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Hearing Ekaterina’s words, Aleksei smiled.

“In other words, you wish to meet with His Majesty the former Emperor… and, naturally, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager as well?”
“Yes, that is correct. As I mentioned to you the other day, Lord Mikhail has suggested that we meet. Since he is our great-uncle, yet I have not yet had the chance to pay my respects, I think it would be only natural to meet him.”
“You’re right.”

With a smile on his lips, Aleksei nodded.

“So, what will you do when you meet him?”
“I’ve heard that both Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and the former Emperor were great lovers of music. I thought that if I sang for them, they might be pleased… but rather than my own clumsy singing, I thought it might be better to introduce a talented friend and have them appreciate her voice instead. If they take a liking to it and encourage that friend to practice even more… then any revision to the domain laws restricting that friend’s family from owning musical instruments would be contrary to Their Majesties’ wishes.”

Novak, Khalil, Aaron, Flora. Smiles spread across everyone’s faces.

“The Imperial Family cannot interfere in Seleznyov’s internal affairs, of course. However, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager is a member of the Imperial Family and hails from the House of Seleznyov. It is only natural that she wields influence over her family home. I understand that in the past, Her Majesty’s father and brother sometimes made unreasonable demands of her, but the current head of the Seleznyov family is, after all, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s nephew. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s authority must have grown since then. Furthermore, if the Seleznyov family relies on Her Majesty’s presence, surely Her Majesty’s word carries far more weight than a mere young lady’s wishes. That is what I thought.”

Aleksei nodded once more. He must have already surmised this line of thinking when he heard Ekaterina’s words about wanting to meet her relative.

“Lady Flurse, was it? Your friend’s singing was so wonderful that even I was deeply moved. But is there any guarantee that Their Majesties will approve?”
“I intend to consult with Lord Mikhail, and if he agrees, I plan to speak with Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager in advance. If she is a lover of music, I hope it won’t be too difficult to persuade her to oppose this kind of domain law reform…”
“But Seleznyov—Lady Lydia—has shown her intention to oppose you. Shouldn’t she be made to pay the price?”
“If I were to express my intentions to Seleznyov as a Jurnova, as we discussed earlier, I fear that Seleznyov’s innocent subjects would suffer as a result. I am also concerned about how it would be perceived by those around us if Lady Olga’s family were to save the piano through pressure from another house. When I think of that, my heart grows heavy. —As for retribution to Lady Lydia, if Lord Mikhail and Their Majesties agree to my request, that in itself would be a blow to Seleznyov. It would bring honor to Lady Olga and her family, and nothing but joy. If that happens, I would simply be overjoyed.”

Aleksei gazed at his sister with a pensive expression, then burst out laughing.

“Ah, Ekaterina. Wise goddess of mercy. Your plan is perfect.”

No, Onii-sama, I’m not a goddess or anything—I’m just a former corporate slave in my late twenties. It’s only because I was born a duke’s daughter in this life that I have such incredible connections, and in the end, I could only come up with such a naive idea that relies entirely on those connections.”

Once again, I realize just how much of a cheat being a duke’s daughter really is…
Well, that’s only because my brother—who lets me do whatever I want due to his late-stage sisconism—happens to be a duke.

“Onii-sama, have you granted my wish and permitted me to visit His Majesty the former Emperor?”
“Of course. However…”

At this point, Aleksei’s expression turned grim.

“Naturally, I should be the one to introduce you to His Majesty the former Emperor… but as I mentioned the other day, I am in a position where I should refrain from visiting him.”
“Yes, I remember.”

Ekaterina nodded.
When Mikhail had suggested she meet with His Majesty the former Emperor, she had said she would consult her brother. True to her word, she had spoken to Aleksei. That was when he had explained it to her.

In the Imperial Court, it is considered proper for the former emperor to avoid interaction with influential nobles. This is to prevent the former emperor from becoming a figure of higher standing than the current emperor and to ensure the emperor’s authority remains absolute.

As a history buff from her past life, Ekaterina found this deeply convincing.

It happened in Japanese history, too. Take Emperor Toba or Emperor Shirakawa. Around the end of the Heian period, there was a time when the retired emperors held more power than the reigning emperors and established the Insei system.

Apparently, the Imperial Court went through a similar period in the past. The former emperor, after abdicating, wielded more power than the reigning emperor and behaved tyrannically toward his subjects. As a result, the Imperial Court fell into chaos, and civil wars broke out one after another.
The one who restored order was Viktor, the Thunder Emperor and the one who restored the Empire. He was still a teenager when his father ceded the throne to him, making him a figurehead emperor with no real power. However, upon awakening to his lightning-attribute magic, he proclaimed himself the reincarnation of Piotr the Great, the father of the nation, and overthrew his father to rebuild the Jurgrahn Empire.

