Ekaterinas POV

Oh my, Im delighted.

Its 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 Alexeis help as he escorts me.

Im sorry to keep repeating this, but are you sure you want to do this? (Alexei)

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

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

Its crazy. Hes giving me a palace because I got good grades. Theres no limit to how crazy it gets! I heard its one of the villas in the recreational area, but its not suitable for you because its not elegantly built is what he told me.

Thats not the point.

What shocked me the most was that the leaders of the dukedom didnt stop Big Brotherthey even encouraged it. I was scared when Novak-san muttered I think we should prepare the bridal gifts separately.

I think hes 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 princesss bridal gifts, and it was amazing. The things were covered either in silver or golden lacquer.

Novak-san definitely hasnt given up on trying to get me to become an empress. Im sure he wont give up just once or twice, but I dont really want it and I absolutely wont 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 lets 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.

Thats the statue of Lord Sergei you wanted to see. (Alexei)

Its very huge! (Ekaterina)

On my usual route between the Dukes 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)

Im 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?