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Aleksei’s office was in a flurry of activity.
In addition to his close aides—Novak, Aaron, the finance minister Kimberley, and Rozen, the commander of the knight order—members of the Capital Guard in uniform were constantly coming and going. They appeared to be reporting on the evidence seized from the residences of those belonging to Novadine’s faction who had been arrested the previous night, as well as the confessions obtained through interrogation.

“Good morning, Onii-sama. I’m sorry to trouble you when you’re so busy.”
“Good morning, Ekaterina. I’m glad you came.”

Aleksei smiled.

“I was happy to hear that you had breakfast even though you are so busy. Please take care of your health, at least.”

“Yes, if that is what you wish.”

As always, Aleksei was gentle with his younger sister, and the members of the Capital Guard were staring at him in astonishment. Until Ekaterina arrived, he must have been proceeding with swift and ruthless measures against those who had been captured, as though he had neither blood nor tears.

Hmm.
I just thought earlier that being feared was the right thing, but when I’m around, that fear seems to fade. Maybe I shouldn’t see him too often for a while.
But even though we live in the same house (which is huge, though), not seeing him at all would be a little painful.

Ah, but come to think of it, Onii-sama was openly a full-blown siscon even at the banquet, in front of everyone. So maybe it’s too late to worry about that.

At that moment, Novak spoke.

“My lord, regarding the visit to the Mountain Temple that has been an issue, how about having the young lady go in your stead?”

.

The Temple of the Gods of Mountains aka the Mountain Temple is, as the name suggests, a temple dedicated to the gods of the mountain range.

In this world, the gods truly exist, and they sometimes interact with humans on a whim, bestowing blessings at times and calamities at others.
There are several mines within Jurnova territory. Therefore, the gods of the mountains must not be offended. If they were to bring disaster upon the mines, the damage would be catastrophic.
For that reason, the House of Jurnova has held the Temple of the Gods of Mountains in deep reverence since the time of its founder, Sergei. They never fail to make offerings, and at important junctures, the head of the family visits in person. It is one of the duties of the Duke of Jurnova.

However, the previous duke, Aleksandr, visited the Mountain Temple only once, immediately after inheriting the title. After that, he merely spent his time in splendor within the high society of the imperial capital. Thus, his legitimate son Aleksei had gone in his place to fulfill the duty of honoring the mountain gods.
Now that Aleksei has inherited the dukedom himself, however, his studies at the magic academy and his duties as duke in the capital city of the domain have made it difficult for him to travel to the temple, which takes several days from the capital. He had planned to go during this summer vacation, but—

First, Prince Mikhail was scheduled to visit Jurnova territory, tightening his schedule.
Then, from yesterday onward, the arrest of Novadine’s faction and the subsequent cleanup—more like adjustments—were expected to take more time than anticipated.
As a result, visiting the Mountain Temple had become difficult.

I got it immediately. If even my extremely thorough brother and his senior aides were facing “unexpectedly time-consuming adjustments,” that means—

They’re confiscating Novadine and the others’ titles and assets and redistributing them, aren’t they?

They’ll probably raise Novak’s title from viscount to count. Raising a title is called a promotion in rank, right?
Naturally, that kind of adjustment would be a hassle. Even though it’s customary for the main house to have discretion over the titles of branch families, the resentment toward Novak—who doesn’t even possess magic yet is being promoted—must be fierce.

People you want as allies require more careful handling than enemies you simply intend to crush. If you mishandle jealousy and resentment, it lingers for a long time. I understand very well that this needs careful attention. Back in my previous life as a working adult, dealing with powerful people who would sulk over the smallest misstep in political maneuvering was truly exhausting.

“I would be delighted if I could be of help to you, Onii-sama. Please, let me take on that duty.”

Ekaterina said eagerly, but Aleksei looked troubled.

“However… many magical beasts appear in Jurnova territory. In the mountain regions along the way, bandits and other lawless people also appear. Letting someone as frail as you travel alone would be far too dangerous.”

No, I am not frail. My stamina isn’t great, sure, but I inherited my previous life’s personality and have become quite thick-skinned, so being called frail feels completely wrong.
But I absolutely cannot say that!

“My lord, you know that all one needs to do is follow the main road to reach the Mountain Temple. Dangerous magical beasts rarely appear there.”
“And should the young lady, the Mistress of the Knight Order, was to go on pilgrimage, the knights will accompany and protect her. She will not be alone.”

Novak and Rozen said.
What a rare sight—to see my brother being thoroughly corrected by his aides. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.
And then he turned his face away, pretending not to hear them. That’s also a first. What are you, a child? Usually you’re so mature I asked the opposite question.

Ekaterina walked up to Aleksei and took his hand.

“Onii-sama, I wish to go. As a daughter of Jurnova, I want to see with my own eyes and understand the land our family rules, so that I may be of use to you.”
“My lord, given how your schedule has become, there is no choice but to ask the young lady to go to the Mountain Temple in your stead. You know that a proxy must be someone in a position close to yours, or else it would be disrespectful to the gods.”
“…I know.”

Under a barrage from his sister and from Novak, Aleksei let out a small sigh, then squeezed Ekaterina’s hand in return.

“I’m sorry. I know this is nothing but my own selfishness. However, if you leave the castle, just the thought that I won’t even be able to exchange morning greetings with you anymore… No—even if we never speak, even if I don’t see your face, every morning when I wake, I always think that you are somewhere in the same castle. Just thinking that warms my heart. So it pains me that you will be gone. I find myself wishing that you would always stay by my side.”
“Onii-sama…”

All right, I understand, I won’t go anywhere—

“Precisely because she is such a precious sister to you, you should consider the significance of asking her to go in your stead.”

Novak said sternly, unmoved by Aleksei’s lament.

“If the young lady fulfills the proxy pilgrimage to the Mountain Temple, it can be said that she has gained the gods’ acknowledgment as second only to you in standing. Furthermore, although the major figures were introduced to her at last night’s banquet, many of the common people of the domain do not even know that you have a sister. Please consider this a good opportunity to make her existence widely known.”
“If the young lady is going to the Mountain Temple, it will also be a good opportunity to meet Sir Professor Isaac. He is at the old mine. My lady, the Mountain Temple is right next to the old mine.”

Aaron added after Novak. At his words, Ekaterina suddenly remembered something.

“In that case, there is something I would like to give to Great-Uncle Isaac.”

The large package that had arrived that very morning.

“The items I had made at my glass workshop were delivered earlier today. They are things I would like him to make use of in his academic research.”

The sender’s name was Yegor Toma—the lens craftsman who had transferred from an unrelated eyeglass workshop to the glass workshop Ekaterina had purchased to produce glass pens.
He had sent word that the improved version of the microscope Ekaterina had requested was finished. She had originally wanted her famous scholar great-uncle Isaac to try using a microscope and give his impressions, so she had asked that the improved model be sent to the territory once it was completed.

“My sister seems to have created something interesting yet again.”

Smiling, Aleksei stroked her hair.

“Very well. If that is what you wish, I will ask you to make the pilgrimage to the Mountain Temple. Go and meet Great-Uncle, and give him that microscope.”

“Thank you very much, Onii-sama. I am so happy. Even if we are apart, please do not forget that my heart is always by your side.”
“Yes. I will hold those words close to my heart as I wait. So please, come back soon.”

So said Aleksei—but after that, they both went on to repeat the scene of lamentation four more times.