Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Your Grace, Milady, welcome home.”

Upon their arrival at the Duke’s mansion in the Imperial Capital, Ekaterina and Aleksei were greeted by a line of servants led by the butler, Graham.

Graham was unchanged from before, his beautiful silver hair neatly combed back. He bowed at the perfect angle befitting a butler, exuding the dignity expected of a steward of a noble house with four hundred years of history.
However, the smile on his face as he welcomed the Duke and Duchess home seemed just a touch deeper than perfection.

“Thank you for coming out to greet us.”

Aleksei spoke succinctly, as was his custom.
Standing beside her brother, Ekaterina’s voice was full of excitement.

“I’m so happy to be back! Graham, everyone—are you all well?”
“Yes, everyone here is doing just fine.”
“I’m glad to hear it. It’s wonderful that everyone seems healthy.”

As the young lady looked around at everyone and beamed, the servants found themselves smiling in response.

“It’s a relief to see you’re doing well, too, milady.”

Hearing this, Ekaterina turned her gaze toward the speaker and her face lit up instantly.

“Lord Khalil!”
“Welcome home, Your Grace, Milady.”

Standing behind Graham, Khalil Talal, the Head of Trade and Distribution for Jurnova with his exotic features, bowed with a smile on his strikingly handsome face.

“I am so delighted to see you. I have so many things I’d like to discuss with you, Lord Khalil!”
“Yes, I was certain that would be the case.”

Khalil replied with a smile to Ekaterina’s words.

.

Urged by Graham to “please make yourselves at home,” the siblings entered the mansion.

“You seem happy to be back in the imperial capital. Do you prefer the Imperial Capital?”

Taking Ekaterina’s hand to escort her, Aleksei asked.

“I enjoyed my days in the main estate as well. However, this mansion in the Imperial Capital is where…”

Ekaterina began, then suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
It was in this mansion that she had regained her memories of her past life. It was the place where she fused the memories of her past and present lives, becoming a new person. She felt as if she had been reborn here.

But that’s a secret from you, Onii-sama!

Ekaterina looked up at her brother and smiled.

“This is the place where I’ve come to spend time with you like this, Onii-sama. When I first arrived in the capital, I fainted, didn’t I? You were holding my hand when I came to in this mansion, and the whole world changed for me. It’s a precious memory of mine.”
“…That is a precious, special memory for me, too.”

Aleksei gently took his sister’s hand.

“Ekaterina, my beloved sister. Whether it’s our estate or the Imperial Capital, wherever you are is the greatest paradise for me.”

After they had settled down and shared some tea in the lounge, Aleksei moved to his office. Novak and Aaron, who had traveled with them from the Jurnova domain, should be arriving at the office soon to begin coordinating information with Khalil.

Ekaterina remained in the lounge and received a report from Graham on what had happened during her absence. It was her duty as the lady of the house, overseeing the inner workings of the residence.
That said, Graham was a walking encyclopedia of the Imperial Estate, deeply trusted by Aleksei. Under the guise of a report, he was essentially teaching her what was necessary to manage the estate. Ekaterina listened gratefully and shared the latest information from the main residence of the duchy in return.

“Is that so? Raisa has become the butler at the main residence…”

Graham said with a touch of emotion.

“I hear you’re quite acquainted with Raisa, Graham.”
“Indeed, Duke Sergei introduced us. He joked how bright she is, and how he cherishes her as though she was his own little sister, that everyone simply took her as his actual sister. When I was in the service of Duke Sergei, she got married and left the estate just as I was arriving, but since we are in similar circumstances, I suppose introducing us was his way of showing consideration—as if to say we should share our experiences.”

Graham used to be an actor in a traveling theater troupe.
Sergei, who took him on as a valet, apparently brushed off questions about his background by saying he was some kind of guardian spirit who had just happened to be by his side. Just as he had dressed up Raisa—a lowly servant from a remote village—to look as if she were of ducal blood, Sergei had gone to any lengths to promote them, even though they were not of a rank that would normally allow them to rise in the ducal household.

“It seems that at both the Imperial Capital residence and the main estate, the butlers will be people whom Grandfather loved and promoted. Since my brother can entrust the security to them with peace of mind, I am very happy as well.”
“Those are kind words. However, I wonder if Raisa would have been selected for the role of butler had it not been for you, my lady.”

Although Aleksei is extremely capable, he is not the type to come up with innovative ideas. Graham understands this.

“That said, had it not been for His Grace, who so brilliantly took control of the estate at such a young age, Raisa’s appointment would have been impossible. Duke Sergei was able to push through such unprecedented personnel decisions because he was both admired and feared. He had a stern side to him. Many people feared that.”

“I see,” Ekaterina said, nodding in understanding.
Her brother described their grandfather as a kind man, but it was only natural that he had a side he didn’t show to his young, adorable grandson. After all, their grandfather was a shrewd politician and ruler.
She suddenly recalled Machiavelli’s classic work from her past life, *The Prince*. It argued that a ruler should be both loved and feared. Perhaps Grandfather Sergei was the very embodiment of that principle.

“Milady, both you and His Grace bear a striking resemblance to Duke Sergei. You have inherited something no one else possesses. How fortunate I am to be able to serve you both.”

Ekaterina’s face lit up with a bright smile.

“Graham, please tell my brother what you just said. I’m sure he’ll be delighted.”
“As you wish, my lady.”

Graham smiled as he spoke.

“My lady, as I understand it, the greatest difference between the main residence and the residence in the imperial capital is the presence or absence of relations with other houses. The imperial capital is where all the influential nobles gather.”
“Yes, that’s certainly true.”

In their domain, the House of Jurnova was the sole ruler. But in the imperial capital, they were subjects of the Emperor and merely one of the noble houses.

“Several families with whom our house maintains ties have been contacting me frequently this summer. It seems they have a favor to ask. Word has spread among those with keen ears that messengers from His Imperial Majesty and Duke Jursein have been visiting Lord Khalil quite often.”
“Oh my…!”

While Ekaterina and Aleksei were away, Khalil had been mediating between the Emperor and the glass artisan Lev regarding the design of the glass pen to be presented to the Empress. The same applied to the items ordered by Duke Jursein.

If word of this has spread, and influential nobles of a rank comparable to ours are reaching out to us, does that mean they’re all scrambling to get their hands on that glass pen?

As expected of Their Majesties and the Duke of Jursein, one of the Three Great Ducal Houses—the publicity effect is already working perfectly!

All right, I’ll talk to Khalil later and take charge of the glass workshop project again.
Project Something-or-Other, Restart!