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“I implore you, do not sully the four-hundred-year history of the House of Jurnova with such actions. That woman knows not even how to dwell in a proper home; she is a barbarian who crawls through the mountains. Is she not an outlaw who defies the order of the Imperial Realm! Many distinguished subjects of noble lineage are gathered here. It is unthinkable that you would speak with such a lowly person, setting aside all others! Even if I am to be reprimanded for this, it is my duty to protect the honor of our lord—a duty taught to me personally by Her Highness Aleksandra herself, who instilled in me the pride of a noblewoman. I implore you to heed my words!”

With a self-sacrificing air, Countess Novadin bowed her head deeply.

Aleksei’s eyes, which Ekaterina glanced up to meet, were frozen like glaciers, staring intently at the woman.

Hey, Madam Drill-Hair. My anti-social Onii-sama was just enjoying a pleasant conversation with Forli, and you had to go and ruin it! I won’t forgive you!
What you say is one logic of this world, I suppose. Among the upper-class people present here, there are probably quite a few who secretly agree. Throughout the ages in history from my past life, this kind of thinking often prevailed.
But for all your preaching about order and honor, you inserted yourself into Onii-sama’s conversation—which, if I must remind you, is downright rude according to the very standards you’re evangelizing. It really boggles my mind how your entire family thinks you can get away with literally anything.

So, with all those in mind, Ekaterina gently tugged her brother’s sleeve and whispered, carefully keeping her voice loud enough to be heard.

“Onii-sama… That person claimed to have been Grandmother’s maid, but was Grandmother the sort to tolerate such uncouth behavior from mere servants?”

A faint smile touched Aleksei’s lips.

“She would never. Everyone here knows she was not that sort of person.”

Around them, nods of agreement rippled like small waves.

“So it is, then. What did she even learn from Grandmother if she couldn’t even learn such a basic etiquette? To call herself head of a branch family and behave like this… I am mortified before our guests, my heart aches with shame.”

Ekaterina frowned, pressing her hand to her ample bosom adorned with an opulent sapphire necklace. Aleksei’s expression changed instantly.
Meanwhile, the young men who had been staring at Ekaterina found their eyes drawn to her décolletage and hastily looked away.

“Poor Ekaterina… To cause you such distress—what an insolent creature! I shall cut her down with my own hands this very moment.”

…Um, Onii-sama, you’re joking, right? Siscon jokes are scary.
No, he’s not joking! Onii-sama is a no-joke siscon! His neon-blue eyes, which always seem to glow with their own light, now shimmered even deeper, radiating a demonic presence!

“Y-Your Grace…”

Despite having just declared she’d stake her life, Countess Novadin’s face was deathly pale.
Ekaterina touched her brother’s shoulder and shook her head.

“Please, Onii-sama, enough. There’s no need to stain your blade for my sake.”

I ended up protecting Onii-sama’s beloved sword over the life of Madam Drill-Hair. After all, this family seems to have vitality on par with the Yes-Yes Trio. If you cut them, they’d probably split and multiply.

“More than that, I am distressed that I failed to show proper courtesy to our invited guest.”
“I see. That’s typical of your strong sense of responsibility, but it wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t worry so much about it.”

Wrapping his arm around his sister’s waist, Aleksei comforted her gently.

…Well, yes. The faces of. Forli and his wife that I caught a glimpse of—they were clearly trying to stifle laughter. I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry your best friend’s granddaughter is like this.

“Lady Aurora, Noble Lady of the Forest. I too apologize for that one’s discourtesy.”

Turning back to Forli and his wife Aurora, Aleksei changed his tone.
At the title “Noble Lady,” Countess Novadin’s eyes widened.

“When our knights were sweeping away the forest beasts, your family often welcomed us and even lent us aid. My grandfather Sergei always expressed his gratitude, calling you the Noble Lady of the Forest. Whenever he spoke of you, he would smile fondly.”

Aurora responded with a refined, “Ho ho ho.”

“What stories did he share?”

Her voice was slightly husky, yet remarkably dignified for a woman. As the head of her clan, she carried herself with authority.
Aleksei returned the smile.

