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That day was a weekday.
Seeing Ekaterina fidgeting since morning, Flora smiled fondly and said, “I’ll make lunch today.”

“But, Lady Flora, I couldn’t possibly trouble you like that.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Your and His Grace’s happiness is my happiness too. Besides, I don’t think you should go anywhere near knives or fire today, Lady Ekaterina. You’re completely elsewhere in spirit.”

As she said this, Flora giggled, her smile blooming like a flower.

Uu, sorry. Thank you, Flora-chan.
But today is my brother’s birthday. I’ve been preparing for this day, and I’m just too excited—please forgive me. Even though I put so much into this, I can’t help worrying, what if he doesn’t like it? I’ve been overthinking it since last night.
Well, I’m sure he’ll like it. Onii-sama is a siscon, after all. But I don’t want him to be happy just because he’s a siscon—I want him to be happy because the gift is genuinely useful and well-made. That’s why I went with the glass pen.
I won’t think “he’ll like anything I give him.” I’m serious about giving something *for his sake*. My brocon spirit won’t lose to Onii-sama’s siscon spirit!
Not that I know what kind of battle that even is!

.

And so, as soon as the lunch break began, Ekaterina headed straight for the office.
When she arrived, it seemed Aleksei had just gotten there too. He looked up in surprise, as did Novak and the others.

“What’s wrong? You’re early today.”
“I just couldn’t wait to tell you—happy birthday, Onii-sama!”

Smiling brightly, Ekaterina said this, and Aleksei’s neon-blue eyes widened.

Ah—that reaction.
Onii-sama… you forgot your own birthday, didn’t you! You’re always so focused on the house matters you put yourself second!
Well, maybe he didn’t *forget* exactly, but just didn’t plan to do anything special? Oh no, what if he has trauma from past birthdays or something?

Then Aleksei smiled faintly.
He reached out and pulled his sister into an embrace.

“Thank you. I thought birthdays were no different from any other day—but if you’re the one celebrating, then it’s a wonderful day indeed.”

Kya—thank goodness, I’m so happy! My original tsundere brother is pure dere today, as always.
To think just a “happy birthday” before the present could make him react like this—he really is the best.

Ekaterina reached out and returned his embrace.

“I’m so happy to hear you say that. I brought you a small gift to celebrate. Please, take a look and see if it pleases you.”

At that, Aleksei smiled and gently brushed her cheek.

“There’s no way I wouldn’t like a gift from a goddess. Your thoughtfulness is what makes me happiest.”

As expected of Onii-sama…

Finally, Ekaterina presented the gift box—a blue velvet box tied with a pale blue ribbon. It was custom-made specifically for the glass pens, rushed to completion in time. The interior was lined with silk and fitted to hold the pens securely, so their delicate tips wouldn’t be damaged.

When Aleksei untied the ribbon and opened the box, three glass pens were revealed.

Lev’s brilliance sure shone even more clearly in these finished, colored-glass pieces, thought Ekaterina.
The first had a twisted design—two colors, sky blue and indigo, intertwining in a brilliant spiral. Naturally, the colors represented Aleksei’s and Ekaterina’s hair.
The second had a thickened grip that tapered toward the end. The body was clear, but within its widest part were sealed two blue roses—one sky blue, one indigo—somehow painted inside the glass. On the outer surface, flowing vines and leaves of green glass traced elegant lines.
The third was modeled after a dagger’s sheath. The outside was clear, but the core was sky blue, so it looked as though a transparent glass sheath encased a blue blade. Indigo adorned the hilt end, and golden letters were inscribed on the transparent outer surface—ancient Astran script rendered as ornamental calligraphy. Since Ekaterina couldn’t read or write Astran, she had simply told Lev that the dagger she’d seen had decorative writing, and he had chosen words often used for such designs.

It was only natural that Aleksei looked puzzled. In an empire where only quill pens existed, he wouldn’t recognize what these were at first glance.

“These are pens, Onii-sama.”
“Pens?”
“Pens made of glass. They can draw up more ink than quills and let you write continuously for much longer. You use them like this.”

With a quick motion, Ekaterina pulled out her own glass pen. She had prudently brought one of the test models Lev made—the one best suited to her hand. Mina had even found a slim wooden box for carrying it, lined with cotton.

She borrowed an inkpot and a sheet of paper. Aleksei gestured for her to sit, so she took a fine leather chair and faced his grand desk. It felt a bit embarrassing, like she was sitting in a CEO’s seat—her inner office worker instincts hadn’t quite faded yet.

Dipping the pen into the inkpot, she let the grooves draw in the ink.
Hmm, what should I write? The Jurnova crest I drew at the workshop didn’t turn out that great, so maybe not that… Something that’ll show you can write a lot of text.
Actually, that would do.

The pen glided smoothly across the paper.
What she wrote was the lyrics to *that* theme song—you know, the one stuck looping endlessly in her head. She’d translated it into the Empire’s language to clear her thoughts. Matching the lyrics to the rhythm had been tricky, but she’d done a decent job.
With a single dip of the pen, she managed to write the entire first verse, and exhaled in relief.

“You can write this much with just a single dip.”
“Ingenious.”

Novak murmured in admiration. Only then did Ekaterina notice the group of the Duke’s senior staff gathered around the desk, watching intently—and she jumped in surprise.
All of them were staring at the glass pen with keen interest.

