Though we’d met just two days ago, Soniel welcomed me as if it had been years.

“My lady!”

She was about to embrace me when she saw me, but after checking the surrounding eyes, she stepped back.

“I’m so happy you came.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“My lady, I actually couldn’t sleep last night.”

Soniel, who had been smiling brightly, suddenly covered her mouth.

“I shouldn’t make mistakes today.”

“Mistakes?”

“I think I said too many unnecessary things last time. I’ll be careful today.”

I burst out laughing, finding her hunched shoulders adorable.

“Don’t say that. I came today to have a proper conversation.”

“My lady.”

“You’ll tell me many interesting stories, right?”

“I will. But you must tell me your stories too!”

While being led up the stairs by Soniel, I looked up once at the massive mansion.

This was where Sienna Viper had lived.

Of course, since the transmigration happened after she became Empress, I had no memories or recollections of this place.

‘My former father probably isn’t here now.’

I carefully followed her steps.

It felt strange to think this was where Sienna had lived.

‘The atmosphere seems rather austere.’

The servants moved busily with stiff faces.

It looked quite different from the Chadmon household with its relatively free atmosphere and constant laughter.

“My lady, you look beautiful today as well.”

“Thank you. Miss Viper, you look splendid today too.”

“Will I be able to become as elegant as you when time passes?”

Haha, I’m not really that elegant type.

Somehow, I felt fortunate I hadn’t caused a scene at the banquet hall.

“Miss Viper, you’re already beautiful and elegant, befitting a lady of a ducal family.”

“That can’t be true. Just yesterday, I danced terribly and got scolded.”

‘……’

Suddenly, I remembered Soniel wobbling in front of me.

For a brief moment, I could understand Madam Pollietti’s feelings.

“Y-you’ll improve with practice.”

I awkwardly offered words of comfort.

Has she ever learned to dance before? It’s natural to be clumsy at first, isn’t it?

“I suppose so? I wish Madam Pollietti would say the same.”

I had never been taught by Madam Pollietti, but she was quite famous in social circles for her etiquette and refinement education.

Still, whenever I met her at events, the lady had a gentle voice and a mild impression.

“Is the madam very strict?”

Soniel nodded slowly and answered.

“Yes, it’s all because of my inadequacies.”

“No one is good from the start. Don’t be too impatient.”

“I wish you were my teacher, my lady.”

“Haha… I’m not good enough at anything to teach others.”

I smiled awkwardly and shifted my gaze to the prepared refreshments.

“What do you mean you’re not good at anything? You must be good at everything, my lady. And—”

“……”

“You would teach me kindly.”

“Why don’t you try talking to the Duke about it?”

Yes, if my former father spoke to her, Madam Pollietti might change her attitude.

The past doesn’t matter anymore. She’s now the lady of the Viper family.

“To Father?”

“Yes, tell him it would be better if the madam treated you more gently. If the Duke passes on the message, her attitude will change.”

Soniel responded with a gloomy face.

“No, I could never say such things to Father.”

She immediately pulled up the corners of her mouth, but I could guess what words Soniel had swallowed.

I could have told Soniel about my former father here.

That he wasn’t a good person, that he harbored frightening thoughts inside.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I wanted her to enjoy her new life a little longer.

‘Judging by how cautious she is, she seems to have figured out some things already.’

I felt sorry for her.

“You’ll get used to it if you learn slowly.”

I chose to comfort her with a gentle smile.

Come to think of it, I nearly died trying to memorize all those tedious imperial protocols too.

Then Soniel muttered with a slightly darkened face.

“But the Duke—no… Father says he has no time.”

“No time?”

When I subtly inquired, Soniel shook her head gently.

“I don’t really know either. I’d like to ask but…”

When I leaned forward slightly as she trailed off, Soniel lowered her voice considerably.

“Questions are forbidden.”

Questions forbidden? What on earth does that mean?

Just then, the reception room door burst open.

“……!”

Startled, I looked toward the doorway to see a servant entering with loud footsteps.

‘Is she in her right mind?’

It was rude and frivolous behavior.

She walked in with a brazen face and plunked down some fruit on the table.

Seeing her act this way even with a guest present, I could easily imagine how much worse it must be when Soniel was alone.

Ha, I can’t let this slide.

As the maid was about to withdraw, I stopped her.

“What’s your name?”

She opened her eyes wide and looked back and forth between Soniel and me.

I spoke in a rather stern voice to the maid standing there with a bewildered expression.

“Is there anyone else here for me to speak informally to besides you?”

“I apologize, my lady.”

The maid quickly clasped her hands and answered.

“It’s Johana.”

“Johana.”

Perhaps due to her dark eyebrows and red hair, she had a stubborn impression.

‘She doesn’t seem that young either.’

I looked at Soniel and asked kindly.

“Miss Viper, is this child your personal maid?”

Soniel momentarily looked confused about what was happening, but she answered quickly.

“Yes, since I came here… she’s always been helping me.”

I turned my head back toward Johana.

“Johana, seeing that you’ve been entrusted with such an important responsibility, you must have worked here for quite some time.”

She glanced at me once before bowing her head again.

“Yes, my lady.”

“How long has it been?”

“Four years and eight months.”

“Is that so? For someone who’s been here over four years, you seem to lack proper training.”

As I added coldly, Johana lowered her head deeply.

“I apologize, my lady.”

Well, she doesn’t look particularly sorry.

“Should I speak directly to the butler?”

“……”

“Or perhaps you should learn from your mistress here.”

Only then did Johana’s face turn pale, as if she finally realized something was going wrong.

“I-I’ll learn from you, my lady.”

I immediately changed my expression and looked at Soniel.

“Miss Viper, do you think you can properly teach this child?”

“Me?”

“Yes, how to enter her mistress’s room, how to behave in front of her mistress. She seems to need to learn everything from scratch.”

Soniel looked up at me once and then at Johana, with a terrified expression.

“Ah… no. I…”

This is the crucial part.

Breaking the spirit of servants shouldn’t be done by force alone.

Something more is needed.

Like the affection Sabine has for me, or respect.

“Then Miss Viper, I’ll introduce another maid. She’s patient, attentive, and very polite. I’ll speak to the butler myself.”

“……”

“Send Johana away starting today.”

As I added coldly, Johana finally seemed to realize her mistake and sank to the floor.

“I’m sorry, my lady!”

“What do you have to be sorry to me for?”

“I was wrong, I won’t ever—”

At that moment, Soniel, who had been fidgeting anxiously, suddenly jumped up from her seat.

“I-I’ll do it! I’ll teach her, my lady!”

When Soniel shouted loudly, the maid lying flat on the floor raised her head.

“Miss…”

“I’m not sure how to do it, but I’ll teach you. Kindly and gently. My lady, you said no one is good from the start, remember?”

“……”

“I don’t need another maid. Really.”

She’s kind and perceptive too.

I like her.

“If that’s your wish, Miss Viper, I have no choice.”

I suppressed the smile that was about to escape and looked down at Johana.

“Don’t forget that your mistress is Miss Viper here.”

“Yes, I understand… I’m truly sorry. And thank you, Miss. Thank you.”

Johana wiped her tears with her sleeve and hurriedly went outside.

After the storm had passed, Soniel leaned back in her chair with a blank expression.

“My lady, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

I silently raised one eyebrow.

Anyway, it’s the same everywhere—if you stay quiet, they see you as a pushover, and if you’re kind, they try to walk all over you.

“From now on, the maid won’t treat you carelessly.”

Soniel took a calm breath and then said to me in a small voice.

“My lady, you’re truly amazing. Today was the first time Johana called me ‘Miss.'”