Speaking as a self-proclaimed history buff, among the historical figures of the Empire, the one who gets me most fired up after the Founding Four Brothers is this Thunder Emperor.
Originally, his magical attribute was only Water, but later he awakened to the Lightning attribute as well, becoming a wielder of multiple attributes. It’s said that the Thunder Emperor himself claimed that Piotr the Great appeared to him in a dream and bestowed upon him the power to restore the Empire…
Since this is a fantasy world, it might actually be possible, but even if it’s just a calculated plot device—or propaganda—that’s entertaining in its own right. It really fuels the imagination when it comes to historical backstories.

That aside, according to the laws established by Emperor Viktor the Thunder Emperor, the former emperor is respected but holds no real power. He can offer opinions to the current emperor, so he does have authority, but he generally cannot issue direct orders to his subjects.
Furthermore, his subjects are forbidden from making direct appeals to the former emperor or attempting to influence the emperor through him.
It is even said that the current heads of influential noble houses should refrain from visiting the former emperor.

Therefore, since my brother has already inherited the dukedom, he cannot go to see His Majesty the former Emperor.

“I know we agreed to look for an opportunity for when you could meet with His Majesty the former Emperor, such as a ceremony, so we could pay our respects together. However, this situation has arisen. Onii-sama… just this once, would you please allow me to visit His Majesty the former Emperor accompanied by Lord Mikhail?”

In response to his sister’s request, Aleksei, unusual for him, did not answer immediately.

“…Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“Of course I wish to accompany you, Onii-sama. But this is for the sake of my friend.”

Being with the prince carries a risk in terms of her plan to avoid the doom flag, but Olga’s situation is an immediate crisis. Avoiding that crisis takes priority.

“Onii-sama, please.”

Folding her hands in prayer, Ekaterina gazed at Aleksei, her violet-blue eyes filled with pleading.

“……If that is what you wish.”

Though he hesitated slightly, Aleksei gave his usual reply, and Ekaterina’s face lit up instantly.
Yay—approval granted! Once again, I’m so glad my big brother is a siscon!

“Thank you so much! I love you, Onii-sama!”

As if struck by a physical blow, Aleksei’s body swayed at her unadorned words.

“In that case, I shall consult with Lord Mikhail. When we meet, I promise to exercise restraint, just as you instructed, Onii-sama.”
“Yes… please do.”

Aleksei wore a rare, dreamy, blissful smile.

Close call, close call. If I hadn’t gotten his approval, I would have ended up piling extra work—dealing with Seleznyov—onto my already busy Onii-sama and everyone else.
I’ve got to get the prince to lay the groundwork with Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager and secure a message for Olga-chan. If I fail, Onii-sama will surely have to clean up the mess I’ve made. That won’t do!
All right, I’ll have the Prince come to that gazebo so we can discuss this.

Ekaterina stood up, full of enthusiasm.

.

“Yvan”

Ekaterina left the office with Flora, her steps light, and just as Yvan was about to follow her to act as her guard, Aleksei called him back.

“Yes, Your Grace. Is there something you need?”

Yvan wore his usual affable smile.
Lowering his voice so his sister wouldn’t hear, Aleksei said matter-of-factly,

“I have something to give to the Marquis of Seleznyov. The Red Dragon’s Bloodstone… Place it secretly in the Marquis’s bedroom at the Seleznyov family’s residence in the imperial capital.”

The Red Dragon’s Bloodstone is a highly prized and legendary brand of premium red wine from the Jurnova region.
A product from the very territory of the man he is about to attack. Red wine—and a specific brand at that—a double metaphor for blood, suddenly appearing in the bedroom, the place that should be the safest of all… What state of mind will the Marquis of Seleznyov, Lydia’s father, be in when he sees it?

“To spare Ekaterina’s tender heart, let us target only the main branch of the family without affecting the subjects. We’ll corner them into jumping at the pretext of ‘complying with Their Majesties’ wishes.’”

Yvan’s amber eyes sparkled with amusement.

“If there are any ‘guards’ in the Marquis’s household, may I disperse them?”
“Do as you please. Teach them the difference in our standing and make them tremble.”
“I humbly accept. As you command, Your Grace.”

Yvan bowed with a smile. Then, ignoring Aleksei’s aides in the office who looked slightly disappointed at having missed their chance to run amok as well, he followed the young lady with a spring in his step.