles of other designers, people would find that odd. She wasn’t looking to copy the designs of my grandmother’s dresses; she was just looking for inspiration to nourish her imagination. I completely trusted her on that point. It would be utterly illogical for her to do otherwise. Besides, if she got better, it’d help her sell more dresses using fabrics dyed with Celestial Blue. By helping her, I could boost my advertising power at no cost to me. That was why I’d shown all of the dresses to Camilla before my garden party and why I was happy to do so again.

Back then, Camilla had been so moved she’d almost cried as she sketched out dress after dress, stopping occasionally to look at the parts that puzzled her from every angle. Since then, Camilla’s skills as a designer had improved greatly. I was pretty sure this had played a little part in her speedy ascension.

Camilla had brought two assistants with her. Studying all these different dresses would surely teach them a lot too. I had a feeling I might be contributing to the future of the empire’s fashion scene.

“If anything catches your eye, feel free to bring it home,” I told Camilla. “The same goes for dresses whose fabric you think you may be able to reuse.”

“I couldn’t possibly—”

“Please, I insist.” I don’t know what to do with them, so if you can take some of them off my hands, it’d be lovely, actually.

“I heard that my grandmother hadn’t even tried on some of them. They’re so beautiful and took so much effort to make that it feels like a shame. I’m sure the dresses themselves would be much happier being useful—even if only their fabric is reused to make a new garment.”

“My lady...” Tears welled up in Camilla’s eyes. “I’m touched to hear you think of the dresses and those who made them in such a way. Every time we meet, I find my respect and affection for you growing.”

“Oh, I don’t deserve such praise.” I just want to recycle that mountain of dresses because I have no use for them. And your success means more profit for the House of Yulnova, so please don’t be too impressed with me.

“I hope you’ll keep trusting me with your dresses, my lady. I’ll do my utmost to become recognized as the best designer there is and draw out your beauty!”

“I-I’ll be counting on you...”

After Camilla and her pupils had sketched dresses like their lives depended on it, they beamed and took their leave. Not long after, Alexei came back from the imperial palace, just at the time he’d said he would. We sat together in the same lounge we’d had tea in that morning while Alexei informed me of the emperor’s reaction.

“As we expected, His Imperial Majesty was very much pleased with the glass pens I delivered,” he said. “I could see the wonder on his face as he studied them.”

“My, what great news!”

“There is no doubt Her Imperial Majesty will be delighted too. His Imperial Majesty was certain of it, and he’s never wrong when it comes to these things.”

I also trusted the emperor’s judgment. The man had spent his life honing the art of gift-giving for his beloved wife. If he said she’d like it, she surely would.

“While the emperor specified the design elements he wanted incorporated, he gave the artisan free rein over the details,” Alexei continued. “He praised your artisan’s creative and beautiful designs, and told me he had no idea such precise work was possible on such small pieces of glass.”

“Truly? I’m glad to hear that His Imperial Majesty recognized Lev’s talent.”

Wow, my glass pens earned high praise from the emperor!

The empire was one of the largest countries in this world. Such a great review from the emperor would go a long way to convincing the merchants appraising the glass pens that they were a great business opportunity. With their help, I could sell to royals and important nobles all over the world!

I have to admit that Halil’s speech sparked a flame in me.

Alexei looked at me smiling excitedly with a soft gaze for a while before his expression turned serious.

“I also gave him my report on what happened in the duchy,” he said.

I straightened my back. He was talking about the appearance of Vladforen, the Dragon King with the might to rival the empire’s army. He must have explained my encounter with him and his subsequent proposal.

“I synthesized what you told me and what Oleg and Mina reported. After listening to everything I had to say without interrupting, His Imperial Majesty said, ‘If that dragon is as powerful as you suggest, forming a connection with him will surely benefit this empire. He’d strengthen our military with no effort on our part. Even if there is no telling whether he’d ever aid us in battle, his presence alone would serve as a deterrent to other nations. However, from what you have told me, I feel that he would not appreciate it if I ordered Ekaterina to accept his proposal. In fact, I worry he might take offense. You said he had no interest in forcing a woman who does not love him to stay by his side. Hence, my decision is that Ekaterina is free to follow her heart. If it leads her to the Dragon King, she shall have my blessing, but I will not demand she marry him against her will. Besides, having a child bear the responsibility of the empire’s safety would tarnish this nation’s honor. My army will protect the empire, as it should.’”

“My goodness! He said such things?!”

How forward-thinking!

Leaving aside the way he’d worded it, it was a sound judgment. Being prudent was better than stirring up trouble for no reason, and relying too much on the Dragon King when there was no guarantee he’d help if push came to shove would be foolish. As a ruler, the emperor had made the right call. And I agreed—if I went to Vladforen because the emperor ordered it, I had a feeling he would just tell me to go home. He might even laugh at me for good measure.

A stupid monarch would have jumped at the chance to make me a human sacrifice to secure the support of a powerful dragon and declared he’d take over the world. Needless to say, Vladforen would have gotten pissed, and there was a pretty good chance he’d have destroyed the empire out of spite.

Urgh... Thank goodness His Imperial Majesty is wise. And he put it all in such a cool way too! He can’t “tarnish this nation’s honor,” huh? I love the sound of that! You’re so awesome, Your Majesty. Ah, I’m so glad I was born in this empire!

“My loyalty to His Imperial Majesty shines brighter than ever. What grand words, and what a sage decision,” I said.

“I feel the same way,” Alexei replied with a smile. “More than ever, I wish for the Yulnovas to be His Imperial Majesty’s most devoted subjects.”

Wait. Did he mean to throw his loyalty aside and rebel if the emperor had made a different choice? Not even Alexei would do that...would he? The fact that I couldn’t be sure scared me.

“Speaking of which... The Black Dragon...” Alexei cleared his throat. “How do you feel about him? I saw him the other day, and there is no denying he is quite dashing.”

“Why, you’re much better-looking, brother. In fact, you’re the most dashing gentleman I’ve ever seen,” I replied without a sliver of hesitation. Even if Vladforen was a peerless beauty, there was only one answer I could give as a true Alexei fangirl.

“I-I see.” Alexei’s relief was clear on his face. “I see you’re still a child when it comes to such things. Come to me when you find someone you wish to marry. You needn’t worry about what the dragon may think of it, or anyone else for that matter. Everything will be as you wish it, Ekaterina.”

“Thank you, brother. I shall do as you say.”

I didn’t think that day would ever come, but there was no harm in agreeing.

The long summer vacation was finally over for real. Tomorrow, Alexei and I would return to the Magic Academy’s dorms.

Mina and the others would take care of most of our belongings for us, but we still had some things to prepare, and I spent the last day of the vacation rushing around to finish these last-minute arrangements. I was now in bed.

It was dark, so I couldn’t see it, but the canopy over my head depicted the heavens and the gods. When I’d first opened my eyes after recovering my memories, this canopy was the first thing I’d seen. Back then, I’d thought I was actually dead and in heaven—a fond memory, now.

I’d only been back in this residence for a few days, yet I already had to leave again. It was a bit of a shame, but at the same time, I looked forward to returning to the academy. I longed to see my friends like Marina and Olga again.

I genuinely wanted to see them, and yet...I found myself having mixed feelings. Returning to the academy meant returning to the world of the otome game. The summer vacation wasn’t covered in the scenario of the game, so I hadn’t worried about the flags that loomed over me. But the start of the second semester would be followed by a heap of game events. There’d be the school festival, the ball, and more. Once again, I’d find myself living in constant fear of the flags. The more I thought about that, the more questions popped into my head.

Months had passed since I’d started living in this world. The longer I spent here, the less I could repress my questions. Now, after spending some time in the duchy, that doubt had grown larger still. In the game, the villainess, Ekaterina, and her brother were condemned for their evil deeds, stripped of their titles and riches, and had their house sentenced to die out with them...but was all that even possible?

Sure, that was exactly what had happened to the House of Novadain, but, leaving all manners of hubris aside, the House of Yulnova was not on the same level. Not at all.

I’d noticed it when the prince had come to the duchy. While it was an ill-omened thought and no one would ever say it out loud, if something were to happen to the crown prince—the only heir to the throne—the question of who to put on the throne in his stead would have to be asked. If that happened...there was a good chance my brother would be chosen.

The three grand ducal houses had a high enough status to send an heir to the imperial family if there wasn’t one. At the moment, all three houses had a son of about the right age to succeed the emperor.

The Duke of Yulsein had two sons. The eldest was about twenty-five and, while I hadn’t heard much about the second, he should have been in his early twenties too. Since the current empress was from the House of Yulsein, having her adopt one of them so he could succeed to the throne would be a natural development. Besides, since there were two of them, the Yulsein Duchy would still have an heir even if one of the brothers went on to become the emperor.

However, the wife of the current Duke of Yulsein, Dimitri, was a foreign princess from beyond the Summit of the Gods. The identity of their mother would be an obstacle for the Yulsein boys to take the throne. To make things worse, they both took after their mother and—as per the standards of the empire—had rather exotic features. I’d heard that they were drop-dead gorgeous from several of my classmates at the academy.

In the four-hundred-year history of the Yulgran Empire, there had never been an emperor who appeared foreign. Realistically speaking, it would be hard for such an emperor to garner public support from the citizens of the empire. Even in the famous land of the free of my past world, there hadn’t been much diversity among elected presidents, even in the twenty-first century.

Well, that’s a bit of a sensitive issue, so I won’t push it.

The next candidate was little Vladimir from the House of Yulmagna. Everyone agreed he was a prodigy from a young age, and I’d heard he’d never conceded the top to anyone else since entering the academy. In fact, the academy was the least of his concerns; he was already publishing papers as one of the researchers at the Astra Research Institute.

Magna only had one son, so if Vladimir sat on the throne, it’d cause an issue with the succession of the House of Yulmagna. It wasn’t an irremediable issue, though. He had a younger sister, Elizaveta, so either she or her future husband could take over.

Instead, the biggest obstacle to Vladimir’s claim would be his health. Because of his feeble constitution and the grave illness he’d survived in childhood, Vladimir was exempt from any physical classes at the academy. I’d also heard he spent several days unable to get out of his bed every month. Everyone would doubt he could shoulder the great responsibilities of an emperor.

My dear brother, however, was in good health, strong, and very smart to boot. He’d already inherited the duchy, so if he were to become the emperor, he’d need to pass it on to someone (the strongest contender being me). Just like with Vladimir, that wasn’t too much of an issue.

Alexei’s biggest advantage would be his blood. Since our grandmother had been an imperial princess, he had the thickest imperial blood out of all the current heirs of the three ducal houses. Of course, the houses of Magna and Sein sometimes welcomed imperial princesses into their midst, but you’d have to go further back to find one in their family trees.

For all I knew, the order of succession after Mikhail was already set in stone, but I’d never heard anything about it. I couldn’t just ask about something so ominous.

My point is: There’s a good chance that Alexei is second in line for the throne. How could you possibly strip someone like that of his titles?! How could you confiscate all his wealth and force him to live like a commoner?!

Sure, the last emperor of China, Puyi, had lived like a commoner in his final years, but that was a whole other story! The historical background was totally different! In Alexei’s case, it made no sense at all.

Besides, since I’d heard about the Creator God from the God of Death, I thought there was a pretty big chance that this world wasn’t the world of the otome game. Instead, it might have served as the game’s inspiration somehow. Being reincarnated into a world someone had programmed on a computer was a little too outlandish, at least in my opinion.

In that case, it was possible that the downfall of the villainess had simply been added by the creator of the game for the sake of the story, and that nothing of the sort would happen to my brother and me. There were no flags, and no reason for me to be afraid—that was how I ought to live my life.

But...even though I’d reached that conclusion...I couldn’t be fully convinced for one simple reason. I’d already doubted that one of the events of the game could take place in real life once. When? Well, right before the monster appeared at the academy!

And let me tell you, appear it did!

It had looked exactly like in the game, and it had appeared out of the blue in a place it just couldn’t have, not according to the rules of this world!

It’s no good. I can’t tell myself I’ll be fine just because something sounds impossible.

What I had to do was assume the bad ending was possible and reassess the situation as a whole. What had to happen for my brother and me to end up with such a punishment? What could make it possible?

In the game, Ekaterina’s crime was her attempt on the heroine’s life. Since she hired hitmen, I supposed the actual charge was incitement to murder or something along these lines. Even for the lady of a ducal house, incitement to murder was a serious crime. However, considering the class system in place in this world, murdering a commoner wouldn’t be too grave a crime for a noble. Then again, even though Flora had been born a commoner, she’d been formally adopted by a baron. She was a noble lady for all intents and purposes. The gap in status between a duke and a baron was enormous, but attempting to have a noble killed was still a heavy crime.

This reminded me of the story of Elizabeth Báthory, a countess from my past world who’d massacred countless young women to bathe in their blood in order to restore her youth. No one had really done anything, no matter how many commoner girls she’d murdered, but the moment she’d killed a noblewoman, she’d been arrested. I had a feeling the value system of the empire was rather similar.

At the moment, Flora and I were both students of the academy and, according to the official rules, rank meant nothing there. Regardless of title, all students were supposed to be equal and receive the same punishments if they messed up. Obviously, things didn’t always go that way, but it was the official stance.

The one to find and present the evidence of the villainess’s wrongdoings was the crown prince—someone with a higher rank than even a grand ducal house.

But there was something strange about that too.

Alexei was already a duke, so Mikhail, heir to the throne or not, had no right to judge him or me for that matter. Yet, in the game he was the one to pass on the sentence. The weirdest thing was that the ever-calm and ruthless Alexei didn’t even point that contradiction out or argue. He simply hugged his sister.

Which would indicate it really is a scene written by the game’s creator to fit the usual otome game tropes, right?

Now, if I thought in logical terms, the most plausible punishment the lady of a ducal house could receive for the attempted murder of a baron’s daughter was...house arrest.

With the class system in place, the family of a duke wouldn’t be treated too harshly. Instead of ending up in jail, I’d likely be locked in one of our secondary residences and forbidden from making contact with anyone. I’d be allowed to walk in the courtyard and would not want for food or clothes. In truth, my daily life would probably be more comfortable than the one I’d led with my mother toward the end. After a few years, I’d probably even receive an imperial pardon and everyone would let the matter go.

Yeah, that seems about right.

For a woman, a punishment like that was already pretty severe, as it meant missing out on your best years and losing your chance to marry. For me specifically, it’d be a bit rough since I’d only just gotten out of confinement. Going back to it would sting.

In all likelihood, the one who’d actually confine me in that scenario would be Alexei. As the head of the family, he’d be ordered to take responsibility and dole out the punishment on me. As a loyal subject of the emperor, he’d enforce that punishment.

But could Alexei really do that? Could Alexei confine me?

Considering what Mikhail had told me of his relationship with Alexei, wouldn’t he go to Alexei after finding proof of my wrongdoings, if only to give him a heads-up and let him know he intended to bring me to justice? Not to mention the fact that Mikhail and I had become friends. I couldn’t really picture him trying to convict me in the first place.

However, without my memories from my past life, I would never have become friends with Mikhail. The Ekaterina from the game was spoiled, selfish, and hysterical... Actually, she was a lot like our grandmother. That also struck me as peculiar, because that wasn’t how I’d acted before I recovered my memories.

Had this change in the Ekaterina of the game been caused by people like Nonna, our grandmother’s waiting maid? After coming out of confinement, Ekaterina would have had no idea how to behave at the academy. I had a feeling she’d been manipulated by others and had ended up becoming their puppet.

As for why Alexei had allowed it to happen... I imagined it was because he’d feared Ekaterina would just fall apart if the strings moving her were cut off. His little sister, who’d refused to leave her room or talk to anyone, was only going to school and acting like the lady of a ducal house because of these influences. He’d probably been so afraid for her life that he couldn’t pull her away from Nonna and the others.

Wait, in that case, wouldn’t Nonna and the rest of grandmother’s old cronies have been responsible for the attempted murder? I couldn’t imagine Ekaterina thinking of that herself.

Most of grandmother’s old waiting maids had links with the Magna. Had they...orchestrated this entire affair to trap Alexei and Ekaterina?

Eep, that sounds incredibly likely!

After Alexei inherited the duchy, they’d been unable to embezzle more money, so they’d decided the best course of action was to remove him from his position and reap the benefits...

None of that had happened in this world, so I was only making wild guesses, but I had a feeling I was onto something.

What I knew for sure was that Ekaterina must have looked like a mini Alexandra in the eyes of the game’s Mikhail. Based on what he’d said in the duchy, he hated Alexandra’s guts. Maybe he’d come to the conclusion that getting rid of Ekaterina before she caused harm to many people, like my grandmother had, was the best course of action.

With all of that in mind, what would Alexei do if Mikhail told my brother that he planned to expose his sister’s crime and he’d have to confine her?

Now that I asked myself this one question, what had seemed so impossible earlier became possible. The unthinkable condemnation scene of the game could take place. The chances were ridiculously low and the prerequisites insane, but it was possible—if Alexei wished for it.

The siblings would lose their fortune and status, and become commoners, but they’d be free.

To avoid shackling his sister with his own two hands, to avoid throwing her back into the prison she’d only just escaped, Alexei would offer Mikhail anything. His rank, his estate, his money, everything. If he begged Mikhail, and if the prince was moved by his old friend’s despair, then...

Those two could arrange it all and play their respective parts. They could convince everyone else to let them get away with it.

Of course, there was only a small chance any of that could happen. Willingly throwing away his title was a reckless move considering Alexei’s temperament, and the crown prince surely realized that Alexei’s talents were of greater value than his wealth and title.

Wait, that was exactly why he could agree to such a crazy plan. Instead of punishing Ekaterina in a sensible way and destroying his relationship with Alexei, he might feel like doing as Alexei wanted was a better idea in the long run. He just had to give things a few years to cool down before pardoning Alexei and reinstating him as the Duke of Yulnova.

These were only wild guesses, but it was possible.

There were still a few pieces that didn’t fit, but what I had thought to be impossible now sounded a lot more realistic in my mind. It was unlikely, incredibly unlikely, but I was now convinced there was a chance it could happen. Alexei throwing his entire world away for me was in the realm of possibilities. I hated the thought, but I could picture him making that choice.

Nooooo!!! Now that it’s occurred to me, I can’t stop thinking about it! Alexei’s love for me knows no bounds, after all. Argh, I can’t tell if I should praise or condemn him for that...

I didn’t want to think of him sacrificing himself for his sister! Just because I’d realized there might have been more to the villainess’s doomsday than I’d thought, that didn’t change the fact that Alexei might suffer because of me!

No, I won’t have it!

This might have been a one-eighty, but I was once again fully on board with doing everything in my power to avoid the doom flags.

I won’t do anything bad. I swear it!

Then again, if the mastermind behind the Yulnovas’ downfall in the game was Magna, not keeping my hands clean wouldn’t save me. He could frame me if I gave him any opening. In other words, any opening could turn into a doom flag.

The difficulty level just increased tremendously. I’m going to need “Modesty, Fairness, and Grace” to survive!

Wait, no, that’s just the motto of that famous all-female revue group.

Anyway, until I was sure I’d successfully dodged the game’s condemnation scene, I had to keep living with the idea that the Yulnovas’ doom was a real possibility and make sure not to raise any flags.

At the very least, I have to be extra careful for the rest of the school year, until Alexei graduates from the academy.

After he graduated, he couldn’t possibly be at the academy to hug me while the prince announced my sentence, which meant I wouldn’t have to live in fear of that scene becoming a reality. In the meantime, I had to be irreproachable.

A wise (wo)man keeps away from danger and leaves no room for scandal!

I would do well not to approach the prince too much. Magna wanted to make his daughter empress, and I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.

My anti-flag measures are in tatters, but once I’m back at the academy, I’ll start anew and do my best not to mess up this time.

Chapter 2: The Magic Academy

Wow, I sure missed this classroom.

“Good morning, everyone,” I said as I entered the classroom with Flora. My tone was elegant and refined, the complete opposite of my chaotic thoughts.

Marina Krymov and Olga Florus, two of our closest classmates, greeted us with smiles on their faces.

“Lady Ekaterina! Lady Flora! It’s been far too long!”

“I’m glad to find the two of you in good health.”

The other students also said hello to us with big smiles. Flora and I, the two loners, were now pretty popular. I returned everyone’s greetings with a smile of my own.

One of the most incredible things about high school was that every vacation meant coming back to changed classmates. Everyone had grown in their own ways; their faces or height were all a little different.

In my eyes, though, they were all children.

Phew, I feel better.

The Yulnova residence in the capital felt like home to me, while the Yulnova Duchy felt like my hometown. I’d gotten more used to living in this body, which was nice, but in the duchy, I could never forget that I was the lady of the house. Dozens of servants served me, and I had to act in a way that befitted my station. At the academy, I felt like one student among many. There wasn’t really any hierarchy—we were all equals, at least on the surface.

I felt freer this way. I was thankful for my high status, but I had to admit it was tiring, even when it was just on a subconscious level. I was glad for the Magic Academy’s existence.

I wondered if Mikhail felt the same way. Had the previous emperors and members of the imperial family also felt relief at the thought of being one of many (although I supposed they remained special even within the walls of the academy)? Maybe that was one of the reasons the Magic Academy had endured all these years.

“How was your vacation?” I asked.

“I spent it in my territory. It was...uneventful,” Marina said.

Despite her wording, she seemed satisfied and full of energy. She’d always been a cool, sporty girl, and I could see her muscles were more defined than ever. She even had a bit of a tan now. Her red, golden-streaked hair shone brighter than ever. While she usually endeavored to seem as innocent as five kittens, I imagined she let go of that business at home and enjoyed herself like the active girl she was.

The Krymov territory was also the breeding ground of their demonic horses. Thinking of that reminded me of the story of Sergei’s horse, Zephyros, which I’d heard in the duchy. My chest panged. Just as Alexei had suggested, though, it didn’t seem like Marina knew anything of the history between our houses, so I simply smiled at her without commenting.

“I stayed in the dormitory, actually,” Olga admitted.

Olga was a petite girl with glossy chestnut-colored hair tied up with a ribbon and adorable green eyes. She looked down, embarrassment on her face.

A great majority of the students went back to their families during the summer. The first-years, in particular, were living apart from their families for the very first time in their lives, so they often became homesick and counted the days until summer vacation, anxiously awaiting the moment they could rush home. However, there were always students who didn’t head home for one reason or another.

The most obvious one was distance. By carriage, a one-way trip from the capital to the Yulnova Duchy took roughly two weeks. Without the ultrapractical high-speed ships, Alexei and I wouldn’t have gone home either. Those who came from wealthy families with residences in the capital usually left the dorms anyway to go to their family homes in the capital, but those who didn’t have family nearby ended up stuck in the dorms over the summer.

Speaking of finances, another reason a student might not go home was to save on travel expenses. Even if the trip didn’t take two whole weeks, any carriage trip of more than a couple of days was a serious expense. The students of the academy were all nobles, but their circumstances varied wildly depending on their families. Some houses had natural disasters to grapple with at home and couldn’t spare the expense, while others were drowning in debt.

Olga was the daughter of a baron, and her family didn’t seem very well-off.

“But don’t worry, I went sightseeing around the capital with the other students who stayed in the dormitory,” Olga continued. “The Music Sanctuary organized beautiful concerts almost every day. It was lovely, almost like I was attending festivals every single day. It made me want to stay there forever. The capital is a wonderful place!”

The Music Sanctuary was like the Sun Sanctuary: practically a theme park. The Sun Sanctuary was the best spot to look at artwork, while the Music Sanctuary played music on a daily basis. Apparently, the latter was an unpretentious and popular place.

It had an outdoor stage where any musician with some confidence in their skills could play as an offering to the God of Music. While I’d called them “musicians,” those who performed nigh-daily on that stage weren’t professionals but rather aspiring musicians hoping to one day earn their livelihood with music. There was no entrance fee, so those who liked music tended to gather at the sanctuary and listen to the offerings. They were tough critics and didn’t hesitate to cheer or boo the musicians.

Apparently, those who were too terrible were forcefully dragged off stage by the priests, lest their music anger the god! I imagined that danger could be nerve-racking for the hopeful challengers, but the stage was also a chance to kick-start their careers—people who worked for the theaters sometimes dropped by to look for new talents to scout.

That said, that apparently wasn’t the main goal of those who played on this stage. What they truly hoped for was to catch the attention of the God of Music and be taken to his garden to give a performance. Only those with true talent were given that “honor,” which if you asked me...was just kidnapping!

That was a joke. People were usually sent back after one song.

In most cases, that is.

Those who received an invitation from the God of Music were later welcomed into the sanctuary. They were also trusted with playing during national ceremonies and such, so they could live the rest of their lives playing music without having to worry about money.

No matter how you look at it, it’s more or less an audition stage.

Now, the scary part was that the God of Music was sometimes so fond of some musicians that he never sent them back. That had only happened to a few people in the history of the empire, and they were revered alongside the God of Music.

I hadn’t realized it at the time, but that was probably what Alexei had been worried about when I’d asked to learn singing.

I’m growing more and more convinced that his rose-tinted filter comes with optical and auditory distortion effects. That really is some high-spec filter, brother. Forgive me for taking so long to be impressed!

Suddenly, I heard a snicker.

“My, how sad. Spending entire days at the Music Sanctuary is a hobby for penniless commoners.”

“Right! Right!”

Oh boy, the three of you are full of energy, huh? Too full of it.

Needless to say, it was the Right Right Trio.

“I’m sure Lady Yulnova summoned the best musicians directly to her home. That is how a proper noble lady ought to behave,” Right-One (her nickname, courtesy of yours truly) said proudly.

Why do you sound so proud? Isn’t your house also totally in the red? There’s no point in playing this role anymore.

It was plain to see she was trying to curry favor, so I’d summon musicians and let her enjoy the concert with me. After everything that had happened in the duchy, this sort of easy-to-read craftiness was almost endearing.

Hold up, my own thoughts are scaring me.

I giggled, and let my eyes wander over the three of them. Then, in a low voice I hadn’t used in a while, I said, “I’m in the middle of a conversation here.”

I could almost see the dark clouds and flash of lightning above my head.

Yep, I’ve still got it— Ack, I shouldn’t rejoice. I just vowed never to act like a villainess again! Modesty, Fairness, and Grace, remember?!

I scattered the heavy clouds with a wave of my hand while the Right Right Trio fell over themselves to apologize.

“W-We’re so sorry.”

I ignored the three trembling idiots and smiled softly at Olga. “I didn’t know you like music, Lady Olga.”

“I-I do... My house is a vassal of House Selesnoa, and music is very important in the marquessate. It is for our house too.”

“Come to think of it, you are a very good singer. I can hear your voice clearly when we sing in unison in music class, and I’ve always thought it was lovely.” As a former choir girl, I unconsciously took note of my classmates’ voices. It was also during music class that I’d noticed how beautiful Flora’s singing voice was. “I’d love to hear you sing alone.”

“N-No, I couldn’t!” Olga exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously as her cheeks reddened.

Marina brought her hands together with a clap. “I’ve just gotten the best idea! What do you say we hold a musical evening to celebrate our reunion and the start of the second semester?”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!”

I was enthused. I loved music, but I hadn’t gotten many opportunities to enjoy it in this life. I was sure an evening like that would become a lovely memory of my student days. Music was one of the subjects all nobles studied, so I was sure plenty of students would have something to show off, whether it was singing or playing an instrument.

I’d gotten so excited that I almost didn’t notice a boy in my class staring at me.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I was too loud, wasn’t I?”

Despite my apology, the boy turned away with a humph.

His name was Renato Selesar, a boy with snow-white hair and violet eyes. He had a cute face and looked very much like the kind of guy the idol agencies of my past life would have jumped on. However, he wasn’t the least bit approachable. That said, he had a great voice; it was a nice tenor with plenty of room for growth.

You don’t need to act all rebellious to get your big sister to invite you to the musical evening! Ah, what a big baby! I thought, giggling despite myself.

For lunch, I cooked for the first time in quite a while.

Flora and I went to the kitchen, where the two of us exchanged greetings with the kitchen staff. We hadn’t seen them in some time. We caught up with them as we swiftly minced, then stir-fried seasonal vegetables and bacon. After that, we poured eggs into the pan to make an omelet. Once it was cooked, we made omelet sandwiches.

Unlike in my previous world, where storage techniques and food distribution systems had been highly developed, the vegetables available here depended on the season. Since this was the end of the summer, the fall vegetables were starting to make their appearances. We used tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms, as well as just enough spices to give the omelet a fragrant smell that would stimulate anyone’s appetite. This was one of the recipes Flora had learned from the baroness who had taken her in.

Despite not having cooked for a while, I still managed to operate the wood-burning stove without any issues, so I was rather proud of myself.

It’s been so long since I last cooked for Alexei. I can’t wait to serve him the food I made!

We stuffed the warm sandwiches in a big basket and headed to Alexei’s office, where I expected he’d already restarted work with his advisors.

We chattered away as we walked through the corridors. However, as we turned a corner, I was forced to come to an abrupt stop. I’d almost bumped into someone.

The other person also stopped in her tracks, and her indigo, almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. She was a fair-skinned and slender girl with long silver hair tinged with blue falling over her shoulders. The way she carried herself made it clear she hailed from an important family.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” I said.

“No, it was my fault,” she replied with a small bow and a smile. I noticed she was also holding a basket. “Are you perhaps the young lady of the House of Yulnova?”

“I am. My name is Ekaterina. And this is Flora of the baronial House of Cherny.”

Flora bowed politely.

“I’m Lydia of the House of Selesnoa.”

That name rang a bell. She was a member of the house that Olga had mentioned earlier!

House Selesnoa was an old one that had been established by Pyotr the Great’s favorite retainer during the founding of the empire. Thus, the Marquess of Selesnoa was the fourth most important aristocrat in the empire, after the three grand dukes. It was such an important family that an empress had once hailed from their house.

What bugged me, however, was that she’d kind of ignored Flora...

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said nonetheless.

“Likewise. I’m glad to finally make your acquaintance. We’re both first-years, but we’ve never had the chance to meet because we’re in different classes. I’ve always thought it a shame,” Lydia said with a bright smile.

She started walking alongside us as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

In high society, integrating yourself with people of higher status seamlessly and matching your behavior with theirs was a skill. Clearly, Lydia had mastered it. I had no idea how to get out of this situation now that she’d created it. What fearsome talents! I pondered what to do, but I failed to come up with any ideas before we made it to our destination.

Urgh. Perfect. What do I do now? Even the puppy’s here!

Mikhail was leaning in through the window, beaming. I could practically see his puppy ears perking up on his head and his tail wagging.

Did you leave your flawless prince act in the Yulnova Duchy?! I’d sworn not to approach the prince and hoped to avoid him during lunch break, but there he was. Damn, I can’t win against this puppy face.

I should have known. Keeping my distance had been my very first plan, and it had failed once already. It was far too late now. I’d been a fool to think I could manage it.

Besides, avoiding Mikhail because I feared getting involved in a power struggle was kind of mean. He was a person with feelings, not just a title. Refusing to treat him as such was cruel, especially since he was such a good boy.

Sorry, Prince...

“Hey, Ekaterina, Flora. Our time in the duchy was a lot of fun. Have you recovered from the fatigue of the trip home?”

“Hello to you, Prince Mikhail. I’m glad to hear you had a pleasant time in our territory. I’m already back to full strength, and Lady Flora told me it was the same for her, right?”

I’d never forget to include Flora in the conversation.

“Yes, I’m healthy and vigorous as can be,” she said with an adorable smile.

“It feels like ages since I last saw you two carrying food in the corridors. What’s on the menu today?” Mikhail asked.

“Omelet sandwiches,” I said. “It’s one of Baroness Cherny’s recipes. Lady Flora was so kind as to teach it to me. They’re still warm.”

“Now that sounds delicious.” He smiled at me in particular.

I’d have to be a monster not to give him some when he looks at me like that. I opened the basket and held it out toward the prince. He reached in and snagged a sandwich. Only then did he address the girl next to me.

“Oh, hi, Lydia. Long time no see.”

“It has been far too long indeed, Prince Mikhail. I missed your presence greatly over the summer vacation,” she replied, her tone sweet as honey.

Oh my, she’s using his name. The two of them must be pretty close.

“Would you care to try one of these?” she continued, opening her own basket with a smile. “They’re traditional sweets of the Selesnoa Marquessate. Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress is particularly fond of them. My classmates wanted to know what they tasted like, so I brought some. I’m sure you’ve had them before, but since we ran into one another, please have one.”

Had she tagged along with that sole goal from the start?! You really can’t underestimate highborn ladies!

However, Mikhail didn’t move. “Thank you, but I’m about to head to the cafeteria for lunch.”

“Oh, I see,” Lydia said with a polite smile before she retracted her basket.

“It’s very kind of you to bring food to your classmates. Go on, don’t make them wait,” Mikhail replied.

“Yes... I’ll take my leave, then.”

Lydia bowed to Mikhail. She normally should have performed a curtsy, but since she was holding a large basket, she couldn’t hold her skirt. Instead, she performed an atypical yet beautiful bow. The coolest part was that she hadn’t hesitated one bit.

Her every gesture is so elegant. Everything about her screams nobility!

She nodded my way before she left. From start to finish, she’d completely ignored Flora.

As he watched her walk away, Mikhail started devouring his sandwich.

“So good! And it’s quite fun to eat standing up like this.”

“It’s one of the perks of the academy,” I joked. Now that I’d seen Mikhail’s imperial prince mode in the duchy, I could tell how different he was at the academy. Casually accepting food and eating it in the hall was the sort of thing he could only do here. Such experiences must have felt very precious to him.

Enjoy these easygoing days as much as you can, Prince.

Still, something was weighing on my mind. “Prince Mikhail... Are you sure refusing her was for the best? The House of Selesnoa is the birth house of Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress. Are you not close with Lady Selesnoa?”

The empress who’d hailed from House Selesnoa was none other than the previous empress. It made sense for Lydia and Mikhail to be close. Yet Mikhail had refused the traditional sweet she’d tried to give him, even though I suspected she’d brought it especially for him.

Mikhail didn’t answer. He finished his sandwich in silence before suddenly saying, “Ekaterina, If anything happens with Lydia, you must come to me. I should be the one dealing with her.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “What do you mean by that? What sort of thing would happen?”

“Anything at all. She should know not to get involved with you. An unwritten rule demands it. Even if she sends someone close to her instead of doing something herself, please come to me.”

Sorry? There’s an unwritten rule stating that she shouldn’t talk to me? I was so confused there had to be a huge question mark floating above my head.

Mikhail smiled. “I’m counting on you.”

After the prince left, I knocked on the door of my brother’s office. Ivan opened the door and took our baskets.

“My lady, Lady Flora, please come in.”

“Thank you, Ivan.”

Alexei smiled when he saw me and stood up. Then, he opened his arms. “Come here.”

What choice did I have but jump into his waiting arms? Needless to say, I didn’t need to be asked twice. “Brother!”

“My dear Ekaterina.”

I clung to Alexei, who held me close.

“I missed you so much yesterday,” I said.

“I did too. The world is a dark place without your brilliant beauty to light it up.”

Oh, did the filter get a light-intensity update? It’s growing more upgraded by the day!

Despite our little scene, Alexei and I had entered the dorms only yesterday. It hadn’t even been a full day since the last time we’d seen each other.

During the summer vacation, we’d gotten used to having breakfast and dinner together almost every single day. However, here at the academy, we both lived in deluxe suites and our dinners were served in our rooms. We didn’t go to the cafeteria to eat, but ate alone in our respective rooms. It was only natural we’d feel lonely—or was it?

Next to us, Ivan and Flora plated our lunch.

