“If the Young Lady comes to the Mountain Temple, she should also meet with Professor Isaac, who is in the old mine. Young Lady, the Mountain Temple is right next to the old mine.”
Aaron says, following Novak. Ekaterina remembered.
“In that case, I have something for Great-Uncle Isaac.”
A large package that had just arrived this morning.
“I have just received the items that I had made for him in my glass studio. I would like to give it to you for your academic research.”
Toma Egor, the sender, was a lens maker who came from a different field, optical works, to work in the glass studio that Ekaterina had purchased to make glass pens.
He sent her an improved microscope that Ekaterina had asked him to make. Ekaterina had originally asked her great-uncle Isaac, a renowned scholar, to try out the microscope and find out how it worked, and when the improved product was ready, she asked him to send it to her estate.
“My sister seems to have produced something interesting again.”
Laughing, Alexei stroked his sister’s hair.
“All right. I will allow you to visit the Mountain Temple, if you so desire. Go see Great-Uncle and give him that microscope.”
“Thank you, big brother, it would be my pleasure. Please remember that even though we are apart, my heart will always be with you, big brother.”
“Oh, I’ll be waiting for you with those words in mind. So please come home soon.”
After Alexei said these words, he repeated his lamentations four more times.
***
Ekaterina finally set out on her journey, her hair drawn back by her brother’s forlorn expression.
Then, Alexei came to see her off, and with that, Ekaterina got into the carriage. The doors were closed, the reins snapped, and the carriage began to move, but she continued to wave her hand even after he was out of sight.
But when the carriage exited the castle gate, she stopped, as expected, and put her hands down on her knees.
Then, with a loud sigh, she sank into the back of the carriage seat.
…Something just slipped out of her. Probably the energy needed to live.
Wan!
Why did I take the easy way out, you idiot!
My big brother, a siscon said he would miss me, and of course, I, as a brocon, would miss him too!
I was so happy every time my big brother tried to stop me… That’s why I didn’t realize how much I was going to miss him!
Uwah, I won’t be able to see him for days until I return! I won’t be able to see my big brother under the same roof!
“Young Lady, are you not feeling well?”
huh! That’s right!
Ekaterina came to her senses at the sound of a heavy voice. She quickly straightened her back and smiled at him.
“Please forgive me, Sir Forli, for making you feel uncomfortable. I am fine, so please don’t worry about it.”
Yes, accompanying me in the carriage was big brother’s aide and my grandfather’s close friend, Forli, the chief of the forestry and agriculture department.
I assumed I’d be going with Aaron, the mine foreman, but after Alexei spoke with Aaron, he said he had some business to attend to at the old mine and left first.
When Aaron was leaving, he seemed to be burdened with a heavy heart, so something might have gone wrong at the mine.
Forli, however, was well remembered by the mountain gods, and as the chief of forestry and agriculture, he always accompanied Alexei when he went to the mountain temple to pay his respects to the mountain gods.
I need to pull myself together! Stand firm!
Could I really do big brother’s work for him if I was so lonely just by being away from him for a little while?
I swore that one day, when big brother was in charge of the country’s government, I would be able to take over the administration of the dukedom and break big brother’s death flag!
