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The first to move was the chamberlain standing by the former Emperor’s side.
He sought the former Emperor’s approval with a glance, and upon receiving a nod, he walked with steady steps toward the stage. He was likely guiding the genius musicians, who had just returned from the Garden of the God of Music, to the presence of Their Majesties the former Emperor and Empress Dowager.
The maids and footmen, too, moved quietly. Two chairs and a tea set for two were promptly brought in—and placed next to Ekaterina.

What a composed response… Even though they had just witnessed a scene one would normally never see in a lifetime—a person being summoned by a god right before her eyes and returning enveloped in light—their work remained flawless. What professionals. Even in a different world, professionals truly have their own way of doing things.
Ekaterina thought to herself deeply.

Olga and Renat, escorted by such a professional attendant, seemed flustered, their faces alternating between red and pale with a mix of joy, nervousness, and other emotions. Well, Renat was showing his confident side, looking pleased and smug, but Olga was pale with nervousness.
Yet when Ekaterina caught her gaze and smiled at her, Olga returned the smile, looking relieved.

The attendant led the two to stand close to the former Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
It was unthinkable for the daughter of a baron or the son of a viscount to stand this close to Their Majesties. This treatment demonstrated that being summoned by the gods was an honor that transcended worldly rank.

“This recent event was truly most auspicious,”

The former Emperor said, and Olga and Renat bowed in unison.

“It is truly a blessing. I have sent a messenger to the Temple of Music; a carriage will be here to fetch you shortly. The priests will advise you on what lies ahead. The temple will also make arrangements to contact your academy and your families. Until then, please rest assured and accept our hospitality here. A brilliant future awaits you both.”

At the Empress Dowager’s words, the two bowed once more, their eyes wide with astonishment. Renat’s cheeks flushed, and Olga, moved by the words of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—whom her grandmother held in such high esteem—had tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager said to Olga,

“You remind me of an old acquaintance of mine. Is there anyone in your family named Irina?”

Hearing this, Olga’s eyes widened.

“Irina is Gran’s name.”

.

After saying it, Olga panicked and corrected herself.

“No, um, my, my grandmother! She is my grandmother!”

But to her astonishment—indeed, to the astonishment of everyone present—the Empress Dowager seemed oblivious to Olga’s correction and was weeping silently.

“Is that so… I see… Ah, you certainly bear a resemblance to that girl…”
“Clementina—what’s the matter?”

With a look of concern, the former Emperor placed his hand on the Empress Dowager’s shoulder. Placing her own hand over his, the Empress Dowager smiled.

“Please do not worry, Your Majesty. I shall explain the reason. …I suppose you were all surprised as well. First, please take your seats and rest a while.”

Turning to Olga and Renat, the Empress Dowager spoke gently. Even with her emotions in turmoil, she never forgot her duty as hostess—truly admirable. I must learn from her! Ekaterina thought to herself, clenching her fist.
Once the two had taken their seats and taken a moment to catch their breath after drinking the tea brewed by the attendants, the Empress Dowager began to speak.
She spoke of the relationship between Olga’s grandmother, Irina, and Clementina, the daughter of the Marquis of Seleznyov.

.

Irina was from the vicinity of the Seleznyov capital. Like the Flurse family she would later marry into, she was the daughter of a local family known as “landowners,” who owned a small estate.
It was said that in the capital, members of such local noble families were frequently called upon to perform various tasks at the Marquis of Seleznyov’s residence. These duties ranged widely, from seasonal garden maintenance to preparing for and cleaning up after banquets. It seemed that twelve-year-old Irina had first come to the marquis’s residence tagging along with her mother, who had been summoned for such duties.

“Irina got separated from her mother in that unfamiliar place and wandered into the music room where I was. No, I’m sure she was drawn there by the sound of the piano. I still remember her that day—her eyes red from crying, yet listening to the piano’s melody with a look of pure rapture…”

Though she refers to her as “that girl,” Clementina was also twelve at the time. The two girls, being the same age, became fast friends. They shared a love of music.
Irina’s mother turned pale when she found her daughter had wandered into the marquis’s daughter’s quarters, but Clementina asked her to bring Irina back from then on. They agreed to meet secretly in the music room, keeping it a secret from the marquis’s household. Irina’s mother agreed to the young lady’s request, and the two girls were able to meet frequently.

“Even back then, music was the most special of all my lessons. Whenever I played various instruments for her or taught her songs, Irina’s eyes would sparkle, and she would praise me, saying, ‘That’s amazing! That’s amazing!’
“—But Irina was a natural singer. She sang joyfully with such a beautiful voice… I always thought she was like a little bird singing on a branch. I had learned proper fundamentals from my music teacher and could sing in a way that earned praise from everyone. Yet, seeing her sing so beautifully simply because she wanted to—I felt a sense of inferiority, wondering if that wasn’t the true essence of singing.
“When I taught Irina the piano, she improved immediately. Playing duets with her was so much fun.”