“Please, Lady Flora, sit down,” Ivan said.

“But I can’t calm down when I’m not doing anything. I’m sorry for taking away your work.”

Aaron, who’d been watching them, sighed contentedly and said, “Ah, now it truly feels like we’re back at the academy.”

Sadly, no one knew how to deliver a proper punch line here, so no one told him that he wasn’t a student anymore.

“I missed these homemade lunches,” Halil said, looking at his omelet sandwich with a pleased expression.

“What did you do for lunch over the summer, Mr. Halil?” I asked.

“I mostly ate with the people in the firms I visited. Sometimes, it was at fancy restaurants, but the taste of the meal depended greatly on the state of our business talks. After all, great deals are the best delicacy,” he replied with a chuckle.

A businessman through and through, huh?

This comfy atmosphere changed entirely after I told everyone about what had just happened to Flora and me on our way to Alexei’s office. I’d had a feeling that would happen, so I wasn’t excited to talk about it, but I knew how important sharing information was.

“The daughter of the Marquess of Selesnoa...” Alexei whispered, his neon-blue eyes gleaming.

“Do you know her, brother?”

“I hear she has an unshakable standing at the high society gatherings of the capital. Novak?”

“Yes, Your Grace. As a blood relative of Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress, she is the unmarried, recently debuted lady of the highest status, hence her standing. Well, her status was the highest until now, at least.”

At Novak’s words, everyone turned to look at me.

Ah. Now that I’m in the capital, I’m the unmarried lady with the highest status.

There was Elizaveta, Yulmagna’s daughter, but she was only around ten. She couldn’t have debuted in high society yet. In the empire, young ladies usually debuted right before they started attending the academy at about fourteen or fifteen years old. Since Alexei had introduced me to our vassals at the party in the duchy, I had now officially made my debut in high society too.

If my memory served, in Victorian England, young ladies were only considered part of high society after being introduced to the queen and attending a debutante ball. The rules seemed a little looser in the empire. Attending any party of a certain standing was enough to debut.

“You’re so knowledgeable about the high society gatherings of the capital, Count Novak,” I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, realization struck me. If Novak had an eye on the unmarried young ladies of the capital, it was because he was looking for matches for Alexei. Lydia, the daughter of a marquess, was probably at the top of the list. Forget her rank, she was beautiful and behaved like a perfect noble lady. There was nothing to criticize about her...and yet...

Urgh!

That said, Lydia looked like she was into the prince, not Alexei.

“Don’t worry, Ekaterina. The House of Selesnoa is not thinking of tying itself with our house,” Alexei said. “The Selesnoas wish to crown another empress. They believe the current status quo, with the three grand ducal houses garnering most of the political power, should be challenged. They stand at the center of a coalition that promotes what they call a ‘proper’ balance of powers. To do so, they intend to put another empress on the throne and claim power as her maternal relatives. They see themselves as bringing ‘justice,’ you see. Lady Lydia embodies their aspirations. She was raised to have the qualities the House of Selesnoa deems necessary for an empress, and Lady Lydia herself prides herself on being worthy of the role.”

“I see. She did seem like she admired Prince Mikhail,” I said.

It was a bit petty, but I felt a flash of relief. Mikhail had been pretty cold to Lydia, and I could see why. She’d entirely ignored my little Flora! I wondered if that was what the House of Selesnoa deemed to be a “worthy empress.” Magdalena wasn’t that sort of person at all, and I couldn’t picture a girl who acted like Lydia respecting her—or the emperor who’d loved and done everything to marry her—very much. The prince loved his parents dearly, and it seemed he’d inherited their values.

Lydia and the rest of her family are tiring themselves out for nothing, aren’t they? When I thought about it in that way, I almost felt bad for them.

“But what did Prince Mikhail mean when he spoke of an unwritten rule forbidding her from involving herself with me?” I muttered.

Alexei seemed just as perplexed as I was. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Do you have any idea what he meant, Novak?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t. I haven’t heard of any unwritten contract between the House of Selesnoa and the House of Yulnova. Besides, I don’t see how His Highness could be aware of anything of the sort when you aren’t, Your Grace.”

Halil cleared his throat. “Um... I don’t think it has anything to do with the House of Selesnoa or the House of Yulnova. I believe this pertains to His Highness personally.”

“Continue,” Alexei ordered, concise as always.

“This is nothing more than a rumor I heard in high society circles over the summer, but word has it that any lady who tries to cause harm to a woman close to an unmarried male member of the imperial family will be sternly punished. The same goes for men and unmarried female members of the imperial family, although there aren’t any of those at the moment.”

Come again?!

“Apparently, during more troubled times, a young lady lost her life in a quarrel over who would become the next empress. A tragedy which, the rumors say, led to a civil war at the time. Henceforth, people have avoided physical fights over the attention of the imperial family, and harming anyone of the opposite gender close to them became strictly prohibited. The rumors also mentioned a lady who was long ago sentenced to house arrest for life over a rather small offense.”

W-Wait, that scene from the game was actually realistic all along?! I’d spent hours turning the matter over in my head, but the Ekaterina of the game was condemned so easily because of this unwritten rule, wasn’t she? That’s bad news!

“His Highness’s visit to the duchy gave Ekaterina protection under that rule...” Alexei said. He sounded more displeased than ever.

Halil smiled awkwardly and nodded.

I, on the other hand, was even more confused than before. I’m the one being protected by that rule? Me, the villainess? Wait, think about it, girl. It makes sense considering what the prince said...

“I believe so,” Halil said. “A fiancée would naturally be protected by her status, but a close friend is in an unclear position. I imagine that unwritten rule was put in place to provide protection when the members of the imperial family could not otherwise. It’s also for this reason that it is an unwritten rule, and not a law. I have no idea if a young lady has ever been harmed just for associating with a prince or that the other events the rumors mentioned are true, but unsavory incidents around the heir to the throne should be avoided at all costs.”

Well, it did seem quite ridiculous. What sort of psychopath would kill someone just because they were friends with a prince? Besides, a good ninety-nine percent of the time, the empress was decided based on the influence and power of the various houses at the time and nothing else. Trying to harm a lady for talking to a prince would only bring your house the ire of her family. It was such a foolish plan that I doubted anyone had ever put it into practice.

In fact, I wondered if it wasn’t more of an urban legend created by the members of the imperial family to make it easier to have friends. It sounded like the stories adults told kids to make them behave, like A monster will come out to eat you if you don’t go home early! After all, what was the point of having some freedom during your student days if you couldn’t even make friends?

Oops. I started out trying to avoid the prince, yet here I am, officially recognized as a close friend by Mikhail himself.

It never occurred to me I could be completely missing the mark.

Either way, the aspirations of the House of Selesnoa bugged me. The former empress was already from their house, so why were they so intent on putting another empress on the throne so soon?

“I cannot help but think it strange that the House of Selesnoa would be so eager to put another empress on the throne. They are the marquess house with the highest standing, are they not?”

Alexei nodded. “That is an excellent point. Under normal circumstances, the family of the empress holds great influence during her rule. In fact, the imperial family has a history of choosing empresses not so much for their personal qualities, but rather for the power of their house, depending on the needs of the court at the time. However, Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress Clementina was not one such empress. Grandfather told me that the previous emperor fell in love with her after hearing her sing. She is a wonderful singer, so talented that the God of Music once invited her to his garden.”

“Goodness! Is that so?!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening. That was very surprising. According to what I’d heard, only those with remarkable talent were invited to the garden of the God of Music. I’d had no idea the former empress was so amazing!

And she’s a singer? I really wish I could hear her sing...

But could one person truly balance being chosen by a god and standing at the pinnacle of human society as an empress?

“I heard that those who receive an invitation from the God of Music are brought into the Music Sanctuary. Was it not the case for Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress?”

“Entering the sanctuary is never an obligation. Those who do not wish to can go back to their former lives. Now that you mention it, though, it is quite strange. She is a reserved person. Considering her personality, I would have assumed she’d prefer to enter the sanctuary and live quietly while dedicating herself to her music...” Alexei said, his brows furrowing.

Oh, she was the modest sort? Since they hailed from the same family, I’d assumed she was just like Lydia—perfect, yet the sort to make others uneasy.

“She did enter the Music Sanctuary at one point,” Novak interjected. “She was then invited to sing at a celebration for the founding of the empire. That is where she caught the attention of the former emperor. It used to be a famous story when we were young. At the time, vocal training was all the rage among the noble ladies hoping to create a connection with the empress, and the Music Sanctuary was overflowing with young men and women.”

Huh! Come to think of it, there’d been a similar craze in Showa Japan—only with tennis instead. I’d learned about that from a TV show retracing the history of that era.

“Lady Flora, as a young lady from the capital, you might have heard this tale,” Novak added.

“I have,” Flora said with a nod. “When I visited the Music Sanctuary, I remember being told that things were that way a long time ago.”

Novak let out a strained laugh. “When you put it that way, I realize how much time has passed.” After that classic fifty-three-year-old man remark, his usual serious expression returned to his face. “The first Marquess of Selesnoa was the herald of Pyotr the Great. It is a distinguished house that has continued since the founding of the empire. However, they had never produced an empress until Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress Clementina. In the marquessate, the Selesnoas are known for favoring their historical vassals and implementing discriminatory policies against the indigenous population that lived on their land before the empire. Revolts have always been relatively frequent in their territory, so they never had the leeway to involve themselves with national politics much.”

I already knew that some houses favored their vassals and oppressed indigenous populations. When I’d first learned about it, it reminded me of the Yamauchi of Tosa. As it turned out, the House of Selesnoa was one of them—and by the looks of it, the most powerful and influential family to act in this way.

“When the Selesnoas learned that their young lady who’d shut herself in a sanctuary was coming out to wed an imperial prince, they thought their luck had turned. I heard the marquess danced wildly with joy. He already saw himself replacing the three grand dukes and wielding great influence as the empress’s father. However, reality was much different. The one the previous emperor chose to entrust the government to was none other than his brother-in-law, Duke Sergei.”

Oh, right!

The Marquess of Selesnoa must have been greatly vexed when he’d seen that the three grand ducal houses had still been the favored ones, even with an empress of his house on the throne. That said, wasn’t it a little hypocritical for him to attempt to overthrow the three grand dukes when his house only favored its oldest vassals in the marquessate?

“In the days of the previous emperor, the House of Selesnoa often tried to use the empress to pass bills or give family members important positions, but a great majority of their attempts ended in failure,” Novak said. “Just like His Grace said earlier, Lady Clementina is a reserved woman. She isn’t good at acting like an empress, and her mild-mannered nature allowed her sister-in-law, Lady Alexandra, to take control over the imperial palace. Lady Clementina was under the protection of the God of Music, so not even Lady Alexandra could disrespect her openly, but she never needed to. Lady Clementina seemed glad to leave most things to her.”

“The more I hear about her, the more I realize Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress and the young lady of House Selesnoa I met earlier couldn’t be any more different,” I said.

Novak nodded. “Lady Clementina was born the second of three sisters. Her older and younger sisters were both renowned for their beauty, and it seems Lady Clementina received very little attention growing up—although she was plenty beautiful. The recognition she received from the God of Music should have brought honor to her family and earned her better treatment, but, at the time, the House of Selesnoa was a military house, which may explain why her achievement wasn’t fairly celebrated. Although Lady Clementina has never confirmed it, some suspect that her main reason for entering the Music Sanctuary was to get away from her family. Yet this modest lady was suddenly made responsible for the rise or fall of her house, all because she happened to steal the emperor’s heart. While music is now important in the marquessate, it only started being promoted after Lady Clementina married into the imperial family. That sudden flip-flop wasn’t enough to get Lady Clementina to campaign in her family’s favor.”

Novak was quite harsh with his words sometimes. I completely agreed with him, though.

“In truth, just like the previous emperor, Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress always preferred Duke Sergei to the members of her own family. She thought of him as a brother. Lady Clementina did have a blood-related older brother, but the one who always came to her aid when the elders of her family made ridiculous requests was Duke Sergei. I also heard that Duke Sergei acted as a go-between for her and the previous emperor.”

I would have only been surprised if he hadn’t been involved. Our grandfather sure had loved playing matchmaker!

“At any rate, that’s why the House of Selesnoa is so hellbent on producing an empress who’ll improve their standing. Lady Lydia was raised to that end. It appears that she has a talent for music, just like Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress, and she is currently practicing in hopes of being invited to the God of Music’s garden. She seems to believe His Highness will fall for her if she secures the blessing of the god.”

Why? The God of Music isn’t the God of Matrimony, is he?

Well, receiving the blessing of a god and enjoying his protection could give her value as an individual in a way having a powerful family could not. According to Novak, not even the old hag had dared bother Lady Clementina thanks to her connection to the God of Music.

“His Highness spending part of the summer in the Yulnova Duchy must have given her a shock. I imagine that’s why she made contact with you in a way that would not infringe upon the unwritten rule.”

I could see the corners of Novak’s lips lifting as he said that, but I wasn’t sure I understood why.

Alexei ignored him and took my hand. “I care not for these unwritten rules, but I won’t allow anyone to disrespect you. If Lady Lydia does anything—no, if you feel she might be up to no good at any point, tell me at once.”

“Yes, brother. I shall do as you say.”

If I feel like she might be up to no good? We’re doing “Guilty until proven innocent,” huh?

Well, that’s my brother for you!

Despite that big conversation, my student life continued peacefully with no contact from Lydia at all.

I’d been so busy over the summer that I hadn’t had much time to prepare for my lessons. To make up for that, Flora and I always reviewed the classes of the day and studied up for the next day after school. The two of us had managed to rank in the top three at the end of the first semester. However, that didn’t change the fact that neither of us had received the education the other nobles had gotten since they were about five. We had years to make up for.

Our mana control class had also become harder since the start of the second semester. During practical classes, we were separated in groups based on our attributes and challenged to complete tasks.

Flora’s attribute was rare enough that only one person with it appeared per generation (at best), so there was no curriculum for her to follow. Instead, she had to research on her own and consult the teachers to decide on assignments as she went.

Thankfully, there was someone to help her out: Anatolie Moldo, my former tutor who now worked as an advisor for the Order of Yulnova. He’d been a researcher for the Astra Research Institute of the Yulmagnas and had long pursued a career in academia. As such, he was of tremendous help to Flora when it came to reviewing the available literature. He researched how the previous holy-mana wielders had trained their abilities and periodically sent her easy-to-understand summaries.

I was so busy that I hadn’t seen him in ages, but Flora had met with him several times over the summer. She’d even seen his elegant wife and adorable daughter. According to what she’d told me, Mr. Moldo’s three-year-old loved the sweets she always brought as a present. She called her “Snack Lady Number Two.” If you’re wondering, “Snack Lady Number One” wasn’t me, but Mina.

Flora’s current task was to learn how to heal. Apparently, holy mana was better suited to healing illnesses than it was to healing injuries. The Dragon King had told me that the essence of holy mana was circulation. Maybe the way it worked was by circulating some sort of life energy within the body?

The Dragon King’s words had made sense to Flora, at least. When I’d told her what he’d said, her beautiful purple eyes had widened, and she’d nodded several times in a row.

“I think I understand what he meant. You said using earth mana gives you the sensation of pouring mana into the earth, but in my case, it’s quite different. I feel myself...connecting with the world, if that makes sense.”

Considering what Flora had said back then, perhaps holy mana didn’t just circulate within the user’s body. Maybe she sucked in mana from the outside, circulated it through her body, and somehow created an even larger cycle outside.

Like the butterfly effect?

I didn’t understand much about holy mana, but making guesses was kind of fun.

The get-together centered around music that Marina had inspired us to host was slowly taking shape. As it turned out, Marina was the sort of girl who could come up with great ideas but had no planning skills whatsoever, which I’d more or less expected. Which meant I was the one handling most of the planning.

As an adult, I knew that these sorts of student events could turn into lifelong cherished memories, so I didn’t mind putting in some work. Of course, never hesitating to put in work was the main reason behind my early demise in my past life, but I could handle one little musical evening.

At the moment, I was in the middle of gauging how many people in our class were good with an instrument or could sing. Naturally, I asked the prickly cutie, Renato, but he sullenly told me that he “couldn’t take part,” because he had “things to do”—which was unlikely considering the fact that the date hadn’t been set.

In my heart, I tilted my head in puzzlement. Aloud, I asked him if there was an instrument he was good at.

“Anything that can make sound,” Renato answered smugly.

Olga later told me that Renato’s family, the viscount house of Selesar, was a branch of the House of Selesnoa.

After the former emperor fell in love with Lady Clementina, the musical arts started flourishing throughout the marquessate. Over there, Renato was a bit of a celebrity. Olga’s cheeks reddened with admiration as she told me he was a genius who could play every instrument with ease. Apparently, Lydia had taken a liking to him, and he visited her every day after school to accompany her vocal practice. That was probably why he knew he’d be busy for the musical evening.

So that’s why he was so confident!

To be honest, when I’d heard him answer, “Anything that can make sound,” my first thought had been Okay, chuuni boy. Apparently, though, it was true.

I’m sorry for assuming the worst. And Lydia practices every day? What a hardworking girl.

Still, Renato had been so sullen when he’d said he couldn’t come that it got me wondering if he actually wanted to. Maybe he hated tagging along with Lydia daily. If he truly was a genius, he probably wished he had more time to practice his own music, not just accompany Lydia.

“If he’s as talented as you say, I certainly would love to hear him play. I wonder if we could adjust the day of the musical evening so it fits Lord Selesar’s schedule... Speaking of which, will you participate, Lady Olga?”

“Of course, as long as it’s not on a day I have to serve Lady Lydia.”

Huh? Olga didn’t seem to have thought much of her response, but Flora and I shared a look of confusion.

“Um, Lady Olga, what do you mean by that?”

“Well, I sometimes have to clean her room or brew tea for her,” she replied, as though that was the most natural thing in the world.

I now understood one thing: As far as the vassals of House Selesnoa were concerned, whenever a daughter or son of House Selesnoa was at the academy, the children of their vassal houses had to act like maids for them.

Ew. That was a little gross. Forcing your schoolmates to work as maids was just repulsive! It was like those bullies who used other kids as their gofers in my previous world. And bullying was a no-no in my book.

At the Magic Academy, only the members of the imperial family or the three grand ducal houses who lived in the deluxe rooms were allowed to bring a maid with them. The other students, regardless of the importance of their houses, had to take care of themselves on their own. It wasn’t like there was much to do either. Meals were served at the cafeteria, and employees of the academy would do your laundry if you put your laundry basket out at certain times. The only thing students actually had to do was clean their rooms.

Still, considering the class system of this world, I understood why the daughter of a marquess refused to clean her own room. The only reason her making Olga do it bugged me so much was because I had memories of a world where things didn’t work this way.

I wonder if the other sons and daughters of marquesses do the same...

After giving it some thought, I concluded I didn’t really have the right to judge Lydia. I had Mina with me, so I’d never done any cleaning myself. Ugh, still! If you added that to the fact she’d totally ignored Flora last time, she was starting to get on my nerves!

“Lady Olga, has your house been in the marquessate for long?” I asked curiously.

“Indeed. My ancestors lived on that land before the empire was founded. Although our long history may as well be our only redeeming feature,” Olga replied with an embarrassed smile.

In other words, her family had been around before Pyotr the Great gave the Selesnoa that land—which meant they’d been mistreated and discriminated against over the years.

Urgh.

Depending on the class, we often had to change classrooms. For mana control, dance, music, art, martial arts (for the boys), and needlework (for the girls), we had to either go outside to the training grounds or to dedicated classrooms. Since the academy had been built for and by nobles, it was ridiculously large, and moving around took us quite a bit of time. For that reason, the interval between each class was much longer than in my past world. The lunch break was also very long. Considering all of that, we attended fewer classes per day than I had in my Japanese high school.

Four hundred years ago, when the Magic Academy had been established, accurate clocks were hardly widespread. This meant that people calculated time very loosely. That also must have been one of the reasons our daily schedules were so relaxed.

As I walked back to my main classroom after such a lesson, I ran into Alexei.

“Brother!”

“Ekaterina!”

Alexei extended a hand toward me.

I quickly excused myself to Flora, who was beside me, and trotted to my brother. Instead of simply taking his hand, I grabbed his arm and hugged it close. I was a koala once again today.

“What’s wrong?” Alexei asked.

“I was just feeling a little lonely.”

I hadn’t been able to rid myself of the strange annoyance I felt about Lydia, and I was a little out of sorts. Of course, what she was doing was ordinary by the standards of this world, but my memories prevented me from accepting it. It was like being an intruder in this world, which was probably why I felt so lonely. But the moment I saw Alexei’s face, that all went away.

Hooray for this life where I get to be his sister!

I smiled to myself as Alexei used his other arm—the one I wasn’t grabbing koala-style—to pull me into a proper hug.

“Are you still lonely?”

AAAH!!!

“AAH!!!”

“Not at all. How could I be when I have you by my side?” I replied. Despite my composed tone, I was perplexed. Did someone just...squeal?

I turned around to look in the direction of the noise and saw a group of girls walking away swiftly. Alexei’s classmates, I assumed.

Huh? What was that?

Another voice pulled me out of my confusion. “Hey. You guys are still that close, huh?”

“Lord Nikolai!”

I looked up at him with a smile. Nikolai Krymov was even taller than Alexei, with fiery red hair and a muscular frame. I let go of Alexei and bowed to greet him.

“It has been a long time. I’m glad to see you again.”

“Yep, it’s been ages,” Nikolai replied with a grin.

Nikolai was handsome in a different way from Alexei. He had the vibe of a reliable big brother. Alexei had told me that unlike his younger sister, Marina, Nikolai probably knew about the history between the houses of Yulnova and Krymov. However, he’d never brought it up directly or even hinted at it in Alexei’s presence.

“I heard our pet monkey is giving you a lot of work these days. Sorry about that,” Nikolai continued.

“Not at all. Lady Marina’s idea was delightful, and I’m very excited about it. If you have time, please join us to listen to Lady Marina’s singing.”

Marina didn’t know how to play any instrument, so she’d decided to sing. As per my evaluation of her singing in music class, the one thing I could say was...she had no problem getting her voice out at full volume! Her pitch wasn’t always perfect, but that was part of her charm.

Obviously, Alexei would be there. Even his advisors wanted to come, so I’d had to add a rule stating that only students were allowed, lest the situation get out of hand.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure I’ll hear her whether I like it or not. Knowing her, her voice will echo throughout the whole school,” Nikolai said. He started laughing when, suddenly, we heard a scream followed by hurried footsteps.

“Hey! Give it back!”

Two boys from my class appeared at the end of the corridor. They were both running, and one was chasing the other. It looked like the latter had stolen a notebook from the former. The one with the notebook was laughing, while the other looked desperate to get it back.

Just as the boy with the notebook was about to pass us by, Nikolai grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up. That was some impressive arm strength.

With his legs dangling in the air and his collar strangling him, the boy let out the strangest shriek before Nikolai dropped him on his backside.

I walked up to him and crouched down to snatch the notebook from him.

“This won’t do. A gentleman shouldn’t do such things. Don’t you see he doesn’t find it funny? And the corridors aren’t for running,” I warned.

I held the notebook to my chest and pretended to strike his forehead with my palm. I didn’t actually do it, of course. That would have been rude.

Then, I stood up and gave the other boy his notebook back. “Here, I believe this is yours.”

“Y-Yes... Thank you!”

Even though we were in the same class, I’d never talked to him before. As he accepted the notebook from me, the other boy staggered to his feet.

“I’m sorry...” he said, bowing his head low, before he darted away.

The one who’d gotten his notebook back followed behind him.

“Granted, they’re still first-years, but they really act like kids,” Nikolai said with a wry smile.

Alexei frowned. “I had no idea there were such troublemakers in your class. Perhaps I shall have them transferred somewhere else...”

“Please, there is no need for such measures, brother! They’re just back from home, where they must have felt like children again. I’m sure they’ll improve their behavior and act in a fashion that honors our academy soon enough.”

Don’t mess with the classes after an entire semester has already gone by. The teachers will cry, brother.

Besides, this was exactly what most fifteen-year-old boys were like. My brother, the prince, and Nikolai were the exception, not the rule.

Wait, maybe these two are a tad childish for high schoolers. They’re acting more like middle schoolers...but then again, that might not be so rare.

“Lady Ekaterina, the time...” Flora whispered to me, forcing me back to my senses.

“I’m so sorry for making you wait, Lady Flora. Brother, Lord Nikolai, it was a pleasure.”

Flora and I headed back to our classroom.

The two boys who’d been chasing each other fell heavily on their chairs as soon as they returned to the classroom. Then, they both collapsed over their desks.

The one who’d just retrieved his notebook was still holding it close. It was actually something he’d brought back from home. It was full of (made-up) incantations and (equally fake) magic circles he’d written down in his childhood, for when he awakened his extraordinary mana. This was the sort of ridiculous past that a lot of unremarkable second and third sons shared. In this world, too, the chuuni curse befell many youngsters.

This particular former chuuni boy had retrieved his notebook from home because he was terrified his older siblings might stumble upon it, but he’d brought it to class by mistake. His desperate (yet not-so-discreet) attempt to keep it hidden had attracted the attention of one of his classmates with whom he didn’t get along well. That was how he’d found himself chasing after the other boy to get it back. As he ran, he’d resolved to burn the damn notebook the second it was back in his hands.

“Here, I believe this is yours.”

The voice of the young lady of the House of Yulnova echoed in his head.

This was the first time she’d ever addressed him. And she’d smiled at him. She was even prettier up close. He’d been able to see the blue speckled in her purple eyes—and what beautiful eyes...

On top of that...

She held the notebook to her chest. Oh, beautiful blue rose...

While he was reverently thinking of her elegant nickname, the only thing that he could think about was her chest. Had he been alone, he would have pushed his face against the paper and sniffed it with all his might.

Then, a voice pulled him out of his reverie: “I wish she had slapped me...”

The former chuuni boy lifted his head despite himself. His classmate who’d just spoken seemed to feel him staring, and he raised his head as well. Horror took over his features as he realized he’d just spoken aloud—only for the horror to turn to surprise when his classmate gave him a thumbs-up.

I totally get you. A slap from that pale hand would feel like heaven.

“This won’t do.” The way she’d said that had been delightful. He wished she would say that to him, while glaring at him a little, if possible!

Wait, wouldn’t it be even better if she blushed while saying it?!

While he hadn’t said a word, his thoughts seemed to have reached his classmate just fine, and he smiled. This was the start of an unlikely friendship, which—contrary to all expectations—would last a lifetime.

The preparations for the musical evening progressed with surprising ease.

If I’d tried to organize a similar event in Japan, I might have struggled to find enough performers. With modesty as one of the most prized virtues in Japanese society, many wouldn’t have come forward of their own accord, even if they’d known they had the necessary skills. In the empire, however, there was no such value. Nobles liked recitals and often organized them. They didn’t attend them just to listen either; they performed too. The same went for poetry and theater. Nobles loved to gather to read the verses they’d written or put on plays. In this time period, with no internet and no TV, people had to create their own entertainment. Since they couldn’t watch or listen to professionals performing that often, they weren’t as demanding about quality either. Even if you sucked a little, no one batted an eye.

So, asking around a few times was all it took to secure enough singers and musicians. I got permission to use the music room after class for the venue. No one said it clearly, but the school also seemed inclined to turn a blind eye to us bringing food and drinks, so I decided to prepare on that front too. Without refreshments, I was afraid those who came to listen would have nothing to do with their hands. Not to mention that, nobility or not, high school students were always hungry.

I tried to pick a date that could work for Renato, the prickly cutie, but apparently there were “no such days.” In the end, I let him know that he was welcome to attend and perform even without prior notice if he found himself with some free time on his hands on the day in question.

All these discussions drew the attention of several of our classmates, and rumors of our musical evening soon spread so far and wide that I expected we would have a lot of spectators.

The prince also caught wind of it, and when I ran into him during lunch break, he told me he was looking forward to it.

He looks really eager to come.

“I heard you and Flora sing on the Rapidus. You have great voices,” he said.

“We’re actually planning to sing the song we were rehearsing on the boat,” I replied. “You’ve heard it already, so I’m afraid our performance might bore you.”

“Not at all. In fact, I’m glad to hear that! I was hoping to listen to it again. That song really stuck with me. The same goes for the crew of the Rapidus, you know. I heard several of them humming it.”

Looks like the hits of my old world are just as popular here.

“Did you come up with that tune?” Mikhail asked.

EEK! CAUGHT!

“N-No... I, um, knew it from before. I learned it from...my mother. She taught it to me when I was young.”

Sorry about that, mother! But better to lie than pretend that I’d written one of the most popular songs of the past few years in my past world. I couldn’t handle that.

“I see. Your mother was often lauded as a perfect noble lady. It appears she had remarkable artistic sensibilities as well.”

“Why, I appreciate you complimenting her.”

Urgh. My chest hurts from all the lies.

“My grandfather loves music,” Mikhail continued. “He’s your granduncle, so you should visit him sometimes. I’m sure he’d love to hear this song too.”

In my mind, I let out the same high-pitched cry as the sugar beets that had become our regional mascots. What do you mean I should go see the previous emperor?! That sounds terrifying!

But...he’s right.

I’d never considered the matter before, but the previous emperor was the younger brother of my grandmother. That made him my granduncle. Since he was family, it would make sense for me to visit him...

Urgh. What should I do? I felt as flustered as the sugar beets when they flapped their leaves in panic.

That left me wondering: Why did the idea scare me so much when I’d already spoken to the emperor and empress and was good friends with Mikhail?

Wait, no, I was just as scared before the imperial visit. Maybe I’m just made to panic.

“I shall consult my brother on the matter...” I said.

“Of course, you do that. But don’t worry, he’s a very kind person, and I’ll go with you when you see him. You’ll be just fine.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Prince Mikhail. I shall be in your care when the moment comes.”

Shoot! I’d spoken without thinking! What was I doing creating more connections with Mikhail all on my own?

The planning continued smoothly for a while longer—until a few days before the musical evening.

“I’m terribly sorry, Lady Ekaterina, but I won’t be able to participate,” Olga told me. Her shoulders slumped in dejection.

I was taken aback and asked her why. Apparently, Olga now had to clean Lydia’s room every single day leading up to the event.

Wait, what? I have so many questions that I don’t know which one to ask first!

“But... Why, Lady Olga?”

“I’m not sure. I imagine it must be Lady Selesnoa’s decision...”

What do you mean you “imagine”?

“Did Lady Selesnoa not request that of you herself?”

“I cannot speak to her directly because I’m from an indigenous house. When I clean her room, I must always finish before she returns so she doesn’t have to look at me. I received these orders from Lord Selesar instead. Although he also seemed very annoyed when we talked...”

I was starting to understand. The indigenous people of Selesnoa couldn’t even talk to the members of the marquess’s family.

Seriously, she’s treated like a maid if she’s forced to scurry before Lydia sees her.

Mina was a maid, and the two of us spoke every day, but I knew that wasn’t what a normal relationship with a servant looked like. Leaving aside the particular circumstances we were in at the academy, the young lady of a ducal house wouldn’t normally speak directly to a maid. In my case, I did talk to the maids—even in the duchy—but that was partly because I was the lady of the house and had to coordinate work.

Now, while I was unusual, the rules of the House of Selesnoa struck me as unusual too. As far as the laws of the empire were concerned, Olga was a noble lady. Even if she worked for another lady, she should be treated like a waiting maid, not a regular maid. Having her hide her presence was a bit much—and making her clean every day already sounded like bullying.

I had no proof, of course, but I had the feeling that Olga wasn’t the intended target. It was me. Maybe Lydia saw the musical evening I was organizing as a challenge. After all, the prince had said he’d come.

He’s not coming to see me or anything of the like, you know?

I knew that was true, but I was pretty sure that even if I told Lydia, she wouldn’t believe a word I said. Besides, she hadn’t said anything directly herself. If I confronted her and she told me she’d never said anything of the sort, I risked making Olga look like a liar. Urgh...

“I’m sorry, Lady Ekaterina. I was looking forward to it, but there’s no telling when I might be done. The cleaning isn’t what takes the most time. The issue is that I must wait until Lady Selesnoa leaves her room, and since I have no way to estimate when that might be, I’m afraid I won’t be able to participate at all... I apologize for the sudden change of plans. It must disrupt your careful planning.”

She seemed so down that I scrambled to reassure her. “Please, don’t let it weigh on your mind, Lady Olga. If I looked deep in thought, it’s only because I was thinking of a way for you to attend. I shall consider this some more, as I truly hope you’ll be with us.”

Olga seemed to have been looking forward to the event so much that I truly wanted to do something for her. I hoped I could find a way to do that without antagonizing the House of Selesnoa. I wasn’t used to conflicts between nobles. To be honest, this sort of fighting wasn’t my specialty.

Thus, I figured it was time for some communication. Reporting, contacting, and consultation were the basis of adult society, and its perpetual challenges!

New employees were told that if they reported to their superior, they’d receive good advice that could lead to the resolution of their issues. Eventually, that wasn’t enough anymore. People had to learn how to solve issues themselves, by looking for the appropriate experts to consult among the relationships they’d fostered. From there, they had to take the first step to solve their issues and follow through to the end. The tricky part was that every problem was different. No matter how much experience they had, no one in the world could figure out how to fix every problem. They had to perpetually expand their networks and learn new approaches in the hope of becoming adaptable to as many situations as possible.

Or so my years as a corporate drone had taught me.

Now, there were two people I could reach out to about this particular issue. The first was my brother, naturally. He was more or less my hierarchical superior, so reporting to him was a matter of course. Considering my position, it was my duty. As the Duke of Yulnova, he had oodles of influence and leverage. To put it in terms from my past world, he was more or less the CEO of the zaibatsu that had once existed.

To think that such an impressive man was obsessed with his little sister! It was almost unbelievable. And there were times when I was disappointed in myself for not being strong enough to compete with him. How do I show that I’m even more of an Alexei fangirl than he’s an Ekaterina fanboy, huh?!

All right, let’s leave the stupid (non)issues for later, when I’m free. I’ve got real issues to tackle.

To sum it up, Alexei was an option, and he was amazing.

The thing was, this problem revolved around Lydia, a member of the House of Selesnoa. Her house was a completely distinct entity from the House of Yulnova. Just reporting to my brother wouldn’t be enough to solve the issue. Anyway, since this had to do with internal matters of the Selesnoa Marquessate, there was a chance he’d be accused of interfering with their business if he got involved, and that wouldn’t be good.

Alexei was a very competent leader, so he’d never do anything of the sort—if he was thinking straight. I couldn’t have been sure what he would do if I was involved!

I’ll report to him, but I won’t seek his help. I absolutely can’t.

That left me with the other person I could ask for advice. Someone who could have some influence on the House of Selesnoa.

I waited for lunch break to talk to the one person I knew I’d run into: Mikhail, who came asking for a bite of food as usual.

“Prince Mikhail, if that’s all right with you, may I have some of your time after class?” I asked.

“Of course,” he agreed immediately.

“I see. I will accompany you, then,” Alexei declared after I told him what was going on.

I almost fell flat to the floor in shock. I didn’t, though—I was a proper lady.

“I couldn’t possibly take up your time for something so insignificant. It is but a tiny issue I’m having with the event I’m planning with my classmates. I simply reported it to you because I thought you should be aware of everything, as the head of our house. Please, do not concern yourself with this.”

“Good girl,” Alexei said. “You were right to do so. This is an issue I must keep in mind, as it shows the House of Selesnoa has bared its fangs in an attempt to expand its influence. Worse, they hurt your feelings. I could hardly forgive that.”

Those last few words were delivered with a bone-chilling smile.

