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Marina smiled brightly.

“During the recent magical beast attack, we were all saved by Lady Jurnova and Lady Czerny. Yet, we hadn’t even offered our thanks. I deeply apologize for our discourtesy. Please forgive us.”

Ekaterina and Flora looked at each other in surprise.

“The truth is, I’ve always wanted to talk with the two of you. But, quite uncharacteristically, I lost my nerve. Because…”

Marina suddenly blushed.

“When Lady Jurnova first came to class… the sight of you walking in, hand in hand with your brother—it was just so beautiful! The two of you looked far too refined to be students like us, as if you belonged to another world entirely. I thought someone like me shouldn’t even dare to speak to you!”

Ah…
Sorry. Apparently, the villainous sibling duo was a bit too intimidating.
Though, wait. If my brother’s in the picture too, what would the background CG be… something like a Disney ice castle? Oh no—an aloof lord ruling a frozen fortress after falling to the dark side—that setting is *so* appealing!
Wait, what am I even thinking right now?! Focus, girl!
Still, Marina looks awfully dreamy while talking. Could it be that she’s actually a fan of my brother?

“But lately, I’ve come to think Lady Jurnova might actually be quite approachable. The way you speak with Lady Czerny, and also, earlier…”

Marina suddenly cut herself off, stifling a laugh.
Earlier… as in, *Excrement*?
The “Countess got hooked after I said Excrement” incident.
No, seriously, what’s wrong with this girl? I mean, I *did* say it, but how does that make me approachable? Are you a grade-school boy or something?

“Lady Czerny, I must apologize to you as well. I’d heard you were of common birth, yet you’ve always seemed so elegant and beautiful—far more than I. I began to suspect you weren’t what you appeared to be, or that there was some secret behind it.”

She spoke in a frank, straightforward tone, and Flora blinked in surprise before letting out a small laugh.

Exchanging another glance with Flora, Ekaterina smiled.

“Lady Krymov, I understand your intentions. There’s no need to apologize, but if it puts your heart at ease, I shall accept it. I’m pleased by your honesty. If you don’t mind, I would love to speak with you more as friends.”
“I’m so happy! Please, call me Marina.”
“Then please, call me Ekaterina.”
“Lady Czerny, may I call you Flora?”
“Of course.”

The three girls shared smiles, the atmosphere soft and pleasant—when suddenly,

“Um…”

A timid voice broke in.

“Um, I—I’d like to a-apologize too. For back then… I’m sorry.”

Behind Marina stood a small girl with glossy chestnut hair tied by a ribbon and fresh green eyes—one of the quieter students in class, probably a baron’s daughter.
But, *sorry* for what?
Tilting her head, Ekaterina suddenly remembered.

“By any chance, at the training grounds?”

Is she the girl who tripped while fleeing from the magical beast?

“Y-yes, that’s right. My name is Olga Flurse. At that time, I f-fell, and I thought I was done for, but then the earthen wall appeared. You saved me. Lady Jurnova, you stayed behind because of that, didn’t you? I kept wondering if you couldn’t escape because of me…”

No, no, it’s not like that! Don’t blame yourself!
But I can’t exactly say, *“I knew about the monster attack and was totally ready to fight,”* can I?
So let’s just go with this.

“You weren’t hurt, were you?”

The chestnut-haired girl’s eyes widened, and she nodded vigorously.

“I see. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Yes. Really.
I’m glad everyone made it out unharmed.

“I was just being reckless, that’s all. I could have run after you, and I *should, really—but I chose not to. My brother scolded me later for it.”

When Ekaterina smiled, Olga’s eyes filled with faint tears, and she returned a small, trembling smile.

“Um, we’d like to apologize too!”

A group of students behind Olga suddenly raised their voices, startling Ekaterina.
Marina’s entourage—or maybe her fangirls—along with even some of the boys, were pressing forward with intense, almost feverish enthusiasm.

“I wanted to apologize too!”
“I’ve always wanted to talk to you!”
“I ran away—sorry! You were amazing, facing that thing!”

Uh… what is this?

Just then, the teacher entered, and everyone hurried back to their seats.
But Ekaterina couldn’t stop thinking.

I assumed that revealing Onii-sama’s vow and Flora-chan’s holy attribute would stop the bullying—but this went far beyond that.
Could it be the influence of House Jurnova’s prestige?
In the game, even after this event, the bullying against the heroine had continued for a while. Maybe this world really is diverging from the game’s plot.
Would the harassment against Flora-chan truly end here?
Or would the game’s logic reassert itself and bring things back to how they were…?
Of course, I’d be glad if the bullying stopped—but if this divergence from the game created some sort of distortion, unexpected trouble might arise.
Better stay cautious, just in case.

However, by lunchtime that very day, Ekaterina would have completely forgotten that resolve.

.

When she brought the meal to the office as usual, there was a new face there.
Efrem Rozen—the Commander of the Jurnova Chivalric Order.
He looked to be in his mid-forties, with steel-gray hair and a matching mustache, giving the impression of a quiet, refined gentleman.
The attire he wore was straight out of the fantasy worlds sheI’d seen in her previous life—like a real-life Templar Knight—and sitting at the same table as such a man had Ekaterina’s excitement skyrocketing.

But then, Aleksei said this:

“The season of roses is approaching. I’ve just received word that the Imperial Family’s visit to the ducal estate has been scheduled. Since this will be your first audience with Their Majesties, let me know if you need to make any preparations.”
“…What?”

The Imperial Family… coming to our house?

An Imperial Visit
In Japanese, *gyoukou* — or *miyuki*, as it’s sometimes read.
*“Once more shall His Majesty’s journey come…”* — that poem from the *Hyakunin Isshu*. What was the first half again…? *If the crimson leaves upon the peak had hearts…* Ugh, I can’t remember!
Ahhh, I can’t stop mentally escaping from reality!

What do you mean the Imperial Family is coming to visit our home!?

As expected of Onii-sama—the content of his bombshells is on a completely different level.
I understand every word he said, yet the meaning refuses to sink in.
It’s like taking a direct hit from an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) of pure shock!!