Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

The next day.
First thing in the morning, Ekaterina whispered to Olga, “It went well,” but she needed some time to explain the details. So, they agreed to meet secretly after school.

When Ekaterina and Flora entered the empty classroom they had chosen beforehand, Olga and Renat were already waiting inside, looking at them with pleading eyes.
Ekaterina smiled.

“Lord Mikhail has granted our request. We will be granted an audience with His Majesty the former Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Lady Olga, please perform a song for Their Majesties to save the piano from your family home. Lord Selezar will also accompany you as your pianist.”

Thinking that Olga would need emotional support, Ekaterina had asked Mikhail about Renat afterward.
Although it would be difficult to earn praise from Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, she explained that with Mikhail’s recommendation, they would surely receive words of praise from His Majesty the Late Emperor, and that this would likely prevent the revision of the domain laws. Upon hearing this, the two broke into relieved smiles.

“I guess the Three Great Ducal Houses are in a league of their own. Even for Lady Lydia, introducing someone to His Majesty the former Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager isn’t an easy task.”

Renat said this with a slightly complicated expression. Even a music freak, he hadn’t completely shed his sense of belonging to the Seleznyov family.

“It’s not because of my family’s influence. Lord Mikhail stated that he would do his utmost for the people of Seleznyov—subjects of the Empire—and for the future peace of the Empire.”

When Ekaterina said this, Renat’s eyes widened. He seemed quite surprised… or rather, deeply moved.

“What gracious words. But still, it’s all thanks to you, Lady Ekaterina.”

Olga was smiling, but her complexion was a bit pale. She must already be feeling the pressure of performing for Their Majesties.

Sorry, Olga-chan, the bar just got raised even higher… I’m really sorry.
Apologizing profusely in her heart, Ekaterina explained that Mikhail also suggested inviting Lydia to distract her—and, while it would seem like this would turn into a singing showdown between Ekaterina and Lydia in front of Their Majesties, it’s actually Olga who’d have to face Lydia head-on. Upon hearing this, Olga froze completely.
But.

“I see.”

Renat nodded repeatedly.

“His Highness Mikhail’s foresight is remarkable. It’s certainly necessary to distract the young lady, and this is the best way to do it. To her, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager is both a goal and a worthy rival she must one day surpass, but more than that, her aim is the God of Music beyond Her Majesty. The young lady, who is obsessed with being invited into the Garden of the God of Music, will strive to perfect her performance to the absolute limit whenever she has the chance to be heard—with a fierce, almost demonic intensity.”

…Renat-kun, Olga-chan’s face is getting paler and paler, so please stop.

“That’s exactly why! If Olga receives praise from Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager right then, we can completely put the young lady in her place!”

Hoeh?

Startled, Ekaterina shifted her gaze from Olga back to Renat. He was clenching his fists tightly, his cute face—still bearing the bruise from where he’d been struck—radiating steely determination.

“L-Lord Selezar… As I mentioned earlier, thanks to Lord Mikhail’s intercession, we can secure an audience with His Majesty the former Emperor. With his words, we can stop the revision of the domain laws.”
“Yeah, I know. But I want to make the young lady understand. Just how cruel it is to take away people’s instruments and their music.”

W… Well…
I’d love for her to understand, but I wonder if it’ll go that smoothly.

“Lady Lydia has never known failures. As the daughter of a marquis, she was born with the talents everyone desired and has honed them through relentless effort. She has lived up to everyone’s expectations, been praised constantly, and believes there is no dream she cannot achieve. She thinks those who lose to her simply haven’t worked as hard as she has—that they are people she has the right look down on.”

Ah… It’s like the sense of superiority you get from someone on the fast track to the elite…?
A sense of superiority. Believing it’s okay to look down on others. It reminds me of someone.

The piano… There used to be one at the villa where I lived with my mother. She would play for me, and I would sing the songs she taught me to accompany her. The sound of the piano and my mother’s smile are forever linked in my memory.
…Somewhere along the way, it was all lost. The piano, and her smile…

“So, once she’s tasted a major defeat and experienced failure, the young lady might chance. She has to, I think… To be honest, it’s just that I won’t be able to let this go until she’s tasted defeat and felt that frustration.”

