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Though she could have breakfast in her room if she wished, Ekaterina headed to the dining hall. She was certain Aleksei would be there.

I mean, we lived in separate dorms at the academy, so we never saw each other on weekday mornings. Obviously, that means whenever we’re staying at the ducal estate during weekends, we always have breakfast together. That’s why I know Onii-sama is expecting the same!

Then again, we’d been stuck together practically all day during the journey from the capital, so…
But this is a different matter altogether, Ekaterina thought. She had no idea what exactly was different, but apparently, there’s no logic to Broconism.

Walking briskly down the long corridor with Mina following behind her, Ekaterina glanced out the window at a sudden sound.
And her eyes widened.

.

The dining hall, a place she had scarcely visited during her seclusion, was now adorned with glittering decorations, paintings hung upon the walls, and chairs lined up along an enormous table—the very image of a dining hall one might expect in an aristocratic mansion.

“Good morning, Ekaterina.”
“Good morning, Onii-sama.”

Ekaterina sat down across from Aleksei, who had arrived a little later, at the head of the long table to have breakfast.
Ekaterina noticed Aleksei’s aqua-blue hair was unusually slightly disheveled. This looks nice too! Well, yes, but that’s not the point.

“You were doing your morning training, weren’t you?”
“I was. I sparred with the knights and it took longer than expected.”
“I saw you from the hallway window. But those guarding you weren’t knights, were they?”

Ekaterina said mischievously, and Aleksei smiled.

“Would you like to see them up close?”
“Yes!”
“Very well. Then let me introduce you to them. They may not be as formidable as Krymov’s magical steeds, but Jurnova’s hounds are well-known among those in the know.”

.

And so, guided by Aleksei, Ekaterina visited the kennels of Jurnova Castle.

The dogs were now out of their cages, sprawled or playing about in a small, open area resembling an exercise yard. But upon noticing the two, they all turned their heads toward them at once.

—G-Giant fluffballs!!

A dozen or so enormous furballs were panting and staring at them.
And they didn’t look like hunting dogs at all—they were wolves with massive fangs like saber-toothed tigers! Wait, do wolves even have such fluffy manes? Could they be lion-wolf hybrids?!

“They’re magical hounds, bred by crossbreeding certain magic beasts with dogs native to this region. These are Jurnova’s hunting dogs. They excel not only in regular hunts but also in magic beast extermination. They’re the empire’s finest hunting dogs, fearlessly confronting any demon beast.”
“How enormous!”
“If they stood up on their hind legs, they’d tower over me.”

Onii-sama is probably close to 190 centimeters tall. These dogs, when standing, must be around two meters tall.
Incredible presence! And so cool! And fluffy!

“May I touch the dogs?”
“They’re wary of strangers… Igor.”
“Yes, young mast… err, Your Grace.”

A man of indeterminate age appeared silently. Short in stature but broad-shouldered, he had a sturdy build with bulging muscles. His most distinctive feature was his face: bald, with one eye covered by an eye patch. A formidable, fearsome appearance.

He looks like… some character from my past life.
The moment she saw him, Ekaterina thought.
I don’t know his name, but he’s that guy from that legendary boxing manga who supposedly said something like “Strike!”!
…Sorry, Igor-san, sorry for arbitrarily making you the boxing guy.

“Ekaterina, Igor is the keeper of the dogs. He’s arguably the only person capable of handling Jurnova’s hounds.”
“Oh dear. To handle such large dogs, you must be quite capable yourself. Igor, I am Ekaterina. Pleased to meet you.”
“Y-yes. Well, um, my apologies for the eyesore…”

Ekaterina said cheerfully, and for some reason, Igor looked terribly startled, bowing his head repeatedly.
Sorry, I laughed more than I should have because you reminded me of a famous character.

“Igor, call the dogs. Have them approach slowly.”
“Yessir.”

Nodding at Aleksei’s command, Igor whistled softly. He repeated it briefly.
Instantly, the hunting dogs stirred.
Five or six of them approached with a leisurely gait.

They’re huge! Seriously, they’re enormous!
They’re bigger than Great Pyrenees—the kind you see walking and mistake for polar bears, which are already bigger than Golden Retrievers. And the gleam in their eyes! They look strong and intelligent.

