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After returning to the ducal estate, Ekaterina immediately set out to consult her brother about the workshop matter.
But when she found herself standing in front of his office, she stopped. Standing still in the corridor, unable to move forward, she kept thinking the same thing over and over.

How did it come to this?

Saying that is kind of a meme from my previous life, but it’s exactly how I feel right now. I can’t think of any other words.

How did it come to this?!

I mean, I just wanted to ask him to make a glass pen, that’s all.
And somehow, I ended up being asked to buy an entire glass workshop.
That’s insane. No matter how you think about it, it’s completely insane.
I only just said “I don’t need anything, please just come sightseeing with me in the capital,” and now I’m asking for something like this. Even the doting Onii-sama would be speechless… maybe even give me a lecture.

…No, wait, it’s simple. I just won’t buy it. I know that.
When I asked about the price, it turned out to be worth tens of millions of yen in Japanese currency. Well, I guess that makes sense.
That’s not an amount you pay just to get a glass pen.
If I check around, there might be other workshops that can take on the order normally. I just have to look.
And I didn’t even *say* I’d buy the workshop to Lev. I only said I’d discuss it. He bowed his head again and again, asking for my help, but he knew full well how unreasonable it was. He’ll probably be disappointed if I say it’s impossible, but that’ll be the end of it.
I know that.

But still!!
…I really liked those shows, in my past life.
The “Project Something” ones.
Business-related programs on the TV Tokyo network.
Shows about professionals at work. *Passionate Continent* and the like.
More than dramas, I loved that kind of nonfiction or documentary stuff… the spirit of craftsmanship really struck a chord with me.

*(“I want to create things that can only be made here, right here.”)*
*(“That furnace has value—there’s only one like it in the world, and it can create so many beautiful things that nothing else can. That’s how valuable it ”)*

Ugh, Lev’s lines hit right in my weak spot!
And if the story turned into one of overcoming a crisis and reviving a dying business… that’d be *so* my thing! My absolute favorite!
Ahh, now the theme song from my previous life’s big-name singer-songwriter is playing endlessly in my head!
All right, I get it already. So there’s a star shining down on earth—you’re saying I should let it rise to the heavens, huh?
Besides the Jurnova Ducal House *can* afford to buy a workshop, after all…

However!
We’re talking tens of millions of yen here! Buying a workshop is basically like acquiring a small company, isn’t it?!
What kind of fifteen-year-old girl asks for that? Ridiculous! Compared to this, dresses and jewelry seem modest. This goes beyond the luxuries of a noble lady.
And if I buy it, I’d have to run it. There’ll be running costs too, right? If it starts bleeding money, I’d be a financial burden to the Jurnova family!
Can I even do that? Sure, I was a working adult in my past life, but I’ve never managed a business. Still, if I’m going to beg, “I want this one, please buy it for me,” then I’ll have to take proper care of it till the end! …Wait, not *keep*, *buy*.

Okay, stop the stupid self-comedy routine, me.
Lev did say there’s enough chances of success in the market.
The restaurant manager, Mr. Moore, also said the value of Master Murano’s works keeps rising. So even if it’s not his own pieces, people would still want something from the Murano Workshop.
And there’s Lev. With him, the workshop can produce works of the same quality as when the master was alive.

Lev is apparently twenty-two years old now. He entered the master’s workshop as an apprentice at ten, and by the next year, he was recognized as a full-fledged craftsman.
Mina told me that it usually takes more than two years to graduate from an apprenticeship. If he was acknowledged as a professional in just a year, in the kingdom’s most elite workshop that demanded standards higher than any other—then Lev must be an exceptionally talented man himself. He even passed the guild’s master examination and qualified to have his own workshop. Yet he chose to stay with his master to hone his skills further.
…That background hits my weak spot again… Lev, you’re basically a massage stick pressing all my pressure points.

A-anyway! I’ll give a presentation to my brother and the ducal administrators!
Well, a preliminary one for today. I’ll gauge their reactions, have them set the hurdles, then figure out how to overcome those problems with Lev. Later, I’ll retry with a full presentation.
First, gather information. Think of it that way, don’t get scared. You can do this, me.
Ah, the music in my head changed. Now that wild-haired violinist is playing *Passionate Continent*’s theme with fiery intensity.
I’ll borrow that energy—let’s do this!

.

When his sister appeared in his office, Aleksei smiled.

“Ekaterina, do you need something?”
“Onii-sama… actually, I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh?”

Rather delighted, Aleksei’s neon-blue eyes gleamed.

“Go ahead, ask anything.”
“Um… there’s something I want.”

Lowering her gaze, fidgeting with her clasped hands, Ekaterina’s heart pounded.

“It’s rare for you to want something. What is it?”
“A glass… workshop.”
“Workshop?”
“Do you remember it, Onii-sama? At the restaurant you took me to, you noticed those beautiful glasses. I was curious, so I had Mina look into it. It seems that Master Murano, who made them, has passed away—but his workshop is now up for sale. I also found his apprentice who wishes to keep working there. If we buy the workshop, we could freely create beautiful things like those. I want that.”