Brother...please don’t go overboard. The fact that everyone but Novak nodded worried me even more. Guys? Your job is to stop him when he says stuff like this, not to encourage him!

“At any rate, an unmarried young man and young woman meeting alone should be avoided. I’ll accompany you as your guardian.”

Ah. That was a very valid point. As a noble lady, I couldn’t possibly argue with that. However, as a former businesswoman, I couldn’t help but feel awkward at the idea of my direct superior accompanying me to a meeting like this. I’d sought out Mikhail so I could get help from someone other than Alexei, after all.

Still, I can’t say that!

If Alexei were just my brother, having him chaperone me would have been common sense. But he was also the head of my house and a duke. That made finding the right balance a tad difficult.

“I’ll go with Lady Ekaterina, Your Grace,” Flora firmly declared. “If I’m to ever serve her, going with her to such meetings will become part of my duties. I assure you that, even if the one she’s meeting is the prince, I’ll make sure he shows her proper respect, as befits her station.”

F-Flora? Why do I see flames behind her?

“Lady Flora... As I told you, I’d be overjoyed to have you after we graduate, if that is your wish,” I said. “However, at the moment, the two of us are simply friends. I couldn’t possibly ask you to serve as my chaperone when I attend to personal matters.”

“This is for the good of the musical evening and the good of our class. As your classmate, this meeting will benefit me too. Besides, I also feel bad for Lady Olga. I know how much she was looking forward to performing.”

Urgh, can’t argue with that either. She’s right. Poor Olga!

Another voice chimed in: “I will accompany her ladyship as well, Your Grace. I vow to protect her.”

Hey, Ivan? I’m just going to chat with a friend after class. I don’t exactly need protection. Wait... Do I? Lydia wouldn’t plan an attack on me, would she?

“Fine, that will do. But make sure to take Mina along, Ekaterina.”

Alexei didn’t sound entirely convinced, but he’d finally agreed, so I rushed to seal the deal. “Yes, brother, I will!”

I had no idea why I needed such an ironclad defense, though.

Are my past life experiences failing me here? Were they useless because my work-life balance had always been awful in my past life? Or maybe I’m the problem...

Mikhail and I were supposed to meet at the gazebo. As I hurried toward it, I wondered if he’d be surprised when he saw my three companions (or bodyguards). Good manners dictated that the person of lower rank had to arrive first and wait. I was starting to grow accustomed to these rules.

Mikhail arrived a little late, as was polite for the person of higher rank. But he’d found the perfect balance and had barely made me wait.

“Hey. Sorry for the wait,” he said.

“Thank you for meeting me.” As we exchanged greetings, I looked behind Mikhail. He hadn’t come alone either.

“Don’t mind him. Just think of him as a curious onlooker.” Mikhail smiled. Unlike his usual smiles, I could tell from a glance that he wasn’t actually pleased. Behind him, his nimble attendant, Lucas, was smirking like he was having a great time. It made his eyes, which were already almost as narrow as pieces of thread, even thinner.

“Um, I’m sorry I brought so many people with me,” I said.

The only reason I was commenting on it was that Ivan was quite nearby for an attendant. On top of that, his usual friendly smile had been replaced by a stern expression. He looked even more serious than Mina as he faced Lucas.

What’s wrong, Ivan?

Come to think of it, Ivan and Lucas had also been there when I’d spoken with the prince in the duchy. Ivan had even said something about a fox coming out. The sprawling garden of the academy was so lush and green that I supposed there had to be a few fox dens within the premises. Was he worried another fox would show up? Even if one did, it wasn’t that big of a deal, though.

“Since Flora is here, we could have Lucas and the others take a few steps back.”

I was hoping Mikhail’s suggestion would help Ivan calm down a little, and I nodded, relieved.

The three of us sat under the gazebo, with Flora and I next to one another, facing Mikhail.

There were no walls, just a roof and pillars to support it, so Ivan, Mina, and Lucas could see us from the outside just fine. So, this meeting would not impact my or Flora’s reputations as proper young ladies in the slightest. Despite the harmless circumstances, Flora still seemed weirdly fired up and had Mikhail and me scoot the opposite direction on our respective benches.

I wasn’t sure why she was so keen on having us move, but I couldn’t help but enjoy seeing her speak so confidently with Mikhail.

These two have grown so close! Could there still be hope she’ll hop onto his route real soon?

I might have been way off the mark without realizing it, but perhaps that was for the best—or perhaps it wasn’t. Who knew?

Once we were settled, I told Mikhail about the Olga situation.

“So that’s what Lydia decided to do...” He sighed. “You were right to come to me for advice. The Selesnoas are staunch traditionalists. They believe a clear hierarchy is the cornerstone of stability and strongly enforce this ideal in their domain. In the marquessate, the clothes, hairstyles, and even the size of people’s houses are predetermined based on rank.”

“My...” While that shocked me, this wasn’t the first I heard of such laws. Medieval Europe and Edo Japan had worked in much the same way, with sumptuary laws limiting what people could use and wear. The scope of these laws had been very different from country to country and from era to era, but they’d been a thing in many places.

I guess it’s not that strange for that way of thinking to exist in this world too.

“If you’d tried to protest the way Lydia treats Lady Florus, her direct vassal, you could have started a controversy. If the students of traditionalist houses and reformist houses start clashing in earnest, your musical evening will be the least of people’s worries.”

Seriously? Had that been Lydia’s objective? Had she hoped to involve the entire school—no, a controversy like this one would likely have reached the adults outside the school as well—and invite a storm of criticism my way?!

The more Mikhail spoke, the wider my eyes opened. Next to me, Flora was just as speechless. The heroine of the game had the potential to produce miracles, but not even she could do much about things she didn’t understand.

“She must have noticed your closeness with Flora and then come up with this idea. I don’t think she’s aiming to create a big uproar, but she wants to see how you’ll react. She believes pulling off this sort of thing shows what an outstanding noble lady she is.”

Ick... I knew I shouldn’t judge her by the values of my past world, but I couldn’t really help myself. I was trying to understand, I really was, but it irked me.

“But it seems you don’t agree, Prince Mikhail,” I said.

He smiled. I was convinced he wouldn’t give me a clear answer and dodge the remark, but he actually shook his head and looked at me with a serious expression.

“Well, I do think she’s clever, but I can’t say it gives me a good impression of her. Creating trouble for so many just to achieve your personal goals, and not feeling the slightest bit ashamed about it, isn’t what I’d call outstanding.”

Oh, I’m so glad to hear you think so!

“One day, you will be in charge of this empire’s stability,” I said with a smile. “If you look at this situation from this point of view, I imagine that is the most natural conclusion.”

The smile returned to Mikhail’s face. “Tell me, Ekaterina, what do you want to do about this?”

“I...have no intention of telling the Selesnoas how they should run their marquessate. If they have continued to do things this way for so long, I suppose there must have been a need for it, at least to some extent. I’m aware it is not my place to interfere when I know nothing about the marquessate.”

Although, on a personal level, their methods disgust me.

Nevertheless, the marquessate had its own history and its own circumstances. I couldn’t just comment willy-nilly based solely on my value system, which didn’t even stem from this world. Besides, if my past world had taught me anything, it was that suddenly removing dictators who’d ruled with terror could leave countries in worse states than they’d started in. The Middle East was a prime example of that.

If I spoke up, it wouldn’t help Olga. If anything, I risked putting her between a rock and a hard place.

“I just wish Lady Olga could participate in the event with the rest of our class,” I continued. I sighed. “Really, that’s all I want.”

If Lydia could hear me, she’d probably laugh. My way of looking at things was a hundred percent that of a commoner.

Political influence? What’s that? Can I eat it?

Leaving aside the jokes, I didn’t think Lydia was amazing or clever. If she became the empress as she wished, every person in the empire would become her subject. What was the point of picking fights with those below her? I didn’t see how that was a good plan in the long term. She should have been seeking win-win resolutions instead. Besides, as the empress, she’d have to spend the rest of her life serving this country. She’d be better off enjoying her short years as a student, not playing power games like adults.

That was exactly what Mikhail was doing.

“To be honest, I’d be happy to have Lady Lydia attend our event as well,” I said. “It may be difficult, as we planned it to foster friendly relationships within our class, but I wish she could have fun like we are. Our years at the academy are short.”

Mikhail smiled. “I see. In that case, the best way to handle this might just be to organize another recital. I’ll make sure Lydia participates in that one.”

Oho, what a master plan! Olga could clean up Lydia’s room while she was at that other event, and then join our class for the musical evening!

“I have a condition, though,” Mikhail added.

Huh?

“To get Lydia to attend, I’ll have to be there, which means I won’t be able to listen to your class’s recital. So, to make up for that, I’d like you to sing for me at another time,” he said with a mischievous grin.

I was pretty sure Mikhail was only making this request so I wouldn’t feel bad about being indebted to him. I beamed at the thought. You’re such a good guy, Prince!

“My voice is nothing much, but if you’d like to listen to that song, I’ll sing it for you as many times as you wish!”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to that,” he answered.

I turned to Flora. “I’m sorry I accepted without consulting you, Lady Flora.”

“Don’t apologize, Lady Ekaterina. It’s always an honor to sing alongside you. I’ll do my best!” she exclaimed with a lovely smile. She took my hands in hers.

“Um...you’ll sing...together?” Mikhail asked. His smile had stiffened.

Flora and I nodded in unison. “Why, of course. We practiced it as a duet. And I’d love for you to hear Lady Flora. She sings remarkably well!”

“You’re a remarkable singer, Lady Ekaterina. I’ve never heard someone with such precise pitch!”

Mikhail’s mouth opened, but he couldn’t butt into our exchange of praise. Eventually, he grinned awkwardly, as though he’d given up on something, and whispered, “Oh well, that’ll do.”

The gazebo had no walls, and anyone could see what was going on under it. On top of that, one maid and two attendants were posted around, a few paces away. Their presence, which was rather unusual at the academy, caught the attention of some passersby and encouraged them to glance inside the gazebo.

Under the stone arches were the crown prince of the empire and the young lady of the House of Yulnova, engrossed in conversation. It was a sight that anyone who laid eyes upon the scene would remember. And in the onlookers’ eyes, while the meeting did not appear scandalous in the slightest, the pair certainly seemed close—very close.

As far as Mikhail was concerned, that was a somewhat satisfactory result.

He couldn’t help his scheming. Ever since the start of the second semester, Ekaterina’s popularity, which had already been pretty high, had skyrocketed. He knew that countless male students were looking forward to her class’s musical evening, even though they didn’t care for music, just to get a chance to gaze upon her.

Yet Ekaterina was as innocent and defenseless as ever. He had to keep all these men in check one way or another. He knew rumors would fly when he went to Lydia’s performance instead of Ekaterina’s, so he was glad people had seen them together like this.

Just the thought that some might look down on Ekaterina infuriated him. To him, yes, Lydia was a brilliant noble lady. However, or perhaps exactly because of that, he saw her as just one of the many nobles who never stopped fighting over power and influence. Ekaterina, on the other hand, saw life through a different prism. She sometimes looked at things like a commoner would, but she still retained the ability to judge the big picture, as though she were seeing everything from high above. Conversing with her was always fun.

And today, like every other day, she was absolutely breathtaking.

On the following day, Olga ran up to me.

“Lady Ekaterina! I can come to the musical evening after all!”

Olga excitedly told me how Lydia had been asked to demonstrate her singing on the same day as our musical evening, at the prince’s request. Lydia had been overjoyed at the prospect and hadn’t spared a thought for Olga since. Since Mikhail would be inviting musicians from the palace to accompany her, she didn’t need Renato either and had given him leave for the day.

“I’m glad to hear that. It’ll be our pleasure to have you,” I replied calmly, while deep down I screamed to myself, Thank you, Prince!!!

As far as I was concerned, the musical evening was just a regular get-together with a fancy name. I’d never intended for it to be anything more than the fun karaoke parties we’d held after competitions with my choir friends, so I was pretty surprised by how much the situation had escalated. Still, the preparations were complete, and the event was going forward as planned.

We’d allowed students from other classes to come and spectate, so I’d borrowed chairs from other classrooms to accommodate them. Suddenly, as I looked around the room, I realized I’d greatly underestimated the number who would come. Even the corridor outside the music room was packed full of students; there were tons of people here!

I’d planned for a karaoke party, but this was shaping up to be a real recital.

Urgh... No, it’s okay. I’ve done recitals in community centers in front of hundreds of people before. In comparison, this is nothing! I’ll be just fine!

I was in the middle of that mental pep talk when, as if by magic, my worries dissipated. Alexei, accompanied by Nikolai, had just walked into the room. They stepped forward, and the crowd cleared a path for them as they moved. Although he was still a student, Alexei was already the Duke of Yulnova—a celebrity in the eyes of his peers. For some reason, though, I sensed that the crowd took particular note of his presence today.

“Brother!”

“Ekaterina.” Alexei pulled me in a gentle hug.

I squealed inwardly, then heard others do so outwardly.

Huh? Again?

I lifted my head as I got hit with déjà vu and noticed a cluster of third-year girls outside the window. They darted away from the glass when they noticed my gaze.

Alexei’s classmates! I knew it.

I had a feeling that not commenting on their presence was the right call, so I ignored them. However, that got me thinking. As a noble lady, clinging to my brother at school wasn’t exactly proper. Was I hurting the graceful image of the Yulnova or the majesty of my brother?

“Is something wrong?” Alexei asked, noticing the shift in my expression. He caressed my cheek softly, and I lowered my head.

“I was wondering,” I whispered anxiously, “if I behave too much like a spoiled child around you. As a daughter of the House of Yulnova, should I not lead by example and maintain the poise and solemnity of a proper lady?”

“You may act however you like. Your kindness and natural grace are exemplary enough,” Alexei replied without a shred of hesitation. “I could hardly describe how much the sight of you walking up to me with a smile on your face brightens my life. My Ekaterina... You’re my Queen of the Night and my Goddess of Light. Keep following your heart and casting your light as you see fit, for it illuminates the world and makes it a beautiful place.”

“Oh, brother...”

His Ekaterina filter has gotten a light-intensity update! It never stops improving!

The villainess being the Goddess of Light was so ridiculous, I didn’t know what to say. Regardless, I couldn’t help but admire Alexei’s devotion. I had to climb to his level to keep calling myself a proper Alexei fangirl! I wasn’t sure our way of constantly outdoing each other in this particular area was a good avenue to follow, but I didn’t care! My doubts had been cleared up! If it made my brother happy, I’d keep running into his arms every chance I got. Besides, it was a little late to worry about my image in this regard.

“You guys are as close as ever...” Nikolai commented, gazing into the distance.

Oops, sorry.

“Welcome, Lord Nikolai. Lady Marina will be the third to sing. I hope you enjoy yourself today.”

“Thanks,” he said. “And sorry. It must have been hell listening to our monkey screech.”

Just as he said that, Marina arrived.

“Brother!” she yelled. “Why are you always so insensitive?! You just listened to His Grace’s beautiful words, and you say that?! You’re the monkey! No, that’d be an insult to monkeys. You’re an ugly toad! I hope you’ll learn how to behave like a human being soon!”

“So what, you want me to speak to you like the duke does to her, now, is that it?!”

Marina didn’t seem to have considered that, and she paused for a moment before she made a disgusted sneer. “I think I’d rather die.”

“Hey!”

Their friendly bickering always brought a smile to my face. While their way of expressing it might have been different, I could tell they loved each other very much, just like Alexei and me.

Not long after this little talk, Olga returned from the dorms after finishing cleaning up Lydia’s room, which meant the musical evening could finally start.

Since I was pretty much the organizer, I was to open the soirée. That was the main reason I’d gotten so anxious when I’d noticed there were far more spectators than I’d anticipated.

“First of all, allow me to express my great joy at being reunited with all of you for this second semester. I sincerely pray this modest gathering will foster deeper relationships among the members of our class. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the students from other classes, our dear guests. I hope you’ll enjoy our performances, inexpert as they may be.”

I was freaking out inside, but I knew it didn’t show. On the outside, I was the composed, noble, and dignified lady of a ducal house. Everyone else must have agreed, because the start of my address earned me a warm round of applause.

“We have decided to perform in the order in which we put forward our names, and so the very first performance of this musical evening will be a duet between me”—I paused and extended my hand toward Flora, who was waiting to the side—“and my dear friend, Lady Flora. I apologize in advance if we offend your ears, but please bear with us.”

I could see on Flora’s face that she was as stressed as I was. I squeezed her hand.

Everything’s gonna be okay. Fewer than a hundred people fit in this room, and this is just a school performance. Even if we mess up, we’ll have a funny story to tell.

I was nervous too, so I felt a little hypocritical, but I still hoped my unspoken encouragement reached her.

Thankfully, Flora smiled. The two of us looked at one another, then we started singing.

At this time of the year, the late summer heat still lingered, but a cool breeze swept through the music room as our song of snow and raging storms filled the air.

This song had been a global hit in my past world. While I’d listened to it in Japanese, the original version was in English, and from what I knew, the nuance of the lyrics in both languages was pretty different. Apparently, the English version focused on the loneliness of the character and her pain. The Japanese version, on the other hand, put the emphasis on her feeling of liberation and her affirmation of herself as she was. It had been altered to a brighter, more encouraging song.

The song had been translated into a bunch of languages, but the Japanese version was unique in this regard. I’d read in an online article that it’d been well received, even abroad. On top of that, several lines in the movie the song had been written for had been translated a little differently to match the nuance of the song in Japanese, so the general vibe the movie gave off was a tad different from the English release. According to the article, that was why the movie had been especially successful in Japan.

I’d used the Japanese version as my base to translate it into the language of the empire. Although, to be honest, I couldn’t really have done things differently even if I’d wanted to, because I only remembered the chorus of the English version. Still, the Japanese lyrics were the reason I absolutely wanted to make Flora sing this song!

With her beautiful, clear soprano, Flora sang the main melody. Her voice carried so well that I had no doubt even the people outside the room could hear her. I, a mezzo-soprano with a good sense of pitch, was mainly in charge of the harmonies, although I occasionally stepped into a solo to add a touch of flair to the piece. Despite not having an accompaniment, our a cappella singing was stable. We didn’t betray the slightest hint of nervousness or let our audience regret the lack of instruments. The seamless transitions from beautiful harmonies to solos brought depth and drew in the listeners, surprising them with our constant shifts.

Flora and I smiled as we sang. We held hands and made use of our recent dance training to make one another spin from time to time, which added a visual element to the performance. The audience was enraptured.

We were at school, and our audience was made up of adolescent boys and girls. While they were all from houses of different importance, they were all nobles. The burdens they carried were like shackles to them, and not a single one of them was free from pressure. This song, which boldly promoted self-acceptance, must have been enticing.

Once we finished, Flora and I bowed. A generous round of applause followed. It soon turned into a standing ovation, despite this having been the first performance of the evening.

Whoa, I wasn’t expecting such a big reaction. Guess I was underestimating the impact of one of the biggest hit songs of my past world.

I couldn’t look flustered in front of Flora, so I smiled, gracefully accepting the applause—but deep down, I was very flustered.

Alexei was also standing and clapping louder than anyone in the room. He looked remarkably moved.

Well, that’s my brother for you, I thought.

This time, though, I could tell it wasn’t just due to his Ekaterina filter. The lyrics had resonated with him. He’d heard Flora and me practicing on the ship, but I doubted he’d properly listened to the entire lyrics from start to finish before. Considering the look on his face, he was projecting my story onto them.

To be honest, I hadn’t only thought of Flora, the heroine, while translating the lyrics. I’d also thought they matched my story to a tee. From hiding in my shell, drowning in loneliness yet unable to exchange a single word with my brother, to shaking off my past and gaining the freedom to speak, and smile, and live. Granted, regaining the memories of my past life had had a lot to do with that, and I wasn’t exactly free with the doom flags looming over me and my brother. I did also spend a lot of time worrying over them...

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at the thought. Oh well.

Leaving that aside, the song was about ice and snow—attributes that were connected to my brother. That was something else I loved about this song and part of why I’d had so much fun translating it. I was pretty sure it was also part of what had moved Alexei so much. He seemed so touched.

I’m sorry, though, the words aren’t mine... I’m a fraud... My eyes met Alexei’s, and he smiled brightly at me. Aaaah, scratch that, I’m fine with being a fraud! If it makes you this happy, anything’s fine! Your happiness is my number one priority!

Now, what actually surprised me was that even our class’s resident prickly cutie, Renato, had stood up to clap. His cheeks were flushed, and he seemed sincerely affected. As a music prodigy, he probably understood the sheer genius of this song on a deeper level. I really wished I could contact the songwriters in my past world. I wanted to tell them that even in a whole other world, the song they’d written could inspire people. It truly was a beautiful thing.

That said, while I’d hoped to liven up the atmosphere with the first song, I certainly hadn’t expected such a reaction.

Sorry about that, upcoming performers.

Wait, there’s no need to worry, I realized. Next up is the Right Right Trio.

Trying to order the performances by rank or skill would have been confusing—and troublesome—so we’d decided to just have those who’d signed up first go first. When I’d first started recruiting performers, those three had rushed at me with the force of a storm.

I’m sure you’ll do amazing. I believe in your strength and vitality!

Spoilers: I really didn’t need to worry.

They did a wonderful job cooling down the atmosphere of the music room—in a good way. They didn’t let the sheer excitement of the crowd get to them one bit and performed their piano, violin, and flute trio without a hitch. When they were done, they seemed satisfied with themselves, and so was I. To express my gratitude, I clapped warmly for them.

The third to take the stage was Marina and two boys. One of them played the piano while she and the other sang a famous song everyone in the empire knew. Marina’s voice was just like her—warm and energetic, and it put everyone in a good mood.

Personally, my favorite part was watching Nikolai’s reactions. When he saw that his sister had partnered up with boys, he twitched uncontrollably before proceeding to glare at them with the expression of a wrathful Nio statue while they discussed the final details before their performance. Then, as they performed, he trembled with worry whenever Marina’s pitch went a little wonky. He ran through so many different facial expressions in just a few minutes that I was almost impressed by the end. No matter what he said, he truly cared for his little sister a lot.

The show continued with a friendly atmosphere. After the fourth performance, we took a short break to enjoy some refreshments. Flora and I served our mushroom and bacon quiches. We’d made them early this morning, but quiches stayed fresh for a surprisingly long time, and we’d made sure they’d remained in the storeroom below the kitchen. It was cool there throughout the day, even in the summer, so I wasn’t particularly worried about their freshness. This was another of the baroness’s recipes, and the balance of sweetness and saltiness was outstanding.

If Mikhail had been able to come, we’d have baked some sweets, but he was probably having a much fancier meal with Lydia as we spoke. Since he wasn’t there—and to make things easier—we’d simply made several quiches instead.

We were holding this event potluck-style, so most people had brought something, and there was enough food to go around. Despite that, everyone came up to us asking for some quiche. We started cutting smaller pieces, but they disappeared in a flash nevertheless.

Flora and I shared a look and smiled. It felt nice having people like what you cooked.

Little did I know that, hidden within the crowd, some of the boys were waging epic battles over the slices of quiche baked by the Blue Rose and the Cherry Blossom of the academy.

Needless to say, I gave two of the bigger slices to Alexei and Nikolai. I wasn’t an Alexei fangirl for nothing. Alexei getting the best was the most fundamental law of the universe.

Wait, what law? What am I even talking about?

There were only eight performances scheduled for the musical evening to keep the event slow and relaxed. After the refreshment break, it was time for the second half.

The fifth and sixth performances were both lovely. I could see why the participants had all volunteered gladly. It was obvious they’d been practicing their respective instruments since they were very young, and everyone clapped for them enthusiastically.

The last two performers were Renato and Olga. Technically, Olga had registered to participate much earlier than Renato, but since she’d had to clean Lydia’s room before coming, we’d put her last so she wouldn’t feel like she had to rush.

His turn had come, so Renato stood up. Surprisingly enough, though, he walked up to me and Flora. He straightened his posture, took on a very earnest expression, and said, “Lady Yulnova, Lady Cherny, your performance was splendid. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to play the song you sang.”

Flora and I shared a look of puzzlement.

“But, Lord Selesar... You heard that song for the first time today, did you not?” I asked.

“It was my first time hearing anything like it at all. It was so novel that my heart trembled. Since hearing it, I can’t stop thinking of how I’d express that piece if I were the one playing it. I feel like my head is about to burst.” His violet eyes shone as he spoke, his tone incredibly serious. Then, he smiled at me and added, “Please?”

O-Oh. Okay, I see. He knows he’s absolutely adorable.

I barely managed to suppress a smirk as I turned to Flora to seek her opinion. Unsurprisingly, she just nodded and whispered for me to do as I pleased.

“I don’t think any ordinary person could possibly replicate a song after hearing it once,” I said with a smile. “If you can accomplish such a feat, I’d love to witness it. Please, go ahead.”

Renato’s face lit up, and he walked to the piano with a spring in his step.

The crowd was abuzz. Some whispered it was impossible to play an entire song you’d only heard once, while others wondered if he was messing with us. Despite having given him my permission, I started to worry about him. I knew it was possible. I’d seen videos of people playing by ear in my previous life. However, I didn’t know if Renato possessed that particular talent.

If the tense atmosphere was getting to him, Renato didn’t show it at all. He casually sat in front of the piano and let his fingers rest against the keys. Renato’s stature was small, but somehow, as he sat in front of the piano, he appeared larger than usual.

I was only able to hold on to that thought for a split second. Suddenly, his fingers started dancing on the keyboard. They flew from left to right like a surge of water. He’d just played a scale, but his speed and smoothness were breathtaking. It felt as though he was running his fingers along a piece of fine silk. It was just a scale, yet all of us held our breaths. He played low notes to high notes, then back to low again. After that, he repeatedly played notes on the left side of the piano. His speed was perfectly uniform the entire time, until he finished with a scale that varied in rhythm, like a wave breaking on the shore and retreating again.

I was struck with understanding. This wasn’t a wave. It was the wind.

Right then, he stopped, before hitting a single key with his index finger. That single, lonesome sound echoed in the silence of the music room before disappearing. He did it a second time, and then a third, each time allowing the sound to disappear entirely before replaying the same note. Then, he started playing the melody. With only his right hand, he depicted the desolate, endless expanses of snow, in which even one’s footprints faded. Next, his left fingers joined in. The chords were beautiful. So beautiful, they radiated loneliness.

The tempo slowly hastened, as though the protagonist was lifting her head up.

I can see where he gets his confidence!

I was astonished by his talent. He’d only heard the melody once, but he could already play it by ear. On top of that, he was arranging it to reflect the meaning of the lyrics.

This went beyond saying, but since Flora and I had sung a cappella, he’d only heard the melody and was adding an accompaniment based on his own sensibilities. That turned the piece into a different song from the one I knew, but it was still breathtakingly beautiful. His accompaniment was in flawless harmony with the melody. It was clear he had perfect pitch, but he also had a remarkable talent for creating arrangements on the spot.

When he reached the first chorus, the melody grew lighter and brighter, and so did the left-hand accompaniment. I could almost see hope sprouting in front of my eyes. Renato had drawn the audience into his world. The feelings of doubt some might have held had long disappeared, and everyone abandoned themselves to the music.

As the second verse started, the small hope that had budded during the chorus bloomed into a powerful flower. The lightness of his fingers was replaced with strength as I imagined the protagonist advancing with confident steps.

With the next chorus, the steps broke into a run. The melody danced, while the accompaniment was tempestuously rhythmic. I itched to move my body and sing.

Renato’s lips were pursed as he hit the keys with dizzying fervor. The more intense his play, the more disheveled his white locks became, until, finally, the piece reached its climax—liberation!

He magnificently expressed the exhilaration of the protagonist breaking the walls that trapped her and clearing a path toward her future.

He played the final melody that proclaimed her independence with his right hand only. Even without an accompaniment, the strong color of the notes shone, echoing loudly and announcing the ice queen’s triumph.

With that, his performance ended.

The sound of the piano was soon replaced by loud cheers and thunderous applause. The members of the audience stood up one after the other in celebration of Renato. This was the second standing ovation of the day. And I’d been the first to jump to my feet. I had no doubt my expression showed how delighted I was, and I clapped with all my strength.

That was amazing! I knew Renato was famous as a music prodigy in the Selesnoa Marquessate, but I now understood that his reputation was well deserved. One song had been enough to convince me on the deepest level. You’re a true genius, born with an exceptional talent for music.

My first thought about Renato was that, had he been born in my old world, a particular entertainment agency would have fought tooth and nail to snatch him up because of his cute face. Now, I realized I’d misunderstood him. He was the kind of boy who would have skyrocketed to international stardom by posting just one video of himself improvising on the piano. With his looks and skills, the views would have soared to crazy heights.

I suddenly had a weird feeling, like something was flickering at the edge of my mind. I furrowed my brows, but the feeling vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

I guess it wasn’t anything important...?

At any rate, I was glad we’d held this musical evening! I’d thought I was in for little more than a friendly gathering, but I’d discovered a godly talent instead!

Renato stood up and bowed. Then, after looking over the assembly, he bowed once more. His pale skin was flushed red with emotion.

“That was wonderful, Lord Selesar!” I declared on behalf of everyone once the clapping had calmed down. “How talented you are! I can hardly believe you were able to express so much emotion in a piece you’d heard not long ago. And your playing... It was flawless. Truly, your performance drew me in, and I found myself entirely captivated.”

Another round of applause erupted, as though to show everyone agreed with me. Some even shouted praise at Renato directly.

“Thank you, Lady Yulnova,” Renato answered with a bashful smile. “The song itself was so wonderful, it gave me a surge of inspiration. It’s nothing like anything I’ve ever heard before, and the lyrics touched my heart. And you looked like you were having so much fun singing it... It made me realize that’s exactly what I’ve been longing for all this time. I never knew you were so talented, Lady Yulnova. I’m ashamed of myself.”

Renato’s prickliness had somehow disappeared into the void, and he looked at me with big, admiring eyes.

W-Wait. Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t write that song, you know?

“I’ve always believed I was born for music,” he continued. “But I couldn’t escape the feeling of entrapment that bound me... I couldn’t play as freely as I did just now, improvising out of the blue on such a novel song. Thank you for letting me play your song, Lady Ekaterina. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

He truly did look happy. His gaze swept over the audience once more, and he took another bow, exuding gratitude. Needless to say, another round of applause accompanied his action.

Ah... I lost my chance to tell him I didn’t write the song...

My eyes wandered around as I panicked, and that’s when I noticed something was off. Although Olga, who was up next, was clapping for Renato, she looked as pale as a ghost.

I waited for the clapping to die down before hurrying over to her seat. “Lady Olga.”

“Oh, L-Lady Ekaterina,” she said, attempting a smile. Her expression was stiff, and when I took her hand, I wasn’t surprised to find it cold.

I knew it! She’s super-duper nervous!

Wrapping her hand with both of mine, I smiled at her. As a reliable big sister roughly fifteen years her elder, I felt the urge to reassure her. It wouldn’t be right to let her tremble in fear alone!

“Lady Olga, Lord Selesar’s performance was grandiose, but this is still just a carefree event between friends. What matters is that we all have fun and deepen our bonds. Don’t be nervous, and sing like you would in front of your family. I, for one, would love to listen to you.”

This isn’t an audition! It’s not even a school festival! It’s just a fun little thing between ourselves. You just need to smile and enjoy yourself, like the ever-energetic Right Right Trio!

Her bright green eyes were wet with tears as she looked up at me. “Lady Ekaterina...”

She’s so cute. Olga wasn’t as good-looking as Flora, the quintessential heroine, but she was petite, meek, and adorable, like a small animal. She makes me think of a bunny—or a chihuahua.

I wrapped my arms around her and patted her back. Since she was still sitting, her face ended up more or less buried in my chest. I was entirely focused on her, so I didn’t notice the worried gazes of the girls around us or the envious looks of the boys.

Olga took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Thank you, Lady Ekaterina. I... I’ve completely forgotten the song I’m supposed to sing.”

“That can happen when you’re nervous.”

It reminded me of when I’d just started at my company. I’d had to give a presentation, but everything vanished from my brain at the crucial moment. It’d been super scary.

“Do you think it’d be all right if I sang an old song passed down in my family?” she asked hesitantly. “I learned it from my grandmother, and we sang it often at home... It’s an old-fashioned song from the countryside, but I know I’ll remember it no matter the circumstances.”

“That sounds wonderful,” I replied with a smile. “I love traditions.”

Relief washed over Olga’s face. With that, she stood up and walked up to the piano.

“I’m sorry for doing so after such a novel song, but I will be performing an old song that tells the story of the moonlit flower and the butterfly warriors,” she said, bowing down shyly.

People clapped to encourage her.

The so-called moonlit flowers and butterfly warriors were in fact a single species of demonic beasts—or rather, demonic plants...or insects, I guess? Either way, they were strange creatures. The males and females looked completely different in every way. The males were black butterflies with thin, sharp wings of steel. If you touched them carelessly, you’d hurt yourself, hence they were called butterfly warriors.

Meanwhile, the females lived at the bottom of lakes, so no one knew exactly what they looked like. During their breeding season, on full moon nights, a single stem grew out of each lake the creatures occupied. The stem stood taller and taller until one large, white flower poked its head out of the lake. That was why they were named moonlit flowers.

The sweet scent of the white blossom took over entire areas during these nights, attracting the butterfly warriors. Innumerable warriors fought over it, using their sharp wings as weapons. Only the strongest managed to reach the tempting flower and leave behind descendants.

Olga sat in front of the piano.

If she could play, she probably had a piano at home. I’d never given it much thought before I started planning the musical evening, but I’d come to realize something. In this world, pianos were incredibly expensive! Of course, pianos were anything but cheap in my previous world too. Among those who had them, few people had real, acoustic pianos, rather than electrical ones. It made perfect sense that, in this era, pianos were even more valuable. By noble standards, Olga’s house wasn’t wealthy. If they had a piano despite that, it could only mean one thing: They truly loved music.

Olga placed her hands on the keyboard and took a deep breath before lifting her head and looking up.

“The moon blooms in the sky,

And for one night, a flower blooms upon the lake.

Now is the time for death.

Now is the time for love.

Their wings of steel quivering,

The warriors take flight.”

My eyes widened in surprise as Olga started singing. Olga! You’re amazing! Your voice is so nice!

The song was high-pitched from the very start. It wasn’t easy to sing something like that, but Olga’s pitch was spot on. Her falsetto was delicate and sorrowful. Then, she hit a long, sustained note—it was absolutely beautiful. Her crystal clear voice sounded as though it were rising toward the heavens. Her singing was so good that I thought my soul might get pulled out of my body and follow her voice skyward.

In my mind, a gigantic bright moon appeared. It was the exact moon I’d seen in the sky the night I’d met the Maiden of Death, Selene. Last time, a lone rider had been standing in the moonlight. This time, I distinctly pictured a fluttering black butterfly. Goose bumps prickled my skin.

Olga kept playing and singing to her own accompaniment.

Under the moonlight, the young butterflies engaged in a fierce battle over the flower. They ripped one another’s bodies with their fearsome wings, scattering death and immature hopes over the surface of the lake. Though most knew their efforts were in vain, they couldn’t resist the enticing aroma of the flower. They knew they’d never make it their own, but they couldn’t let go of their desires, nor could they escape the battlefield.

The song’s tempo was quite unique, which made it engaging to listen to. I was certain it reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I thought about it for a moment before it hit me. It felt similar to the folk songs of Okinawa and Amami. There was a hint of otherness to it, yet it made me feel nostalgic. It was bright and clear but mournful and plaintive.

The song itself wasn’t in the style of Okinawan music at all, but I assumed I was getting this impression because of the distinctive characteristics of folk music mixing with the sound of the piano. In Okinawa and Amami, folk songs were originally played using sanshin, shamisen, and other similar stringed instruments.

