Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Near the main gate of the Magic Academy, there is a large porte-cochère where carriages can be boarded and alighted.
The entire large, horseshoe-shaped plaza is paved with cobblestones, and a simple roof runs along the perimeter of the horseshoe. This allows passengers to get on and off the carriages without getting wet. It reminded Ekaterina of the bus rotary in front of a large train station, but since this was designed for the nobility, the pillars supporting the roof were carved stone, giving it a grand and imposing appearance.
Although the sky was overcast with dull-gray clouds today, there seemed to be no threat of rain. Nevertheless, the facilities served to impress upon visitors just how vital the Magic Academy—which educates many of the nobility’s children—is to the Empire.

Near the carriage entrance, a pavilion had been set up for people waiting for carriages.
Lydia was already waiting there.

Today was the day to visit His Majesty the former Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.
The plan was to meet up with Mikhail and Lydia at the academy, and the three of them would then head to the imperial villa where His Majesty the former Emperor resided. Although Lydia was the daughter of a marquis, she was the lowest in rank among the three, so she had to arrive early to avoid keeping the two of higher rank waiting. As expected, her manners in that regard seemed impeccable.
However, the look of surprise that crossed her face when Ekaterina appeared suggests she is, after all, a child.

Ekaterina was being escorted by her brother, Aleksei.
Aleksei is the current Duke of Jurnova. Given the principle that the heads of influential noble houses should not visit the former Emperor, he was someone who should not have been there.

The proper etiquette dictated that Lydia should rise and curtsy the moment Aleksei stepped into the gazebo.
But just before she could, Aleksei stopped in his tracks and turned to face his sister.

“Ekaterina. My blue rose.”

With a look of tenderness, Aleksei touched Ekaterina’s indigo hair.

“Normally, I should be the one to introduce you to His Majesty the former Emperor… I am sorry I cannot be with you.”
“No, Onii-sama. Your heart is always with me. I understand that.”

When Ekaterina smiled, Aleksei chuckled softly.

“That’s right. You see right through everything. My Ekaterina, my beautiful goddess.”

His gentle voice quickly took on a tone as hard as steel.

“You must never forget this: you are the mistress of Jurnova. Anyone who treats you with contempt treats Jurnova with contempt. If anything happens, tell me everything. I will ensure they receive the punishment they deserve.”
“Yes, Onii-sama. I will do everything exactly as you say.”
“Good girl.”

Aleksei gently stroked Ekaterina’s hair.
Then, his gaze swept across the room, and for just a moment, he fixed Lydia with a piercing stare.

Lydia seemed to turn pale. Aleksei was now the head of the family, the Duke of Jurnova himself. The weight of his words was on a completely different level from that of the young lords and ladies of her generation.

Aleksei immediately looked away from her and whispered gently to Ekaterina.

“I’ll be waiting for your return.”

.

Just as Aleksei turned on his heel, Mikhail appeared.
He approached with a light, brisk stride.
Aleksei gave a nod, and Mikhail returned the gesture with a smile.
That was the extent of their interaction—a simple courtesy typical of the academy, yet one that also reflected the closeness of their status and their friendship.
When they reached the gazebo, Mikhail smiled.

“Sorry to keep you both waiting. Well then, shall we go?”

.

A carriage was already waiting at the entrance. Two, in fact.

“Since this is Ekaterina’s first time meeting Grandfather and Grandmother, I need to have a word with her. I’m sorry, Lydia, but you’ll have to take the other carriage.”
“Yes, Prince Mikhail.”

There was no other possible response to the Crown Prince, and Lydia nodded cheerfully.
And so, escorted by Mikhail, Ekaterina boarded the first royal carriage, while Lydia boarded the second carriage belonging to the marquis’s family.

.

Since Ekaterina and Mikhail are the most noble unmarried man and woman in the Empire, it would be utterly unthinkable for them to be alone with a member of the opposite sex in such a confined space.
Therefore, Mikhail’s valet, Luka, and Ekaterina’s maid, Mina, are riding along in the carriage. Both are trusted attendants, so they can speak freely without worrying about being overheard.