Aleksei’s lips curved slightly—and then he burst out laughing.

“That’s just like you. Didn’t I say you excel in free thinking? I thought about finding and buying an artisan’s works, but you—you’re talking about finding the workshop and having new works made.”

Then he turned his gaze to his subordinates.

“Khalil, make arrangements. Kimberley, treat it as a new enterprise. —Ah, Ekaterina, this is your first time meeting Kimberley, I think.”
“Yes, it is an honor to meet you.”

A slender man, seemingly in his sixties, rose and bowed. He had a large aquiline nose, a bald head, and eyes more silver than gray—a man of evident strong will.

“My name is Emelyan Kimberley. I serve as the financial director of the Jurnova ducal domain. My lady, I’ve heard many rumors about you—but you exceed them all.”

Eh, what kind of rumors are going around about me? That’s scary!

“Sir Kimberley, though this is our first time meeting, I feel terribly sorry to trouble you with such a request. As the treasurer, such wasteful spending must have displeased you.”

Ekatelina said apologetically. But Kimberley widened his eyes as if told something unexpected, and shook his head with a smile.

“Displeased? Not at all. Far from wasteful—this is something most delightful for a treasurer.”

Eh, delightful? What does that mean?

“But the Murano Workshop, of all things—your eye for these matters is quite impressive.”

Khalil grinned broadly.

“The master’s reputation remains as strong as ever. In the market, the value of his works keeps climbing, and if one of his direct disciples makes a decent piece under the Murano name, it’ll sell like hotcakes.”

Ahh—he just spoiled the selling points of my presentation!
Khalil’s marketing research skills are insane. Is there anything about the Empire’s economy that this man doesn’t know?

“You don’t need to worry about profit. When I said new business, I only meant for accounting purposes. You may have the workshop make whatever you like.”

Aleksei smiled gently.
Wait, huh?

“Um, Onii-sama… I feel terrible for making such a selfish request. I know I asked for it quite casually, but the price is, um—”
“You confirmed the price?”

Wait, Onii-sama, why do you look so amused?
And why doesn’t your expression change at all even after I told you the price?!

“Is that reasonable for a workshop in the capital?”
“The facilities are specialized for glass, and dismantling the high-temperature furnaces for other use would be difficult, so I imagine it’s hard to sell. You could probably negotiate it down further.”

Wait… Onii-sama, Khalil, what’s going on here?
This isn’t how I thought this would go!
I came here to give a presentation! I even braced myself to be scolded!

“Glass is quite interesting too. I’ve heard the raw material is white sand. It’s possible there’s a source within the duchy. Your Granduncle, Lord Isaac, might know.”

No, Aaron, you’re already so busy—why are you volunteering for more work?
But then again, if that lets us get the raw materials cheaper, that’d be—wait, no! Stop thinking like that, me!

Wait, hold up, hang on for a minute!! I can’t keep up—did they just decide to buy it?!

“Um, Onii-sama! Please, as the head of the house, speak frankly! Wasn’t I being too unreasonable with this? Please reconsider—”
“As long as I am duke, anything you wish for shall be yours. Not one of your desires is unreasonable.”

Why did you say that with a straight face, Onii-sama…

“No, Onii-sama, please don’t say such things. You mustn’t tell someone as inexperienced as I that all my wishes will be granted.”

People change, you know? What if I fall into decadence and start demanding outrageous luxuries? What then?

“You don’t need to worry. There’s a natural limit. If you said you wanted to build a castle the size of the Imperial Palace here in the capital, that’d be beyond my means, and I’d have to beg your forgiveness.”

I have no idea what you’re talking about! That level of excess is *not* a limit!!

Someone, please—say something to him!

“I don’t think there’s any cause for concern. If it’s the young lady, she might ask for something even grander. Like keeping a black dragon in the garden.”

…No, Novak, that’s not helping.
You’re supposed to rebuke him!
Don’t answer a joke with another joke!

Ugh, fine! If it’s grandeur you want, I’ll give you grandeur!
Kishimoto-san from my past life! Please, urgently reincarnate an elite team of comedians to handle this mess!
Wait no—*I’m* the biggest joke here!!

This is strange. My brother being a siscon, fine, that’s expected (is it?). But everyone else is acting weird too.
What is this—does sisconism spread through the air in this world or something?!

“Could it be, that talk about keeping a black dragon in the garden—was that Grandfather’s idea?”
“He did say things now and then that left us unsure how to respond.”

…I get it now, listening to my brother and Novak. The others are all still under the influence of Grandfather-love. He was such a free spirit that this sort of thing sounds normal—if anything, they welcome it.
And also, after years of dealing with that old hag’s idiotic extravagance, they must think a workshop that can yield returns is actually a *reasonable* purchase…

O-okay, focus.
The goal is developing glass pens! The real “Project Whatever” starts now!

I thought it’d be impossible to finish before my brother’s birthday, but maybe I can make it happen. I’ll do my best to make him happy.
I’ll become just as devoted a sibling as he is and win!
Not that I really understand what I am fighting anymore!