“My lady… Are you not frightened?”

Igor asked anxiously, but Ekaterina shook her head.

“They’re so magnificent, it makes my heart race. But if they were dangerous, my brother would never have let me near them.”
“Quite right, you’re always wise. —Igor, Ekaterina will be fine. Despite appearances, this girl is strong-willed enough to have faced a magical beast alone. Don’t take her for an ordinary young lady.”

Igor’s single eye widened at Aleksei’s uncontrollably boastful words.

“This young lady, you say…? But she’s so refined. Still, she doesn’t seem afraid of me or the dogs. Truly befitting His Grace’s sister.”

No, that magical beast was terrifying.
But thinking back, maybe it was because of that experience that I feel these dogs are manageable—we can communicate with them, unlike that beast.

The hunting dogs approaching were rubbing up against Aleksei. They clearly recognized him as their master, sitting at his feet wagging their tails, or rubbing their heads against his hand seeking a pat. Despite their size and fierce appearance, their behavior seemed no different from ordinary dogs.

They were also intensely curious about Ekaterina, who they’d just met, sniffing her with eager whiffs.

Even without standing on their hind legs, their faces are right around my shoulder level when they’re standing normally. It tickles when they sniff around my neck. Their faces up close are an un-dog-like size! That mane and that fluffiness… I want to touch it!

“I wonder if they would mind if I touched?”
“These dogs show respect to those with strong magical power. Show them your magic.”

Show my magic?
After a moment’s thought, Ekaterina channeled a tiny amount of magic into the soil at her feet. Visualize, control, activate.
With a soft rustle, concentric patterns carved into the ground. Covering a fairly wide area.

“Delicate and precise magic control. You’ve improved.”

Yay, Onii-sama praised me!

And immediately, the hunting dogs’ attitude changed noticeably. The dog that had been sniffing Ekaterina’s neck widened its eyes and lay down flat. The dogs that had been wandering around, and the one trying to get Aleksei’s attention, all turned their focus to Ekaterina at once, lying down or sitting. They seemed to be showing submission.

Then, another dog that had been lying down apart slowly rose and walked over.
Slightly larger than the others, its coat was beautiful. While hunting dogs were generally grayish in color, this one was almost white, with golden tips to its fur.

“Here you are, Regina.”

When Aleksei held out his hand, the dog called Regina rubbed its face against it. Then, it gazed at Ekaterina with its golden eyes.

“Ekaterina, this is Regina. She is the leader, the queen, who commands Jurnova’s hunting dogs.”
“My!”

So the leader was a female. Come to think of it, in a past life, when wolf research advanced, I recall seeing online news about how there were packs where females took the lead. It seemed less about combat strength and more about brains—or rather, communication skills were the key.

“Regina, I am Ekaterina. I am delighted to meet you.”

She smiled, and Regina bared her long row of fangs, seeming to smile back.
Then, whoosh! She stood up on her hind legs and plopped her upper body against Ekaterina.

KYAA!

I can’t hold it anymore!! Hugging Regina tight, Ekaterina buried her face in her fluffy mane.
Mooof mooof! So fluffy! So warm! Smells like a beast! So happy!
It’s a girl-on-girl hug situation!

Phew! When I lifted my face from the mane, Regina was looking down at Ekaterina with clear eyes.

“Are you welcoming me?”

When asked, Regina rubbed her long snout against Ekaterina’s cheek.

Kyaah!

Ekaterina looked up at Aleksei with a delighted smile.

“Onii-sama, I’ve made my first female friend in the duchy!”
“Indeed. Regina is well-suited for you. Before meeting you, Regina was the wisest and kindest woman in the world to me.”

…He said it so casually, but he must have had quite the history with human women for him to say that. That old hag probably played a big part too. Onii-sama, do you know you can be quite awkward around women? Perhaps bordering misogynistic, even?

Aleksei stroked Regina’s head.

“Regina, protect my sister. Ekaterina is my sister and my life. Guard her so no one harms even a strand of her hair. You understand, don’t you?”

Regina stared at Aleksei with her golden eyes, then growled softly, as if to affirm him.