With a dreamy expression, Empress Dowager Clementina reminisces about those days. The smile on her lips, however, vanished in an instant.

“…But that kind of relationship lasted only about a year. My father found out.”

The Empress Dowager’s father—the Marquis of Seleznyov at the time, who was her great-grandfather from Lydia’s perspective—was furious when he saw his daughter playing the piano side by side with the daughter of a local landowner. He had no interest in music and never came to the music room, but on that day he happened to pass by and found the sound of two pianos playing together suspicious.
In accordance with the laws of Seleznyov, Irina wore a hairstyle and clothing befitting her station, making her social status immediately apparent. The marquis stormed into the music room, shouting, and suddenly raised his hand against Irina.

“I let out a terrible scream at that moment. To think that Irina, who was as delicate as a little bird, would be subjected to violence…! Irina was truly a girl who was the polar opposite of violence—she resembled a small, adorable creature like a little bird or a rabbit. Just like you.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze was fixed on Olga, and when Ekaterina realized how much Irina resembled Olga, with her small-animal-like cuteness, she could only agree.

I mean, Mister Marquis! Using violence against a girl is the absolute worst!
If I’d been there, I would’ve wanted to beat him senseless with a taiko drumstick or something! That is, assuming the Seleznyov family’s music room even had a taiko drum!

“My father’s anger was directed at me as well. To him, I was a failure who lacked the pride befitting a daughter of the Seleznyov family. Since the Seleznyov family did not place much emphasis on music at the time, my constant immersion in it became a source of his anger—I was forbidden from entering the music room, and I was never allowed to see Irina again.”

Lydia listened to the Empress Dowager’s story in silence, her expression stiff. She knew nothing of the era the Empress Dowager was describing. Having devoted herself to music with the full backing of her own family, she was certain the Seleznyov Marquis family was a renowned musical dynasty—a place where musical talent could only be a source of praise. Her great-grandfather had likely passed away before she was born or during her early childhood, so she probably had no memory of him.

Ekaterina found herself nodding in understanding. She had heard that the Empress Dowager was the middle child of three sisters and had been overlooked because she was less beautiful than her older and younger sisters. Such a woman, so full of dignity. However, if she had been disregarded not for her appearance but because her behavior did not fit the family’s traditions, that made sense.

The former Emperor placed his hand on the Empress Dowager’s shoulder once more.

“That was long ago, Your Majesty. A very long time ago.”

Even as she said this, the Empress Dowager smiled happily at her husband.

“Enrolling in the Magic Academy was a turning point for me. I was troubled by conflicts with my father and with my older and younger sisters, and I spent my days questioning whether ‘natural’ talent like Irina’s was the real thing. Yet, I sang as much as I liked, borrowed the piano in the music room to play, and frequently visited the Temple of Music on my days off… And just before graduation, on my final opportunity, I was invited by the God of Music. —And that is how I met you, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm. I still remember the day I first heard your singing voice.”

The Empress Dowager was two years older than the former Emperor. Upon graduating from the academy, she took up residence at the Temple of Music, and it was when she performed at a state ceremony that she caught the former Emperor’s eye. To Prince Valentin—a frail, shy, and beautiful young boy at the time—the songstress chosen by the gods must have been a dazzling presence.

Ekaterina, feeling both amused and a bit awkward, noticed their grandson Mikhail looking away with an indescribable expression and smiled.
Yeah, I get you.

Perhaps sensing the confusion of the younger generation, the Empress Dowager cleared her throat softly.

“I’ve strayed from the topic, haven’t I? I did exchange letters with Irina in secret. That is, until she got married and left the capital of Seleznyov… So, as a final gesture, I asked the Temple of Music to send a wedding gift. I heard there is a piano in your home. Is that true?”

At this question directed at Olga, Ekaterina looked puzzled.
No way.

“Y-yes. We’ve got—oh, I mean, our family has a piano that was part of my grandmother’s dowry. It’s my grandmother’s treasure, and everyone in the family cherishes it.”
“I see. How lovely.”

The Empress Dowager smiled warmly.

“That is the very thing I gave to Irina.”

EEEEHHHH?!!
That’s exactly why I was here today—to protect that piano!
Lydia-chan, you were about to ban ownership of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager’s heartfelt gift!

Stunned, Ekaterina glanced at Lydia—then looked away.

Lydia-chan, your mouth is hanging open. Your eyes are wide. That won’t do—as a marquis’s daughter, you mustn’t make that kind of face.
I’ve seen something I shouldn’t have.
It’s, you know, the burial offering from the Kofun period.
It’s the rarest sight in the world: the haniwa face of a marquis’s daughter!