The lyrics and mournful melody gave me the impression that this song wasn’t about butterfly warriors at all—rather, it conveyed the story of humans and their wars. I’d heard that the Selesnoa Marquessate had been the theater of many revolts over the years. Wasn’t this song mourning the young men who’d perished during these conflicts? To avoid the eye of the rulers, they would have had no choice but to disguise the true meaning of the song.

Finally, despite its gruesome injuries, the last butterfly reached the white blossom. The flower wrapped its petals around the wounded warrior, gently embracing it.

“Now is the time for death.

Now is the time for love.”

With this last refrain, which had been repeated many times over the course of the song, Olga’s performance came to an end. Her fingers lifted off the keys, and she let out a sigh of relief.

Silence had fallen over the music room. Seeing the unresponsive audience, Olga’s shoulders dropped. She quickly stood up and bowed.

Right as she did, applause erupted. Olga was so surprised that she took a step back. The back of her knees hit the piano stool, and she sat back without meaning to. Regardless, the applause didn’t cease; cheers gradually blended with the clapping, and people began to rise to their feet. This was the third standing ovation of the evening.

I was on my feet too, clapping like crazy. I knew Olga had a nice voice, but that was something else entirely! Here’s another godly talent!

It had been very much unexpected, so I was even more excited about it! I felt just like that time when I’d stumbled upon the audition of that singer from Britain’s Got Talent who later became a star!

Olga! You’re the Susan Boyle of the empire! That’s quite something!

The clapping was still going strong, but Marina ran up to Olga and practically jumped on her.

“That was amazing, Lady Olga! Where have you been hiding all this talent?!”

These two were close, so I could see why Marina hadn’t been able to wait. On top of their close friendship, Marina, the popular extrovert, had more or less taken the quiet Olga under her wing. Seeing her come into her own like this probably made Marina very proud. I wanted to run up to them too, but I controlled myself. If I also rushed to Olga, the rest of the crowd might be inspired to do the same, and Olga would be surrounded on all sides. Crowd psychology was important to consider!

Instead, I brought my hands together as loudly as I could to grab everyone’s attention.

“I’m sure everyone was as enraptured by that performance as I was. Please give a big round of applause to the songstress of our class, Lady Olga Florus!”

Of course, the applause requested was given, and Olga’s face flushed with embarrassment as she bowed again, encouraged by Marina.

Wait, that reminds me.

“And please give a round of applause to the great contributor behind today’s event!”

I heard a few people muttering “Huh?” and “Who?” so I continued, “This musical evening wouldn’t have existed without the ingenious idea of Lady Marie Krymov! Without her, we wouldn’t have shared such an enchanting moment, so please, a round of applause!”

Now that the mystery was solved, everyone clapped enthusiastically for Marina. She looked more surprised than anyone in the room at the attention, but she was also the daughter of an influential count. She took the advice of her mother and put on her best ladylike face—as innocent as five kittens, as per her own words.

“Our program has come to an end. Thank you very much for joining us this evening,” I continued. “Dear classmates, let us return this music room as clean as we found it. Everyone else, thank you for sharing this delightful moment with us. You have my deepest gratitude!”

The last round of applause was incredibly heartwarming.

Now it was time to clean up!

I was brimming with motivation and energy, ready to start moving chairs with Flora, when a boy rushed up to us and exclaimed, “I’ll do that!”

Well, that was somewhat unsatisfying. I always liked to put in the work where it was needed, but I figured that was that and turned around to go praise Olga instead. However, when I did, I discovered Olga was being completely monopolized by Renato.

“I’ve heard the accompaniment of the song you sang on the koto before, but your version was so different. It had a number of unique characteristics yet fit with the modern style... It felt like an entirely reborn song. It was wonderful!”

Renato spoke with such enthusiasm that Olga turned shy.

“I learned it like this from my grandmother...” she said, flushing red. Still, she looked pleased.

Olga and Renato were both vassals of House Selesnoa, so they already knew each other, but this seemed to be his first time hearing her sing. This had made his attitude toward her change entirely. He was an undeniable music nerd. Everything seemed to revolve around music to him, and that was what decided the merit of others in his eyes. He showed unconditional respect to those he deemed talented and treated the rest as though they were part of the background.

These two had both received standing ovations, and quite a few people seemed eager to approach them, but Renato paid them so little attention he didn’t even seem to have noticed.

Next to them, Marina was getting her hair tousled by her brother. I caught part of what he was saying, and he seemed to be scolding her for rushing to Olga, as it could have caused a crowd surge. Marina was letting out pained screeches, but from my perspective, the two seemed as amiable as always.

I smiled fondly at them, without giving a single thought to the fact that I had gotten a standing ovation myself.

“We’re done tidying up, Lady Ekaterina,” one of the girls told me.

I smiled at her. “My, already? Thank you.”

Suddenly, I noticed that Flora and I were encircled.

“Congratulations again on your performance. The song was marvelous!”

“It truly was. I’d love to sing it too! Would you mind teaching me the lyrics?”

“I didn’t know you had an interest in songwriting, Lady Ekaterina! May I please listen to your other compositions?”

EEK!

Now that I’d responded to the first report the girl had given me, no one cared about the rule that stipulated those of lower status must not initiate conversation with me anymore! People were lax on etiquette at the academy anyway, so everyone started talking to me and Flora at once. I didn’t know who to answer first, and I was especially overwhelmed because I didn’t know what excuse to make about the song. I could hardly say it was a global hit from my previous world!

However, the expressions of my classmates changed out of the blue, and they all retreated at once. Just like Moses splitting the Red Sea, Alexei walked through the path they had cleared for him.

He can make crowds split solely with his presence. That’s some advanced-level stuff! Thanks for coming to my rescue, brother!

“Ekaterina.”

“Brother!” I exclaimed, jumping into his arms.

“That was a splendid gathering. As always, everything you touch turns to gold.”

Oh, you! That’s your filter talking!

“It was all thanks to my classmates’ stellar performances. I had a wonderful time.”

“I’m not usually one to understand the arts much, but I have to admit even I was impressed by their talent. However, I’m convinced they were only able to showcase it in this way thanks to your influence. Your warm, noble heart guided their ways.”

“Oh, brother!”

Renato had been known as a genius for years, and I’d had absolutely nothing to do with Olga’s performance. It’d been all them.

“Still, to me, the finest sound in the world is your voice, my heavenly bird. The beauty of your singing filled my heart with love and joy. Ah, what a blissful moment it was.”

There you go. The filter’s auditory function is getting stronger and stronger.

“Nothing brings me more happiness than you enjoying yourself,” I replied.

He’d taken a nice break from work and had enjoyed some good music. That was a big step in keeping him from overworking himself to death.

I’ll organize a hundred more musical events for his sake. It was fun!

Giddy with the feeling of accomplishment, I returned to my room and tucked myself into bed. Only then did I suddenly recall something. Something so startling I jumped out of bed.

I remember now!

Back when I’d been scouring the internet trying to figure out if you could date Alexei, I’d read an article that said a very popular voice actor had been cast in the game. It talked about how he’d also been super popular for his singing and mentioned that one of his music videos had earned an insane number of views.

The character that actor had played must have been Renato! Actually, I was pretty sure they’d mentioned that he’d been chosen to play a genius musician in the game because of his musical talents.

Aaah!!! One of the love interests is in our class!

Chapter 3: The House of Selesnoa

The day after the musical evening, Flora and I prepared lunch together as usual. We were walking through the corridors, baskets in hand, when I was forced to face reality.

It was popular... Actually, it was super popular.

No matter where we went, I could hear a familiar melody.

The second I’d stepped foot into the classroom in the morning, my classmates had rushed to me, begging me to teach them the lyrics of that song. During every break, our class had turned into a choir. My classmates had spread my teachings to their friends from other classes, who in turn had taught other friends.

By now, the entire school was singing or humming it. Whenever people saw me and Flora, they’d drop whatever they were doing to stare at us with admiring eyes. There’d always been people looking at us, but things had reached a whole other level.

I sighed inwardly. It was just a friendly gathering for our class, so I hadn’t given it much thought. In retrospect, I realized I’d underestimated the marketing research done by the huge company that had put out the song. It’d been designed to be a hit. There were no streaming platforms or ways to download music in this world, but trends did circulate through word of mouth. I was witnessing it firsthand.

Will the worldwide hit of my past turn into an otherworldly hit as well? How should I refer to it if it does? A multi-worldwide hit? A transcendental hit?

As always, I was doing a wonderful job of escaping reality by focusing on pointless matters.

Jokes aside, I had played a part in helping this song’s popularity to blow up.

This morning, I hadn’t been the only one surrounded by classmates hoping to learn lyrics—the same thing had happened to Olga.

Renato had written scores for both songs and had been showing them around as he explained just how good they were. Many of our classmates had asked him for permission to copy the scores. There were no photocopiers in this world, so unless they had access to a traditional printing press, people had to copy everything by hand. That was how most writings spread.

I’d foreseen some problems this might cause, so I’d asked Renato to allow me to copy the score of Olga’s song first and had gotten him to give it to me for the time being. In the meantime, I’d taught everyone the lyrics of my song and motivated them to sing it together so they’d forget about Olga’s song.

Why? Well, there was a good chance the lyrics of Olga’s song were about the youth who’d lost their lives during rebellions in the Selesnoa Marquessate. If the song spread, she might attract the attention of the House of Selesnoa, and I was hoping to prevent that.

I’d asked Olga, and she’d confirmed my inkling. After all, she hadn’t intended to sing that song to begin with. Since she’d forgotten the song she’d intended to sing, she’d sung one she knew by heart without thinking deeply about it, but she didn’t want it to spread too much.

I’d gone to Renato about it after that. He was from a branch of House Selesnoa, but he was first and foremost a music nerd, so he’d been angry at my request.

“You want to hide an outstanding song for such a ridiculous reason?” he’d said.

When I’d told him it was to protect Olga’s talent, he’d relented and agreed not to give the score to anyone else. All in all, I’d successfully redirected everyone’s attention to that song. Now, it was the only thing I heard, wherever I went.

Dear composers, lyricists, translators, and whoever else had a hand in making that song, I’m so sorry!

“Your song is the talk of the academy.”

Mikhail was waiting in the same place as always. At the sound of his voice, a bell rang in my head—not a Western-style bell but the sort Japanese monks rang.

Flora beamed. “That’s only natural. Lady Ekaterina’s song was wonderful, and so is her thoughtfulness.” She’d also been rewarded by a standing ovation, but she spoke as though this had nothing to do with her. Her modesty was truly unmatched, like a true heroine!

“P-Prince Mikhail...did you have a good time yesterday?” I asked, smiling despite the monk ringing a bell again and again in my ears.

“Um, I guess so.”

“The musical evening was a success, and it was thanks to your kindness. I’m terribly grateful to you.”

“Well, if you had a good time, it was all worth it!” Mikhail said with a grin.

How good can you be?! I wondered, warmth washing over me.

“I discovered that Lady Olga, who was able to participate because of you, is incredibly talented. Her voice is enchanting, and I certainly hope you’ll get to listen to her perform in the future.”

“Is that so? You’re referring to Lady Florus, right? House Selesnoa’s vassal?”

I could hear the pensiveness in his tone, and I tilted my head to the side. “House Selesnoa truly is a paragon of music. The son of one of their branch families also delivered a splendid performance, and— Ah... Is she...?” I trailed off, unsure how to finish my sentence.

The prince caught my drift. “It’s likely that Lydia’s not pleased. She’s an outstanding noble lady, but she’s competitive when it comes to singing. Well, it’s less about the singing itself, more about getting invited to the garden of the God of Music. She may be frustrated by all the compliments you and your classmates are receiving.”

Urgh...

Getting praised by your classmates and being invited to a god’s garden weren’t the same thing, though.

Wait, Olga’s singing was very good, so there was actually a chance the God of Music might want to listen to her! The same went for Renato! I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about him being summoned! Wow...

This isn’t the time to get excited about that, me.

“Do you think she could do something to Lady Olga or Lord Selesar...?” I asked.

“It’s possible. On the other hand, if their fame stops within the confines of the academy, she might be pleased, since they’re essentially heightening the reputation of the marquessate. See how you spoke highly of House Selesnoa? That is exactly the image they’re trying to cultivate. As things stand, it’s hard to say how she’ll react.”

I nodded in silence. Even as an imperial prince, Mikhail couldn’t do anything unless Lydia made a move. Important nobles had the right to handle their vassals as they saw fit, and it was customary for the imperial family not to get involved in such matters.

Pyotr the Great had founded the empire with this principle at its core. There had been times the imperial power had grown so much that emperors had granted themselves the right to interfere with other noble houses. However, the man who’d restored the empire to its former glory during its lowest period, Viktor the Thunder Emperor—nicknamed because of his outstanding lightning mana, reminiscent of Pyotr’s—had outlined the boundaries the imperial household ought not to cross.

“This is exactly why I want you to come to me again if anything happens,” Mikhail said. “I’ll be of help to you, no matter what. I have to be.”

Mikhail’s tone was smooth, but the words made my chest ache.

You have to be? Because you were born to ascend the throne? You’re just sixteen. You’re just a boy who likes sweets and meat even more. Yet you still say such things without any hesitation, because they’re a matter of course to you. They’re natural.

These “natural” things made my heart heavy.

“How good to hear... Thank you.” I smiled, trying to push that sudden, inexplicable sadness into the back of my mind. “I wish you could have been there to listen to the performances yesterday. I really do.”

I wish you could have sat alongside the other students, listened to some music, and snacked on quiche as you chitchatted with everyone. I want you to have memories like that to look back on when you sit on that lonely throne.

“You...wanted me to be there?”

“Very much so.”

Mikhail didn’t say anything, but a smile slowly took over his features. It shone as bright as the sun. At this sight, a newfound resolve dawned upon me.

All right. You missed yesterday’s event because of me, so I’ll make sure to compensate you fairly!

I’d promised to sing that song to him with Flora, but that didn’t feel like enough. I’d speak to everyone else and see if we could reproduce the musical evening entirely!

Had Mikhail realized my intentions, he might have fallen over from shock despite his usual princely poise.

Several days had gone by since our musical event had become the talk of the school, but the students had yet to drop the topic.

In this world, with no internet and no TV to provide a constant flow of new discussion topics, fads tended to last until people truly got bored with them.

I understood that, I genuinely did. But I really wanted them to drop it soon.

But I was one of the only ones who felt that way. Ever since the event, our entire class had become the focus of the rest of the school, and most of my classmates loved it.

“We definitely have to sing for the festival! We’ll be the center of attention!”

My classmates erupted in cheers at Marina’s words. Many heads turned to me, their gazes eager. My reflexes as a proper ducal lady took over and I showed them a detached smile, but deep down, I broke out in a cold sweat.

At long last, the weekend came.

“Nothing beats home...” I whispered, sitting in the carriage that would take me back to our residence in the capital.

“You must be tired after all your hard work,” Alexei said, worried. “You did so well. Even my classmates sing your song all day.”

Urk. I should have seen that coming since the girls in Alexei’s class had come.

“Brother... It truly isn’t my song. I just learned it from our mother.”

My voice almost broke. Even I could tell my tone wasn’t convincing. This was the only excuse I’d come up with, but I also felt like I was using my dead mother as a scapegoat, so I couldn’t bring myself to say it with confidence.

“I see,” Alexei said with a soft smile.

I can tell he doesn’t believe it, but he’s coddling me nonetheless!

“Still, it’s no wonder everyone’s attention is fixated on you. Your brilliance could charm anyone in the world,” he added, stroking my cheek with the tip of his fingers. “I know you don’t realize it, just like the sun, the moon, and the stars aren’t dazzled by their own light. You may not see it, but your light is more dazzling still. I’m sure it can be seen even from the peak of the Summit of the Gods. You are the queen of the stars, the moon in the sky, the sun who casts her gentle light upon us mortals. The other students have finally started to understand that.”

“Brother...”

One thing was certain: Alexei’s love reached higher than the highest peak in the world! I didn’t know whether the Summit of the Gods of this world or the Everest of my last was higher, but I was sure his love dwarfed them both with ease. Mount Everest was what, almost nine thousand meters tall? Alexei’s love was at least twenty thousand meters tall!

What should I do? My own love feels only about as tall as Mount Fuji. Three thousand meters isn’t enough. I’m losing!

“What’s wrong?” Alexei asked. There was a hint of panic in his voice as he saw my expression darken.

“You love me so much...but I’m not able to give back to you.”

I’m sorry I can’t catch up. I’m not sure I should be trying to, but still!

“What foolish thoughts,” Alexei said with a smile. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and held me gently. “You casting your light upon me is already the greatest blessing I could ask for. Yet, in your endless kindness, you concern yourself with me and support me with your wisdom. Even so, you say such things. You only know how to give, never how to take. Please, smile, my sweet Ekaterina. Don’t forget, we’ll have a guest for dinner tonight. You were telling me how excited you were to display your hospitality, weren’t you? And you needn’t worry, since our guest is just a painter our grandfather supported. Have fun and don’t overthink things.”

Ah, it’d completely slipped my mind.

“Master Hardin, the one who painted the portrait of you and grandfather together... Yes, I shall receive him as is expected of the lady of the house!”

I hoped I’d get to hear stories about Sergei or Alexei’s childhood. I perked up, remembering how much I’d been looking forward to this.

I’ll go straight to Graham when we arrive. I’m gonna do this right!

“I’m honored to have received your invitation,” the master painter Hardin said with a smile as soon as Graham led him to us.

He was a slender, handsome man in his early thirties, and exuded the refined sensitivity of an artist. His hair was the color of wheat, somewhere between blond and light brown, and he had unusual eyes: One was black and the other green. We called that heterochromia in my previous world.

“I’m glad to make your acquaintance,” I said with a smile. His gaze immediately focused on me with such intensity that I didn’t know what to do with myself.

“When I see someone beautiful, I can’t help but wonder how to best capture them in a painting,” he said. “Excuse my rudeness.”

“My, what a smooth talker you are.” It made sense given his profession.

“Master Hardin is very busy with orders, but I do intend to have him paint you one day, Ekaterina. No one other than him could immortalize your beauty on a canvas,” Alexei said cheerfully.

“The portrait he painted of you is wonderful, brother. I’m very fond of that picture of you and grandfather. I often find myself wandering over to admire it.”

“I appreciate your praise, my lady. Duke Sergei did a lot for me. It’s no overstatement to say that it’s thanks to him that I’m now able to live off my craft. I hope I’ll get the chance to share my fond memories of him with you tonight.”

At these words, I enthusiastically showed Hardin to the dining table, like the proper lady of the house.

Just as I’d hoped, the conversation was lively.

The master painter’s eyes widened in surprise when he heard the name of the wine Graham was pouring in perfect amounts with practiced ease. The Yulnova Duchy was famous for its wine, and we kept plenty of high-class wines others would envy in our residence. Different bottles were taken out depending on the importance of our guests. Judging by Hardin’s reaction, the one Graham had picked out today was a little more luxurious than what he was used to being served.

The wine got Hardin talking even more, and he started telling us about his first meeting with our grandfather.

Master Hardin had been born the third son of a viscount. However, he hadn’t had enough mana for admittance to the Magic Academy, which had earned him the ire of his family. Depressed, he’d spent his days doing nothing but painting, his only hobby. Deep down, he’d dreamed of becoming a painter, but he’d often laughed at himself for entertaining such ridiculous hopes. At the time, he’d believed it was an unattainable dream.

It was then that he’d run into a lost gentleman, whom he helped to find his way.

“That gentleman looked at my sketchbook. He told me he could sense faint traces of mana from it and asked if there was anything special about it. He couldn’t figure out my attribute and thought it might be something rare and unique. I told him that it couldn’t possibly be the case, but he still seemed puzzled. We arrived at the place he wanted to go to, so I bid him farewell. That was when he told me he wanted to thank me and invited me to his home at a later date. That gentleman was Professor Isaac Yulnova. When I went to visit him, as he’d requested, he introduced me to Duke Sergei.”

Come to think of it, our granduncle had long engrossed himself in fieldwork to figure out the practical uses of rainbow stones. I imagined that was why he was so sensitive to traces of mana in physical objects. In other words, he’d probably been right about Hardin’s sketchbook containing traces of rare mana. While he might not have large quantities of mana, Hardin probably did possess a rare attribute.

However, I couldn’t talk about Isaac’s research on prism circles, so I kept my thoughts to myself.

When he’d seen Hardin’s art, Sergei had told him, “Leaving your technical skills aside, I can feel the souls of your subjects. I like that in paintings.” Then, he’d advised Hardin to learn art formally and work on his technique. “Come back to me once you’ve done that. I’ll commission a painting from you.”

“Those words became my greatest hope—and my greatest source of pressure. If I painted something that disappointed the Duke of Yulnova, I’d have no future as a painter. So I threw all caution to the wind. I forgot about shame, appearances, and reputation, and started studying with everything I had.”

There was such emotion in Hardin’s voice that I nodded, sympathizing with the urgency he must have felt back then.

“And you did a wonderful job!” I said. “I think I understand what grandfather meant when he said he could feel the souls of your subjects. Whenever I look at that painting, I feel as though I might just be able to hear his voice.”

“Thank you, my lady. To be perfectly candid with you, I do hear this a lot—that my paintings have soul. One of my patrons lost his wife. With tears running down his cheeks, he told me that after he’d hung my portrait of his wife in his room, she’d started visiting him in his dreams. All I do when I’m faced with a subject is transcribe their figure as faithfully as I possibly can to the canvas, but I’m glad I can make others happy with my art.”

An artist who paints the soul...

That reminded me of a novel of my world, The Picture of Dorian Gray, but that wasn’t quite the same vibe. Either way, Hardin was amazing. I hoped he’d paint me one day.

I wonder what it’ll look like.

The following day, we welcomed more guests at the residence.

“Thank you for having us today, Lady Ekaterina!” a bright, adorable voice chimed.

The carriage I’d sent to the dorms had just returned, and Flora, Marina, and Olga stepped out of it.

“Welcome.” I greeted them with the elegant smile the lady of the house ought to display. Then, I immediately started chattering with them as noisily as I did at the academy.

“Let’s have some tea first,” I said. “There are two types of rose cookies ready for us today. I wonder if you’ll prefer the recipe of the chef of this residence or the chef of the Yulnova Fortress. Oh, you’ve already tasted both, haven’t you, Lady Flora?”

“I have. The cookies of the duchy were as beautiful as real roses, while those of this residence have a wonderful flavor.”

“I’m looking forward to tasting them!” Marina exclaimed. “The hospitality of a ducal house truly is unmatched—how elegant!”

Marina seemed to love the concept of rose cookies as most young women would, but she was a flavor-over-romance girl through and through.

The four of us sat in a small (as per the standards of a duke’s residence) lounge and drank the tea Mina poured for us while we compared the cookies and engaged in serious debate over which were superior.

Once we were done, I said, “It’s almost time for the vocal instructor to arrive. Her name is Madam DiDonato, and she used to perform at the national theater. I’ve only met her once so far, but I heard she’s a very good instructor. She’ll teach all of us together today.”

“I-I’m so glad! B-But are you sure this is okay?” Olga asked, her voice trembling. “Lady Lydia also receives lessons from a former performer of the national theater... The divas of the national theater are known to be the best singers in the empire, and I’ve always thought only the noblest, richest ladies in the empire, such as her or you, are allowed to receive lessons from them...”

“Lady Olga!” I laughed and took Olga’s hand. “You’re simply keeping me company during my lesson. How could there be anything wrong with that? To be honest, I want you to receive lessons too. You’re so talented, and I’m sure you’d enjoy it. I want to listen to you sing again after you get even better.”

The empire operated on a class system, and the boundaries between the classes were even stricter in the Selesnoa Marquessate, where Olga came from. I could see why she was so hesitant. But that last thing I’d said summed up my true feelings. Few people could produce such a gorgeous falsetto; I loved Olga’s voice and wanted to hear it more!

“I’m also very fond of the song you performed, Lady Olga. Under normal circumstances, it should have become so popular that everyone at the academy started singing it, but I prevented that. You were denied proper recognition for your performance, and I feel dreadful about it. So, please, do accept my invitation—if only to help me clear my conscience. I won’t meddle with the ways of the marquessate or do anything that could bring you trouble. I just want you to know you’re free to sing without reservations in my home. Don’t overthink this and enjoy yourself, all right?”

I’d stopped the song about the moonlit flower and the butterfly warriors from spreading at the academy out of concern for Olga, but had that been the best course of action? I wasn’t sure, and it’d started weighing on my mind. I couldn’t help but feel irritated because of the values I’d carried over from my previous life.

I’d begged Alexei for singing lessons, and after meeting with Madam DiDonato for the first time, a light bulb had gone off in my head. If Olga sang her song at school, Lydia would find out sooner or later, but if Olga did so in my home, she’d be safe! The teacher would come for me anyway, so this was killing two birds with one stone.

“After the lesson, let’s have another look at my grandmother’s dresses,” I said. “I found many more in the duchy, so I brought them here. I’m sure it’ll be fun for the four of us to browse through them together.”

“Oh, it was a lot of fun last time, so I’m looking forward to it! It was my first time seeing that many dresses lined up!” Marina’s enthusiasm was a bit exaggerated, but I could tell she was doing it on purpose to dispel Olga’s hesitation.

“I’m sure we’ll find some dresses that’ll suit you perfectly,” I told them with a smile.

Marina had always had a lot of friends, and Olga had made new friends over the summer because she’d stayed back in the dorms. Later, when we looked at the dresses, I might ask them to pick out a few for their friends too.

Begone, old hag’s curse!

Madam DiDonato greeted us with a smile. “I look forward to teaching you today, my ladies.”

She was an almost-ageless, bewitching beauty, so it was tough to say how old she was. I’d heard she was in her late forties, but I wouldn’t have guessed. She had silver hair with a slight reddish hue and gray eyes. She’d retired as a professional singer and had dedicated her time to teaching, but everything from her posture to her aura still screamed diva. As a mezzo-soprano, she wouldn’t have often played the lead in operas, but it was precisely for that reason that she’d honed her technique until it was flawless. That technique and broad knowledge made her a perfect teacher.

“Let’s start with some exercises to warm up your voices.”

The four of us did the vocal exercises in unison under Madam DiDonato’s guidance. It was a standard activity, but it reminded me of my days in the choir club, so I had a lot of fun.

Despite the fact that we were just doing warm-up exercises and singing all at once, Madam DiDonato’s gaze fell on Olga. It was obvious to a trained ear that her voice, projection, and pitch were all exceptional.

Heh heh, I see you can tell! I thought, feeling smug for absolutely no valid reason.

After that, Madam DiDonato had each of us sing one song alone to evaluate our levels. I’d already sung in front of her once when we’d met, but she made me do it again. She seemed to be big on impartiality. At my request, Olga performed the song of the moonlit flower and the butterfly warriors.

“You all have outstanding qualities,” Madam DiDonato said when we were done. “I look forward to teaching you.”

Judging by the gleam in her eyes, it didn’t seem to be lip service—not entirely so, at least.

“I have great hopes for you in particular, Lady Olga. Your voice is wonderful now, but it’ll get even better if you start paying attention to your posture and other such things. I will teach you how to sing with vibrato. That’ll make your high notes so beautiful that those who listen to you will shed tears in a matter of seconds. Oh, you have such potential!”

Yay!

Olga brought a hand to her mouth in shock, while the three of us watched over her with grins.

Madam DiDonato laughed softly. “When I teach several young ladies at once, I usually make a point not to praise one more than the others, as I’m afraid it may sour everyone else’s moods. It appears I need not worry about that here. What a precious friendship you have.” She paused. “Now, Lady Olga, I must inform you that my praise comes with high expectations. I may be harsh on you at times, but I hope you’ll remain strong and dedicate yourself to learning.”

Olga didn’t reply.

Uh-oh. Good luck, Olga!

“Sounds like you had a lot of fun.”

“Oh yes, we certainly did!” I beamed.

Mikhail smiled at me.

We were sitting under the very same gazebo where I’d asked him for advice on how to make it so that Olga could participate in the musical evening. Her coming to my house for singing lessons was more or less a continuation of that, so I figured I had to keep him in the loop.

Of course, Flora was here today too, and Mina, Ivan, and Lucas were watching over us from afar.

If I were to think of myself as a company worker, Mikhail was not my superior. However, he’d helped me out, so it was only proper that I conveyed the results to him and offered him my thanks. If I were still in my previous world, that would have ensured the two of us remained mutual connections that could be called upon in times of need.

I didn’t exactly feel like I was networking when I talked to Mikhail, so I wasn’t sure this etiquette applied, but it was still important to be polite.

“My brother and some of his advisors came by to listen to us,” I told him. “They were most impressed by Olga, Marina, and Flora!”

While we had been practicing with Madam DiDonato, Alexei, Novak, Halil, and Aaron had made an appearance. I chuckled, remembering how stiff Olga and Marina had gotten.

“Lady Ekaterina always fails to mention herself, but His Grace was most moved by Lady Ekaterina’s singing. She’s very talented,” Flora said, grinning.

“Ekaterina, my singing star. Your voice is as beautiful as your visage—so dazzling and sweet. While you sang, I felt the world turn into a paradise in bloom, and a delicious aroma wafted around me.”

While Olga and Marina had panicked, Madam DiDonato hadn’t been perturbed in the slightest by the sudden appearance of a duke and his retinue. However, her eyes had widened in surprise when she’d seen Alexei doting on me.

“My brother was just being nice to me,” I said. “You and Lady Olga are far more talented singers.”

I was always happy to receive Alexei’s praises, but his Ekaterina filter seemed to produce such vivid auditory hallucinations that it didn’t really count. I had to keep in mind that his opinion did not reflect reality at all.

Speaking of his filter, it’s started affecting his sense of smell too. That’s a new one. I didn’t know if I should celebrate this new update, but I accepted it!

Mikhail just forced a smile.

“Apparently, my brother’s advisors wanted to listen to our lesson because they couldn’t come to the musical evening. Well, per their account, they enjoyed it very much,” I said.

I still wasn’t sure why Novak had come using this excuse. He was usually the one with the sensible opinions. Had he lost his immunity to the illness that afflicted Alexei with his ridiculous filter? Well, either way, their visit had given me an idea.

“I was thinking,” I continued, “that perhaps you’d enjoy it too. Since we promised to sing that song for you as well, I figured this could be a good occasion. Would you like to come to the Yulnova residence in the capital for our next lesson? It may not replace the musical evening, but...how should I put it? Perhaps it’ll help you relax.”

Mikhail’s eyes widened in surprise at my suggestion. Then, his features slowly relaxed into a smile. “You’re inviting me to your home to listen to you sing?”

“I’m very thankful for what you’ve done for me. It would be my pleasure if I could bring you even a moment of enjoyment.”

I’d thought of involving my entire class and putting together a recital just for Mikhail, but doing so would have meant treating him differently from anyone else. As a prince, Mikhail was used to such special treatment. It wouldn’t be a change of pace for him. Instead, I wanted him to experience feeling like everyone else. Joining in on a little gathering at your friend’s house was a normal experience for a student, wasn’t it? Our residence was secure enough for Mikhail to visit without worrying about anything, so it would be fine.

I figured it might be awkward for a high school boy to join a gathering of girls, but I had the perfect solution for that.

“You may not feel at ease coming to a gathering of girls alone, but worry not. My brother will be there as well. If you visit, I’m sure he’ll be happy to keep you company.”

Regardless of what might have happened between them, Alexei and Mikhail were close. I was still impressed by how quickly they’d matched each other’s rhythm when practicing for the first dance last time. I had no doubt they’d have a nice time together.

Mikhail’s gaze drifted to the sky, and he stared into the distance in silence. Was he imagining sitting next to Alexei and listening to us sing? For some reason, I got the feeling he was actually picturing that snowy song turning real.

“If that displeases you, then...” I trailed off, dejected.

Come to think of it, Mikhail had no need for such pretexts to just come to my house. He’d tagged along nonchalantly when my classmates had come to see the roses the emperor and empress had praised.

However, Mikhail shook his head, flustered. “No, no, no, of course not! I’m glad you put so much thought into this for me. It’s just that... I’d like to take some more time to think about how I want to listen to you sing. I want to save this chance...so I can enjoy it properly.”

“Oh, so that’s what’s on your mind! I understand. Making plans is a lot of fun.”

It was the same for trips! Thinking about a trip and planning it was usually more fun than the actual trip. I totally understood.

“If you have any specific wishes, I’d be happy to cater to them to the best of my abilities—so long as they fit Lady Flora’s schedule.”

“Please don’t trouble yourself over such things. As long as His Grace allows it, I’ll follow you anywhere, anytime, Lady Ekaterina,” Flora said with a smile.

I nodded. “Oh, yes, as long as my brother agrees, of course.”

I didn’t think Mikhail would ever request something my brother wouldn’t approve of, so that wasn’t really a concern.

I’d completely forgotten that I’d vowed to stay away from Mikhail to avoid inviting trouble right before the start of the second semester.

Anyway, I didn’t think the situation with Lydia was settled. I didn’t know what she’d do next, so I had to stay wary. Unfortunately, that hit song from my previous world had gotten so popular that I’d been busier thinking about that than Lydia. That was why, when I went to my classroom after separating from Mikhail and saw Olga’s red, puffy eyes and the bruise on Renato’s cheek, I was astonished.

My first reflex was to run to Renato and Olga and ask them what had happened. But I knew that neither of them would say a word—even though they looked like they wanted to. I realized the classroom probably wasn’t the best place for them to talk, so I waited for the next break and invited them to an empty classroom. Flora, though she usually stayed with me at all times, sensed the mood and decided not to come.

When I closed the door and the three of us found ourselves alone, Renato spoke first. “Lady Lydia warned us that the laws of the marquessate will likely change soon.”

He patted his bruised cheek with a frustrated expression on his face.

I was incredibly confused. “Change? Change how?”

“The number of items people are forbidden to own because of their rank will increase.”

The number of items...what?

“In the marquessate, the clothes, hairstyles, and even the size of people’s houses are predetermined based on rank.”

Right, that was what Mikhail had said.

Olga’s puffy eyes turned to me.

“People of the same rank as Olga will be forbidden from owning pianos,” Renato finished.

Pianos!

Olga had played the piano at the musical evening. That meant her family likely owned one. I remembered thinking her family had to really love music if they had a piano despite its very high cost, considering they weren’t all that wealthy.

Their piano will be taken away from them?!

“Our piano... Our piano was part of my grandmother’s trousseau,” Olga said, tears welling up in her eyes. “She loved it so much... She was the one who taught everyone in my family how to play, and every day without fail, someone still plays while we sing together. Even after she was confined to her bed, she always asked us if we were cleaning it properly. She reminded us to tune it every year and to take good care of it after she passed. Our relatives and friends always tell us how much they look forward to hearing us play whenever they visit... It was her treasure...the treasure we remember her by! Not just me, everyone...”

Olga sobbed, and I couldn’t stop myself from hugging her.

Oh no, I’m gonna cry too! I can feel the tears coming!

Renato looked at us for a moment.

“After she told me about the upcoming law, her ladyship said that, as someone who loves music, she thought it was a pity. But I could see the corners of her lips lifting. That’s when I started suspecting she might have had something to do with it,” Renato said. He paused. “No, that’s not true. I was certain the moment I saw her smirk. That’s why I asked my father to visit me at the dormitory last evening. My father is an advisor to the Marquess of Selesnoa, so I figured he’d know about any change in the law. I wrote in my message that I needed to talk to him on behalf of her ladyship, so he came immediately. When I mentioned the law, he said, ‘Tell her ladyship that it’s settled. The marquess has approved her request and will have it changed at once.’”

