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“Onii-sama.”

When Ekaterina visited the duke’s office, Aleksei immediately stood up to greet her.

“Ekaterina, I’m sorry for calling you when you’re busy preparing for the journey. Entertaining the sculptor must have been tiring, too.”
“Oh no, Onii-sama, it was a rare experience, and I quite enjoyed it.”

It was tiring, but really fun too. He made sketches from every angle—such realism! In a world without photography, it was the first time in my life I’d ever seen what my own back looked like.
Ah—wait, I should’ve asked him to draw Onii-sama too! Then I could’ve carried it with me at all times!
…But then again, he’s right here in front of me. That’s enough. Normally, Onii-sama never lets go of his dignity as a duke, but since it’s summer now, his uniform has changed to a lighter one, and even here in his office he’s without a jacket, just in a shirt. Though “shirt” might be an understatement—it’s a fine piece embroidered with silver thread, tailored like a jacket. It fits his slender yet solidly built frame perfectly. A blessing to the eyes. Thank you, Lord, for this sight.

“Let’s start with the good news. Khalil.”
“Yes, my lord.”

The head of commerce and distribution, Khalil, smiled at Ekaterina—one of those really good smiles she’d been seeing a lot lately.

“We’ve received a large-scale order from the Temple of the Sun God concerning Celestial Azure. The offering of Celestial Azure that you proposed was the trigger. The Night Queen’s Palace, which the duke’s house funded and decorated in Celestial Azure, has become famous for its beauty, and the number of visitors has surged. The temple has decided to use it more extensively.”
“Oh, how delightful!”

Exactly as planned! The publicity is working perfectly!

“First, they want pigments. They intend to use Celestial Azure boldly on a new, massive mural to be painted in the main hall of the Sun God’s Great Temple. Furthermore, for next year’s summer solstice festival, they plan to hang tents dyed in Celestial Azure to make visitors feel as though they’re floating in the heavens. Quite a concept, isn’t it?”
“As expected of the popular Temple of the Sun. They are very skilled at capturing people’s hearts.”

When I visited the Temple of the Sun God the other day, I thought it was as dazzling as the Vatican. And now they’re going to make it even flashier, huh?
Religious buildings must make people feel detached from the ordinary. They’re places meant to inspire thoughts of gods and the afterlife—things distant from daily life. Apparently, that holds true even in this world where magic and monsters exist.

“The fact that your ideas captivate hearts proves that you truly are a goddess… though I can’t help but wish you wouldn’t gather too much devotion. I want you to remain my goddess alone. Forgive me.”

Saying that, Onii-sama took my hand and kissed my fingertips. Oh, goodness, that makes me so happy!
Siscon filter: fully operational today as well!

“Celestial Azure is beautiful, inexpensive, and extraordinary—this result comes purely from its own worth. Besides, everything I do is for your sake, Onii-sama. All that I am belongs to you.”
“Thank you. You’re such a kind girl.”

A, those gentle neon-blue eyes.
When my brother spoils me like this, I just have to repay him with everything I’ve got.

“Khalil, I spoke with my dress designer recently, and I’ve decided that for the time being, I’ll always incorporate Celestial Azure somewhere in my dresses. I’d like to help spread it in our domain as well.”

When I told that to my designer, Kamila, she was actually thrilled.
*“There is no one who wears Celestial Azure as beautifully as you, my lady. Having that kind of restriction fires up a designer’s passion!”*
It seems that dresses using Celestial Azure are becoming fashionable even in the capital’s social circles. Her Majesty the Empress adopting it must have played a huge part. Kamila, who introduced it early on, has earned respect from the fashion-savvy, and—working deftly with Khalil’s subordinates—has managed to secure priority access to the fabric at a good price. Very enterprising of her. Yes, business works best when it’s win-win.

“Thank you. As you said, Celestial Azure is indeed valuable, but it spread so quickly thanks to your wit and wisdom, my lady. I cannot accompany you to the duchy, but I eagerly look forward to what’s to come.”
“That’s true—the center of commerce is the capital, after all…”

Among all the people who came and went from the office, Khalil was always a regular face. I’ve come to rely on him so much for matters of glass pens and the workshop that the thought of parting feels lonely.

But I’ve also learned a little better now. Though it’s true that his work base must remain in the capital, Khalil’s foreign appearance means he probably can’t live as freely anywhere else in the Empire as he can here.
The Duchy of Jurnova isn’t a region known for deep prejudice—but traces of *her* influence still remain.
*That rotten old hag’s!*

Just from overhearing bits and pieces around the office, I can guess what happened.
After Grandfather’s death, for the seven years that followed, that vile old hag and her equally vile son lived here in the ducal capital residence.
Before that, though—while Grandfather was still alive—they mostly lived at the main manor in the duchy. Grandfather, being engaged in national politics, spent most of his time here in the capital, so she apparently avoided her “tiresome husband” by living separately.
Not that she completely isolated herself; she would occasionally come to the capital, harass then-Crown Princess (now Empress), and cause trouble here and there.
Even so, the ducal main manor had long been her stronghold. That’s probably why servants who still carry her values—like Nonna, the maid we dismissed earlier—are still around.

My brother, when he was little, was raised under that old hag’s care. Harshly and coldly.
Then, around age six or seven, he was taken in by Grandfather and began living mostly in the capital.
When Grandfather passed away at ten, he turned the burden of responsibility into an excuse to stay away from her, spending as much time as possible at the ducal manor with Novak and the others. He was occasionally summoned back to the capital to play with the prince, though.
As for me, Ekaterina the Duke’s Daughter, I remember seeing him a few times from the window of the detached house where I was confined—so that must have been after he’d started living in the duchy at age ten.

“Kimberley.”

Aleksei called for the head of finance, and Khalil bowed and left.
Replacing him, Kimberley approached, carrying a large, heavy-looking briefcase—so sturdy it resembled a safe, complete with two keyholes.

“Ekaterina.”

Aleksei’s tone was gentle as always, but Ekaterina instinctively straightened her posture.

“I debated whether to tell you this. What I’m about to say is not something an ordinary young lady should hear. But you have the capacity to rule the duchy alongside me. You’ve proven that many times. So—will you listen?”
“If you’ve judged it necessary to tell me, Onii-sama, then whatever it may be, I will listen.”
“You truly are a good girl. …Kimberley.”
“Yes, my lord.”

Kimberley took out a key and unlocked one of the latches.
Aleksei took out another key, and Kimberley used it to open the second one. The atmosphere grew heavy.
From the now-open case, Kimberley pulled out several documents.

“My lady, these are lists of embezzlement cases discovered through a thorough audit of the ducal accounts.”