What is this?

She was definitely waving at me, right?

I was perplexed, but she wore such a bright smile.

I couldn’t pretend not to see her, so I raised my hand slightly. Then she placed her hand on her chest with an overwhelmed expression.

‘Is she someone Leonora knows?’

She couldn’t possibly be this happy to see someone she didn’t know.

‘She looked incredibly delighted.’

But no amount of thinking would help me figure it out.

Just then, Foil noticed me and gave a slight nod before whispering to the woman beside him.

“Leonora, she’s coming our way.”

No sooner had Avery finished speaking than the woman strode purposefully toward us.

“Hello, pleased to meet you. It’s truly an honor. I’m Soniel Viper.”

A sunny, radiant face and a clear voice.

From a distance, I thought she just had a petite frame, but up close she looked much younger than I expected.

‘She can’t be more than eleven or twelve years old.’

I smiled as naturally as possible and responded.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Leonora Chadmon.”

“Hello, I’m Avery Ruhiben.”

After hearing that my former father had adopted a daughter, I had been curious about her existence.

I wondered if I would see her at today’s ball, if I could talk with her—I never expected to meet her so quickly.

And for her to approach and greet me first.

It was unexpected good fortune.

“I’m so happy to meet both of you.”

Soniel spoke with a flushed face. She kept smiling broadly, clearly enjoying this moment.

‘I thought my former father had adopted a daughter with the Emperor’s next partner in mind.’

Looking at her now, she was much too young.

Of course, marriages at twelve or thirteen did happen.

‘If he was aiming for the Empress position, he would have brought in a much more mature woman.’

Then… is this child truly from the Viper family?

‘But Leonora, this isn’t certain. Some say the girl is Lord Viper’s biological daughter.’

‘Biological daughter?’

‘Yes, it happened a long time ago… They say his third wife ran away with her daughter. Of course, I’m just repeating what I heard, so I can’t be certain.’

‘I see.’

‘But apparently he finally found that daughter.’

If that rumor was true, she might be my sister.

Of course, even then she would be a sister in name only, with no real connection or relationship to me.

Just then, Avery snapped her fan shut and faced Soniel.

“Me too. I’ve always been curious since I heard Duke Chadmon had good news. I’d heard your name before, but I’m glad to meet you today.”

As expected of a social butterfly, she jumps right in.

The moment Avery opened her mouth, Soniel clapped her hands with a loud smack.

“Oh my, really?!”

“……”

What’s with this innocent reaction?

“I can’t believe my name has been circulating in society. Is this real? Not a dream?”

I smiled awkwardly, and Avery couldn’t completely hide her disgusted expression.

Avery’s face clearly said, ‘What’s wrong with her?’

Then Soniel turned toward me and fidgeted with her hands.

“And to actually meet Lady Chadmon in person. I can’t believe it.”

“……”

“I heard you were as beautiful as an angel, but you’re beyond what I imagined!”

This wasn’t the first time I’d heard such praise, but it had been a while since I heard it so directly.

And such an intense reaction at that.

“Th-thank you. You look very beautiful today too, Miss Viper.”

“Don’t say that. How could someone as insignificant as me…”

Soniel’s cheeks turned red as she mumbled endlessly.

“This is my first grand ball. I heard His Majesty the Emperor prepared this banquet for you, my lady?”

I thought Avery was quite talkative, but this one takes it to another level.

While I smiled awkwardly, Avery opened her fan again.

She narrowed her eyes kindly, but whispered to me with a tone completely different from her smile.

“Leonora, I’m going to greet some other ladies. Is that okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’ll stay nearby. Call me if you need anything.”

Avery lowered her fan, smiled warmly, and said to Soniel,

“Then I’ll excuse myself as I have companions to attend to.”

As Avery left, the sun-like smile on the girl’s face slowly darkened.

“Is it because of me?”

“Pardon?”

Before I could answer that it wasn’t, Soniel murmured gloomily.

“I’m sorry, I was too noisy. The Duke, I mean, F…Father emphasized so many times that I should talk less. I should have come out after being better prepared. It’s all my fault.”

She’s not completely oblivious, it seems.

I felt somewhat sorry for Soniel with her dejected expression.

She was too young to mingle with strangers at a gathering like this.

“No, Avery has companions she came with.”

I stepped closer to Soniel and patted her shoulder.

“Look over there. See her with the other ladies?”

Avery was mingling with people, her expression much brighter than before.

“You mean Lady Ruhiben isn’t angry with me?”

“There was nothing to be angry about.”

“I feel like I made a mistake. Maybe I praised your beauty too much. Or perhaps I babbled too many unnecessary words.”

Soniel was pressing her lips tightly as if holding back tears.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. You said this is your first ball. Just try to enjoy yourself.”

Soniel pressed the back of her hand against her flushed face a couple of times and put on a brave expression.

“You’re… really kind. Thank you.”

I stopped a passing servant and took two glasses of drinks.

Then I handed the juice to Soniel.

“It’s fun though, isn’t it?”

Looking at this innocent girl reminds me of when I first transmigrated into The Forgotten Empress.

That feeling of being alone among dazzling, beautiful people. Yet I still tried my best to survive.

“Yes, it’s amazing.”

“It’ll get easier with time.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

By now she should have properly greeted me and moved on, but Soniel stuck to my side like a cicada, just sipping her juice.

‘Where did her father go after leaving this child alone?’

I looked around but couldn’t see my former father anywhere.

If he brought his daughter, he should take responsibility by at least introducing her, what is he doing?

“Do you need to leave now, my lady?”

When I looked around, Soniel gazed up at me with somewhat anxious eyes.

I’m not a nanny, what am I supposed to do here?

Should I ask Sabine? But she’s a duke’s daughter, so that doesn’t seem right.

“Many people are curious about you, Miss Viper. You should make new friends, and…”

Just as I said that, I could feel subtle glances pouring in from all directions.

It must have looked interesting to see me with Foil’s daughter together, since we were both objects of curiosity.

‘Fun or not, how am I supposed to cause trouble with her around?’

Sigh.

Let’s not be hasty since the Emperor hasn’t arrived yet.

“Friends?”

Soniel, holding her juice with both hands, spoke up.

“I’m not sure about that right now. But I think I’m fortunate to be able to stay with you, my lady.”

“……”

Haha, don’t say that.

“Miss Viper, do you know how to dance?”

“Yes, I’ve practiced hard, but I’m still lacking. And…”

She shyly showed me the dance card on her wrist.

“No one has asked me to dance yet.”

“That’s because you’re just standing here. Look, everyone wants to talk to you.”

I grabbed Soniel’s shoulders and turned her around.

“Really?”

I’m not sure myself, but let’s say it’s true.

“Yes, go mingle with people, drink freely, and chat. You’re a proper…”

“……”

“Duke’s daughter after all.”

Soniel straightened her neck and stood upright.

“You’re right.”

I heard Madam Pollietti educated her, but perhaps she’s still too young.

She wasn’t just inexperienced—she was barely past childhood.

“Here, you can get close to anyone you want, Miss Viper.”

“Anyone?”

“Of course.”

When I answered, Soniel turned to look at me with her innocent face again.

“Since you say so, I feel like I can do anything now.”

Phew, she’s quite spirited, probably because of her youth.

Now go and have fun.

This big sister has things to do.

“I’ve found someone I want to be friends with.”

Then she suddenly looked up at me with an energetic expression.

“I want to be friends with you, my lady.”