Renato’s instinct had been right on the mark. Lydia had asked her father to alter that law herself. I couldn’t believe it.

Olga sobbed harder in my arms, and I patted her back in an attempt to calm her down. All the while, I was having a hard time keeping my own feelings in check.

I thought I’d been careful enough to avoid Lydia taking notice of Olga, but it’d turned out that the beauty of her voice had garnered too much attention at the musical evening. Maybe people had gone to Lydia to praise her marquessate for producing great talents and had mentioned Olga’s singing and playing. I had no doubt Lydia had shown them a ladylike smile while thanking them for praising her vassal, and that she’d told them how proud she felt. Meanwhile, in the shadows, she’d started plotting to have the treasure of Olga’s family taken away.

“I couldn’t stop myself from lashing out at my father, and when he found out I wasn’t actually acting on Lady Lydia’s behalf, he struck me.”

“Oh no,” I murmured.

For such a horrible mark to have been left on his cheek, his father must have hit him very hard. What a sham of a father.

“I come from a military family. My brothers are always covered in bruises from their sword and spear training. I’m a bit of an oddball,” Renato added, rubbing his cheek. “I’ve never been hit before because her ladyship favored me, though. All the hopes of the House of Selesnoa are on Lady Lydia, as she’s expected to become the next empress. To put it another way, no one would think of refusing a request as simple as a minor change in law coming from her. The moment my father assumed I’d go against her, this is what happened to me.”

Renato’s relationship with his father seemed complicated to say the least, but right now, my focus was on Olga. A change in law was an internal issue of the marquessate, so neither my brother nor the prince could do anything about it. In a way, this was probably the smartest way to deal Olga a hit. This method was so like Lydia, and it pissed me off so much!

“Lady Lydia’s real target isn’t Olga,” Renato said. “It’s you.”

“Me?!”

“You’re her biggest competition to become empress, and you’re receiving praise from everyone for your music, of all things. She clearly took that as a provocation. She probably thinks that you’re nice to lesser nobles only to gain their support, so she’s come up with this way to hurt your plans. The way she sees it, you used her vassal to boost your reputation, and Olga now has to pay the consequences. If you do nothing, she’ll spread rumors that you have no qualms using lesser nobles as pawns and discarding them when they’ve outlived their usefulness to make you lose supporters. If you speak up, you play right into her hands and become the tyrannical lady who tries to interfere with another territory’s internal matters. That’s probably why the marquess granted her request so swiftly.”

What the hell?! Give me a break!

To me, the musical evening had been a karaoke party—a fun thing to do with friends, not some sort of ploy to gain supporters among the lesser nobles or whatever Lydia was imagining.

This is happening because I keep thinking like the commoner I was in my past life...

I was a noble lady now. Not just that, I was the lady of a powerful ducal house. Whether I liked it or not, my position put me in the middle of constant power struggles, and I should have been able to consider this before I acted.

I’m sorry. I’m a failure of a noble. I’m so sorry!

Renato chuckled. “I know you never intended for any of this to happen. You were just enjoying the music and trying to get everyone else to have a good time. That’s why it was so fun—for all of us. No matter how good the musicians, there’s no real pleasure to be derived from being forced to listen to music. That’s not music at all. In our marquessate, old traditional songs like the one Olga sang are regarded as inferior. But there are no inferiors or superiors in music. The essence of true music is enjoyment. I came to realize that during the musical evening. That’s the sort of music I want to play, and yet...”

Renato’s lips trembled, and he looked down. His adorable face warped with frustration.

I took a deep breath. “Thank you for telling me all this, Lord Renato. I’ve committed a grave mistake. I shouldn’t have made the two of you participate. Your father was so angry with you because you participated in my gathering, wasn’t he?”

Renato averted his eyes, and I knew I’d hit the mark.

“Lady Olga, I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you and your family,” I said.

“No... H-Her ladyship already disliked me! She heard me singing while I cleaned her room, and she once whispered in front of me that all my countryside ‘noise’ was giving her a headache, so...”

“Don’t you listen to that, Olga!” Renato screamed. “Her ladyship is so obsessed with getting invited to the God of Music’s garden that she sees all talents as threats she must remove. The only reason she makes me play for her while she practices is so I can’t practice my own music. Your voice is wonderful, so she’s jealous. I’m sure of it. Her ladyship’s singing is excellent. She has great technique and a beautiful voice, the sort that draws people in...but listening to her is no fun!”

As expected of our class’s music nerd. How passionate.

If he could read the situation this accurately, he’d probably been raised to be Lydia’s closest aide when she became empress. Nevertheless, whenever the subject turned to music, his brain cells vanished in a puff of smoke. I was his master’s enemy and thus his enemy by extension, and Olga was from a house he couldn’t be seen colluding with, but he’d never hesitated to compliment us. Even now, he was telling me all this even though he shouldn’t, just for the sake of Olga’s piano.

He really only thinks about music, doesn’t he? But I’m okay with people like that! Sidenote, when did he drop the “Lady” when talking to Olga...?

“Lady Selesnoa took my gathering as a challenge and chose to act against me. In this case, I, Ekaterina Yulnova, shall respond in kind,” I said, bringing my hand to my chest in a serious gesture. “I may not have any say in what happens in her marquessate, but I swear I’ll make her understand she shouldn’t touch my classmates.”

“Lady Ekaterina...”

Oh boy. I went and made a big declaration, but I have absolutely no idea what to do about it. Nevertheless, fear not! What Big Sister Ekaterina is not okay with is seeing children cry.

Besides, as the lady of a ducal house, I was pretty sure I shouldn’t take this sitting down!

Thank you for teaching me how to act as a noble lady, Lydia. I’ll be sure to thank you as I should. You’d better keep your eyes open, because it’s time for this villainess to strike back.

In my previous life, I’d been a commoner corporate drone. In this life, until very recently, I’d been a confined noble lady. Either way, I’d never had any experience dealing with highborn power struggles. I was a total beginner at this, and it would have been a mistake to assume I could fix this situation on my own.

In other words, my next steps should be reporting, contacting, and consulting.

However, if I wanted to resolve this situation, I couldn’t just go to someone and ask them to do all the work for me. I had to do my best to come up with a plan, then ask them to either help me make it a reality or tell me what was wrong with it so we could come up with a better alternative. The answers I received would depend on whom I talked to and the exact situation.

That was how things worked in a company. After your first few months, you had to try to deal with problems yourself.

And so, I put my years of work experience and the knowledge I’d accumulated as a history buff to work to put together a plan.

I knew this conversation might take a while, so I asked Alexei in advance if I could have some of his time after school.

“This happened because of my incompetence. I’m terribly ashamed. Please forgive me for my mistakes,” I said, bowing in front of Alexei, his advisors, and Flora.

Although she’d also been very worried about Olga and Renato, Flora had read the room and left the three of us alone earlier, so this was her first chance to hear about what had happened. She looked astonished. I supposed to her, changing a law like Lydia had was unthinkable—something from another world entirely.

“Thank you for telling me,” Alexei said, taking my hands in his. “But you don’t need to call yourself incompetent. None of this is your fault. You are a radiant light, high in the heavens. To be honest, I’d much rather you never had to confront such lowly schemes.”

“Brother...”

It’d been quite a long time ago, back at the start of the first semester, but I distinctly remembered he’d told me he wanted me to associate with highborn nobles and learn how to behave in a way that befitted my station.

Hmm... I’m once again reminded of how steadily his obsession with me is growing. As expected of Alexei!

Wait, I should be worried, not impressed. I can’t keep up at this rate!

“Brother, I—”

“I know. I know you, Ekaterina. You’re hurt because your friends were attacked. Do not worry. The Selesnoas are just a puny house that produced one empress. Their arrogance in thinking they can defy one of the proud houses of Yul is outrageous... Not to mention they made you sad. I shall make sure they remember their place.”

A ruthless smile appeared on Alexei’s handsome face. He looked like a demon king, gorgeous yet cold as ice.

“Brother, that’s...”

O-Oops. I’d been so focused on employing my problem-solving skills, that while I’d remembered to report to my superior, I hadn’t thought of a way to calm down said superior. I didn’t have a plan for handling his excessive attachment to me! I’m a fool!

“Your Grace, my lady.”

Relief washed over me at the sound of Novak’s voice.

Thank goodness! I’m sure he’ll warn Alexei to be careful.

“The Selesnoas are a traditionalist faction led by the House of Yulmagna. However, the Yulmagnas have their eyes on them because of their ambition to overtake the three grand ducal houses. For the time being, the Yulmagnas have yet to act, perhaps because the Selesnoas hold the highest status among nobles after the three grand ducal houses, but that does not change the fact that the Selesnoas are isolated. The only ally they have is the former empress. The desperate stirrings of a house like that pose no threat to us. You needn’t show any restraint.”

“I see.”

Alexei’s smile didn’t budge, and a chill ran down my spine.

H-He’s adding oil to the fire! Or ice to the blizzard, in my brother’s case? Whatever! No matter how you spin it, this is a problem. What happened to having sensible opinions, Novak?!

“Don’t worry, my lady,” Halil said, his beautiful lips curling into a soft smile.

Ah, Halil! You’re going to stop this madness?

“They’re making it sound so scary, but the Selesnoas are still fellow nobles of the empire. His Grace doesn’t mean to say he’ll physically harm them. There are many ways to achieve one’s ends. For instance, Yulnova-made wine could suddenly stop reaching the marquessate. Even if they try to purchase it from other sources, these other sources may find it difficult to get their hands on stock too. Good wine is indispensable for any decent noble gathering. Without it, I doubt any house could hold a banquet worthy of its status. Ah, how bleak would the social scene become, I wonder? Of course, we wouldn’t hold any ill will—our inventory would just be running low. That happens. Who could blame us? Still, a marquess would get the message, I’m sure.”

Um, yes, no physical harm, that’s something. But aren’t you gonna stop them?

“I won’t get into the details of the other methods, but at any rate, you needn’t worry. The economic powers of the duchy and the marquessate aren’t comparable. What would deal a serious blow to them would hardly hurt us. Please, put your mind at ease.”

Wait, you just ruined it! Why won’t you tell me the details? What are these methods?! You’re scaring me!!!

Suddenly, Aaron sighed. “My field of expertise won’t be of any use in this particular matter.”

That’s just fine. Thank goodness, in fact!

“However, after traveling the empire for years with Professor Isaac, I’ve heard all sorts of things and cultivated plenty of connections. Managing a house of the scale of Selesnoa should prove no hardship.”

What have you heard, and what kind of connections are you talking about?! Oh no, Aaron’s smile has turned pitch-black too!

The Ekaterina virus seemed to have infected all my brother’s advisors. Even Novak had started showing symptoms.

It’s amazing that Alexei’s Ekaterina virus is just as powerful as him.

Wait, now is not the time to be impressed, I reminded myself. I didn’t want to trouble them into taking such drastic actions. Pull yourself together. After reporting and contacting comes consulting!

“Please, wait a moment. I’ve thought of the way I want to handle this situation. I came to you to seek your permission, brother.”

Alexei didn’t seem to have expected that, and his neon-blue eyes widened in shock. “Oh? What do you want to do?”

I looked into his eyes. “There’s someone I’d like to meet—an awe-inspiring relative of ours.”

Alexei grinned. “The former emperor...and inevitably, the former empress as well, I take it.”

“Yes. Just as I informed you last time, Prince Mikhail suggested I meet him at least once. He’s my granduncle, but I’ve yet to introduce myself to him. I believe visiting him would be most natural.”

“It certainly would.” Alexei’s grin widened, and he nodded. “What will you do when you see them?”

“I have heard that the previous emperor and empress both love music, so I was thinking that they may enjoy listening to some. Of course, I wouldn’t presume to pollute their ears with my clumsy singing. But perhaps they’d like to listen to my talented friend and evaluate her singing. If they like it, perhaps they’ll encourage her to keep practicing diligently, something she could hardly do if her family is forbidden from owning instruments.”

Everyone smiled.

“The imperial household cannot interfere with the domestic affairs of the Selesnoas, but the previous empress isn’t just part of the imperial family. She’s also a former member of the House of Selesnoa. It goes without saying that she has influence over it. In the past, she couldn’t go against her father and brother, but the current head of the House of Selesnoa is her nephew. Given that, her authority over the head must be stronger than it once was. Besides, as Lord Novak stated, if the only reliable ally the House of Selesnoa has is the former empress, I have no doubt the Selesnoas will prioritize her will over Lady Lydia’s. That is the conclusion I reached.”

Alexei nodded again. He seemed to have figured out my entire plan the moment I’d mentioned the former emperor.

“Lady Florus...was it? I was deeply impressed by your friend’s voice, but what guarantee do you have that the former emperor and empress will feel the same?”

“I intend to seek Prince Mikhail’s advice as well. If he’s of the same mind as I, I shall speak to the former empress before she sees Lady Olga to inform her of the situation. If she truly loves music as much as I’ve been told, it shouldn’t be hard to convince her that such a law is a travesty. Well, that’s my hope, at least.”

“Lady Lydia has made her hostility toward you quite clear. Will you let that slide?”

“If I try to punish the Selesnoa through the might of the Yulnovas, unrelated people in the marquessate will have to endure too. I’m afraid of how the other families will look at Lady Olga’s house if we put pressure on all of them for a piano. What if her family becomes despised? The thought makes my heart heavy, brother. Besides, the Selesnoas will suffer a heavy enough blow if the former empress and Prince Mikhail side with me in this matter. Lady Olga and her house will be greatly honored, and all will be pleased. Such a resolution would bring me much joy.”

Alexei looked at me, seemingly deep in thought. Then, he laughed. “Oh, Ekaterina, my wise and benevolent goddess. Your plan is perfect.”

I’m no goddess, brother. Just a former office worker made of flesh and blood. I was reincarnated as the lady of a ducal house with crazy connections by complete coincidence, and I’m letting these connections carry me and fix my problems.

Seriously, being from a ducal house is such a cheat code. Or is the true cheat code having a duke who adores me for a brother?

“Will you accept my request and allow me to meet with the former emperor, brother?”

“Of course. There is one thing, though...” Alexei’s expression clouded. “Under normal circumstances, I should introduce you to him. However, as I told you last time, I have to avoid seeing him because of my position.”

I nodded. “I’m aware, brother.”

When Mikhail had first suggested that I meet the former emperor, I’d gone to Alexei for advice. I’d reported to him exactly what Mikhail had said, and he’d told me that prominent nobles usually avoided meeting with retired emperors to avoid implying that they were more influential than the current emperor. The emperor who sat on the throne had to be the greatest authority in the nation at all times.

This made total sense to me as a history buff. There had been such cases in Japanese history, notably the days of cloistered rule at the end of the Heian period, when retired emperors had wielded more influence than current emperors. Cloistered emperors Go-Shirakawa and Go-Toba had been good examples.

There seemed to have been such a period in the empire too. The retired emperors had held more power than the sitting emperors and had tended to be tyrannical. That’d led to insurrections and thrown the empire into disarray. The one who’d righted the situation at the time and restored the prestige of the imperial family had been Viktor, the famous Thunder Emperor.

The throne had passed to Viktor when he’d still been a young boy, and he’d become emperor in name only while his father had retained the real power. However, Viktor had then awakened his lightning mana, declared himself the second coming of Pyotr the Great, and removed his father from the picture before setting the empire straight.

To me, a self-proclaimed history nerd, the Thunder Emperor was the most interesting historical figure in the empire, right after the four founding brothers. Despite being born with water mana, he’d awakened his lightning mana later in life, becoming a rare multi-attribute mana user. As per his own words, Pyotr the Great had appeared to him in a dream and granted him the power he needed to restore the empire to its former glory.

This was a fantasy world, so that wasn’t entirely impossible, but I loved the idea of it being clever propaganda even more. As always, the tidbits of history got my imagination running wild!

Anyway, Viktor had later instated laws to make sure that former emperors would be respected but not allowed any power. They could give advice to current emperors, so they could have some level of influence, but that was it. They were forbidden from giving direct orders to their former vassals, and said vassals weren’t supposed to petition them or request their help to sway the emperor in place. Thus, the heads of prominent houses avoided contact with retired emperors altogether, as had been deemed appropriate.

Therefore, Alexei, who was already Duke of Yulnova, couldn’t just go visit the previous emperor.

“The last time we spoke, you told me we’d wait for a ceremony or another such occasion when seeing the previous emperor would be acceptable. However, given the circumstances...would you please permit me to see him with Prince Mikhail instead of you?”

For once, Alexei didn’t immediately agree to my request.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” he asked.

“I’d much rather go with you,” I admitted. “But I must do this for my friend.” Spending more time than necessary with Mikhail was risky as far as the doom flags went, but Olga was in trouble now. I had to prioritize that. “Please, brother.”

I joined my hands in front of my chest and looked at him with big puppy eyes.

“If that’s what you want...” He’d hesitated a tad longer than usual, but he gave me his okay in the end.

My eyes sparkled. Yay, he said yes! I’m so glad he loves me this much!

“Thank you, brother! I love you!”

Alexei stumbled back as though he’d just been smacked by something heavy.

“Well then, I’m off to ask Prince Mikhail for his opinion! I promise to be on my best behavior when I meet the former emperor, brother.”

“Yes, yes, you do that,” Alexei said absentmindedly. He had a dreamy, soft smile on his face.

Phew. I avoided a catastrophe. Had I failed to get Alexei’s approval, he would have had to fit the destruction of the House of Selesnoa in his already busy schedule!

Now, I had to get the prince to help me out with the former empress so she would openly praise Olga. If I failed, Alexei would definitely get involved to undo my blunders, and I couldn’t have that.

Time to call the prince to the gazebo so I can talk to him, I thought, jumping to my feet.

Alexei watched Ekaterina happily stroll out of his office with Flora by her side. His attendant was about to follow them to protect Ekaterina, but Alexei called him back.

“Ivan.”

“Yes, Your Grace? What can I do for you?” he asked, an affable smile on his lips.

Alexei lowered his voice so it wouldn’t reach his sister’s ears. “I must send the Marquess of Selesnoa a present of my own. Discreetly leave a bottle of Crimson Dragon Bloodstone in his residence in the capital—in his bedroom.”

Crimson Dragon Bloodstone was a Yulnova-made red wine so incredibly rare and precious that it was practically legendary. How would Lydia’s father, the Marquess of Selesnoa, feel when he found a Yulnova wine—one with a name that evoked blood, straight from those he was trying to attack—in his bedroom? It should be the safest place in the world for him, and yet...

“I don’t want Ekaterina’s delicate heart to ache. We’ll target the main family and leave the rest out of it. We’ll back them into a corner until they align themselves with Their Majesties’ will.”

Ivan’s amber eyes gleamed. “What if there are guards at his residence? Can I deal with them?”

“Do with them as you like. Make them understand the difference between us and them. Make them tremble with fear.”

“With your leave, I shall do as you command, Your Grace.”

Ivan bowed with a smile before he followed Ekaterina and Flora.

Back in Alexei’s office, his advisors were left slightly disappointed that they wouldn’t get to go on a rampage themselves.

“I always end up reaching this conclusion, but for better or worse, Lydia truly is an aristocrat among aristocrats,” Mikhail said with a sigh after I recounted the situation to him. “This is very like her. Since this is an internal matter of the marquessate, I doubt she expected you or me to catch wind of it before the law took effect. I suppose she never thought the boy from her branch family to whom she gave her favor would take your side.”

She spends time with him every day, and she still hasn’t realized he’s a huge music nerd?!

While that was my first thought, Renato’s father seemed to be a close advisor of the marquess, so it was clear the Selesars were very much favored by the Selesnoas. The son of such a family picking my side just because he liked music was very unexpected.

“Besides, I don’t think she considered you’d actually make a move for Lady Florus even if you were to learn of it. She thinks highborn nobles have the right to discard lesser nobles if they become liabilities. Lydia is a hard worker with boundless ambitions. She only ever looks up and does everything in her power to reach her goals. The thought of looking down would never occur to her.” Mikhail paused. “Well, I suppose that is one of the ways highborn nobles can choose to live.”

That last sentence was almost a whisper, and I couldn’t help but search his face with my eyes. He forced a small smile. “You probably don’t like that idea. But if you look at the reality, compassionate lords don’t always have the most developed or stable estates.”

“I know there are those who believe a sovereign should be feared rather than loved. That if you can only choose one of the two, it should be fear,” I said. “Pragmatically discarding people after you’ve turned your thoughts to them is difficult. If the situation calls for it, it’s easier if you’ve never allowed your personal feelings to get in the way. I assume that is what you mean.”

In my past life, there had once been two great powers. One had been the nation of freedom—the champion of democracy. The other had been centered around the state, or rather an incredibly influential political party, in such a way that you could hardly have said the sovereignty belonged to the people. Yet that second nation had grown and expanded itself at an impressive speed.

People aren’t always straightforward.

Mikhail looked at me, astonished, before laughing.

“To be loved or feared... To love your subjects or not, huh? If my tutors heard you, they’d launch into a passionate debate. Would you like to join in one day? I’d love to hear you debate with some of the greatest minds of our time.”

No, no, no. What are you even suggesting?! Although, I am kind of curious to see what kind of debates the greatest minds of the empire have...

Still, having such tutors was very princely of him. That reminded me of how Alexander the Great had been tutored by Aristotle.

“Lady Ekaterina, about your plan regarding Lady Olga...”

Flora’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.

Oops! My history-buff passion was activated, and I forgot myself.

“Thank you, Lady Flora. Prince Mikhail, would you please help me meet with the previous emperor?”

“Of course. What you suggest will be good for the people of the Selesnoa Marquessate. They’re citizens of the empire too. I will lend you my strength for the future stability of the empire.”

Thank you, Prince! “For the future stability of the empire,” huh? That sounded so cool!

“However...”

Hmm?

“There is only so much I can do. My grandmother is a kind person, but she’s very serious when it comes to music. She will not give empty praise, even if I request it. As a singer who’s been invited to the garden of the God of Music, she believes it’d be blasphemy to praise someone she doesn’t deem worthy of receiving a summons from the god. Lady Florus needs to earn her praise with her abilities.”

O-Oh. Well, nothing to be done about that...

I wanted to kick myself in the face. How could I have been so sure she’d agree just because her grandson asked? I should have seen this coming!

“I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your expectations,” Mikhail said.

“No, don’t apologize! A singer under the divine protection of the God of Music wouldn’t compliment others so easily, of course. I’m sorry for suggesting that in the first place...”

Mikhail seemed surprised to see me apologize so frantically.

“I’m relieved to hear you say this,” he said with a smile. “I was scared I’d disappointed you. But, I’m fairly certain my grandfather would agree if you just asked. After all, you’re the granddaughter of the dear friend he still adores. His words would be enough to tie the Selesnoas’ hands, I’m sure.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to hear he still treasures his friendship with my grandfather.”

I’d thought the previous emperor would agree to help if Mikhail asked, but I hadn’t imagined he might do it for me because I was Sergei’s granddaughter.

The previous emperor and my grandfather must have been even closer than I thought.

To think I could get the former emperor to speak on my behalf so easily... I’d been reincarnated into a very blessed environment.

“There is one issue you may want to consider,” Mikhail said. “If Lydia learns of your plan, she’ll likely sabotage it. All she’d need to do is give Lady Florus random orders and make it so she has no time to leave the academy.”

“Ah! You’re absolutely correct!”

Even if she didn’t get wind of my exact plan, she still saw me as her enemy. If she noticed that Olga came to my home to play—to take vocal lessons, actually, but that part was a secret—she might try to stop that from happening.

What should I do?

“That’s why you should keep Lydia busy, so she doesn’t have time to think about anything else. That’s just an idea, but what would you say about telling her you plan to visit the previous emperor and inviting her to join?”

“What?!”

“Your singing is the talk of the academy, so let’s say I asked you to sing for my grandfather and grandmother. While we’re at it, I’d like her to perform too,” Mikhail said. “If she believes it’s her chance to have a direct showdown with you, she’ll accept. Then, she’ll spend every minute of her free time practicing to ensure she can beat you. Do you think she’ll pay Lady Florus any mind while she’s training to fight you?”

Whoa, that makes total sense.

Lydia would never miss a chance to fight me with her favorite weapon: singing. Since she’d have to perform in front of the previous emperor and empress, she’d need to prepare to be in the best possible condition. Mikhail was right; she’d spend all her time practicing.

Way to go, Prince! You’re quite the decent—no, amazing tactician!

“What a masterful plan. It’s just that...Lady Olga will have to confront Lady Selesnoa head-on.”

Lydia versus Olga, FIGHT! The previous emperor and empress and the crown prince would be the witnesses of this singular combat! Oh boy...

Before I’d gone to talk to Alexei, I’d told Olga that I had a plan, and that it might require her to sing in front of the previous empress. That had been enough to make her tremble like a leaf, but she’d still told me, “I’ll do it. For my grandmother’s piano, I will!”

However, would she be fine with battling Lydia in single combat?

“I feel like that will drive the nail in,” Mikhail said. “Besides, while my grandmother won’t compliment Lady Florus’s singing without meaning it, I imagine she won’t approve of a law that forbids people from owning a piano. She’s likely to comment on that if given the chance. I’ll be there too, so if the Selesnoas make light of my grandmother’s words, I’ll be able to rebuke them for it later.”

Oh!

“However, Lydia will have her eyes on Lady Florus henceforth, that is certain. She might be able to save her family’s piano with this, but I do worry about her future after she returns to the marquessate for good,” he added with an anxious frown.

I smiled. “I’ve thought of that, and I was thinking of advising Lady Olga to remain in the capital after graduation.”

Madam DiDonato had assured me that Olga had what it took to fill the national theater with her fans. Someone had reached the position of empress because of her musical talent in this very empire. A noble girl could bring honor to her house by becoming a singer as long as it was for a prestigious institution. The Selesnoas would also have more trouble messing with the family of a diva of the national theater.

“I love Lady Olga’s voice. If she agrees to keep singing, I intend to ask my brother if the House of Yulnova can sponsor her. I doubt Lady Selesnoa will be able to touch her then.”

“Good. Lady Florus’s future looks bright,” Mikhail said, his expression relaxing. “I’m also curious to hear her voice if it’s as wonderful as you say. I suppose I should before she visits my grandparents. All things considered, may I visit your house during one of your singing lessons?”

“Of course, you’re very welcome to.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.” Mikhail paused. “In the end, this is exactly what you suggested.”

I laughed, realizing he meant my suggestion from the other day that he come over during a singing lesson.

“This is part of our plan to help Lady Olga. You can still give more thought to how you’d like to hear my song,” I said. “I’m deeply moved seeing you do so much for the sake of our people and the future stability of the empire. I’d love to find a way to thank you, but I don’t know how... If there is anything you want, please do not hesitate to tell me.”

I still hadn’t paid him back for his help with the musical evening, yet here I was, relying on him again. I wanted to give back to him somehow, but Mikhail was a prince. There wasn’t much I could offer.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m having a lot of fun coming up with secret plans with you.”

His smile was so bright and sincere.

You’re really suuuuch a good guy, Prince! I thought for the umpteenth time.

The following morning, I whispered to Olga that everything would be fine the moment I saw her. Explaining the plan in detail would take time, and I couldn’t do that on the spot, so I asked her to meet up with me stealthily after class.

When Flora and I stepped into the empty classroom I’d secured, Olga and Renato were already there. They both looked at me with imploring eyes. They were depending on me.

“Prince Mikhail has agreed to help us,” I said with a smile. “We will be granted an audience with the previous emperor and empress, and on that occasion, you will sing to them to save your grandmother’s piano, Lady Olga. You will come with us to play the accompaniment on that day, Lord Selesar.”

I’d figured Olga would need some mental support, so I’d asked Mikhail to invite Renato as well.

I explained to them that earning the former empress’s praise would be hard, but that Mikhail had assured me he could get the emperor to praise Olga and suggest she pursue music, which would probably be enough to prevent Lydia’s new law from being enforced.

A smile returned to both of their faces.

“The three grand ducal houses truly are on a whole other level. Lady Lydia could never introduce people to the previous emperor and empress so easily,” Renato said, a complicated expression flashing across his features.

Leaving aside his tendencies to forget everything else when music was involved, Renato thought like a vassal of the House of Selesnoa.

“This opportunity was not earned through the influence of my house,” I said. “Prince Mikhail is concerned with the well-being of all his people, including those of the Selesnoa Marquessate. He’s doing this for the stability of the empire.”

Renato’s eyes widened in surprise. He seemed genuinely shocked—deeply moved, actually.

“How kind of him to say that...” he whispered. He paused before adding, “But still, it’s all thanks to you.”

Olga was still smiling, but I could see her face had paled. The pressure of singing in front of the previous emperor and empress was immense.

I’m sorry, Olga. I’m about to make it even more stressful. I’m so sorry...

After apologizing in my heart, I told Olga and Renato that Mikhail had suggested inviting Lydia too to distract her. We’d make her believe she’d compete with me in front of the former emperor and empress, but in reality, she’d actually be competing against Olga.

Just as I’d expected, Olga froze.

Renato, however, nodded several times. “I see, yes. His Highness’s wisdom knows no bounds. Lady Lydia’s attention must be diverted, and this is the best way of doing so. In her ladyship’s eyes, the former empress is a goal, yet also the person she must surpass. But what she truly yearns for, through her, is the God of Music. She’s obsessed with the idea of being invited to his garden, so she’ll do everything she can to prove her worth if she thinks there’s even a sliver of a chance the god will notice her thanks to the previous empress’s favor. She’d fight to the death for that.”

Erm, Renato? Olga’s face is getting paler by the second, so could you please stop?

“If Olga earns the previous empress’s applause in that situation, we’ll finally be able to take her ladyship down a peg once and for all!” Renato concluded.

Huh?!

I couldn’t believe my ears, and my eyes shot back to Renato. The mark on his cute face wasn’t gone yet, but the only emotion I could read on it was determination. He clenched his fists tightly.

“L-Lord Selesar. As I stated earlier, Prince Mikhail will arrange it so that the previous emperor praises Lady Olga. That should be enough to kill the law in the cradle.”

“I understand that, but I want her ladyship to realize that this isn’t acceptable. She needs to know how horrible stealing instruments, music away from others is.”

I’m...not sure she’ll get the message that easily.

“Lady Lydia doesn’t know failure,” Renato said. “She was born the daughter of a marquess, blessed with the abilities everyone expected from her, and has worked assiduously to improve. A lot is expected of her, but she’s always managed to answer these expectations and received commendation for it. She doesn’t believe that anything in this world is out of her reach. In her view, failure only comes to those who do not put in the effort, and she looks down on them.”

Oh boy, talk about elitism. There were people who held similar views in my past world, elites on the fast track to success. Speaking of which, a die-hard elitist who looked down on others... That reminds me of someone.

There had been a piano in the secondary residence where my mother and I had been confined. When I was little, my mother had often played and taught me songs. I remembered her smile and the colorful melodies of the piano...

Somewhere along the way, though, they’d both disappeared—her smile and the piano.

“If she suffers a setback, just once, she might change. She will change.” Renato paused, then admitted, “No... To be honest, I just don’t think I’ll be able to rest unless she feels some true frustration for once.”

I chuckled. I get you. I’m incredibly annoyed too. That’s the sort of feeling you want to get rid of, one way or another.

“Besides, if the former empress approves of you, you’ll be able to live off your music for the rest of your life, Olga. You have to go for it, for the sake of your future!”

“Huh?” Olga yelped. She hadn’t expected Renato to address her directly, and her bright green eyes turned into two round beads.

“She’s under the divine protection of the God of Music, is the wife of the previous emperor, and the mother of the current emperor. In the music world, her word comes second only to a direct invitation from the God of Music. If she commends you, I wouldn’t be surprised if the director of the national theater came begging you to sing for them. You can do it, Olga. I guarantee it!”

Renato... Are you the reincarnation of that retired tennis man who made giving motivational speeches his second career?

Surprisingly enough, that heated speech seemed to have had a big effect on Olga, and she nodded enthusiastically.

“Y-You’re right! I recall how impressed I was when I visited the Music Sanctuary over the summer... People dedicate all sorts of pieces to the God of Music, but I learned that they don’t just do that to offer music. They’re trying their hardest to make a living. Before them, I had no idea it was even possible to live off one’s music! I’d never considered it. Since then, I can’t stop myself from thinking about how wonderful that must be. My heart raced while I watched them perform. They all looked so dazzling on the stage of the sanctuary. I can’t help but hope that one day, I’ll be standing there too.”

Noble girls becoming singers wasn’t improper in this world, but as I listened to Olga, I realized that the nobles of the countryside had no way to know it was even an option. It was only common knowledge in the capital.

“The opportunity I’m being given is far greater than the chance to sing at the sanctuary. The people I saw on that stage wouldn’t have hesitated to take it. I’m sure of it,” Olga continued. “I want to face music without hiding. I-I don’t think I’m worthy of this, but I don’t want to lose. And I’m not talking about her ladyship. I don’t want to lose to my own fears! If I do, if I give up here, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I’m scared, incredibly so, but I’ll do my best!”

“That’s the spirit, Olga. Let’s give this our best shot together!”

Olga and Renato seemed right out of a sports manga. The only reason they hadn’t grabbed each other’s hands yet was the proper distance to be maintained between noble young men and women. Regardless, I felt the need to support them with everything I had. I smiled fondly.

“Now that this is settled, Lady Yulnova, I have another request,” Renato said, turning to me. “Could you teach Olga a song the previous empress would like?”

I started. “M-Me? Teach her a song?”

“Yes. That ‘As I Am’ song was wonderful, but considering the lyrics and composition, I feel like it was made for young people.”

That was a fair assessment. It was the theme song of an animated movie, so the main target audience was children and teens, right?

Looks like the name of the song in this world is gonna be based on the Japanese name, huh?

But singing one hit doesn’t mean I know what the previous empress would like!

“I think a song of yours would be worthy of being presented to the previous emperor and empress, even if it’s not ‘As I Am.’ To be honest, I’m interested in the other songs you’ve written, regardless of this. Could you sing a few for us?”

I didn’t write anything at all! All I did was translate the Japanese lyrics into the language of the empire. That’s all!

I’m sorry... I’m so sorry!

I’d gotten kind of addicted to translating song lyrics since I’d tried my hand at doing the theme song of Project Something. It was good mental exercise too.

I never thought it would lead to this, though...

The other songs I’d translated were either J-pop or from musicals. There was no way the previous empress would like J-pop.

Unless...

There was one song among the ones I’d translated already that came to mind. It was a J-pop song, but it had been well received by the rest of the world. The lyrics were refined, so maybe...just maybe...

Renato and Olga seemed to have read from my expression that something had occurred to me, and they both looked at me with sparkling eyes.

That’s not my song either, though. I’d decided to stop popularizing songs from my past world willy-nilly, but... Ah! Damn it!

Dear composer, dear lyricist, dear singer, I’m so sorry for stealing your debut song!

I’m really, really sorry!

Tumultuous days lay ahead. Although, to be honest, they’d mostly be tumultuous for Olga and Renato.

Renato immediately approved the song I sang.

“What a graceful, beautiful song. The charm of ‘As I Am’ lies in the constant modulations of the melody, but this one is a lot more relaxed. There is a classical feel to it that I can picture the previous emperor and empress enjoying, even without being used to this style. It’s innovative, but not too innovative. Your writing is so versatile, Lady Yulnova. I must endeavor to do better myself.”

You’re not the problem, Renato! I screamed inwardly.

