Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

For some reason, Mina knew exactly where Flora’s dorm room was.
Ekaterina was just about to think *my beautiful maid has clairvoyance or something*, when she casually said:

“All the students living in the same dorm as you, milady, I know their names, faces, and rooms.”

That’s official. I no longer understand the job description of a maid.

.

When we knocked on the door, there was a brief pause before a quiet “…Yes” answered, and the door opened. Flora’s violet eyes widened in shock at the sight of Ekaterina.

“…Lady Jurnova.”
“Lady Flora, my apologies for disturbing you so late.”

Even as Ekaterina smiled, Flora stood frozen in place.

—But, she didn’t seem to dislike seeing me, at least?

“At lunch, you said you wanted my brother to decide, remember? His decision has changed. He told me I should broaden my perspective and learn from others. I came to tell you that.”
“But…”

Flora looked down, her long lashes trembling—and seeing that, Ekaterina thought, *Alright. I’ve got her.*

“Lady Flora, you said our worlds were far too different, didn’t you? But have you realized we’re more alike than anyone else?”
“Do you mean… because of our mothers?”
“Yes, that’s one. And another thing—”

Ekaterina raised a finger and smiled faintly.

“We’re both lonely, aren’t we? Despite being on opposite ends of this so-called hierarchy.”

A duke’s daughter who was confined until seven months ago, and a baron’s daughter who was a commoner until seven months ago and never dreamed of becoming a noble.
Both suddenly thrown into a completely different world, both quietly shunned by those around them—they’re similar as much as they’re different.

“But… there must be many people who’d love to be your friend, Lady Jurnova. People of far higher standing than me.”
“Perhaps so. Forgive me for saying it bluntly, but the House of Jurnova holds both wealth and influence. Naturally, there are many who approach me for those reasons. I don’t believe *everyone* is like that, but learning how to deal with such people is something I’ll have to work on. —Although, if I were to be honest, this is all rather tiresome. Don’t you think I’m rather pitiful?”

She tilted her head, putting on a slightly dazed look. A villainess acting all cute—honestly, what am I even saying.

“Besides, there’s another reason I wanted to keep talking with you, Lady Flora. While we were cooking together, I felt we really got along. And I think… that’s the only real reason anyone should want to be friends.”

An invincible truth. Call it naïve if you want.
It’s still the truth.
Flora-chan is the heroine, yes, and I do want to avoid the doom flags, but these have nothing to do with it.
It’s simply because talking to her is fun. That’s all.

“If you truly dislike me, Lady Flora, then I’ll accept that, but—”
“Of course not!”

Flora burst out, shaking her head violently.

“Of course not…” she repeated, this time in a whisper, and covered her face with both hands.

“…Ugh—”

As Flora tried to stifle her sobs, Ekaterina gently drew her into an embrace. She held her tight.

You’ve been trying so hard, haven’t you? You’ve probably been struggling all this time.

When I think about it, Flora’s incredible.
She couldn’t have imagined ever entering a magic academy full of nobles. She lost her mother seven months ago, suddenly became a baron’s daughter, discovered she had powerful magic, and was forced into the academy without even being given a choice.
That’s a roller coaster if I ever heard one. Nobody asked for that kind of life.
And then to be met with snide remarks and bullying on top of it—how unfair can life be?
Yet she never pouted or lashed out. She just kept working hard. She’s strong. Truly admirable.

You’d think “as expected of the heroine,” but no—that’s not it.
Yes, this is an otome game world. And yes, she *is* the heroine.

But she was *born*, *raised*, *grew up*, with a mind and a heart.
She’s living a *life*, not playing a role.
With just fifteen years behind her, she endured the pain of losing her mother, endured loneliness, endured being bullied for reasons beyond her
She never asked to play the heroine’s part.

And yet she’d go and say “I don’t want to be a burden.” Stop it with that self-sacrifice.
You’re smart, but you’re still only fifteen. Don’t go thinking you have to bear everything by yourself, that’s silly. You poor, brave girl.
Sorry kiddo, your Onee-san here isn’t about to leave you alone.
Let’s stop being lonely together.

When Flora’s tears finally stopped, Ekaterina gently patted her back and invited her to her own room.
It was unexpected that Mina immediately began preparing dinner for two, but apparently Flora had skipped her own meal and stayed holed up all evening. You cute little thing—no wonder she was so down.
And for my maid to judge that just from her expression alone… Mina really might be clairvoyant after all.

They stuck to cheerful topics during dinnner—what to cook for lunch tomorrow, how nothing from the afternoon lecture had stuck in their heads, so on and so forth—but afterward, the conversation turned heavier.

Ekaterina shared her own story.
Her grandmother’s abuse toward her mother, her confinement, the circumstances of her mother’s death—briefly, but honestly, all of it.
Flora was shocked and cried several times. When Ekaterina explained that she’d never had any proper experience dealing with noble ladies and was worried that a clumsy friendship might make her look foolish, so she wanted to take things slowly, Flora nodded in understanding.
Now, surely, she wouldn’t try to distance herself out of guilt or shame.

So, did the villainess successfully *capture* the heroine?
…Maybe it was a friend that she captured.