Chapter 134

1st Person POV (Ekaterina)

“By the way, this poem, it’s in an unusual form. Did you write it?”

Oh, I didn’t expect that!

“No, no, I read it somewhere.” (Ekaterina)

“I see. I read some poetry myself, but I’ve never seen anything like this.” (Alexei)

Big Brother, you read poetry books, don’t you? That seems a little surprising.I wonder if he was influenced by the fact that Vladimir of Yurimagna, who used to be a good friend of his, said that he could recite the poems of the Astra period without difficulty.

Haha, I get it now! That knowledge of poetry is the source of Big Brother’s rhetorical skills!

Alexei dips his glass pen into the ink bottle.

And he wrote his name first.

“Hoh. What a… smooth feeling. No snags.”

“Yes, that’s how it works.”

3rd Person POV

Alexei changed the paper and started writing something else. Something that Ekaterina can’t read, because Alexei is writing in Astra in gorgeous, ornate script.

I had seen in a museum the decorative writing style of the Heian aristocracy in the past, where they wrote letters and such, but to be able to write something like that so effortlessly was truly a characteristic of aristocratic culture!

“I can write with this pen in either direction. It’s a completely different feeling and sensation compared to a quill pen.”

Alexei groaned, but Ekaterina was more likely to groan.

It was his first time using a glass pen, so there was a bit of fumbling, but with masterful handwriting, Alexei wrote out a complete sentence in Astra.

“Big Brother, what did you write?”

“I’ve translated this poem into Astra. It still needs some elaboration.”

Heee! I had a lot of trouble translating it from Japanese into the Imperial language, and you’re translating it for the first time just like that?

“Ekaterina, this is your… glass pen, you say? Did you have it made in your glass studio?”

“Yes, I did. We have good craftsmen.”

“When you wanted a workshop, you said you wanted people to make beautiful things as they pleased. So this is it.”

Gently, Alexei put down the glass pen.

Then, standing up, she hugged her sister and kissed her temple.

*smooch*

1st Person POV (Ekaterina)

Kyaa!

“Thank you, Ekaterina, my goddess. You are unbelievably amazing in every way.”

Kyaa!

Kyaa!

Kyaa!

Kyaa…Hey, it’s time to calm down, me!

(Editor’s note: Multiple critical-hit-combo achieved, Shun Goku Satsu!)

“Big Brother…I’m so happy that you enjoyed it.”

Ugh, I’m really happy.

…Well, since I was able to make the glass pen thanks to the purchase of the workshop, I’m not sure if I can call this a gift from me. But I’m definitely glad that I came up with the idea of giving him a glass pen!

“Delighted, huh?”

Hmm, Alexei chuckles.

“I can’t believe you gave me something like this for my birthday. You really are…”

“Big Brother is the most important thing to me, and your birthday is more important than anything else.”

If he could say that it was such a great gift, I’d be delighted if I could make it into a product.

But really, for me, the most important thing was making Big Brother happy, not talking about the economic benefits. That was the way it was with Big Brother and me being a Brocon.

3rd Person POV

“…I see. Thanks.”

Alexei muttered faintly.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the office.

Ivan, the servant, quickly opened the door and there was Flora. She was carrying a large basket as usual, and had apparently brought us lunch.

“Why, thank you, Flora-sama. I’m so sorry for leaving everything to you.” (Alexei)

“Actually, I’ve had a lot of help, too.” (Flora)

Flora said with a smile, and her classmates Marina and Olga popped up from behind her and waved.

“Happy birthday, Your Excellency, I helped out a bit on Ekaterina-sama’s behalf.” (Flora)

“There are all kinds of things in there from the kitchen to help you celebrate, too.” (Marina / Olga)