I still wasn’t sure why Renato was the one deciding which song Olga would sing, but Olga seemed to trust him. He’d more or less become her producer overnight. Well, given his talent and the knowledge he’d gained about the former empress’s musical tastes and the empire’s musical trends through his relationship with Lydia, he was the best person for the job.

Olga seemed pleased too, and she started humming. Her complexion looked better already.

“It’s such a gentle song,” she said. “It’s very soothing but also powerful and dignified. I can feel courage rushing through me. It also seems more novel than any of the trendy songs I heard at the sanctuary. It’d be an honor to sing it!”

The song I’d sung was derived from an original piece about Jupiter that had been composed a century ago and was beloved worldwide. In Japan, several songs had been inspired by that original piece, but the one I’d translated had remained popular for roughly twenty years after it’d come out, so it had staying power.

Well, twenty years ago and a hundred years ago from the time I’d died in my past world. In this world, which was less advanced, the 1910s were the future, so it felt novel to Olga and Renato.

The adviser of my choir club had been a huge fan of that song, so we’d sung it more times than I could count. She’d also blabbered about it for hours. That was why I remembered the lyrics by heart, and why I knew the composer of the original piece had been English, not German, like I’d once believed based on his name.

I loved the song, but it was really hard, so practicing it with the choir had been hell. Still, it was a great song, and I’d kept on singing it often at karaoke after I’d graduated from high school. To sing it alone, you needed a broad range and great control over your falsetto. Thankfully, Olga had both. I could barely manage it, but I knew she’d be able to perform it for real.

“Let’s practice together whenever her ladyship’s eyes aren’t on either of us,” Renato said.

Lydia forced him to play for her daily, but that was only during her free practice sessions. She had a professional pianist accompany her during her formal lessons with her instructor, so Renato was available during that time. Once she heard that she’d be singing in front of the previous emperor and empress, there was no doubt Lydia would enlist the help of her instructor pretty much every day after school. That would make time for Renato.

“I’ll make your voice shine the brightest!” he exclaimed.

A producer—and perhaps a merciless coach—was born.

Mikhail wrote to his grandfather and promptly obtained permission to organize the visit. After abdicating the throne, the previous emperor and empress had moved to a detached palace on the edge of the capital to distance themselves from the center of power. The two lived a rather secluded life and had more than enough time on their hands for visitors.

According to what he’d told me, Mikhail had barely touched upon the fact that he hoped his grandfather would praise Olga to stop the Selesnoas from changing the law in their marquessate, but the previous emperor was not just anyone. He’d ruled and knew how to read into the euphemisms Mikhail used.

Likewise, the previous emperor had indicated he’d help through subtle euphemisms.

Mikhail showed me his reply. Seeing the handwriting of a former emperor with my own two eyes made me shiver. Either that reaction meant that the class system of this world had been deeply ingrained into me, or that this was all a bit much for me as a former commoner. I couldn’t tell which.

Anyway, his handwriting was beautiful, and the way he worded his sentences was so masterful that it could have been called an art. However, what caught my eye the most was one specific passage:

The name of the young Yulnova lady who will accompany you has reached my ears on several occasions despite the reclusive life I lead. Her achievements remind me of my dear brother-in-law’s own, and I must confess that I long to meet her. My songstress and I also anticipate your visit, dearest grandson, so we may see how much more vigorous you’ve grown since we last laid eyes upon you.

The previous emperor had heard of me? What had he heard, exactly? I was scared to find out!

On another note, I loved that he referred to his wife as “his songstress.” The pair had married for love, and their relationship seemed to still be going well despite the years.

“See, I told you there was no need to worry. He’s a kind person, and you’re Duke Sergei’s granddaughter. You’re special to him.” Mikhail grinned.

The former emperor did sound nice, but I was still super stressed, and my lips twitched as I forced a smile.

Despite my own worries, I did everything I could to support Olga.

First, I wrote a letter to Madam DiDonato asking her to come to the Yulnova residence in the capital every weekend to teach Olga until the day of our audience.

Thanks to His Highness the Prince Mikhail, Lady Olga has been invited to sing in front of Their Majesties the Previous Emperor and Empress. Therefore, I ask that you devote as much time as you are able to guiding Lady Olga in the coming weeks. Should you incur any loss by refusing to take on other students for that reason, I hereby promise that the House of Yulnova will compensate you in full. I also request that you keep this matter quiet until after Lady Olga has performed for Their Retired Majesties.

I’d written this myself, but there were so many references to members of the imperial household that the sight of the letter made me dizzy.

Regardless, I entrusted the letter to Mina, who delivered it with haste. When she returned, she told me that Madam DiDonato had made her decision and given her an answer on the spot. It read:

What a glorious privilege Lady Olga has received! I shall do everything in my power to aid her in this endeavor, so that she and Their Exalted Retired Majesties may enjoy the best performance possible.

Madam DiDonato’s handwriting was encouraging and powerful, but the letters were a tad crooked here and there, as though she’d been shivering while writing. If Olga received commendation from the former empress, Madam DiDonato’s prestige would rise as well, since she was her teacher.

I also asked the school for permission to use the auditorium after school. When I explained to the teachers I was to sing in front of the previous emperor and empress and needed somewhere to practice, they okayed my request without question. The auditorium, which was used for our entrance ceremonies, was huge and featured an orchestra pit along with a piano. I’d requested it and not the music room so the other students wouldn’t realize that it was actually Olga practicing, not me.

The next day, Renato came to school with a score written up. Apparently, he’d written the arrangement after speaking with Olga, while I was talking to Mikhail and dealing with the other details. Arranging the music in his head without using a single instrument had been an arduous task, and it’d taken him all night. He slept like a log through most of our classes that day.

Olga could play the piano, and she could read sheet music too. Thanks to the score, she could practice alone when Renato and Madam DiDonato weren’t available.

While she practiced her singing, I tried to think of more things I could do to help. With Flora’s help, I made her honey and ginger syrup—good for the throat—brewed her thyme herbal tea—also good for the throat—and gave her tricks to keep her room’s humidity level high—which was, you guessed it, good for the throat!

If Renato was her devilish coach, I was slowly turning into her manager.

“Lady Ekaterina, you don’t need to do all this for me...”

Olga seemed ashamed that she was “troubling” me so much, but I didn’t mind at all.

“I’m benefiting from all this,” I told her. “The more time we spend together, the more I get to hear your beautiful voice.”

I wasn’t flattering her; I genuinely loved her voice. And this whole thing reminded me of my choir days, so that was fun in and of itself. If it was at all possible, I just wanted Olga to relax and enjoy singing. I told her that, even if the previous empress didn’t praise her, if she wanted to become a singer, the House of Yulnova would support her.

“Thank you for everything you’re doing for me, Lady Ekaterina. I’ll do my absolute best to repay you for your kindness!”

It had the opposite effect!

Or so I thought, before I noticed Olga was practically glowing.

“Somehow, the thought of having the former empress compliment me doesn’t feel like a distant dream anymore. If it happens, I’m sure my grandmother’s spirit will be overjoyed,” she said.

Olga’s grandma had been a huge fan of the former empress. From what Olga and Renato had told me, the popularity of the former empress in the Selesnoa Marquessate was still sky-high. In particular, the generation of their grandparents adored her. They felt pride that a lady from their territory had married into the imperial family, and there was also the fact that her love story with the former emperor seemed straight out of a romance novel. Regardless of rank, everyone loved and respected her, but Olga’s grandmother had been an especially big fan of hers.

“One day, we were on a walk and passed a group of people talking about the former empress. My grandmother rushed back to them and demanded to know if what they’d said was true. She didn’t know any of them—she was just that interested. Another time, she heard someone speak ill of the former empress. She rebuked them while in tears! ‘She’s not that kind of person!’ she said.”

Yeah, she really was a die-hard fan.

“My grandmother loved music too. She was good at singing and... You know, I take after her a lot. I’m sure she’s watching over me and cheering me on. She must be looking forward to hearing me sing in front of the former empress.”

It was too bad that Olga’s grandmother had passed away two years ago.

“You inherited your grandmother’s beautiful voice, then,” I said softly.

Olga reminded me of a small woodland creature, and if she resembled her grandmother, the latter must have been an adorable old lady—the complete opposite of my old hag. The thought brought a smile to my lips.

On the weekend, Madam DiDonato came to our residence to teach Olga how to improve her technique.

Marina was also cooperating with us, so she picked up Olga with one of House Krymov’s carriages. Meanwhile, Flora stayed at the academy to clean Lydia’s room and do a couple of other chores to make sure Olga’s alibi was foolproof.

“I’ll get to hear beautiful music, drink delicious tea, and eat delectable snacks! I can’t think of a better way to spend my weekend!” Marina exclaimed. She was saying this for Olga’s benefit, but I could tell she meant it.

However, Mikhail arrived discreetly not too much later, which made Marina suddenly turn tense. She couldn’t even swallow the sweet treats she’d been anticipating.

I get it. It’s hard to let your appetite go wild with a handsome prince in front of you.

Marina started channeling her inner five kittens, and soon she was just as prim and proper as when I’d first met her. I left her to that while I greeted Mikhail.

“Thank you for joining us despite your busy schedule, Prince Mikhail. Please, take a seat and relax.”

My way of showing him hospitality was to stack snacks in front of him, just like an Osakan grandma would.

Mikhail laughed. “I always ask for some of your cooking, so you think I’m always hungry, don’t you?”

“You’re growing. It’s only natural you’d eat a lot.” A genius idea suddenly popped into my mind. “To thank you for everything you’ve done, I shall cook you something you fancy for lunch when we return to the academy. Please tell me your favorite dishes.”

Mikhail’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’ll make my favorite food for me?”

“It’ll be my brother’s lunch as well, so I’d rather avoid things he hates, but anything else is fine,” I replied. As an Alexei fangirl, I couldn’t yield on that specific point.

Mikhail nodded and quietly whispered, “I figured.” He seemed relieved, for some reason.

After tea, we listened to Olga sing. When she was done, Mikhail let out a deep, admiring sigh and clapped.

“I can’t wait for my grandparents to listen to you. I’m sure they’ll be delighted.”

Another day, Renato reported to me that Lydia was practicing day and night.

“However,” he said, “she seems to be in a bad mood. Her father, the marquess, isn’t very enthusiastic about her singing for the previous emperor and empress.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s not feeling well. I heard he barely drinks a single glass of wine anymore these days. It could be that the House of Yulmagna said something. After all, they’re trying to put Lady Elizaveta on the empress’s throne, so her ladyship is a thorn in their side.”

“Oh, that is a possibility, indeed,” said I, a far bigger thorn in the Yulmagnas’ side.

Our days of preparation went by in a flash, and before I knew it, it was time to visit the former emperor and empress.

Chapter 4: At the Detached Palace

Next to the main gate of the Magic Academy was a large carriage porch for the drop-off and pickup of students. The large U-shaped structure was paved with white stones and covered by a simple roof so that the passengers wouldn’t get wet when getting on or off carriages. It reminded me of the bus stops often located in front of large train stations, only fancier. The pillars that supported the roof were decorated with beautiful engravings, which lent the place an air of grandeur. The academy was attended by the sons and daughters of the nobles of the empire, and it had been built in a way that highlighted its importance to the visitors from the moment they set foot here.

Today, some dark clouds hung low in the sky, but it didn’t look like it would rain.

Near the carriage porch was another, smaller structure—a gazebo where one could sit to wait for one’s carriage. Lydia was there.

Today, we’d visit the former emperor and empress.

Mikhail, Lydia, and I were to rendezvous at the academy and head to the detached palace where the retired couple lived together. As the daughter of a marquess, Lydia was the one with the lowest status, which meant she shouldn’t make the prince or me wait. As expected of her, she had her etiquette down, and it looked like she’d arrived far in advance.

Despite her perfect manners, Lydia didn’t bother to conceal her hostility. The exquisite dress she’d donned had large, puffy sleeves and sparkled with silver thread and pearls. In the empire, it was customary to wear extravagant gowns at evening parties, and simpler, more dignified dresses for daytime functions. Since Lydia’s dress was in a light, subdued color, it was just barely acceptable as a daytime outfit, but it was still very lavish and overwhelming.

The quality of Lydia’s dress, which flirted with the limits of etiquette, showed that she wasn’t the only one taking this challenge seriously. Her father had clearly put in money and effort too.

Despite its visual impact. Lydia wasn’t letting her dress upstage the rest of her. She pulled it off so well, I couldn’t help but feel impressed. Although, to be honest, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from her. The House of Selesnoa was attempting to overtake the three grand ducal houses, and everything about Lydia screamed that she wasn’t about to lose to me in any way, shape, or form.

However, the surprise on her face when she saw me showed that she was still a child.

Alexei, the current Duke of Yulnova, was escorting me. As per the rules of the empire, which dictated that influential nobles should not meet with retired emperors, his presence made no sense to Lydia. On top of that, the dress I wore did not sparkle, nor was it adorned with countless decorations. It was the sort of dress highborn ladies wore on a regular day—elegant and dignified, but simple. Even my skirt had little volume.

Despite its restraint, though, my dress still caught the eye. It primarily used two shades of Celestial Blue, which was all the rage in the capital these days: a lighter one reminiscent of the color of the sky in spring, and a darker, lapis-lazuli blue. They were delineated in a striking split between the right and left sides. To avoid any sense of monotony, the design was asymmetrical, which made it effortlessly chic.

Alexei’s outfit also had touches of Celestial Blue. He wore a beautifully tailored white jacket that befit his rank. The inner side of his collar had been dyed in the same dark lapis lazuli blue as half my dress, and his cuff links were embedded with actual lapis lazuli. Alexei’s fit was graceful and, albeit discreetly, matched mine.

Our relaxed gait as we walked toward the gazebo made our stance regarding the House of Selesnoa abundantly clear—it didn’t concern us in the slightest.

Once Alexei stepped under the gazebo, Lydia would have to rise and bow to him as was customary. However, Alexei stopped a couple of paces before that and turned to me.

“Ekaterina, my blue rose,” he said, his voice thick with affection as he softly stroked my indigo blue hair. “I should be the one to introduce you to His Majesty the Former Emperor. I deeply regret being unable to do so. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, brother. Your heart is always with me. I know that,” I replied with a smile.

Alexei chuckled. “You always see right through me, don’t you, my beautiful goddess?” His gentle tone suddenly hardened like steel. “Never forget, Ekaterina. You are the lady of the House of Yulnova. Come to me if anything happens. Those who look down on you look down on our house, and that shall never go unpunished. Not under my watch.”

“I understand, brother. I shall do as you say.”

Alexei caressed my cheek. “Good girl.”

Then, he let his eyes wander. For a split second, he paused and glared at Lydia.

Lydia paled. Alexei was already the head of a powerful house—the very center of the Yulnova power. The weight of his words was nothing like that of his fellow teenagers.

Alexei’s eyes had already left Lydia. He whispered sweetly to me, “I’ll be awaiting your return.”

Just as he turned on his heels, Mikhail appeared. His steps were light and bouncy as he approached.

Alexei greeted him with a look, and Mikhail smiled in return.

Such a simple exchange between a duke and a prince passing one another could only happen in the special context of the academy, but it also showed their closeness.

When he arrived at the gazebo, Mikhail smiled once more. “Sorry for the wait. Should we get going?”

The carriages were already waiting for us under the carriage porch—two carriages.

“Ekaterina has never met the former emperor and empress, so there are things we must discuss,” Mikhail said. “I’m sorry, Lydia, but please board the second carriage.”

Lydia nodded with a smile. “Of course, Prince Mikhail.”

There was no other answer one could give the crown prince of the empire.

So, Mikhail escorted me into the first carriage, which belonged to the imperial house, while Lydia boarded the second, a carriage of the House of Selesnoa.

Mikhail and I were the two highest-ranking unmarried youths in the capital. It was unthinkable for the two of us to share such a confined space alone, so his attendant, Lucas, and my maid, Mina, rode with us. Still, we trusted them unconditionally and knew we could speak without reservations.

“Lady Florus and Lord Selesar should have arrived at the detached palace already,” Mikhail said. “I made sure they could practice in one of the theaters of the detached palace, so I assume that’s what they’re doing.”

“Perfect. Thank you, Prince Mikhail. You’ve done so much for us, from start to finish.”

Arriving at the detached palace in a carriage owned by the imperial family made things easier, so Mikhail had sent Olga and Renato in another carriage ahead of time.

I smiled at Mikhail, but deep down, I felt strangely dispirited. I wonder how Lydia’s doing all alone in the other carriage. She must be annoyed.

I’d tricked her into thinking she’d compete against me, so I supposed I was a little guilty. My status was higher than hers, and I was using that and my connections to Alexei and Mikhail to achieve an easy victory over her. I couldn’t lose, so I should have been calm and composed, but I couldn’t shake off the shame. If Lydia had ridden the same carriage as us, making sure she didn’t figure out the truth would have been a pain, so this was for the best. But tricking people or leaving them out didn’t feel good.

I’m such a pushover.

If Lydia had been in my shoes, she would have gloated, no doubt. Besides, beyond the conflict between the two of us, the battle we were fighting at the moment was part of a larger war of influence between the Yulnovas and Selesnoas. I had no business getting depressed over leaving her out during a carriage ride.

I’m so out of touch with reality, so soft. What an idiot I am.

I knew all that, but I couldn’t help the unpleasant weight in my chest. Maybe I felt this way because I was almost thirty inside, and she was a high schooler. I couldn’t shake off the sense that I was bullying a child.

“I knew you wouldn’t enjoy this situation.” Mikhail’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“I’m so sorry. You heeded my request...and you’re making your feelings known to her, and yet, I...”

As a member of the imperial family, Mikhail couldn’t directly comment on the internal matters of the marquessate, so this was a roundabout way of making Lydia understand he didn’t appreciate the way she was handling things. Once you spoke up, there was no taking back those words, so disguising statements in this way was extremely common—and important—in politics.

“I’m afraid I’ve yet to grow accustomed to the way social interactions work in the capital. How embarrassing...”

I shouldn’t have been wasting time on my naive thoughts. I had to learn, so that the next time a similar situation arose, I could take care of it myself. It was an important skill for the lady of a prominent house to master. I needed to work at it, not whine.

“That’s fine. I don’t think you need to get used to such things if they aren’t your cup of tea.”

I looked at Mikhail in shock.

“People often get better results honing their strengths instead of forcing themselves to do things they hate. Besides, the House of Yulnova is home to many talents. You can delegate these things to those who’re better suited to handle them.”

“Delegate...” I repeated pensively.

H-He’s right! I was currently an employer, not an employee. I could think of this as a business and leave the job to others! Staring at Mikhail, I processed this realization.

“You have time to figure out how you want to deal with such situations in the future,” he said with a smile. “There are many ways to be a noble. Some trial and error along the way is fine. You and I are still students, so we’re free to keep learning, right?”

Wait. I told you we were still students over the summer! Those were my own words, Prince!

“My.” I started laughing. “You’re quite correct! You’re always so impressive, Prince Mikhail. Such words could only come from someone who has thought long and hard about what it means to stand above others. I respect you immensely.”

As a former corporate drone, my first instinct was always to figure things out and implement them myself. But in my current position, that wasn’t the answer.

Oh boy. A child is teaching me so much. Mikhail was an exceptional sixteen-year-old. I could tell he’d faced the reality of his position as someone who stood above others and had to use them. I had no doubt he’d studied the art of ruling carefully. I really do respect you a lot, Prince.

“Receiving such kind words from you makes me very happy,” he said, looking pleased. “We’re still studying side by side, so I hope we can keep seeking and receiving advice from one another in the future.”

“I’d like that too.”

Alexei was overly protective of me. There might come times when I wouldn’t be able to ask him for advice. Perhaps I could rely on Mikhail.

But...is it really okay for me to be on such friendly terms with the prince?

That scared me, but I’d already failed so hard at staying away from him that I felt like worrying about it now was a tad pointless.

The detached palace was beautiful, and much larger than I’d expected.

There was some distance between the gate and the castle itself. After we passed through the gate, we advanced through a garden so green, luxuriant, and peaceful I felt as though we were in the middle of the forest. Despite how natural the garden looked, it was clearly very well maintained. In between the trees, I could see the old castle rising toward the sky, calm and majestic.

“This place is so refined!” I said.

“This has been the home of retired emperors for generations,” Mikhail told me. “It’s perfect to live out your remaining days quietly.”

Despite the way Mikhail was putting it, I figured the point was less that it was comfortable and more that it was hidden away in a forest, secluded from the center of power. It was the perfect place to ensure retired emperors lived quietly.

“The inside of the palace is a true maze,” he continued. “Retired emperors have all the time in the world to make alterations, and the successive remodels have turned it into a labyrinth. I’ve heard that new servants always lose their way at first.”

Huh, that’s something.

Building a castle to fit one’s preferences was one of the hobbies of the highborn. In my past world, Neuschwanstein Castle had been erected for that very reason, if memory served me right.

“The former emperor loves music, so he’s mostly modified the theaters. The one we’re headed to, the outside theater, has gone through the most changes. My grandfather made it into a copy of the stage of the Music Sanctuary—for his empress’s sake, of course.”

So there were theaters within the walls of the castle... Several theaters? I supposed that allowed them to call theatrical companies and singers to the palace and enjoy their performances in the best conditions. It was like rich people having a home cinema—only we were talking about emperors, so they did things on a whole other level.

Mina and Lucas couldn’t be brought in front of the retired imperial couple, so we asked them to wait in a room until we were done. I didn’t know about Lucas, but it made sense to me that Mina had to be sequestered, since she was a battle maid who could kill someone with her bare hands.

We followed an old maid down a small path in the garden until the outdoor theater came into view.

It bore a close resemblance to the amphitheaters of ancient Greece or ancient Rome, although considering the history of this world, it was most likely the ancient Astran style. It had a bowl-shaped seating area, with a semicircular stage at the bottom, and a wall behind the stage to allow the sound to echo. On the tall wall was a large, colorful relief of the God of Music.

The God of Music looked part-human and part-bird and reminded me of the Buddhist depictions of Kalavinka I’d seen in my old world. Kalavinka had the upper body of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a bird. The God of Music, however, had legs like a human’s. He was an androgynous beauty with colored wings sprouting from his back, and his hair was adorned with feathers, while a long, feathery tail flowed from the small of his back. His outfit had an Asian feel to it, with countless necklaces, bracelets, and anklets decorating his body.

Among the audience seats of the outdoor theater was a section reserved for honored guests. Positioned where the acoustics were at their best, it was furnished with special chairs and tables so one could enjoy drinks while watching concerts or plays. There awaited the former emperor and empress.

“Mikhail, my dear grandson, I’m glad to see you,” Valentin said, with a dignified smile.

The former emperor was sixty-three years old, two years younger than Sergei would have been if he were still alive. In his prime, his hair had been a springlike light blue, but it was now pure white. His eyes, however, were still a vibrant blue. In his early portraits, which had been painted soon after he ascended the throne, he looked so beautiful you could almost mistake him for a woman, but the years had turned him into an elegant old gentleman. I’d heard that, while Valentin was wise, he had never been very strong, and that seemed to have been true. He didn’t look particularly muscular, and both his height and build were less than those of his son, Emperor Konstantin. Regardless, his eyes gleamed with intelligence.

“You look healthy! That’s good,” Clementina said. “You grew up some, did you not? You’re almost as tall as Konstantin now.”

In the portraits I’d seen, Clementina had the same silver hair tinged with blue as Lydia, but her hair was now pristine white. Although time had changed its color, it had done nothing to dim its shine. With her hair arranged in a sophisticated updo, Clementina was the picture of sophistication. She was so slender that she appeared tall, but she wasn’t actually. Her height matched the emperor’s, so they looked good beside one another.

Clementina had been born the second of three daughters, and I’d heard she’d been treated poorly in her youth because both her older and younger sisters were far more beautiful than she was, but I had the feeling that if the three sisters were compared now, Clementina would come out on top. Every year she’d spent as the most exalted lady in the nation had added to her brilliance, little by little, until she’d become the radiant woman in front of me.

“I still haven’t caught up to him, but I’m not far off,” Mikhail replied with a little laugh. “My father urges me to eat less these days—he’s not too fond of the idea of me outgrowing him, you see.”

The former emperor and empress both smiled fondly.

“Your visits are the highlights of our life here,” Valentin said. “And you’ve brought such lovely friends today.”

His good-natured expression didn’t change one bit as he turned to Lydia and me.

“They’re exceedingly talented, so I wanted you to meet them. This is the daughter of the House of Yulnova.”

I performed a curtsy. “It’s a great honor to make your acquaintances. I’m Ekaterina Yulnova.”

“So you are my dear brother-in-law’s granddaughter,” Valentin said.

“What a beautiful young lady you are,” Clementina added.

They were both smiling.

“Your accomplishments have reached my ears, Ekaterina. Those glass pens of yours seem rather interesting. I’d love to have one of my own.”

Oh, another perfect billboard to advertise my products!

No, no. I’ve got to calm down. I’m not here to make a profit. But maybe I could still mention it to Halil and Lev... They’d love the idea.

“I’m honored to hear that, and I’m sure my brother will be too.”

“Do pass my greetings to Alexei,” the previous emperor added before turning to Lydia. “You’ve often helped quell our boredom, Lydia. I heard you’ll be singing for us today. I’m certainly looking forward to that.”

“Knowing how diligent you are, I’m sure you’ve made much progress since the last time. I anticipate hearing your improvements,” Clementina said.

Lydia curtsied beautifully. “I’m still inexperienced, but I shall do my utmost.” She then shot a challenging glance my way.

Tea and cakes were brought, and we sat at the same table as Valentin and Clementina to chat before performing. However, I couldn’t calm my nerves. I was incredibly worried about Olga and Renato, who were on standby somewhere else.

Will Olga be okay? She must be incredibly nervous.

She’d probably had no idea she’d be performing in such a grand theater when she’d challenged herself to earn Clementina’s compliments. Olga was timid by nature. Would she manage not to let the size of the theater and its atmosphere overpower her? What about Renato?

He’ll be in an unfamiliar place, playing on an unfamiliar piano...

Huh? Yeah, no.

The moment my thoughts turned to Renato, I stopped worrying so much—I couldn’t worry about him. He was the sort of guy who bragged he could play anything that made sound. While he looked like a little cutie, he was incredibly self-assured. I’d even discovered he was a lot like that fiery tennis player from my past life, so there wasn’t anything to worry about with him, was there?

Speaking of which, there was a big chance Renato was one of the potential love interests in the game, but I wondered what he was like there. He couldn’t have been so prickly, right? Had his personality changed somewhere along the way?

“Ekaterina?”

Ah! I started when I realized Mikhail had been calling my name. My goodness! How could I lose myself in my thoughts in front of the former emperor and empress?!

“I-I’m terribly sorry,” I blurted out.

“Are you all right, Lady Yulnova?” Lydia asked, a worried expression on her face. “I heard you have a weak constitution and even collapsed on the day of the entrance ceremony.”

Oh, right. I’d almost forgotten I’d been pretending to be sickly. Welcome back, sickly setting!

Lydia thought of me as a rival in the race to become empress, so she was making sure to point out the biggest disadvantage I had in front of the previous emperor and empress.

Have at it, Lydia!

“How kind of you to have remembered that! I’m most thankful for your concern,” I replied with a bright smile.

Lydia’s eyes flickered in surprise, but she soon forced her expression into one of selfless worry.

“As the young lady of the noble House of Yulnova, you are the center of everyone’s attention, my lady. You are a popular topic of conversation among my classmates, just like your mother once was among the social circles of the capital. She herself had a feeble constitution, did she not? The ladies all used to worry about her, since she was always in her territory to rest. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I often heard she was a great beauty. When I met you, I knew for sure she must have been. You inherited your breathtaking beauty from her, no doubt.”

At these words, Lydia smiled as though she were being so kind to me. I, on the other hand, felt my face twitch. She was trying to say that I’d inherited more than beauty from my mother! What a masterful way to diss me. I wouldn’t have minded it if she’d done so in any other way, but I didn’t want her to bring my mother into this.

Right then, Mikhail spoke up. “Come to think of it, you almost collapsed after fighting that monster with Alexei and me, Ekaterina. You’ve been so full of energy recently that it slipped my mind. What I do remember vividly, however, is your masterful mana control. I was so impressed by the massive golem you created, and by your ingenuity in mixing your earth mana with water. When I told my grandfather about it last time, he remarked on your bravery.”

Valentin nodded.

“They say demonic beasts often appear in the Yulnova Duchy, but I still cannot help but admire a lady so young for rising against one such beast to protect her classmates. Sergei often led his men to subjugate demonic beasts in his duchy, you know. His tales sounded like great adventures to my ears, and I admired him greatly in my youth. You take after him so much. To think that such a beauty was behind the stellar accomplishments Mikhail has recounted to me.”

“Your gracious praise is more than I deserve,” I said, bowing.

Valentin still held Sergei dear to his heart. Lydia had brought up my lineage, which had prompted him to mention my grandfather...obviously a plus for me. Smart as she was, Lydia had realized that trying to undermine me further would only backfire and quieted down. The reports of my poor health seemed to have been canceled out by my powerful mana.

I felt a lot better now that Lydia had been forced to eat her words.

Thank you for making that happen, Prince! You’re getting more reliable by the day, aren’t you?

Wait, isn’t it better for me if they’re all convinced I’m unfit to marry him?! But on the other hand, I don’t think I could stomach Lydia getting what she wants either...

No matter what, I wasn’t supposed to look smug, right now, was I? As a noble lady, that wouldn’t have been proper. I did my utmost to remain composed and look down to avoid seeing Lydia’s face. I didn’t need to see her to sense she was seething.

This was the moment the former empress chose to address us, her voice serene. “I’m eager to hear your music. Are you ready to start soon?”

Lydia lifted her head at once. She glanced at me as though she meant to ask me something, then immediately turned back to Clementina with a smile.

“I’m ready to sing at any time,” Lydia announced.

Mm, I get it. She’d briefly looked at me to make it seem like we’d agreed on the order with our eyes, but she’d planned to steal the initiative the entire time.

It was a sensible plan. Performing after a talented singer would only make one’s shortcomings more obvious. We used to lament whenever our turn fell right after a very strong team at choir competitions.

When Lydia stood up, her expression shifted. It was like she’d forgotten about me entirely. She walked toward the stage, her eyes straight on the relief of the God of Music.

The chamberlain who’d been standing quietly near the previous emperor waved his hand, and a young man appeared from the wing of the stage. I assumed this was the professional player who accompanied Lydia during her lessons, and that she’d called him over for her performance. He walked straight to the piano, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t his first time at the detached palace.

Lydia stood in the center of the stage with imposing confidence and bowed to her audience. At that moment, the slender young lady before us appeared much bigger. Then, she opened her mouth.

This was my first time listening to Lydia sing, and if I had to sum up my impression in one word, it would have been: spectacular.

She’s amazing—truly amazing!

The song Lydia had selected was from an opera about Pyotr the Great. This scene depicted Lyudmila, the first empress, encouraging Pyotr before an important battle and professing her love to him. Its patriotic nature made it an excellent piece to perform in front of members of the imperial family, and Lydia sang it magnificently. Her voice was gorgeous, and she knew how to project it. Had this theater been filled, everyone would have heard her, all the way to the last row.

Her voice was pitch-perfect, and her technique excellent. I could not find the slightest fault with it, and it was honestly hard to believe I was listening to a high schooler. The fact that she’d mocked my mother minutes prior had already disappeared from my mind as I lost myself in the sound of her voice. Renato had said her voice drew people in, and it was true. But he’d been right about something else too—there was nothing fun about this.

Her singing was just right. It was subdued when it had to be, explosive when it had to be. Her voice echoed and carried, and the timing of her every breath was calculated with composure. Her vibrato even made my heart shake to its rhythm. In singing, technique served a purpose—delivering the music to the listeners. Outstanding technique hit you straight in the heart. I was impressed and thought her performance was interesting.

But something about it bothered me. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on what.

When I’d listened to Olga at the musical evening, it’d seemed as though my soul had been swept away. I didn’t feel that way with Lydia. Maybe it was because she sounded so self-satisfied, or because the two of us were fighting, but my heart didn’t resonate with hers.

Still, when she finished singing, I clapped harder and louder than anyone else. Reaching such mastery had to have taken years of complete dedication. I had to commend her diligence if nothing else.

Lydia walked back to us.

“You sang wonderfully,” Valentin said. “Your technique has gotten even better.”

Lydia’s cheeks flushed as she curtsied. Then, she smiled at me, like she’d just made sure of her victory. “I can’t wait to hear you sing, Lady Yulnova.”

I smiled right back. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I will not be singing today.”

For the first time, Lydia lost her composure and showed her feelings on her face. “What?”

“It seems like you might have gotten the wrong idea. The song I sang at the little event we held with my classmates was surprisingly successful, so Prince Mikhail suggested I let Their Majesties hear it—the song,” I said, emphasizing it with a smile, “not my singing.”

Understanding dawned on Lydia’s face, and her features twisted in a mix of anger and surprise.

“Unlike you, Lady Selesnoa, I haven’t been practicing my singing since I was a child. I couldn’t very well have Their Majesties listen to my crude technique. Instead...” I looked at the chamberlain, and he bowed before giving a signal. “I invited two of my very talented classmates in the hope they’ll please Their Majesties.”

On the stage, under the gaze of the colorful relief of the God of Music, appeared Olga and Renato.

Renato escorted Olga to the center of the stage. Since they were in front of the former emperor and empress, Renato had donned formal wear. His white hair contrasted with the black of his formal uniform, making him look quite debonair. He and Olga both had small builds, so they struck an excellent balance as they walked together. They almost looked like two porcelain dolls.

Olga usually tied her chestnut-colored hair with a large ribbon, but today, it flowed down her back, looking all soft and fluffy. I’d sent a few maids to the detached palace with her ahead of time, and they’d styled her hair for her, creating lovely waves. Since ribbons were her trademark, they decorated her chest and sleeves instead. In the center of each of them, an emerald shone brightly. This was the sort of extravagance the House of Yulnova, a great producer of precious stones, could easily afford.

Olga wore a pale green A-line dress layered with a delicate silk outer robe. The collar and sleeves of the outer robe were decorated with frills, and the back extended into a long train. The outer robe was crafted from a special silk known as “prism silk,” which shimmered in the seven colors of the rainbow. Though it appeared white at first glance, its hues shifted beautifully with every change of light.

She was actually wearing a dress straight out of my horrible grandmother’s collection. I hated to admit it, but I had to give one thing to the old hag: She’d been a tall, cool beauty. I’d had my maid modify the dress quite a bit for the petite, adorable Olga. It now looked like a brand-new dress.

While the frills enhanced Olga’s cuteness, the train and the ever-changing hues of her dress made her look like a fairy—or perhaps a shaman of some sort—and lent her an air of mystique.

You’re so cute, Olga! I really love that antique, mysterious feeling you’ve got going. It matches the stage so well!

I struck a triumphant pose in my heart. You’ve done amazing, my dear maids!

“Please allow me to introduce them to you, Your Majesties. This is Lady Olga Florus and Lord Renato Selesar, two of my classmates. They’re both vassals of the House of Selesnoa.” I beamed at the former empress. “The House of Selesnoa and its vassals are known for their great musical talent, of course. I must say I found myself entirely enthralled by their talent at the musical event my classmates and I organized a few weeks ago. Lady Florus has only just started devoting herself to the study of music, but I believe she may have a place in our empire’s music world in the future. I was eager to have you discover new talents, which is why I invited them here today.”

“They’re vassals of House Selesnoa, you say...” Clementina repeated, intrigued.

Their connection to her birth house seemed to have caught the former empress’s attention, and she studied them intently.

I’d intentionally flattered House Selesnoa while introducing them, not only out of respect for the former empress but also to prevent Lydia from objecting. However, that didn’t work.

