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During lunch break, Ekaterina cooked for the first time in a while.

When she and Flora went to the kitchen, the staff greeted them with, “Long time no see.” Whilst exchanging greetings, Ekaterina two quickly chopped up some seasonal vegetables and bacon, sautéed them, and beat some eggs to make an omelet. She sandwiched it between slices of bread, and the omelet sandwich was complete.

Unlike in her previous life, where storage technology and logistics were advanced, the vegetables available change with the seasons. It’s now the end of the summer vegetable season, and the first autumn vegetables are just starting to appear. This time, she used tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms. She added just the right amount of spices to create a flavor that whets the appetite. It’s a recipe Flora learned from the baroness who took her in.

Even though it had been a while, she had no trouble controlling the heat of the stove. Ekaterina felt a secret sense of pride.

Hehe, it’s been ages since I’ve served Onii-sama a home-cooked meal. I’m so happy.

Packing the warm omelet sandwiches into a large basket, Ekaterina and Flora hurried off to the study, where Aleksei and his aides were likely already hard at work.

.

Chatting and giggling as she walked down the hallway, Ekaterina nearly bumped into someone who suddenly appeared around the corner, causing her to stop in a panic.

The other person also stopped, staring at her in surprise. She had long, straight, bluish-silver hair, slanted blue-violet eyes, and was a fair-skinned, slender beauty; her impeccable posture gave her the air of a young lady of high birth.

“Oh, I beg your pardon.”
“No, it was my fault.”

The young lady, who had bowed her head slightly and smiled at Ekaterina’s words, was also carrying a basket.

“Might you be the daughter of the Duke of Jurnova?”
“Yes, my name is Ekaterina. This is Lady Flora of the Baron Czerny family.”

Flora gave a slight curtsy.

“I am Lydia of the Seleznyov Marquisate.”

At Lydia’s words, Ekaterina gasped. She appeared to be the daughter of the Maquis of Seleznyov, the lord of Olga’s household.
And speaking of the Seleznyov Marquis family, they are a lineage dating back to the founding of the nation, descended from a court favorite of Piotr the Great. They boast a status second only to the three great ducal houses and are a distinguished family that has even produced an empress.
And… just now, she subtly ignored Flora.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I am delighted to speak with you. Even though we’re both first-years, we’re in different classes, so I’ve been unable to meet you. I find it quite disappointing.”

Lydia speaks with a cheerful smile, and they naturally start walking together.
This must be a “young lady’s skill” in high society—a way to converse naturally and spend time with someone of higher rank… Ugh, I can’t escape this flow she’s created on her own. This young noblelady is good!

Before she knew it, Ekaterina had reached the place she’d been worrying about, without having a chance to come up with a plan to work around it.

.

What should I do?
There’s a dog…

Leaning out the window facing the hallway, Mikhail is grinning.
Ekaterina feels like she can see ears perked up on top of his head and a tail wagging vigorously behind him.

Gee, where did that flawless Crown Prince persona he showed me in Jurnova go?!
Ugh… I thought I’d stay away from the prince and somehow avoid him at lunch, but…
Damn it, you can’t beat a dog!
I shouldn’t have even thought about staying away from him in the first place. It’s already too late. I was just being an idiot for even thinking that.

“Hello, Ekaterina, Flora. Jurnova was fun, wasn’t it? Have you recovered from the fatigue of your journey?”
“Good day, Lord Mikhail. I am delighted that you are enjoying your days in the domain. I am already fully recovered. Lady Flora said the same, yes?”
“Yes, I’m fine too.”

Flora replied with a lovely smile to Ekaterina, who never forgot to include her friend in the conversation.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you bringing food like this. What did you make today?”
“Omelet sandwiches. Lady Flora taught me Baroness Czerny’s recipe. They’re still warm.”
“That looks delicious.”

Mikhail smiled.
Uuuu. If I don’t share this with him, I’d be a monster…

When Ekaterina opened the basket and held it out, Mikhail happily took one of the omelet sandwiches.
Holding it in his hand, he turned his gaze toward the person next to Ekaterina.

“Hello, Lydia. It’s been a while.”
“It’s been a long time, Lord Mikhail. I missed you so much during the summer break.”

Lydia’s face lit up as she replied to Mikhail in a sweet voice.
Oh, he’s calling her by her first name. Lydia-chan is on friendly terms with the prince.

“Prince Mikhail, if you don’t mind, would you care to try some of these as well? They are traditional sweets from our Seleznyov family. Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager is particularly fond of them. My classmates said they wanted to taste them, so I brought them along. I’m sure you’re familiar with this dish, but please feel free to have some.”

Speaking cheerfully, Lydia held out the basket to Mikhail.
She must have come along with Ekaterina from the start just to do this. What formidable skills for a young lady.

But Mikhail didn’t reach out.

“Thank you. But I plan to go to the dining hall for a meal after this.”
“Is that so?”

Smiling politely, Lydia pulled the basket back.

“It’s so kind of you to bring souvenirs for your classmates. You should take them to them soon.”
“…Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Lydia bowed to Mikhail. The movement was beautiful.
Normally, she would have performed a curtsy, but since she was holding the basket, she couldn’t gather her skirt, so it became an unconventional gesture. The fact that she could perform it so gracefully without showing the slightest sign of confusion was a trait unique to those born into the high nobility.
She also gave a slight nod to Ekaterina, showing no lack of courtesy.
However, she kept up her act of not recognizing Flora until the very end.

Watching Lydiya’s retreating figure, Mikhail took a big bite of his omelet sandwich.

“Delicious. It’s really fun to eat like this.”
“That’s the beauty of student life, isn’t it?”

Ekaterina smiled.
Having witnessed Mikhail’s royal demeanor firsthand on the estate, she realized anew just how different he was at the academy compared to his usual self. Casually accepting food and eating while standing—for him, it was a precious experience.

I hope he enjoys that carefree spirit to the fullest while he’s still a student.

“Prince Mikhail… was that person earlier someone you knew?”

I hesitated for a moment, but decided to ask.

“Speaking of the Seleznyov Marquis family, that’s Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s family… surely you were on friendly terms with them?”

That’s right; the consort, who hails from the House of Seleznyov, is the current Empress Dowager.
So, it’s only natural that Lydia is on such friendly terms with Mikhail.
She brought some traditional sweets because she wanted Mikhail to try them. But he brusquely turned her away.

Without answering, Mikhail finished his omelet sandwich.
Then, he spoke slowly.

“Ekaterina… if anything happens between you and Lydia, you must tell me. Because that’s something I need to handle.”

Ekaterina tilted her head.

“What…do you mean by ‘anything’?”
“Anything at all. There’s an unwritten rule that she must not get involved with you. Even if it’s not her directly, but someone tied to her, I want you to tell me right away.”

Huh… what’s that supposed to mean?
What’s this “unwritten rule” that Lydia isn’t supposed to get involved with me?

Question marks were flying above Ekaterina’s head.
Mikhail smiled gently.

“Please.”