CH 96

Ekaterina’s POV

Oh my, I’m delighted.

It’s amazing because Big Brother is on a level of siscon who can say such words seriously, not only as lip service.

I really like this sincerity, thank you very much.

I clasp my left hand over the offered right hand and get into the carriage with Alexei’s help as he escorts me.

“I’m sorry to keep repeating this, but are you sure you want to do this?” (Alexei)

“Of course I do. I am very happy.” (Ekaterina)

I’m not sure how many times I’ve been asked if I’m sure or what I really wanted. I was offered not just jewels, but a horse, a carriage, and even a palace for me….

It’s crazy. He’s giving me a palace because I got good grades. There’s no limit to how crazy it gets! I heard it’s one of the villas in the recreational area, but ‘it’s not suitable for you because it’s not elegantly built’ is what he told me.

That’s not the point.

What shocked me the most was that the leaders of the dukedom didn’t stop Big Brother…they even encouraged it. I was scared when Novak-san muttered ‘I think we should prepare the bridal gifts separately.’

I think he’s imagining things arbitrarily. I remembered in my previous life, I once saw in a museum a princess who was married to a daimyo from one of the three Tokugawa families. I saw a couple of the princess’s bridal gifts, and it was amazing. The things were covered either in silver or golden lacquer.

Novak-san definitely hasn’t given up on trying to get me to become an empress. I’m sure he won’t give up just once or twice, but I don’t really want it and I absolutely won’t aim for the Empress position!

I have made friends with Flora-chan and the prince, and if I were to end up being ruined and condemned by those two, my heart would die!

But let’s not think about that for now.

The carriage moves forward with the sound of its wheels rattling.

The Imperial City is spread out around the Imperial Palace. The area near the palace is lined with the imperial residences of high-ranking nobles and government office buildings. It is tranquil and beautiful, and the cobblestone streets are wide and well maintained. It seems to be somewhat similar to the atmosphere around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The beautiful Imperial Palace looks like something out of a fairy tale, and I imagine that in the Edo period, Edo Palace must have looked like this towering over the city.

“That’s the statue of Lord Sergei you wanted to see.” (Alexei)

“It’s very huge!” (Ekaterina)

On my usual route between the Duke’s Palace and the Academy of Magic, I use the street with the statue of Peter the Great. This time, we came to the street with the statue of Lord Sergei, our ancestor, as our first stop to see the Imperial Capital.

“He seems to resemble grandfather in some way.” (Ekaterina)

“Yes, I once said the same thing to grandfather. He laughed and said that maybe he was named Sergei because he looked like him from the time he was born.” (Alexei)

I wonder how young Big Brother was when that happened. Maybe he was younger than the ten years old in the portrait of him and his grandfather. He must have been clever from then on, talking like an adult. He must have been cute.

I smiled and Alexei tilted his head.

“Are you having fun?” (Alexei)

“I’m sorry, I was thinking of Big Brother when you were just a little boy. Brother, you must have been so cute.” (Ekaterina)

Alexei shook his head.

“I was always told that I was not adorable.” (Alexei)

Was the Old Hag the one who said that?