“Wait!” Lydia exclaimed, her voice ice-cold. “They are vassals of my house, yet I haven’t been made aware of this! To invite them here without informing my father or myself is unthinkable...”

Under the class system of this empire, she had a point. I’d intentionally hidden all of this from her, so I’d been expecting her ire, and it was probably justified to some extent. However, the next thing Lydia did, all the while trembling in anger, was something a noble lady should never do.

She pointed her finger at Olga. “That girl in particular should not be here! Under the laws of the Selesnoa Marquessate, she has no right to show herself in front of Their Exalted Retired Majesties. Her rank does not award her that honor! Rank and order are the foundation of stability. Lady Yulnova, do you wish to disrupt this empire’s stability? How could a lady of one of the three grand ducal houses plot to harm our great empire?!”

Oh boy...

I hadn’t been expecting that sort of reaction, and I was more shocked than mad. What sort of country fell into chaos because a young girl sang in front of a retired emperor and empress?

The thing was, Lydia looked dead serious. I imagined that was what she’d been taught growing up, and she believed every word she’d just said. She probably intended to strengthen the class system after becoming empress and was convinced that she’d be doing the empire a favor by doing so. Her beliefs were the product of a sheltered upbringing, intensified by a teenager’s natural perfectionism and tendency to push things to extremes.

What is Big Sister Ekaterina supposed to do with you? I couldn’t let her insults slide—the prestige of the Yulnovas was at stake. Hmm. How should I answer?

Before I could reply, however, a calm voice intervened. “Stand down, Lydia.” Despite the former empress’s calm, the slow, unhurried words carried an aura of majesty that made it hard to ignore them. “Where do you think you are? The laws of the Selesnoas only carry weight within the boundaries of your marquessate. Here, in the home of a retired emperor, the mere mention of them is absurd. He might have abdicated the throne, but you are still in the presence of His Imperial Majesty. You, that young girl, and all the people of this great nation are his vassals. Never forget that again.”

Lydia’s face paled. She quivered, but I saw anger in her eyes, not fear, as she gawked at the empress. Clementina was from the House of Selesnoa, but she wouldn’t support her even though she was in the right. Lydia couldn’t understand why.

As far as I was concerned, the empress had said something reasonable. It was only natural that the laws of the marquessate would apply only in the marquessate. However, history had proven that women who married into powerful families often tended to favor people from their birth families, regardless of right and wrong. Luckily, Clementina didn’t seem to be like that. I was thankful for it.

Neither Valentin nor Mikhail said a word. They’d probably judged that leaving this matter to Clementina was the best course of action. I’d heard that Clementina was a reserved woman, one who had struggled to behave like an empress during her time in the role, but she now projected dignity so effortlessly.

That’s an empress mother for you! You’re so wonderful, Your Majesty!

I was worried Lydia might have scared Olga, though.

Is she okay...? My gaze found hers, and I was surprised to see Olga smile at me. What a relief. She seems calm.

“I...apologize for my rudeness...” Lydia murmured. She mobilized the noble lady skills she’d been nurturing her entire life to cut her losses and sat back down quietly.

Once Renato confirmed that everyone was ready to listen, he whispered something in Olga’s ear. She nodded, and he walked to the piano.

It’s finally time...

At the thought, my nervousness grew tenfold. I clenched my hands over my knees. It was far too late for such worries, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the choice of the song was right. Was the arrangement good enough?

No, it’ll be fine.

My choir’s advisor had made us listen to this song until our ears practically fell off. Besides, the original piece on which this song was based—“Jupiter” from Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets—had more or less been turned into a second national anthem in England, just with a different set of lyrics. It had to mean the melody was appropriate for state functions. A former emperor and empress would like it.

They have to!

Olga stood alone at the center of the stage, and she bowed to Valentin and Clementina. I’d made her go through a crash course to improve her bows, and it had worked—she was very elegant.

She straightened her back and took a deep breath.

There was no instrumental intro in this song; the singing and the accompaniment started at almost the same time. However, Renato’s arrangement had Olga sing the first line entirely a cappella, higher than the original melody.

Even though most of the pop song I’d translated had Japanese lyrics, the first line of the song was originally in English. When I’d written the song in the language of the empire, I couldn’t keep that distinction, but I’d tried my hardest to make the words scan like the original: “Every day, I listen to my heart.”

Olga opened her mouth, and those words echoed out as she held the final sustained tone using her entire body. Her voice rose like the tide, turning into a gorgeous yet sorrowful falsetto that rose toward the heavens. Her voice was much louder than one could have expected from such a small body. It filled the entire theater.

In the original, the first line had been much lower. It wasn’t like Olga couldn’t sing it—she had a surprisingly wide range thanks to her grandmother making her do vocal exercises and practice those regional songs that reminded me of Japanese folk songs. Her grandmother’s training had given her voice a unique beauty and flexibility, so she could have sung it just fine in the original key. However, getting the notes out wasn’t all there was to music. The same song could give off an entirely different impression based on the way it was arranged. That was why Renato, Madam DiDonato, Olga, and I had spent a lot of time considering how best to present this song to the former emperor and empress to efficiently win their favor. We’d decided on every detail with this sole idea in mind, and Olga had practiced again and again to get everything down to a T.

This song would feel quite unfamiliar to Valentin and Clementina, so the idea was to adjust them to the world and atmosphere of the song and let them feel the beauty of Olga’s voice from the get-go. The vibrato and long sustained notes were there so they’d get a sense of Olga’s technical skills too.

Olga delivered exactly what we’d agreed upon, and her clear voice swept over the theater.

Ah... It’s so beautiful.

Next to me, I heard the former emperor let out an admiring sigh. As for the former empress, she listened without a sound. Her eyes were glued to Olga.

Just as the echo of the last note of the introduction faded, Renato started playing. The second line—“I’m not alone”—melted into the sound of the piano. The following lyrics about hearts being linked, stars shining in the sky, and miracles being real floated through the air one after the other.

The sky was overcast today, but as the falsetto that had charmed me so much soared toward the heavens, I felt as though I could see the stars that were hidden behind the thick blanket of clouds.

Olga’s singing had peculiar effects on me, it seemed. Now that I thought about it, I’d very clearly seen a full moon the last time I’d listened to her perform.

In my mind, I couldn’t help but automatically compare her to Lydia. I’d been impressed by Lydia’s technique, but Olga’s pitch, volume, stability, long tones, and vibratos were as good as hers. But for some reason, I didn’t get hung up on technique when I listened to Olga. What came to mind when I listened to her was something else entirely.

One can only know love through loneliness, I thought.

Alexei popped into my mind. Not the Alexei of today, but the young boy I used to look at through my window, the boy I didn’t know anything about except that he had a pretty face—the boy who could do nothing else but ride past the mansion where his mother and sister were locked up. That boy had carried the House of Yulnova on his back alone at the young age of ten, after our grandfather passed away. What a lonely child Alexei once had been.

Alexei loved me so much because of the solitude he’d endured. I treated him like the most important thing in the world because I’d lived through that same solitude during my years as a corporate slave in my past life, and my childhood in this one.

I wasn’t discovering the lyrics today—far from it—but they somehow moved me to my very core. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Olga’s songs touched the hearts of those who listened to them.

I didn’t mean to say that heart was more important than technique or anything like that. Technique was what allowed you to sing in a way that touched the heart, and Lydia had wonderful technique.

If anything, I got the feeling that Lydia lacked just one important skill. If you let your technique show, it pulled the listener out of their trance. Being able to hide your pride in your technique was a skill of its own, and Lydia had not mastered it. Still, considering her age, the fact that she’d mastered the rest was already a great feat. I understood why she was so proud of herself.

Olga, however, hadn’t learned all this in a conscious way. Her talent was innate. If she learned more and refined her technique while maintaining this quality, she’d surely shake people’s hearts like an earthquake one day.

Renato’s accompaniment discreetly supported her. They’d added pauses where Olga could breathe while Renato played freely, weaving the main motifs of the song into lively melodies. Before listening to him play, I’d had no idea the piano could produce such multicolored sounds.

He wasn’t playing in an unusual way, or at least I didn’t think so. I wasn’t all that familiar with piano techniques. However, I knew that the sounds he produced sparkled. Some were so heart-wrenching they seemed to be weeping, while others were so full of love it felt as though they’d wrapped me in their warmth. Renato’s notes were as expressive as a person’s voice.

He had once told me he was good with anything that could make sound. Just like Olga, he was a natural prodigy, able to move others with his music. When they performed together, they each drew out the potential of the other. It was as though the two of them together were a single player—a musician whose instrument was the hearts of their audience, able to draw out joy and sadness at will.

The song reached its final part, and Olga sang with power and tenderness, evoking love and solace in our hearts until finally she belted out the last phrase:

“Live as you wish, head toward the bright future,

And I’ll keep on singing for you forevermore.”

A single tear ran down the former empress’s cheek.

Soundlessly, in my heart, I called Olga’s name.

You did it. You did it, Olga.

Echoes lingered as the singing came to an end. The piano gently repeated the main motif once more, and finally, silence returned.

At that moment, the heavens moved. The thick clouds split, letting light spill onto the stage. These were crepuscular rays, or as we referred to it in Japanese, an angel’s ladder.

The light fell right onto the stage, illuminating Olga and Renato with a divine glow.

Despite being rendered speechless at the spectacle in front of me, I couldn’t help but think: Wait, this looks a little too perfect...

The next second, the light started taking on colorful hues. Before long, it looked as though a rainbow was undulating in the air.

Wh-What in the world? Is there some large prism reflecting light somewhere? Or is this an aurora, entirely localized to this spot...?

Are you stupid, me?! It can’t possibly be an aurora!

Now wasn’t the time to argue with myself over stupid theories, but how could there be so much light pouring in despite the thick clouds? Where were those colors coming from?!

This has to be a supernatural phenomenon!

According to the Buddhist scriptures, auspicious clouds and rays formed in the sky when the Buddha welcomed enlightened beings...or something along those lines. The light reminded me of a depiction of Buddha riding on colorful clouds while celestial maidens danced in the background.

Somehow, that thought came true. A winged figure descended from the rift between the clouds. Just like the angel’s ladder, the spread-out wings of that being shone with prismatic hues, while long plumes and a feathery tail fluttered in the wind. That beautiful being was none other than...

Without a sound, the former empress stood up, bowing before the winged figure. The former empress, the mother of the ruling emperor, the noblest woman in the nation was bowing. Right after, the former emperor stood up and imitated her.

O-O-Okay, there’s no room for doubt now!

The God of Music has descended!

I jumped to my feet and bowed, and so did Mikhail. Soon after, Lydia did the same, her cheeks flushed red.

The God of Music descended until he was right above the theater and circled it once before stopping in front of the VIP seats. He did not touch the ground but floated there, observing us. His wings weren’t flapping anymore, yet he could still float with perfect stillness. Just like Vladforen, he seemed unaffected by the laws of physics. I had no idea whether they used mana or divine powers to achieve this, but it worked somehow.

From up close, the God of Music was bewitching. His features were androgynous and refined. He had large almond eyes that seemed to shift constantly between colors. One moment they were blue, then red, then black. His lips, arched in an archaic smile, were so full and red they seemed to have been painted with rouge. His hair was a mixture of blue, red, yellow, black, and white, shining vividly like the feathers of a tropical bird. He wore ancient-looking clothes that reminded me of Asian celestial maidens or the goddess Benzaiten. The long, fluttering tail feathers that sprouted from his temples also brought to mind the grace of celestial maidens.

Unlike the God of Death or the mountain gods, he didn’t exude the sort of divine pressure that made it difficult to so much as move in his presence. Instead, I found myself drawn to him with an irresistible force, so completely that nothing else registered, as though my heart had been swept away.

The God of Music looked at the former empress and smiled, his large eyes narrowing slightly.

“Have you been well, Clementina?”

That voice. He’d only spoken a few words, but I was enthralled. It was so beautiful—the very essence of music.

“I have, thanks to your gracious blessing,” she replied calmly. As one who’d received his protection, Clementina seemed somewhat immune to his devastating charm.

“Pleasing notes echoed in your vicinity, so I came,” the god said.

At these words, his eyes moved to me and Lydia.

Lydia let out a cry of joy before covering her mouth with her hands. She gazed at the god, her eyes sparkling. The God of Music descended lower, gliding through the air, and stood in front of me. He focused on me intently.

Wh-What?

I was so surprised that I couldn’t move, but my eyes widened. I hadn’t sung, so why was the god interested in me of all people?!

Next to me, I heard Mikhail suck in a breath.

“A most peculiar tune... How mysterious,” the God of Music said, cocking his head to the side like a bird.

I remembered something the Maiden of Death had said about my soul.

“Something about your soul stands out. A tune I’ve never heard echoes from its depth, and a peculiar color shines through.”

O-Oh no! He clocked my otherworldly soul!

“It is beautiful. But it isn’t mine.” The God of Music said this, then flapped his wings once. He flew away from the audience seats and toward the stage where Olga and Renato were.

The two of them were startled by the sudden motion, and they stared at the God of Music, who smiled back at them. His bewitching lips formed a delicate arch.

“The two of you are mine. A pleasing song, a pleasing tone... How delightful. How delightful indeed.” He extended his arms toward Olga and Renato. “Delightful singer, delightful player, come to my garden. Let me hear you once more.”

Olga and Renato both looked like they were dreaming; they’d fallen under the charm of the God of Music. Slowly, they lifted their hands. After receiving the invitation of a god, there was little a human could do besides accept.

However, a loud voice suddenly interrupted. “How can that be?! Wait! Please wait! Why?! It should be me!”

Lydia’s true feelings spilled from her lips. However, the God of Music didn’t pay her any mind. He didn’t even look at her.

“My Lord God of Music!” she screamed, dashing toward the stage. “Please take me with you! Take me!”

Running wasn’t proper for noble ladies. Considering Lydia’s usual behavior, I knew she had never done it before. She was the sort of lady who walked unhurriedly under the shade of her waiting maid’s sun umbrella. Yet Lydia ran frantically, her fancy dress fluttering wildly.

“My Lord God of Music! Please... Please listen to my song...!”

In their current state, Olga and Renato could see no one but the God of Music. They each took one of his hands.

“Please listen to my singing!”

Lydia ran onto the stage, but right before she reached Olga, Renato, and the God of Music, they disappeared into thin air. The colorful lights that danced on the stage vanished just as quickly, as though all of this had only been a dream.

In the aftermath, there was nothing left onstage except for Lydia on her knees, crying out in desperation.

I’d heard that the God of Music invited those who’d impressed him on the stage of the Music Sanctuary. However, he’d made a rare appearance here, in the detached palace, today.

“Pleasing notes echoed in your vicinity, so I came,” he said. So this must have happened because Clementina, who’s under his protection, is here!

Which led me to assume that anything Clementina heard, he heard too.

In hindsight, Lydia might have known that. That would explain why she’d practiced so hard after snatching an opportunity to sing in front of the former empress. To borrow Renato’s words, Lydia had fought to the death for this. She must have been even more eager to do well because of my presence. If the God of Music had descended to invite her to his garden after she beat me, it would have made for a perfect victory.

The God of Music had descended, just like she’d hoped. He’d even flown down until he was right in front of her. Lydia must have believed her lifelong wish was about to be granted. I could only imagine how happy she must have been—only for things to turn out like this.

Lydia was the proudest girl I’d ever met. She thought highly of her title and had conducted herself in a way that befit it her entire life. Now, she’d completely broken down, crying and screaming onstage.

As the lady of a ducal house, how was I supposed to react? What was the right answer? Did I have to pretend I couldn’t see her? Or would it be better to visibly worry and whisper, Oh no, poor Lady Selesnoa?

I didn’t know. But I did know that the course of action I chose was an inappropriate one.

Before I knew it, I was dashing toward the stage.

“Lady Selesnoa!”

Oh boy. I didn’t even ask for permission before running away from the former emperor and empress and the crown prince! That’s definitely a mistake—a big faux pas! But I couldn’t help myself!

There’s no way she can pick herself up with no help after such a huge setback! What if she shuts herself in her room and never comes back out?!

The image of a boy I’d known in high school flashed before me, overlapping with Lydia. He had dedicated his youth to reaching Koshien Stadium, but in the ninth inning of the prefectural finals—the final step before Koshien—after a strong game his team should have won, he’d failed to catch the ball. The other team had scored a walk-off grand slam from his mistake. He’d cost his team the win and had become a shut-in from the shock.

The shock Lydia had just lived through was just as violent. I understood why she was bawling on the floor.

Is it okay to compare a high school baseball player and the daughter of a marquess?

I wasn’t sure, but the way the dreams they’d held on to since childhood and worked toward every day had been shattered felt similar.

And I kind of feel responsible...

I’d only done all this to stop her from enacting a ridiculous law, so I did think that she’d reaped what she’d sown. But at the same time, I’d use my status to create a situation where I couldn’t lose. I might have overdone it a little in the process, forcing her into a corner. I’d never realized properly just how powerful my family name made me before this. Still, I couldn’t have known this would happen.

The God of Music coming up to us only to ignore her entirely must have hurt the most. He’d only done so because my otherworldly soul intrigued him, but Lydia must have genuinely thought the God of Music had come to welcome her into his garden. I felt bad about that... I hadn’t done anything, but I couldn’t help my guilt.

Even leaving that aside...I couldn’t leave a crying girl alone! I just couldn’t!

So I rushed to Lydia, who’d curled into a ball on the stage, and pulled her into a hug. “Lady Selesnoa!”

Lydia screamed and tried to push me away, but I held on with all my strength. I knew I might be hurting her, considering how hard I was hugging her, but I still did it. Sometimes, when the soul hurt so much, physical pain helped.

“Your time has yet to come, that’s all,” I shouted into her ear, over her cries. “It’ll come! Your turn will come! It just wasn’t today.”

I’m sorry. I have no idea if there’s any truth to what I’m telling you. Only the God of Music knows who he wants in his garden. But this, I can say with confidence:

“Your singing was wonderful! Anyone who listens to you can tell how diligent you’ve been all these years.”

Lydia’s singing was truly beautiful. She’d pissed me off by bringing up my mother right before singing, but I’d still forgotten that in a heartbeat. By the time she was done singing, only admiration had remained.

In my previous life, I’d loved singing, but my friends and I had still cheered and gone out to have cake whenever practice was canceled for any reason. Lydia, however, never missed a single day of practice. I could tell she’d practiced without fail since she was little. That was amazing!

Lydia loved singing. As a child, she must have innocently sung without another thought, and even after it had turned into a heavy responsibility she had to bear for the future of her house, she had kept on singing.

“You’ve worked hard all this time. That’s why your singing is so beautiful. I felt it, Lady Selesnoa, I truly did.” There was so much I disagreed with Lydia about. But her efforts were precious, even I could admit that. “You’ll grow in the future. You’ll bloom into a finer flower, and then, your time will come. I’m sure of it.”

You only had three shots at reaching Koshien, but you had your entire life to earn a summons from the God of Music.

You don’t realize how young you are and how much is awaiting you in the future, do you? I guess high schoolers are always like this.

There was still a lot I didn’t understand about the values of this world, but I knew that Lydia’s “righteousness,” which entailed pressing someone about their status in front of a retired emperor, was excessive. But that was how things always were in life. High schoolers held naive, extreme ideals because of their ignorance. Encounters and setbacks would change her, little by little.

You’re still immature, Lydia, but that means you have room to grow.

Lydia was still sobbing and attempting to push me away from her.

Ah... She’s so convinced I’m her enemy, my words won’t reach her. I get it. I drove you into this corner, didn’t I? What do I do now? Save me, retired tennis player!

I was praying in the hope of channeling his soul when a voice rang out.

“Lydia.”

It was very calm, but much closer than I’d expected, so I started. When I lifted my head up, I saw that the former empress was standing right next to us.

She smiled at Lydia and continued, “You’ve learned failure today, Lydia. That is very fortunate.”

Lydia was dumbfounded. “Your Imperial Majesty...?”

“When the God of Music invited me to his garden, he told me that the anguish in my voice was beautiful... Before today, you had never suffered any setbacks, Lydia. Your efforts had always been rewarded, and you held your abilities in high regard. You knew nothing but perfection. Despite your young age, you reached that perfection. But perfection is not the pinnacle.”

The former empress’s lips curled into a reflective smile.

“What the best singing is, however...I do not know. I suppose I have no right to lecture you so pompously when I’m still searching for it myself. However, what I can tell you is that perfection is not it. If you’ve learned true anguish from your failure here today, perhaps you’ll succeed in breaking away from perfection. No one knows where the path toward the height of singing leads, and each of us must decide for ourselves whether to walk it or not.”

Lydia was speechless. Her tears had stopped flowing, and I gently patted her head.

This is one of those opportunities to grow as a person. Do your best, Lydia.

Lydia brooded over Clementina’s words in silence for a few moments. She seemed entirely unaware I was still hugging and patting her, until she suddenly noticed and gave a little shriek. She jumped out of my arms. Her face was bright red, and her mouth kept opening and closing as she stared at me, panicked.

Sorry, you didn’t want your mortal enemy patting your head, did you? But that’s no reason to leap away so fiercely. What are you, a frog?

I hadn’t realized it before, but Lydia was pretty fit. Voice training didn’t look like much from the outside, but it sure built the core, huh?

The former empress laughed. “Your dress is very pretty, but it’s all dirty now. Go change and come back, Lydia.”

A waiting maid, who seemed to be a trusted confidante of the former empress, stepped forward and bowed. She took Lydia’s hand and let her away.

“Shall we get back to our seats, Ekaterina?” Clementina asked, holding out a hand for me.

My eyes widened in surprise, but I still took her hand and stood up.

I couldn’t help but glance at the center of the stage out of concern for Olga and Renato.

The former empress smiled. “The God of Music asked them to let him hear that song once more. He seemed to appreciate your song, not just their playing and singing. You needn’t worry. He won’t keep them in his garden forever. He shall bring them back after they’re done.”

“Thank you for letting me know, Your Imperial Majesty. I’m relieved.”

She’d been through this, so I could trust her. Much more at ease, I returned Clementina’s smile.

“It was a good song,” she said. “The melody and the lyrics are deep and subtle. You have great talent.”

Uh-oh. Holst was talented, sure, not me!

“I-I didn’t do much. In truth, Lord Selesar redid a lot of my writing and melody, so I’m not worthy of such praise...”

I let out an awkward laugh in the hope of wriggling my way out of this. The former empress took a good look at me, her gaze warm and gentle.

“Ekaterina... You said she was called Olga, did you not? Is she related to an Irina?”

My eyes widened again. I hadn’t expected that question at all. “I apologize, Your Imperial Majesty, but I’m not familiar with her relatives...”

“I see. I’m sorry for asking you such a thing so suddenly. I must have surprised you. Pay it no mind.”

I followed Clementina back to the VIP seating area, where Valentin and Mikhail welcomed us with smiles.

They’d been alone together for a few minutes now. I wondered what they’d talked about, but I pushed that question to the back of my mind and bowed before the retired imperial couple and Mikhail.

“I apologize for leaving my seat without asking for permission earlier. I should not have behaved this way in front of Your Majesties. I’m terribly ashamed...”

“It’s fine. Lydia is a relative of my empress, and she visits us from time to time. I’m glad you showed her concern. This is a private gathering. You may be at ease.” Valentin smiled. “But being polite is a good thing. You take after Alexei in this.”

Yay! He said I’m like Alexei! He didn’t need to say more to make my day.

Had my brother visited the previous emperor often before he became duke? After Sergei passed, it seemed unlikely. From what I knew, he’d practically been cooped up in the duchy, doing our father’s work for him. He’d most likely only seen Valentin when he was still emperor, and our grandfather was still alive.

Even back then, Alexei had been a very mature child. The sort who’d make people think: Are you really a kid?

He must have been so cute! Ah! How I wish I could’ve seen baby Alexei!

“I heard you and Alexei grew up apart...” Valentin continued, a tinge of sadness in his tone.

My eyes unconsciously darted to Mikhail. What have you been telling him?

Mikhail just smiled at me.

I wasn’t sure how to answer him and opened my mouth hesitantly. “We did grow up apart, so I’m very happy I live with him now.”

I thought I’d managed to come up with a pretty innocuous answer, but Valentin remained silent. After a long pause, he sighed. “The last time I saw Aleksandr, after Sergei passed, I told him it was time for him to protect his wife and children... But I couldn’t interfere in the internal matters of the Yulnovas,” he whispered.

I never knew Valentin had been concerned about my mother, my brother, or me back then. The last time he’d seen my father would have been right before Valentin abdicated and left for the detached palace. Afterward, he wouldn’t have been able to meet up with a duke. If only my father had listened...

Before Sergei passed, my mother and I had lived a decent life. However, that didn’t change the fact that we’d been confined to a secondary residence. The wife of a duke not living with him and never appearing in public must have given birth to rumors at the time.

Our life had become truly difficult after Sergei’s death. By then, Valentin had already begun his secluded life in the detached palace and no longer had contact with important nobles. He’d had no way to learn of our circumstances.

On top of that, interfering with abuse within a family from the outside wasn’t easy. That hadn’t really changed in the twenty-first century. Things might have been different if my mother had given up on my father while Sergei was still alive...but she never had. She’d been madly in love with him and never considered leaving him up to the very end. Under those circumstances, no one could have saved her.

The worst evil hadn’t been my father, though—it had been my grandmother. I was afraid Valentin would be shocked if he learned the extent of his sister’s viciousness.

Well, from what I’d heard, he loved Sergei far more than he loved his blood-related sister. Right after Sergei passed, his beloved horse, Zephyros, had been killed, and neither my father nor Alexandra had shown a shred of remorse... I doubted Valentin had communicated with her much, after his abdication.

“I’m honored to hear you concerned yourself with us, Your Imperial Majesty,” I said. “I’m very happy now.”

“You truly are a kind child,” the former emperor said with a nod. “Well, you came here today for your friend’s sake. You must have inherited your eye for talent from my dear brother-in-law. How nice to think about... From now on, feel free to visit us whenever you like. And do not forget that I pray for your happiness in Sergei’s place.”

“Thank you for your warm words,” I replied, lowering my head. I glanced at Mikhail.

Seriously, what did you tell him? You’re sharp, so I’m sure you figured out a lot more than you should have when you were in the duchy.

Mikhail noticed my eyes on him and he whispered. “Earlier... I thought you might disappear. I got scared.”

Wh-Wh-What’s with that air of gravitas?!

Wait, I get it! You were scared because of my infamous sister-obsessed brother, weren’t you? If I disappeared out of the blue under your watch, who knows what he’d do to you!

Ekaterina was so eager to avert her eyes from a certain something she couldn’t name that she once again misread the situation entirely. Her assumption of what Alexei would do if something happened to her, however, was spot on.

Regardless, she found herself unable to answer Mikhail and avoided his gaze, her eyes wandering left and right in confusion.

Mikhail didn’t say anything more and looked at her with a gentle yet bitter smile. As for the former emperor and empress, they warmly watched over their grandson and the granddaughter of their dear friend.

When Lydia returned after changing, I let out a sigh of relief. She was wearing one of Clementina’s old dresses. It was of superior quality and far simpler than what she’d been wearing earlier. To be honest, it suited her better.

“I feel like I’m looking at myself in my youth,” Clementina said gently. “I shall give this dress to you, Lydia. My maids will clean your dress and return it to you promptly, so you needn’t worry. Let your parents know that when you get home.”

Lydia thanked the former empress, apologized for her earlier outburst, and sat back down. She seemed downcast and was as quiet as a doll. All she did was steal glances at me from time to time.

I didn’t sense any anger or hatred in her eyes, which brought me great relief, but I was uncertain. I didn’t know if I should speak to her or what to say if I did.

I really need that retired tennis player to help me out.

Just as my thoughts were straying in a stupid direction, colorful lights appeared on the stage once more. What started as a few dots of lights soon turned into a large, swelling sphere. It grew to be as large as a person, then even larger, until suddenly, it popped.

Color and light danced before fading away, revealing the silhouettes of Olga and Renato.

The first person to move was the chamberlain who’d been standing next to the former emperor. He looked at the former emperor to seek his approval and, as soon as Valentin nodded, he walked over to the stage with unhurried steps. I assumed he intended to guide the two geniuses who’d just returned from the garden of the God of Music to the former emperor and empress.

Seconds after the chamberlain had sprung into action, the maids and attendants started moving quietly. They brought two chairs, two teacups, and two plates, and set them up next to me.

They’re all so calm and composed.

Olga and Renato had been summoned by a god and then brought back amid colorful lights in front of their eyes. This was the sort of thing people went a lifetime without witnessing once, yet it hadn’t disrupted their work one bit. They were such pros! In my past world, they could have been featured on that show about professionals and their work ethic. I watched them go, thoroughly impressed.

Soon, the chamberlain brought over Olga and Renato. Olga’s face paled with nerves as she approached the former emperor and empress, while Renato looked both delighted and satisfied with himself.

When I caught Olga’s eyes and smiled at her, she seemed to calm down a little and returned the expression.

The daughter of a baron and the son of a viscount being in such close proximity to the former emperor and empress was unthinkable. They were given this honor to show that, by obtaining the favor of the God of Music, they’d elevated themselves beyond their ranks.

“Your performance was enormously pleasing.”

Olga and Renato bowed at the former emperor’s words.

“It was indeed,” Clementina said. “I have sent a messenger to the Music Sanctuary. They will send someone to take you there at once. Talk to the priests before deciding what to do next. The sanctuary will send word to the Magic Academy and to your families, so you don’t need to worry about anything. Enjoy the sanctuary’s welcome to the fullest. A bright future awaits you both.”

Olga and Renato were dumbfounded, but they bowed once more. Renato’s cheeks turned redder than tomatoes, while Olga had tears in her eyes. She must have been overwhelmed, because the woman her grandmother had admired for years was talking to her.

Clementina looked at Olga intently for a few seconds. “You remind me of an old acquaintance of mine. Tell me, is anyone in your family named Irina?”

Olga’s eyes widened even further.

“My grandma was called Irina,” she blurted out before panicking and correcting herself, “I-I-I meant to say that it is my grandmother’s name, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Clementina didn’t seem to notice Olga correcting herself, or even that she misspoke in the first place. To everyone’s surprise, the former empress started crying instead.

“I see... I knew it... I see her in you,” Clementina said.

“Clementina?” Valentin sounded worried, and he put his hand on her shoulder.

The former empress rested her own hand over her husband. “Do not worry, Your Imperial Majesty. I shall explain.” She paused before looking at Olga and Renato and continuing in a gentle tone, “I must have surprised you. Please, sit and rest. You must be tired.”

She seemed shaken, but she wasn’t forgetting her role as the lady of this house! I wouldn’t have expected anything else of the dignified Clementina.

I must learn from her! I thought, clenching my fists in my mind.

Olga and Renato sat down, and the chamberlain poured them some tea. Once they’d had a few sips and everyone had calmed down, Clementina started recounting a story—her and Irina’s story.

Irina had been born on the edge of the capital of the Selesnoa Marquessate, to a noble family that ruled over a small territory. Much like House Florus, the family into which she would marry later on in life, Irina’s birth family was an indigenous noble house, which the people of the marquessate apparently referred to as a “local clan.”

The members of the local clans were often ordered to complete tasks in the marquess’s residence in the marquessate’s capital. Depending on the season, they would maintain the garden, organize and clean up after banquets, and perform a wide array of other missions. When she was twelve, Irina accompanied her mother on such an assignment and stepped foot into the marquess’s residence for the very first time.

“Irina lost sight of her mother, and she found herself wandering through the unfamiliar residence alone. That’s when she happened upon the music room where I was. Well, I suppose saying she happened upon it, as though it was by chance, would not be very accurate. I think it more likely that she was drawn there by the sound of the piano. I still remember that day vividly. Irina had been crying, so her eyes were puffy, but she looked as though she were spellbound.”

Back then, Clementina was also twelve. The two girls became friends almost instantly, joined by their passion for music.

When she finally found her daughter, Irina’s mother was white as a sheet. Her daughter had intruded upon one of the marquess’s daughters. However, to her surprise, Clementina asked her to bring Irina to her music room again—and to keep that a secret from everyone else. Irina’s mother gave in to her request, and the two girls met from time to time.

“At that time, music was already special to me. Every time I played different instruments for Irina or taught her a song, her eyes would light up, and she would cry out with an excited ‘Amazing!’ It wasn’t long until I discovered that she had a natural talent for singing. She had a beautiful voice and always seemed to have so much fun singing... I used to think of her as a little bird, chirping away on a branch. I had learned singing with an instructor and knew the basics. The way I sang earned me praise. However, I started thinking that Irina’s beautiful and unrestrained singing was the real deal. I couldn’t stop myself from comparing the two of us and feeling inferior. Regardless, I taught her the piano, and she quickly became good at that too. I especially enjoyed our four-handed performances.”

Clementina looked as though she was reliving a dream, her lips curled into a soft smile. She seemed to dearly miss those bygone days.

When she spoke again, however, that smile disappeared from her face. “Our regular meetings continued for only a year, because my father discovered us.”

Clementina’s father—Lydia’s great-grandfather—was the Marquess of Selesnoa at the time. When he discovered one of his daughters playing piano with a girl from a local clan, he flew into a rage. The man had no interest in music, and he never went to the music room. He only found them out because he passed in front of the music room and thought it strange that so many notes were being played at once.

Irina dressed and wore her hair in accordance with the laws of the marquessate, and a single glance at her was enough for him to know her identity. So the marquess barged into the music room, shouting, and struck Irina.

“I screamed in horror. That Irina—just a sweet little bird—should be subjected to violence was unthinkable... She was as delicate as a bunny.” Clementina nodded at Olga. “Much like you, she embodied the complete opposite of violence.”

I’d thought many times that Olga was like a small animal, so I agreed wholeheartedly! And hearing what had happened, I was outraged.

How could you strike a child?! You were the absolute worst, Marquess!

If I’d been there, I would have slammed a big drum in his face! Not that I even knew if they’d had a drum!

“My father’s anger was also directed at me. In his eyes, I was a failure who lacked the pride a daughter of House Selesnoa should uphold. At the time, my house cared little for music, so my family didn’t take kindly to my endless hours of practice. This incident was the last straw, and I was forbidden from setting foot into the music room again, and from seeing Irina.”

As the former empress spoke, Lydia’s expression stiffened. It looked like she had no idea her family had once been this way. Lydia had been pushed to devote herself to music since she was a child and had always received the full support of her house in this endeavor. Nowadays, House Selesnoa was a music powerhouse where musical abilities were praised above all else, and Lydia’s great-grandfather had likely passed away before she was born or when she was very young. She probably didn’t remember him.

I, on the other hand, was starting to understand some of the things I’d heard a bit better. I’d been told that Clementina had received poor treatment from her family because she wasn’t as pretty as her sisters, but I’d been surprised to discover an elegant woman upon meeting her. I now had a feeling that she’d been mistreated because her conduct hadn’t aligned with the family’s values.

Valentin once again rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“It all happened a long time ago, Your Imperial Majesty—a very long time ago.” Despite her words, she smiled softly at her husband, glad for his support. “My turning point came after I entered the Magic Academy. While I did spend time worrying over my strained relationship with my family and wondering if real music could only be produced by geniuses like Irina, I was finally free to sing and play as much as I liked by borrowing the music room. On my days off, I frequently went to the Music Sanctuary. During my last visit there, right as I was prepared to graduate, I was invited to the garden of the God of Music. Eventually, that led to my meeting with His Majesty.”

“Indeed,” the former emperor commented. “I remember the day I first heard your voice as though it were yesterday.”