U-um…

“O-Onii-sama, please, would you try using one?”

Standing from the leather chair, Ekaterina gestured for Aleksei to sit.
Obediently following her sister’s request, Aleksei examined the glass pen closely—the dagger-shaped one.

“‘Fate, Fortune, Strength.’”

Aleksei murmured. Ekaterina tilted her head.

“What does that mean?”
“It’s the Astran inscription here—the last word can also mean virtue, courage, skill, or resolve. Because both luck and one’s own strength are needed to overturn fate, these three words are often written together.”
“Oh, I see. How fascinating. I’m afraid I know nothing at all of Astran—how embarrassing.”

This is the sad part about not having received a proper noble education. Back in the day, I heard that Astran used to be a required subject for nobles—and even now, it’s normal for people to at least recognize the common words. At this rate, I might get exposed in class sooner or later.

“There’s nothing for you to be ashamed of. There may be plenty of people who can read Astran, but you, my sister, is a one-of-a-kind Sage.”

Thank you, Onii-sama. Your siscon filter is working perfectly as always!

“By the way, this poem—its structure is unusual. Did you write it yourself?”

And here’s the unexpected question!

“N-no, I just read it somewhere.”
“I see. I’ve read my share of poetry, but I don’t recall ever seeing something like this.”

So Onii-sama reads poetry? That’s kind of unexpected. Maybe it’s because of Vladimir from Jurmagna, who used to be close to him—he once said he could recite Astran-era poems fluently. Maybe my brother picked up the habit from him.

Wait, I get it now! That poetic knowledge must be the source of his *flowery speech skill*!

Aleksei dipped the glass pen into the inkwell.
Then, first, he wrote his name.

“Oh… what an incredibly smooth sensation. There’s no drag at all.”
“Yes, that’s how it’s meant to feel.”

Aleksei switched to a fresh sheet of paper and began writing something else. I couldn’t tell what—it was in Astran. Written in elegant calligraphic script.
Wow, as expected of Onii-sama! I’ve seen pictures of Heian-era nobles’ “scattered writing” in museums—letters arranged decoratively across the page—and he’s writing something just as graceful, effortlessly! This is true noble refinement!

“This pen writes in any direction. Quite different from a quill.”

Aleksei murmured in admiration—but honestly, I was the one who wanted to groan out loud.
Even though it was his first time using a glass pen, he finished writing a passage in Astran with flawless penmanship.

“What did you write, Onii-sam?”
“I translated this poem into Astran. It still needs some refinement.”

Whaaat—!? You translated the whole thing on your first try!? I struggled so much just getting it from Japanese to Imperial Common!

“Ekaterina, this… you called it a glass pen, yes? Did you have it made at your glass workshop?”
“Yes, that’s right. I have a very skilled craftsman there.”
“When you asked for the workshop, you said you wanted to create beautiful things freely. So this is what you meant.”

Gently, Aleksei set down the glass pen.
Then he stood and embraced me, pressing a kiss to my temple.

KYAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

“Thank you, Ekaterina. My goddess. You are beyond belief in every way.”

KYAAAAAAHHHH!!
KYAAAAAAHHHH!!
KYAAAAAAHHHH!!
KYAAAA—okay, calm down, me!!

“Onii-sama… I’m truly happy if it pleases you.”

Ah, I really am.
…Though, technically, the glass pen exists thanks to him buying me the workshop, so can I even call this my present? But still, I’m glad I came up with the idea of giving it to him!

“‘Pleases,’ is it.”

Aleksei chuckled softly.

“To receive something as marvelous as this as a birthday gift… You truly are…”
“Onii-sama, you are the most precious person to me, so of course your birthday is more important than anything else.”

If he says it’s “marvelous,” that must mean it’s good enough to market! That makes me so happy.
But really, I don’t care about the economic side of things—what matters most to me is that he’s happy. That’s what being a brocon, or a devoted fan, is all about.

“…I see. Thank you.”

Aleksei murmured with quiet emotion.

Then there was a knock at the office door.
Yvan, the valet, opened it at once—to reveal Flora, carrying her usual large basket. She must’ve brought lunch.

“Oh, Lady Flora, thank you so much. I’m sorry to trouble you.”
“Actually, I had some help.”

Smiling brightly, Flora stepped aside—and behind her, my classmates Marina and Olga peeked in and waved.

“Your Grace, happy birthday! We helped a little on Lady Ekaterina’s behalf.”
“The kitchen staff also sent some treats to celebrate!”

Apparently, since we’d been visiting the kitchen so often, the staff had gotten friendly with us—and when they heard it was Aleksei’s birthday, they joined in on the celebration too. How heartwarming.

Aleksei placed a hand on his chest and gave a graceful bow.

“Ladies, I—Duke Aleksei Jurnova—offer you my gratitude.”

That elegant pose made Marina and Olga squeal.
They said they’d eat in the dining hall as usual, and left soon after.
Then we had lunch in the office—with the usual faces, but a meal a little more elaborate than usual.
And finally, Flora said, “It’s not much, but this is from me,” and presented a beautifully decorated pound cake topped with dried fruit and only a touch of sweetness.
Thus, it became an even warmer, more heartfelt birthday celebration.