“Lady Flurse and Lord Selezar should already be at the summer palace. I’ve made the necessary arrangements, so they should be able to rehearse in advance at the palace theater.”
“That’s wonderful. Thank you so much for everything.”

Since it’s the villa where Their Majesties reside, it’s much more efficient to visit in a royal carriage. That’s why Mikhail had arranged for Olga and Renat to use a separate carriage.
Though she smiled at Mikhail’s words, Ekaterina felt somewhat heavy-hearted.

Aah, I don’t know.
Lydia—I wonder how she’s doing alone in the carriage right now. She must be furious.
I’m making her think this is a one-on-one duel with me, so I feel guilty. I’m of higher rank, and I’ve devised an easy-win plan relying on that status, with my brother and the Crown Prince helping me out—I’m so relaxed and at ease. That’s exactly why I feel strangely guilty.
If she were riding in this carriage with me, it would have been a hassle to keep the plot from getting spoiled. Deceiving people and excluding them—it’s not exactly a pleasant feeling.

I’m so naive. If the tables were turned, she’d probably be grinning from ear to ear, basking in her sense of superiority. Above all, this is technically part of the power struggle between Jurnova and Sereznyov. And yet, I’m feeling guilty because I excluded her? What kind of flowers are blooming in my head? I’m such a wimp. I’m such an idiot.

Even though I know that. I just can’t shake this heavy feeling in my stomach.
Maybe it’s because I’m in my late twenties on the inside, while she’s still a high school girl. Maybe I just can’t help but feel like I’m bullying a child.

“I already figured that you wouldn’t enjoy being in a situation like this.”

Mikhail’s words snapped Ekaterina back to her senses.

“I’m terribly sorry. You’re showing your support against the Sereznyov family in response to my request, after all.”

That’s right. Not riding with Lydia is also a subtle way for Mikhail—as a member of the imperial family who must refrain from interfering in local politics—to express his intentions. He was doing this to convey, without saying a word, that he did not approve of her approach. Since putting it into words would make it impossible to backtrack, expressing his intentions in this manner was politically significant.

“I am not accustomed to social life in the imperial capital. It is quite embarrassing.”

I must stop thinking so half-heartedly and learn properly; from now on, I must become skilled at this myself. After all, this is an essential skill for high-ranking nobility. I have to do my best.

“I think that’s fine. If you’re not good at it, I don’t think you need to get too used to it.”

Hearing that, Ekaterina’s eyes widened.

“Sometimes you gain more by developing your strengths than by forcing yourself to do things you’re not suited for. Besides, Jurnova has plenty of talented people. You can interact with others as you see fit, and there’s also the option of delegating the workload with those who are good at that sort of thing.”
“Delegating…”

It was a revelation.
R-right. I’m on the employer’s side now. In a way, I can treat this as part of my job and assign it to someone else as a task…

Mikhail smiled at Ekaterina, who was staring intently at him with her purplish-blue eyes wide open.

“I think we can figure out how to handle things as we go. There are all kinds of nobles, after all. We’re still students, still learning, so we’re allowed to make mistakes along the way. Right?”

Ah. That.
The fact that we’re still students at the academy… Didn’t I tell him something like that before?
He got me back!

“Well, ho ho ho!”

Clapping her hands, Ekaterina burst out laughing.

“You’re absolutely right! As expected of you, Lord Mikhail. Those are words only someone who has spent their life learning to lead others could say. I truly admire you!”

Corporate drones always think they have to do everything themselves, but in my current position, that just won’t do.
Oh, come on—I’m almost thirty and I just got lectured by a kid. What an extraordinary sixteen-year-old. But really, it’s precisely because you’ve always been on the side managing others, facing that role head-on and studying the art of leadership, that you can say something like that.
Yeah, I seriously respect you.

Mikhail smiles.

“I’m really happy to hear you say that. We’re both still learning, so I hope we can keep consulting each other on various things from now on.”
“Yes, I’d love to.”

My siscon Onii-sama can be a bit too much sometimes. When I have issues with aristocratic relationships like this one—things I can’t discuss with him—I might end up relying on the prince.
…But is it really okay for me to get this close to the prince? Part of me is still scared, but things are such a mess right now that worrying about it feels completely pointless…