Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Flora let out a trembling sigh of relief.

“Ah… I’m still shaking. I never imagined someone like me would get to speak with His Highness the Imperial Prince…”

She pressed a hand to her chest, her cheeks flushed—a picture of innocent charm.
Even though that unnecessary third wheel (me) was tagging along, I think the prince still managed to form a good impression of her. Probably.
And later in the story, when danger comes for the heroine, the prince will rush in to save her. Probably.

“What a gracious gentleman His Highness is.”

Yeah, that’s probably why he’s more popular than my brother—he’s got that soft, approachable aura that girls love. Flora was clearly moved, and honestly, if I didn’t have my memories from my previous life, I might’ve fallen for him too. Then I’d have spiraled into being the villainess and the rest is history… ugh, no thanks.

Well, my number one fave is definitely my brother nonetheless!
Classic tsundere is PEAK!!

That said, having “the dream prince” suddenly pop up at a classroom window to ask for homemade food—this is peak shoujo manga school rom-com material. I mean, that’s exactly the kind of cheesy charm that made the original otome game so fun, though.

Because Ekaterina’s background was so hard mode, I’d been kind of overwhelmed by all the unseen details—the parts of life and history that weren’t shown in the game. This world is real: people are alive, history stretches back ages, the planet is probably round, orbiting the sun… Thinking about that sort of thing sometimes made me dizzy.
And yet, despite all that, the game’s logic still existed—powerful and unshakable.

Which means both the Doom Flag and the Empire Destruction Flag are right there, within reach!
If I’m going to live my life carrying the fate of the villainess in this world, then I’ve got to break those flags with everything I’ve got!

Ekaterina clenched her fist in her heart with renewed determination.

I mean, I couldn’t possibly trouble my brother any further. Imagine how his subordinates would suffer if he were suddenly demoted to commoner status.
Just thinking about what must’ve happened to the Jurnova dukedom after the game’s “condemnation scene” makes my blood run cold. When your capable boss suddenly disappears… Every corporate worker knows that pain too well. I could cry just imagining it.

“Lady Jurnova, you spoke with such confidence earlier. I was impressed.”
“Oh, but I was trembling inside, truly.”

I mean, I almost turned my heel and ran in the other direction myself…
The prince isn’t at fault whatsoever, but facing the guy who’s (probably) destined to destroy your life is murder on the nerves. I’ll feel safer once he and the heroine start their romance for real. …I *will*, right?
E-either way, Flora and Prince Mikhail really do make a lovely couple. Even without the whole flag business, I’d be happy if they’d just get their happy ending.

Sure, I called it a cliché school romance setup—but come on, watching a beautiful girl and a handsome boy falling in love is good for the soul. My current role lets me watch their innocent love story unfold from the best seat in the house—heck, I might even become their wingwoman along the way. What a sweet deal! You’re both such good kids; Onee-san here is totally rooting for you two!

…Wait a sec. Didn’t I just decide *yesterday* that I wouldn’t talk to or even go near the prince, in exchange for befriending the heroine?
Kind of hard to *support* them if I can’t approach him, huh…
Feels like my doom-flag countermeasure is getting kind of muddled…

I-I mean, don’t blame me, me!
He was the one who called me over! If I ignored a prince, I’d be charged with treason!

New plan revision: The villainess will ship the heroine with the prince!

“Lady Flora, I’m certain you’ll have more chances to speak with His Highness. After all, you’re the most charming young lady in the academy. I’m sure he’s taken quite an interest in you.”
“Oh, n-no, that can’t be. The Imperial Prince surely—”

Flora started to protest, but Ekaterina gently interrupted her.

“Forgive me, but just one small correction. You should refer to him as *‘His Highness’* rather than ‘the Imperial Prince.’ Some people are terribly particular about titles, you see. Please don’t think me rude for pointing it out.”
“I see, I’ll remember that. Thank you.”

Flora blushed, pressing her lips shyly, while Ekaterina smiled warmly, encouraging her.
Flora said nothing more, but inwardly she couldn’t help thinking:

(*But honestly, anyone can see that the one His Highness is interested in is Lady Jurnova. She’s beautiful, kind, noble enough to be his equal, and I kept hearing how much she adored her elder brother… There are so many reasons for it—and yet, she really doesn’t seem to realize it at all. It’s baffling.*)

.

Only Ekaterina knew that this world was the setting of an otome game, that she was the villainess character, and that in her past life, she’d been a thirty-something corporate slave.

Conversely, that meant *no one else* could even imagine such a thing.

To everyone but herself, Ekaterina Jurnova was an extraordinarily beautiful young noblewoman—the daughter of one of the three great ducal houses, the highest and wealthiest in the empire, and a frail, sheltered fifteen-year-old girl.

Between breaking flags, struggling through academy life, managing her brother’s health, and a dozen other things, would Ekaterina ever notice that gap between how she saw herself and how others saw her?

That day still seemed a long, long way off.