“For instance, he spoke of the connection between our ducal house and your clan. Three hundred years ago, the fifth Duke Vasily granted your clan a letter of permission allowing passage anywhere within our lands. It was granted because Giovanni di Santi, an inventor cherished by Lord Vasily, requested your clan guide him during his investigations of the Astra Empire’s ruins. That charter is still passed down within your family, supposedly. “Thanks to di Santi’s restoration work, we can still use various facilities built by the Empire. That is an honor shared with your clan.”

Ekaterina’s eyes widened.
Are you serious, Onii-sama?! No, of course you are, right?
And I know he said that with the clear intent to utterly crush the barbarian and outlaw remarks Madam Drill-Hair had just made to diss Aurora.

In my past life in Rome, Italy, the sewers from the Roman Empire era were still in use even in the 21st century. Similarly, here in the Imperial Kingdom, the Astra Empire’s water and sewage systems are naturally still operational in many places. However, these are facilities from over a thousand years ago. During the centuries of war following the Astra Empire’s collapse, not only the construction techniques for such systems, but even the repair techniques were lost. Consequently, many have deteriorated and fallen into disrepair.
It was the renowned inventor di Santi who deciphered the structure of these water systems and reestablished the techniques for their repair and construction. He accomplished this feat while still young in his homeland, and upon hearing of his fame, the Duke Vasily summoned him to the Jurnova domain.
Therefore, it is entirely natural and understandable that di Santi also investigated the ruins of the Astra Empire within the Jurnova domain.

“I… I have never heard such a thing! What reason could the wise Lord Vasily have for associating with these people?!”

Countess Novadin cried out, but froze under Aleksei’s icy stare.
Moreover, the people surrounding the duke and duchess began subtly distancing themselves from her. A physical pullback.

“How nostalgic. Lord Sergei added a note to Lord Vasily’s letter of permission.”

Aurora’s casual remark delivered the final blow to the Countess.

.

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand the Countess’s point of view.
Why would Lord Vasily ask the Forest Folk to guide di Santi to the ruins? Normally, you’d expect him to send knights or forest officials instead.
Well, the Forest Folk probably know about ruins buried deep in the lesser-known parts of the forest. But in this duchy, where magical beasts roam, sending an important inventor to such a dangerous place shouldn’t be allowed.
What connection could they possibly have had in the first place?

But since my brother says so, then the Forest Folk as a whole would have a position directly under Lord Vasily.
And that’s kinda cool! Like a ninja village or a shadow army. It’ll definitely be dramatized and embellished for future generations, turned into movies, dramas, and games!

.

And then a figure appeared beside Countess Novadin out of nowhere.

“My lady.”

The voice calling out in a businesslike tone belonged to the housekeeper, Raisa.

“You don’t look well. Please rest in another room. The other guests will be worried.”

A masterful skill at wrapping “Get lost, you’re bothering everyone else” in wonderfully thick sugarcoating. Professional.

“I, I’m…”

Her hesitation likely stemmed from knowing who Raisa was. Though her birthright was unofficial, she was the beloved sister of the late Duke Sergei—making her the great-aunt of the current Duke Aleksei. Everyone close to the ducal family thought so.

“Please.”

Raisa’s tone was calm. Yet behind her meticulous demeanor stood three figures exerting silent pressure. Two wore knight’s ceremonial attire; the third wore standard formal wear, though his imposing stature matched the others’.
They were Raisa’s husband and twin sons.

Once a castle laundress, Raisa became the adopted daughter of a noble house with generations of knights through Grandfather Sergei’s arrangement, and married into it. Her husband was, naturally, a knight himself, and now served as the Deputy Commander of the Jurnova Knights. He was the knightly order’s second-in-command, beneath Commander Efrem Rozen.

The twin sons had each chosen different paths—one as a knight, the other as a civil official—but both excelled in martial arts and possessed impressive physiques. Each was making a name for himself in his chosen field.

The pressure emanating from these three was heavy. Heavy indeed. A true weight.

Speechless, Countess Novadin was led away to another room as instructed.
Though dance music still played in the grand hall of Jurnova Castle.
In Ekaterina’s mind, as she watched the Countess depart, the full chorus of “Donna Donna” played.