At those words, Ekaterina let out a soft chuckle.
That’s right. I understand. That restless, unsettled feeling.
You want to clear that feeling away, don’t you?

“Besides… Olga, if we receive praise from Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, it’s practically a promise that we can make a living through music for the rest of our lives. For the sake of our future, we have to do our best here!”
“Huh?”

Olga, suddenly caught off guard by the topic, widened her light green eyes.

“As the one blessed by the God of Music, and as the mother of His Imperial Majesty and the Mother of the Nation, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager’s words carry a weight second only to a summons from the God of Music for those involved in music in the Empire. It wouldn’t be strange if the director of the National Theater came begging on his knees for you to sing. It’ll be okay, Olga. You can do it. You absolutely have to win this!”

Renat-kun…
Are you that passionate person from my past life? Are you the one who used to say, “You can do it,” the one who appeared in those daily calendars every year?

“Y-yes, you’re right!”

To Ekaterina’s surprise, Olga nodded vigorously.

“When I visited the Temple of Music during summer vacation, I was so surprised… I was told that all those different pieces of music being dedicated one after another weren’t just for the gods, but also to find a way to make a living through music. But for me to do the same… I’d never even imagined that was possible! I got all excited just imagining how wonderful it would be if I could do that. The people performing in front of such a huge crowd, aiming for that very thing, looked so dazzling to me. I thought to myself, ‘Someday, I want to sing there too.’”

I see. The idea that even an aristocratic young lady could become a singer is something that’s only known in the imperial capital. It’s easy to imagine such an idea never taking root out there in the remote regions.

“But this opportunity is so much, much greater than performing at the Temple of Music. I’m sure even those performers would jump at the chance if they were given an opportunity like this. I also want to face music head-on, too. Sometimes I think somebody like me isn’t worthy, but still, I don’t want to lose. Not to the Young Lady, yes, but also to my own cowardice. I know that if I give up and lose, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. It’s really scary, but… I’m going to do my best!”
“That’s the spirit, Olga. Let’s do our best together!”

It has the vibe of a sports manga from a past life. The fact that they don’t hold hands reflects the modesty of the nobility in this era.
I have to cheer her on with all my might, too.
Thinking such things, Ekaterina watched the scene with a smile.

“That being the case, Lady Jurnova. If you know of any songs that might please Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, would you mind sharing them with Olga?”

Renat turned to her with this request, leaving her completely taken aback.

“M-me? A selecting the song?”
“Yes. “Let it Go” is a wonderful song, but given the lyrics, I think it’s more popular with young people.”

Ugh! T-that’s… true. It was originally the theme song for an animated film, so it might be geared more toward a younger audience.
But still, even if you ask me, how would I know what kind of song Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager would like?!

“Even if it’s not that song, I think it would be fine to present any of your songs to Their Majesties. Even without that, I’m interested in your other songs. Could you please play a few for me?”

It’s not my song, aaaah!
All I did was translate the Japanese lyrics into Imperial! I’m sorry, I’m really sorry!

Ever since I translated the theme song for that Project You-know-what, translating songs became a habit—or more like a mental exercise—so I’ve been translating bits and pieces here and there. I never imagined it would come to this…
By “other songs,” you mean musical numbers and J-POP? There’s no way the Empress Dowager would like J-POP!

…wait, actually…?

One of the songs she’d already translated popped into her head, and Ekaterina’s train of thought came to a halt.

It’s J-POP, but it’s a song that’s been loved around the world for ages… The lyrics feel quite dignified, too. If it’s that one, maybe I could even present it to Their Majesties…?

Realizing she had an idea, Renat and Olga looked at her with sparkling eyes full of anticipation.

It’s not my song, though. I’d been thinking I should avoid accidentally spreading songs from my past life…
Waaah!
Composer, lyricist, and the super-popular singer whose debut song this was!
I’m so sorry!

***

Mab:
The song is Jupiter by Ayaka Hirahara