Clementina was two years older than Valentin. After graduating and earning the favor of the God of Music, Clementina entered the Music Sanctuary. It was through that institution that she was invited to sing at a state celebration, stealing the heart of the former emperor in the process. To Valentin, a timid and feeble crown prince at the time, a songstress chosen by the God of Music himself must have appeared endlessly stunning.

This was all heartwarming, but seeing them gaze at each other so lovingly was a little embarrassing. My eyes wandered about, and I noticed Mikhail averting his eyes with an awkward expression on his face, and I smiled.

You too, huh?

Clementina seemed to notice, and she cleared her throat. “I apologize for straying off topic. While Irina and I couldn’t meet, we kept sending letters to one another in secret—until she married and left the marquessate’s capital, at least. Before I lost track of her, I asked the Music Sanctuary to send her a wedding gift on my behalf. Tell me, I heard you have a piano in your home. Is that true?”

No way...

“My house— Um, I mean, there is a piano at my family’s estate, y-yes. My grandmother brought it as part of her trousseau. It’s her treasure, so we all take good care of it.”

Clementina smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. That was my gift to Irina.”

Seriouslyyyyyyy?! Everything we did today was to protect that very piano! Lydia, you were about to force Olga’s family to throw away a heartfelt gift from the former empress herself!!!

Astonished, I turned my head to glance at Lydia, only to avert my eyes immediately. She was staring at the former empress, her eyes as wide as they could possibly go, her mouth agape.

Um, Lydia... You’re the daughter of a marquess. You can’t be making that face in public!

I felt as though I’d seen something I shouldn’t have.

She looks just like those clay figures from the Kofun period... A very noble Haniwa!

I remembered Olga telling me her grandmother had been a big fan of Clementina during one of her practice sessions.

“One day, we were on a walk and passed a group of people talking about the former empress. My grandmother rushed back to them and demanded to know if what they’d said was true. She didn’t know any of them—she was just that interested. Another time, she heard someone speak ill of the former empress. She rebuked them while in tears! ‘She’s not that kind of person!’ she said.”

I’d figured she’d been a die-hard fan, but that wasn’t it. She’d just never stopped believing in her friend! She knew Clementina personally. That was why she could affirm she “wasn’t that kind of person.” Most people would have bragged about how they had been friends with the former empress or tried to rely on her if anything happened to them, but Irina had never breathed a word of their friendship—not even to her family.

Irina must have remained a pure little bird, free of avarice, praying for Clementina’s happiness in secret, until the very end.

What a beautiful friendship...

Olga had also told me that she and her family played the piano every day and sang together. The fact that they’d all learned from Irina and were perpetuating the tradition made me emotional. I got the feeling that Irina had hoped the tune of the piano and the voices of her family members would reach Clementina, letting her know that Irina had kept loving music too. And she had been happy, surrounded by her family.

Mikhail had shared with the former emperor in advance that our goal with this visit was to stop the Selesnoa Marquessate’s new law from going into effect. Needless to say, he’d relayed that information to his wife. The fact that she’d inquired about Olga’s piano proved that she knew the full story. Irina being Olga’s grandmother had been an unexpected surprise, but I thought Clementina had intended to stop that law from the start.

I couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if we hadn’t come here today—if the law had been put into action. What would Clementina have done when it reached her ears?

I don’t know, but the thought scares even me! It’s no wonder Lydia turned into a Haniwa!

I kept thinking about Lydia, but the former empress seemed to have been leaving her out of this conversation on purpose, so I didn’t say anything. Olga and Clementina kept talking. When Clementina learned that Irina had passed already, she shed a few more tears. However, she wiped them away almost immediately.

“Knowing that she was happy until the end...that makes me happy as well. Today was a wonderful day, I must say.” Clementina turned her gaze to each of us, one by one. “For the first time in a while, I feel like singing. Will you listen? This is a song Irina once taught me.”

She stood up, walked to the stage...and sang.

It was the song of the moonlit flower and the butterfly warriors—the very same Olga had performed at the musical evening.

The former empress was in her sixties, meaning she’d already passed her heyday as a singer. Nevertheless, the voice of the woman who’d been chosen by the God of Music at a young age, who had spent the rest of her life chasing the pinnacle of music, was beyond otherworldly.

“The moon blooms in the sky,

And for one night, a flower blooms upon the lake.

Now is the time for death.

Now is the time for love.

Their wings of steel quivering,

The warriors take flight.”

An instant was all it took for her to transport my soul to the world of music. My body was still in one of the seats of the detached palace’s outdoor theater, but my mind was with the butterflies, and my eyes were on their struggle. Now that I saw them, clear as day, they didn’t appear to be steel-winged butterflies at all; they were young men. Sparks flew as their swords clashed, blood spraying like so many red blossoms. I saw that happening again and again in different eras. No matter how many times it ended in blood, the youths couldn’t stop themselves from wanting, from rising, and every time, they picked up their swords.

Their zeal, their agony, and their sorrow seeped into my heart. They were alive, and I was with them. I found myself wanting what they wanted, seeking what they sought, until their lives scattered, again.

I knew that what I was envisioning were the insurrections the song hinted at—the silhouettes of the youths who’d risen against oppression and fought for freedom, only for their hopes to be quashed time and time again. The song spoke of butterflies with wings of steel, but the true meaning of the lyrics appeared oh so vividly to those who listened to Clementina’s voice.

How does she do that?

But that question was driven away to a corner of my mind, and before I knew it, my tears had started flowing.

When Clementina finally reached the verse about the last warrior reaching the flower, my mind conjured the image of a fatally wounded soldier dragging himself into the embrace of his lover. He closed his eyes, never to open them again. That miserable yet beautiful ending was the last image I saw.

Then, the song ended, and I felt as though I were waking up from a dream.

Onstage, colorful lights sparkled around the former empress. The God of Music was celebrating her. Her eyes, however, weren’t on the lights. She was looking at Olga and Lydia.

She’d sung as a gift to these two young girls who aspired to pursue music.

Olga and Lydia must be dying to go practice right now so they can reach her level.

The thought made me smile, and I wiped away my tears.

This song was about the Selesnoa Marquessate, and Olga and Lydia, two noble girls in diametrically opposite positions, had listened to it together. Despite how odd that was, I suspected their shared experience would lead to positive change one day.

Soon enough, a carriage from the Music Sanctuary arrived. The passengers bowed to all of us respectfully, then invited Olga and Renato to join them.

“This is all happening thanks to you, Lady Ekaterina,” Olga told me in tears, right before she left. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“You and Lord Selesar earned this honor with your own abilities,” I said, smiling and shaking my head. “If your voice weren’t such a treasure, I couldn’t have done anything. Congratulations, Lady Olga.”

Olga started sobbing even harder as she clung to me. For a few moments, I hugged her while she cried. Next to us, Renato was in the middle of thanking Mikhail, but most of their attention was on our showy interaction.

“Um... Do your best. I’ll be supporting you,” Renato said.

“Erm, yes, thank you. I’ll do everything in my power to be more like the two of you,” Mikhail replied.

Part of their conversation reached my ears, but I found myself utterly confused.

Hey, Prince? You should be supporting them, not getting Renato’s support. What’s up? Do you want to become a musician too?

Little did I know that I’d once again completely misunderstood Mikhail’s intentions.

Olga and Renato’s departure was our cue to leave the detached palace too.

“We hope you’ll be back soon. Both of us will await your next visit eagerly,” the former emperor said.

I could tell he actually meant it. After thanking him and Clementina profusely, we excused ourselves and returned to the carriages.

While we walked, Lydia didn’t say a single word. I was worried about her, so I invited her to ride with us in the same carriage. The fact that we’d left her out on the way here still bothered me, to be honest.

However, Lydia refused. She said she had to think about some things alone, so I didn’t insist. Besides, we weren’t going back to the academy but to our respective residences, so it would have been inefficient for the three of us to ride together.

To my surprise, after a long pause, Lydia muttered, “Thank you for your invitation.”

She wouldn’t look at me, but judging from the blush on her cheeks, her words weren’t sarcastic. It was a relief to hear her sincerity.

We bid her farewell. Just like on the way here, Mikhail and I boarded the same carriage, while she got into another.

“That’s one more rival to get in my way...” Mikhail mumbled to himself as we sat down.

“‘To get in your way’? Who’s getting in your way?” I asked, confused.

“No one. Don’t worry about it. Today was really quite something, wasn’t it?”

My curiosity about what Mikhail had meant was quickly replaced by my strong impression of the crazy day we’d just lived through.

“It certainly was!” I enthusiastically agreed. “I imagined we were in for some surprises, but I never expected things to turn out this way. Lady Olga and Lord Selesar are splendid performers, but to think they would receive an invitation from the God of Music right in front of Their Former Imperial Majesties! And I was so surprised to find out that Lady Olga’s grandmother was Her Imperial Majesty the Former Empress’s close friend. Knowing that, I’ll never have to worry about Lady Olga’s piano again!”

“Speaking of that piano, you ended up saving House Selesnoa today. The Selesnoas now owe a debt to the Yulnovas.”

Huh? My Japanese side was screaming, No, no, no. I didn’t do it to help them, and this was entirely unforeseen, so they don’t owe me a thing!

Actually, that was a fact. But that didn’t negate what Mikhail had said. In the middle of a power struggle between noble houses, I had to hold on to any favors I did them—regardless of how they’d happened—and milk them for all they were worth.

I need to get used to these things for my brother!

“Lord Selesar and Lady Florus’s statuses aren’t so far apart that it would’ve been an issue anywhere else in the empire, since they’re the son of a viscount and the daughter of a baron, but the rules of the Selesnoa Marquessate would’ve made things difficult for them. Now that they’ve been invited to the garden of the God of Music together, however, their statuses will be equally elevated. I’m sure they’ll find happiness now. Truly, so many good things happened today.”

Sorry? “Uh, Prince Mikhail... What do you mean?”

“Huh?” It wasn’t often that Mikhail looked so openly surprised. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that those two are infatuated with one another?!”

Excuse me? Whaaaaaaat?!

“I-Is that true?!” I gasped out.

“Well, yes. Lord Selesar almost confirmed it outright.” Mikhail tried to hold back his laughter, but he eventually couldn’t and it burst out of him. “Ha! Ladies usually notice such things faster than men do. I see you’re completely blind to the matters of love, even when they don’t concern you.”

I was flabbergasted—and having déjà vu.

In my past life, I’d been told about how lovey-dovey so-and-so looked now that they were finally together and going, “Huh?” only for my friends to scream, “How could you not see it?!” Some of my friends had looked exasperated, while others had practically gotten mad at me. The same thing was happening today!

But I can’t help it! Renato looked like her coach from hell! When in the world did they get romantically involved?!

Come to think of it, Renato had started calling Olga by her name, forgoing the “Lady” somewhere along the way. I should’ve known then, shouldn’t I? But I... I...

Argh! I can’t believe the prince called me blind when I’m the big sister here! I’m never getting over this shock!

By the time the carriage arrived at the Yulnova residence, I still wasn’t over it. Mikhail seemed worried, but he said goodbye to me nonetheless, and I left the carriage.

At that moment, a voice called for me: “Ekaterina.”

“Brother!”

The sight of Alexei waiting for me by the entrance filled me with energy, and I ran into his arms. He hugged me tight, of course.

“Brother! Thank you for coming out to welcome me home. But you’re the head of our house! You shouldn’t do such things.”

“I wanted to see you as soon as I possibly could. The time we spend apart stretches endlessly. I feel as though it has been a thousand years since you left.”

Needless to say, it had only been a few hours.

“Oh, brother!” People said absence made the heart grow fonder, but Alexei was taking that a step further, transforming a few hours into a thousand years.

I don’t expect anything less from him!

Not even the Jomon Sugi tree (Estimated age: 7,000 years) could compete with him!

I need to do better too!

“I also longed to see you, brother. There’s so much I want to tell you about!”

“And I could listen to your beautiful voice forever, my heavenly bird.”

Just like that, Alexei escorted me into our residence.

Aboard the second carriage that had left the detached palace sat Lydia Selesnoa. Her head was hanging low as she tried her hardest to focus.

She had to figure out how to report what had happened today to her father, but a myriad of other thoughts kept interrupting her—thoughts of the former empress, thoughts of Olga Florus...and thoughts of Ekaterina Yulnova.

Lydia had kept her eyes on her since the day of the entrance ceremony. The three grand ducal houses were the adversaries of the House of Selesnoa, and Ekaterina was the daughter of one of these esteemed houses. The influence Lydia should have wielded in the academy as a relative of the former empress had been stolen from her hands, there and then, by the granddaughter of Sergei Yulnova.

Lydia’s parents often asked her for information on Ekaterina and always reminded Lydia that she could not afford to lose to her in any way.

Her first impression of Ekaterina during the entrance ceremony had been that she was a great beauty. She was the picture of elegance, yet she also had the sort of voluptuous figure that attracted the eyes of men. That had annoyed Lydia to no end. However, she knew that the prince wasn’t the kind of man who was easily swayed by such things. He was smart, and he would pick an equally smart partner to help him rule.

“If I receive an invitation to the garden of the God of Music and earn his divine protection, he’ll see my value and take my hand. All I have to do is keep on practicing, just as I have been,” Lydia often told herself to calm her nerves. But despite what she’d tried to believe, Mikhail and Ekaterina had gotten close incredibly quickly.

Ekaterina hadn’t made her debut in high society, which meant she lacked the experience necessary to partner with the prince. Lydia and her parents had been convinced that she’d quickly try to put together a grand party to flaunt her arrival in the capital and keep the other ladies in check. Her mother had planned her counterattack and prepared to thwart Ekaterina’s plans, but Ekaterina had done no such thing. Not only had she not made her debut, but the company she kept at the academy was subpar to say the least. She’d made friends with the daughter of a baron in name only—an actual commoner—and she didn’t approach anyone worthy of her rank.

From that point onward, Lydia started suspecting that there had been something truly wrong with Ekaterina’s upbringing. Did she not know how to behave in society? It appeared she hadn’t received much of an education.

Rumors spread, and the ladies of the capital had started snickering about the young lady of the House of Yulnova despite never having met her in person.

As if to deny these rumors, Ekaterina Yulnova had taken first place on the first examination in her year, beating the prince himself to get that result. Given the way people had looked at her so far, it’d come as such a surprise that she’d become a hot topic of conversation in high society.

The next thing that’d sparked the interest of the ladies of the capital had been the imperial visit to the residence of the Yulnovas. The reason? The Empress Magdalena had ordered a dress using the new dye of the Yulnovas, Celestial Blue.

Magdalena was a fashion icon. She’d popularized intricate silks from beyond the Summit of the Gods, and her outfits were always the center of attention whenever she appeared in public. She practically dictated the trends of the capital. Needless to say, the empress was well aware of that fact, and she never wore anything that didn’t fit her personal sense of style, no matter how much anyone tried to pitch it to her.

If Ekaterina had managed to catch the empress’s expert eye, she must have worn a magnificent dress during the imperial visit. The ladies of the capital had been dying to know what it’d looked like. On top of that, Celestial Blue was a gorgeous, versatile dye, so it had quickly grown popular—much like Ekaterina did at the academy.

Ekaterina’s standing had begun to change after she helped fight off the monster that’d attacked. Her classmates had been keeping her at arm’s length at the start of the school year, but they’d started getting closer to her from that moment.

They’d assumed Ekaterina was haughty, but then they realized that she was actually a cheerful girl. She didn’t change her behavior based on the rank of her conversation partner and was easy to talk to. People started commending her for these traits, and she became especially popular among the lower-class nobles.

That was when Ekaterina had organized a social event for the first time. She’d invited her classmates—all of them, regardless of rank—to the very rose garden the imperial family had visited and put together a garden party.

With that, Lydia had thought she was finally seeing through her rival. Ekaterina had realized that she’d gotten a late start with the important nobles, so she was planning to gather the support of as many lower-class nobles as she could. The natural structure of society was such that there were few high-ranking nobles, so most of the students of the academy were the sons and daughters of low-ranking families. Ekaterina’s stance seemed to have been that there was strength in numbers.

She truly was Sergei’s granddaughter. She made light of status and seemed to have inherited his dangerous thoughts. Lydia, on the other hand, shared her parents’ beliefs: Sergei’s ideology was everything the Selesnoa Marquessate stood against.

Ekaterina’s offensive hadn’t stopped there. She’d gifted the emperor glass pens, and he’d proceeded to use one to sign a treaty with a neighboring nation. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of that country had been captivated by the novel pen, and word of its beauty had spread. It hadn’t taken long for most influential nobles and rich businessmen to start seeking the pens.

In the midst of this agitation, Lydia had learned that Mikhail was to summer in the Yulnova Duchy.

It was clear that this was the imperial family’s way of showing support to Alexei, who’d recently inherited his duchy at the young age of seventeen. The emperor saw Alexei as a promising asset fit to support his son when he took the throne. If Alexei became a relative of the future emperor through his sister, he’d find himself in the same position as his late grandfather, Sergei—a close, influential advisor to the emperor, with an unshakable status. While the emperor had yet to go that far, many saw it this way already. In their eyes, Ekaterina Yulnova was the prime candidate for empress.

The more such rumors had spread, the more people had left Lydia’s side. Mikhail was known to be kind to everyone, but you could count on one hand the number of young ladies he allowed to call him by name. Lydia was one of them, and as such, she was regarded as a serious contender for empress. That wasn’t the case anymore.

Some had even started looking at Lydia with scornful eyes. She was the one Mikhail had “discarded,” they whispered.

Lydia couldn’t have left things like that.

That was why she’d pretended to run into Ekaterina by chance. At that time, she’d seen Ekaterina and Mikhail interact in person for the first time. They seemed far closer than she’d expected, and she’d felt her chest burn.

Ekaterina cooking with her own two hands had shown she hadn’t received a proper education as a lady, but that didn’t change a thing. Mikhail had already fallen into her trap. He didn’t seem to have noticed her web around him. It was all wrong. Lydia had the future of the nation in mind—she had to save the prince from Ekaterina’s clutches so her family could support him and help him make the empire right again by returning to its roots.

Lydia’s parents had constantly been on edge too, devising plans to undermine the Yulnovas. They’d worked tirelessly with their advisors, but nothing had worked. The House of Yulnova was too powerful; damaging it with brute force was utterly impossible.

I need to win against her personally. That’s the only way, Lydia had realized.

Just as she’d made up her mind and had started planning her move, a godsent opportunity had fallen into her lap: the chance to compete with Ekaterina in front of the former emperor and empress with her singing. She’d never get a better shot at destroying Ekaterina. She had to strike hard and get the God of Music to notice her as Ekaterina looked on helplessly.

It was in this state of mind that Lydia had arrived at the detached palace earlier that day.

All this time, Lydia had seen Ekaterina as a calculating, vicious girl who’d relied on her face, figure, and hateful schemes to seduce Mikhail.

When Lydia had suffered a crushing loss in front of Ekaterina’s very eyes, Lydia had known that Ekaterina would gloat to herself about this victory.

Lydia couldn’t bear the thought. How was she supposed to endure the shame? As she’d fallen to her knees in tears, she’d resolved to end her life—there was no other way.

However...

“Lady Selesnoa!”

Ekaterina had rushed over to Lydia. She had hugged her so tight that it hurt.

“Your singing was wonderful! Anyone who listens to you can tell how diligent you’ve been all these years.”

“You’ll grow in the future. You’ll bloom into a finer flower, and then, your time will come. I’m sure of it.”

She’d been so desperate, so anxious to pick the right words despite her precipitation. There hadn’t been an ounce of cunning planning in her words or actions. She’d just tried her hardest to comfort Lydia.

Lydia had finally realized: She’s a good person. Too good.

Neither her father nor her mother would have rushed to her like this if they’d been there. Because that wouldn’t have been the right thing for a marquess or his wife to do.

As the lady of a ducal house, Ekaterina had acted all wrong.

And yet... And yet... She’s so warm.

Ekaterina wasn’t just nice. She’d personally crafted this situation and had masterfully driven Lydia into a corner, but she was still kind. While she could put on a mask of cunning if she needed to, her very core was made of pure, unadulterated kindness.

That’s why Prince Mikhail fell for her... She’s so odd, but how could anyone not love her?

I know Prince Mikhail won’t take my hand now. But that’s fine. I have my music.

How could Lydia put her current feelings into a song? As she pondered over that question, a passage of the song Olga had sung came to her mind. The song was right—being unable to believe in yourself hurt more than losing your dream.

Maybe I should sing it myself...

When she got home, Lydia would tell her father about how taking away Olga’s piano would have earned them the ire of the former empress. She’d also bring up what she’d heard about her great-grandfather. Finally, she’d tell him that there’d be no removing Ekaterina from the prince’s heart.

Since things had come to this point, should she suggest siding with the Yulnovas?

There were no highborn ladies around Ekaterina yet, so now was the time to snatch that position. The Yulnovas and Selesnoas had different political beliefs, but such things had never prevented houses from cooperating.

As far as politics went, the House of Selesnoa was more aligned with the House of Yulmagna. However, Lydia had heard of their financial troubles. A certain someone from the House of Yulmagna liked to bring up Ekaterina often, but Lydia had always known that this was only done to fan the flames and entice the Selesnoas to go up against the Yulnovas so the Yulmagnas could reap the benefits. Ekaterina’s bad reputation when she’d first started appearing in the public eye was likely a courtesy of theirs.

Looking at the situation calmly, it’d be more beneficial for the House of Selesnoa to seek an alliance with the House of Yulnova, considering its current momentum, instead of falling in with the Yulmagnas.

Lydia’s father would surely be angry when she told him of everything that had happened. However, if she made sure to highlight that the former empress had liked her singing and even bestowed a dress upon her despite her displeasure with the House of Selesnoa, he wouldn’t punish her, if only to avoid irritating the former empress further. Lydia knew that this was the reason the former empress had given her that gown and insisted that she had to let her parents know about it. Clementina didn’t want Lydia’s position within her household to become more precarious as a result of today’s events.

From now on, I can just live off of and for my singing. I’ll keep going so I can sing a song that surpasses perfection.

Prince Mikhail, you’ve always been my prince and my dream, but I’m not sad you won’t take my hand.

I’m a proud daughter of the House of Selesnoa. I was raised to be the perfect lady, so I’m not sad.

I’m not sad at all, so what are these drops falling on my knees?

Alexei’s Request (A Present in Progress)

After the siblings had dinner with Master Hardin, Ekaterina got up to escort him to the entrance hall, as was the duty of the lady of the house. However, Alexei stopped her.

“I have some things to talk about with the master,” Alexei said. “You may bid him farewell here.”

A look of surprise took over her features at Alexei’s unexpected words, but Ekaterina nodded almost immediately. “I shouldn’t intrude upon a conversation between gentlemen. I shall do as you say, brother.”

Alexei smiled at her fondly. What a smart girl she was.

Ekaterina was allowed access to Alexei’s office and could voice her opinions on the management of the duchy, which was rare for a girl her age. She was incredibly wise, and sometimes came up with the most original ideas—things no one else could have thought of. Given that, Alexei wasn’t the only one who valued her input. Novak, Halil, and Aaron, among others, often sought her counsel. However, Ekaterina always made a point of respecting Alexei as the Duke of Yulnova and head of their house. She assisted him with many things as the lady of the house, but maintained an admirable sense of humility, letting him stand at the forefront.

Ekaterina understood with surprising clarity the many facets of Alexei’s position, yet she also seemed to be very careful not to pry into the aspects Alexei didn’t want her to see. She was just as perceptive as she was well-behaved.

Ekaterina bowed to Hardin. “I thank you for this most delightful evening. I hope you have a pleasant talk.”

“And I thank you for your warm welcome, my lady. Dinner was splendid,” Hardin said, returning the courtesy.

“I’m glad it was to your liking. I’ll be sure to share your compliments with the chef,” Ekaterina said with a smile before walking away.

Alexei led Hardin to a small lounge. True to his nature, Alexei got straight to the point as soon as they sat down. “What of my request?”

“I accept. I shall paint what you asked of me.” Hardin looked at the glass of wine Graham had just poured him and smiled. “Refusing the request of Duke Sergei’s dear grandson never crossed my mind. But to be fully honest with you, ideas and pictures are floating through my mind as we speak. I feel like my head might explode if I don’t put them on canvas.”

Hardin’s odd-colored eyes gleamed.

“Is that how these things work?” Alexei asked. He’d never been one who understood the arts, and the painter’s hyperbole was entirely lost on him. Regardless, he was relieved to find Hardin was so enthusiastic about the idea of fulfilling his request. “Will you be done by December?”

“I know exactly what to paint, so that shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll push the rest of my work to later and focus entirely on this painting. I owe that much to Duke Sergei.”

Alexei let out a sigh of relief, and a smile took over his features. “Excellent. I’ve been searching for another present that might make her happy in case you couldn’t make it in time, but I couldn’t come up with anything.”

Hardin had closed his eyes to enjoy the taste of the wine, but he laughed at Alexei’s declaration. “She adores you, Your Grace. I have no doubt she’d be overjoyed with any present coming from you, even a single blossom.”

Alexei’s bright eyes widened for a moment, and he nodded. “Blossoms... I shall give her flowers tomorrow. She’s a very gentle, simple child, so I know she’ll accept such a gift, but...” He brought his fingers to the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the velvet-covered box he always kept on his person before opening it and handing it to Hardin. “Let me show you the birthday present she got for me.”

The painter accepted the box and took a good look inside it. “They are very beautiful objects to be sure, but what are they?” he asked, confused.

“Pens.” Alexei chuckled. He’d had more or less the same conversation with the emperor. He gestured for Ivan, who’d been standing quietly in a corner of the room, to bring ink and paper. With a few strokes, he showed Hardin how the glass pens worked. The master painter watched in amazement.

“She came up with the idea and had them made all by herself. This is an entirely new invention—her invention,” Alexei said, his voice thick with pride. “Her pens aren’t just beautiful, they’re also immensely practical. There is no longer a need to sharpen the nib, and a single dip into the ink allows you to write entire sentences in one go. I’ve never seen or heard of a better writing tool.”

“An inventor... I must confess my shock. I never would have thought such a young lady could invent such a thing.”

Had Ekaterina been in the room, she’d have screamed, That’s because I didn’t!!! Soundlessly, of course.

Alexei, however, nodded, “I understand your amazement. Since I’ve received such a wonderful present, I want to give her something that’ll surprise her and make her truly happy. I pondered it at length, and the answer I found was seeking your help, Master Hardin.”

“I see. Your request was a little peculiar, so I couldn’t help but wonder about the circumstances surrounding it. I understand a lot better now.” Hardin paused. “Still... While all can see the young lady’s refined grace at a glance, I had not expected her disarming innocence and spirited nature while we conversed. To think she also possesses such unsuspected talents...”

“She doesn’t know the world, but perhaps that is exactly why such novel ideas occur to her. She’s helped me many times with the governance of the duchy.”

“Is that so?” Hardin paused before whispering, “Maybe... Yes, maybe that is why, I...”

He covered his odd-colored eyes with his hands and stayed still for a moment. “In truth, when I met her, I spied two shadows overlapping with her. One looked just like her, but was smaller, younger than she is. The other was that of an adult woman. I’ve seen such shadows on others in the past, but this is the first time I’ve seen two on a single person.” Hardin had just finished speaking when he realized how impolite he’d been. “I apologize. I shouldn’t speak of such things about a noble lady.”

While Alexei seemed astonished by what he’d just heard, he didn’t blame Hardin for saying it, and he seemed to believe him.

“Were these shadows...ominous?” Alexei asked seriously.

“They didn’t seem to be in my eyes,” Hardin replied. “I’ve never heard of a disaster befalling anyone whose shadow I’ve seen. In fact, most of these people have been blessed with good fortune and prosperity.”

“I see.” Despite the curt response, his relief was apparent on his face. Suddenly, he was struck with an idea: “The adult woman you saw might have been our mother. Perhaps she’s watching over her.”

“I don’t think that’s the case. She seemed too young for that.”

“So, not that...” Alexei sounded disappointed.

Hardin smiled. “When I speak of the shadows, people usually laugh at me or scorn me. I’m thankful you believe me, Your Grace.”

“So much strangeness has happened around her. You could say I’m used to it,” Alexei said with a laugh. “You may not believe it, but she’s met several gods and a legendary dragon in our duchy. Who was it that said this sounds like a story out of an ancient myth again?” the young duke mused.

“I-I’m sorry?” Hardin was at a loss for words. After a few moments, seriousness replaced shock on his face, and he said quietly, “I’m sorry I can’t fulfill your second request, regarding your mother. I can’t paint someone I’ve never met in person before.”

“Don’t concern yourself with it. I have no intention to force you to paint if you say you can’t. The arts are complex, are they not?” There was a hint of cynicism in his voice, but it was aimed at himself—a mockery for the man that he was, utterly unable to comprehend art.

Alexei had once taken Ekaterina to see the impressive collection of the Sun Sanctuary, but he’d only done so because he’d assumed Ekaterina might like it. He had no personal interest in it whatsoever. While he did think some objects were nice-looking, he didn’t understand the people who lost themselves in them. The only art he sometimes sought of his own volition was poetry. But it wasn’t because he liked the lines themselves; he simply used them to verify that the pain of loss still lingered in his heart.

Alexei shook his head, putting these feelings away. “I’m having another likeness of our mother made—a statue, not a painting. It should be ready before December.”

To be perfectly accurate, the piece would be a likeness of the Goddess of the Night he and Ekaterina had seen at the Sun Sanctuary. When Alexei had laid eyes upon it, he’d immediately thought it resembled Ekaterina. His sister, however, had seen their mother in it, and her eyes had filled with emotion. From that day onward, the goddess’s image had become a memento of their mother for the siblings.

Alexei had allowed the sculptor to sketch Ekaterina—the living likeness of their mother—so that the statue would resemble their mother as much as possible. Wooden statues usually took at least two months to craft, but the pose was difficult and the coloring had to be incredibly precise to reach Alexei’s standards, so the sculptor had asked for much more time than that. Hopefully, the statue would be that much more beautiful.

There were no paintings of Anastasia in the Yulnova residence. There had once been a few—although Alexei remembered them very hazily—but Alexandra had burned them all after Sergei’s death. The honor and glory that should have naturally belonged to Anastasia as a duchess had all been stolen from her, leaving her to live a life of misfortune. Perhaps that was why Alexei wanted Ekaterina, his dear sister who looked so much like their mother, to have everything in the world—honor, glory, happiness. He would give them all to her.

But Ekaterina only ever tried to give to others, not take.

Your happiness is my happiness, she’d so often tell him.

“Master Hardin, besides what we discussed already, I’d like you to paint another portrait of her. One in which she smiles happily. Could you do that?”

“It’d be my pleasure. I’ll do everything I can to reproduce her beauty on my canvas. I believe her ladyship would love a painting of the two of you, Your Grace. If you were to sit together, I’d surely be able to capture her happiest smile.”

Alexei was caught off guard by his guest’s suggestion, and his eyes widened in surprise. He felt a little embarrassed, but he nodded anyway. “I don’t like to be drawn...but I’ll do it if it makes her happy. I’ve sworn to give her anything she desires.”

The following morning, Alexei joined Ekaterina at the breakfast table after his training with a large bouquet in hand.

“It’s beautiful!” Ekaterina exclaimed, overjoyed. “But why the sudden gesture, brother? Is today a special day?”

“No, today is just a day like any other, an unremarkable day that I get to spend in your company. I’ve just come to realize yet again that there is nothing as precious as such days.”

“Goodness...” Ekaterina looked overjoyed as Alexei put the bouquet into her hands. It was so large that her arms were filled with flowers. Ekaterina’s pale porcelain face threatened to disappear under the sea of colorful fall roses.

“I haven’t given you flowers often,” Alexei said. “It felt a little foolish to offer them to you when you’re more beautiful than any blossom could ever be. But I should have done it earlier if it makes you so happy. I’m sorry, Ekaterina.”

Ekaterina’s usual reply to Alexei’s flowery declarations left her lips: “Oh, brother!” She smiled. “Any present from you makes me happy, you know. Speaking of which, I take good care of the Silver-Branched Great Stag antlers you gave me.” Her eyes gleamed as though she’d suddenly come up with a great idea. “I shall decorate them with these flowers today. The great stag these antlers belonged to must have led its herd to eat many different flowers in the forest of the duchy over the seasons. Perhaps it’ll appreciate the company of the flowers. I hope they’ll provide some comfort to its soul.”

Alexei chuckled. “You’re too kind, concerning yourself with the well-being of a stag’s soul.”

Ekaterina pouted. “I spent some time thinking about Silver-Branched Great Stags, and I’ve come to think they resemble you somewhat, brother. They’re proud, beautiful creatures who bear an ever-growing weight to protect their herd. This one might resent you for killing it, so I treat it with respect in the hope of soothing its regrets.”

“I see...” Alexei wrapped his arms around his sister—and her large bouquet. “I love you, my sweet Ekaterina.”

She always worried about him.

From the day they’d started living side by side, Alexei had felt as though his life had blossomed with colorful roses that lit up his world.

Will Ekaterina like my gift? he wondered. Can I give her as much happiness as she’s given me?

Surrounded by the fragrance of roses, Alexei hugged his beloved sister in his arms, praying over and over again: Please, may she be happy.

Afterword

Thank you very much for reading this book. I’m Chidori Hama, and I’m excited to announce we reached volume 6! I’m sorry, but this story is far from over!

I was given the opportunity to debut as a writer with this series, and it’s still running. Debut works aren’t supposed to be this long, are they? Sorry about that, everyone. On top of that, volume 6 has ended up being the longest installment so far—sorry about that too!

Still, I’m very happy. Unlike in the story, there is plenty of entertainment to choose from in our era, so I feel blessed that you decided to pick up my book. I have nothing but gratitude for my dear readers who have continued to stick with me for six volumes.

The long, long summer vacation was finally over at the end of the previous volume, after which Ekaterina returned to the capital and to the academy. As she tried to enjoy her student life, she discovered that one of her friends had a great, unsuspected talent. However, the fun only lasted so long because she found herself making every effort to save that very friend from a crisis. Two new characters, a young man whom Ekaterina believes to be one of the dateable characters of the game, and a rival noble lady, also made their appearance. Ekaterina’s glass workshop and its employees, as well as the glass pens, made a comeback as well.

I’m picking old plotlines back up and laying down new foreshadowing, so I get the feeling the volumes will keep getting longer. Still, I’m afraid you’ll think I’ve forgotten some of the things I wrote about if I don’t bring them back here and there. Although, there is always a risk I might actually forget, to be honest!

Of course, Alexei’s sister complex is as strong as ever—it seems to have even grown taller than Mount Everest! By now, I think it’s reached the height of the tallest peak in the entirety of the solar system, Mars’s Olympus Mons, which some of you told me about in the comments of the web novel.

What a grand sister complex... I sometimes cannot help but think as I look in the distance.

This time, Mikhail is ready to challenge this oh-so-grand sister complex, but I’m afraid it’s not a peak you can take on without a great oxygen supply, Mikhail. You’ll die! As always, our poor prince has to go through the most terrible tribulations. I’m sorry, Mikhail!

Kadokawa Beans Bunko, to whom I’m indebted, recently welcomed its twentieth anniversary! As part of the celebrations, some wonderful character goods from my series were made, and I’ve been happily decorating my room with them.

I’ve been receiving help from so many people, so I’d like to take this chance to thank them.

As always, I’m grateful to my editor and to my proofreaders and designers. I’d also like to thank Wan Hachipisu-sensei from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful illustrations I’m blessed with every volume.

Please allow me to thank you once again as well, my dear readers! I hope you’ll keep on loving Ekaterina and Alexei!

Chidori Hama