Huh?

“I want to be friends with you, my lady. Would that be okay?”

Soniel looked up at me with sparkling eyes.

Haha… right, I tried to get rid of her quickly and ended up making a bad move.

How should I react to this?

Ugh, those expectant eyes are so bright I can barely look at them directly.

Maybe if it were spying, but friends? I don’t want to be tied by such a cringeworthy word.

I did feel concerned because she was so young.

But no matter what, she was Foil Viper’s—my former father’s—adopted daughter, and I didn’t want to get close to her.

It also felt suspicious that my former father had her greet me and then suddenly disappeared.

‘He only ever thought of me as a tool to maintain his power. There must be reasons why he brought Soniel here and had her greet me.’

I closed my eyes tightly once, opened them again, and spoke.

“Miss Viper, I’m sorry but I can’t dance with you.”

What friendship? Find someone your own age to play with. I’m busy today, you know?

“Then may I show you what I’ve learned?”

She seemed perceptive at times, but in moments like this, she was every bit a child.

Thinking I should be more direct, I dropped my smile.

“No, don’t—”

But before I could finish, Soniel lightly raised her arms and began to flutter about.

It was a strange movement, impossible to tell whether she was taking steps or just wobbling.

“Madam Pollietti said confidence is the most important thing.”

Seeing those clumsy movements, I could understand why Madam Pollietti would say that.

“Oh my head.”

What exactly did she learn from the madam?

“I’m pretty good, aren’t I? Right?”

“……”

Well, at least I wouldn’t be bored with this child around.

‘Did my former father really adopt her because he was lonely? Looking at her more, it seems possible.’

Ah, no.

Let it go.

She was an interesting child, but I didn’t have the luxury of entertaining her.

‘Well, dancing is all about practice. I’m sure there’s a partner here perfect for Miss Viper—’

Just as I was watching for the right moment to step back with an awkward smile, forgetting she was holding a glass of juice, Soniel swayed and bumped into a lady passing behind her.

“Oh my!”

Crash!

The glass shattered on the floor, and the countess’s dress was soaked with juice.

“Goodness.”

I quickly approached to check on Soniel and the lady.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

The one with a face turning red and blue was the Marchioness Montenegro.

“Of all people.”

A woman known for her extremely thin frame and notoriously sensitive, picky temperament.

“Miss Chadmon, I’m fine.”

The marchioness added kindly to me, then completely changed her expression. She glared at Soniel with an irritated face.

“Oh no, what should I do? I’m so sorry, truly sorry!”

Soniel tried to wipe the dress with her long sleeve, but the lady roughly pushed her away.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll bring something to clean it right away.”

“Don’t bother.”

The lady removed her gloves and stared at Soniel.

If it had been a familiar face, she probably wouldn’t have reacted so harshly.

‘She’d change her attitude if she knew this was the Duke Viper’s daughter.’

Ugh, I really can’t stand this.

Just as I was thinking I should step in for this pitiful child,

“I’m sorry, truly… I’m so sorry!”

Suddenly Soniel covered her face with her hands and ran off.

“Huh?”

I didn’t even have time to speak to the lady.

“Excuse me.”

I quickly grabbed my skirt and followed Soniel out of the banquet hall.

❀❀❀

“Huff, huff—”

I thought I followed her right away.

‘She’s as fast as a flying squirrel, probably because she’s young!’

Where did she go? She doesn’t even know her way around.

This isn’t the time for this. I continued looking for Soniel, scanning my surroundings.

“There’s not even anyone to ask.”

The castle seemed empty, without a single person passing by.

Then after a while, the soft sound of string instruments that had been playing suddenly stopped.

Ainberg, the Emperor, must have finally appeared in the banquet hall. Shortly after, thunderous applause erupted.

Thankfully, the music allowed me to guess what was happening in the ballroom from a distance.

‘Should I go back?’

I hesitated briefly in front of the stairs leading outside.

‘I’ve been waiting just for this day.’

I didn’t have any special relationship with that child, and I had things to do.

She’s not a four or five-year-old; do I really need to look for her? She’ll come back when it’s time.

Yes, perhaps it’s fortunate that Soniel isn’t here now.

It’s better not to have a child around when I’m causing trouble for the Emperor.

How shocked would she be?

“……”

But contrary to my thoughts, I couldn’t make myself leave.

‘Ugh, really. I’m worried.’

Let me just check once and then go back.

Just wait until I find you, little one.

This time I’ll coldly tell you to find friends your own age.

With that thought, I had just entered the inner garden.

“…What do you plan to do after that?”

A man’s voice, barely audible, flowed from inside.

“There are people here in a place like this.”

I should ask if they’ve seen someone in an orange dress.

Just as I felt relieved at the thought,

“Well, if the rumors are true.”

I instinctively held my breath and stopped moving.

It was a voice cruelly familiar to me—my former father.

‘What are they talking about?’

But the voice was too soft and low to hear the conversation properly.

I almost turned back, but then changed my mind.

It was extremely suspicious for them to be having a secretive conversation in such a deserted place.

I steadied my breathing and stepped forward one step at a time.

“…Aren’t there many rumors about his preferences?”

Preferences? What preferences are they talking about?

Just as I carefully leaned forward, holding my dress,

“Blonde and childlike, he’ll like that.”

At that moment, I realized what the two men’s conversation meant.

‘They’re talking about the Emperor’s preferences.’

My body felt like it was freezing stiff.

“But I’m concerned you might have chosen someone too flighty.”

This voice belongs to my father’s secretary.

“…Looking at how he likes Chadmon, that must be his type.”

Are they talking about me right now?

In that instant, Soniel’s bright smiling face flashed in my mind.

What do they mean by “chosen”? What are they saying?

“I’m surprised too. I heard Duke Chadmon’s young lady had been bedridden for a long time, but seeing her in person, she doesn’t give that impression at all.”

“Since no one knew when she might die, the ducal family raised her carelessly.”

“Ah, that could be the case.”

“Even a foal let loose in a pasture would be better behaved. She has no refinement whatsoever.”

‘…..’

I almost jumped forward.

A foal? No refinement!

Excuse me, I did that on purpose!

Wow, I haven’t been this angry in a long time.

“Anyway, since that’s His Majesty’s taste, that child should work quite well too.”

Wait, then that means.

‘Are they planning to… send that young child to Ainberg?’

When I heard my former father had adopted a daughter, I wondered if he planned to place his daughter on the Empress’s throne again.

But Soniel was such a young girl that I didn’t believe that was the case.

“What will you do if it doesn’t work out?”

If it doesn’t work out?

Even while listening to the conversation, I tried to organize my thoughts.

“If all that effort goes to waste, there’s nothing to be done.”

But there were even more horrifying words to come.

“We’ll just have to replace her.”

❀❀❀

Even after leaving the garden, my heart wouldn’t calm down.

‘What? He likes young women? If it doesn’t work out… discard her?’

What thoughts, what schemes did they have for that young child?

‘How could anyone have such vulgar thoughts about such an innocent child?’

My breath caught in my throat, but I couldn’t stop walking quickly.

I felt pathetic for thinking, even briefly, that he might have adopted a daughter because he was lonely.

‘That bastard, that piece of trash!’

No matter how many curses I spat out internally, it wasn’t enough to relieve this indignant feeling.

I stood for a moment, looking at the main gate shrouded in darkness.

‘……’

The beautifully decorated garden and walkways, the melody coming from somewhere, the gentle breeze.

All of it felt so horrible I couldn’t bear it.

‘Even calling him trash is too good. He’s not even worth recycling.’

Perhaps it reminded me of myself from long ago.

I buried my face in my palms and sank to the ground.