“If you have any trouble in the future…”

I paused after saying that much.

I stepped in because I couldn’t stand by and watch the maid’s arrogant behavior, but strictly speaking, wasn’t I someone unrelated to the Viper family?

This was an issue Soniel needed to overcome herself.

Johana was one thing, but there was no guarantee similar incidents wouldn’t happen again.

‘But that requires inner strength.’

Looking back, I couldn’t do it either when I first transmigrated into the Empress’s body.

Even after entering ‘The Forgotten Empress,’ even after becoming that neglected Empress, I thought I just needed to keep my wits about me.

Like those other novels where readers transmigrate into books and change the story as they wish.

‘How foolish that thought was.’

No such romantic thing happened to me.

Honestly, I nearly collapsed from stress-induced illness and high blood pressure.

‘Your Majesty, I’m sorry but you’ll need to wear this dress for tomorrow’s reading.’

‘Didn’t I say this dress is too large?’

‘Yes, that’s true.’

‘……?’

‘All the tailors are busy and can’t alter it.’

‘It’s impossible to alter?’

‘Yes.’

‘But if I wear it like this, I’ll look like I’m wearing a sack-.’

‘Your Majesty, what would you like to do? I need your decision now so I can act accordingly.’

‘Isn’t there another dress?’

‘There is, but as you know, I’m not solely in charge of your dresses. I’m sorry.’

‘…….’

‘What shall we do?’

‘Yes, I suppose there’s no choice.’

Words I wanted to say always lingered around my throat before I finally swallowed them.

Everything changed once it became accepted fact that Ainberg despised and ignored me.

The servants’ words grew strangely curt, the number of maids attending me decreased, and even the maids’ attitudes changed.

Even the jewelers who frequented the imperial palace.

‘Why couldn’t I say a single word? Like a fool, like an idiot.’

Being hated by Ainberg was difficult, but what troubled me more was having nowhere to turn.

If only I had just one person to confide in.

Then I would have been less lonely.

“……You can tell me anytime, Soniel.”

That’s why I couldn’t tolerate Johana’s attitude earlier.

Even if I was unrelated, even if it seemed like meddling.

“My lady.”

“So, I don’t mean I’ll solve everything for you.”

Just as Sabine’s presence gave me great strength, just as I was fortunate to have Avery.

The reason I was no longer afraid even if I returned to my original self was because I could face myself, made stronger through affection.

“S-so- sharing makes your heart lighter, you know. That’s what I mean. Like a kind of friend.”

“Really? You’ll be my friend, my lady?”

Soniel raised her hands high in the air and blurted out.

“Then my lady, please call me more casually from now on.”

“More casually?”

“Yes, I’d like you to call me more intimately than Miss Viper.”

I nodded and smiled.

“I will, Soniel. Then you should call me casually too.”

At that, Soniel panicked and waved her hands.

“What are you saying? N-no. That’s.”

She grimaced and spoke in a tiny voice.

“No matter how immature and ignorant I am, I know that much.”

“Hmm, I really don’t mind.”

“If I did that, I’d probably get a severe scolding from my father.”

When her father was mentioned, I unconsciously furrowed my brow.

“Soniel, is the Duke very strict?”

There must be a reason for the maids’ attitudes. They would have determined Soniel’s value by observing the head of the family.

If her former father had treated Soniel preciously, the maid wouldn’t have behaved so arrogantly.

“It’s because I’m very lacking. I wish I could learn quickly, but I’m slow at everything.”

At that point, something had to boil up inside me.

‘He can’t wait to present this child to Ainberg as soon as possible?’

That’s why he insisted on bringing the bedridden Empress to his residence.

Until now he had been wary of me, but since Ainberg hadn’t taken any action, he must have decided I could be ignored.

This was clearly what I wanted, but Soniel’s involvement complicated matters.

“By the way, my lady.”

Soniel, who had been smiling throughout, looked at me with a somewhat calmer face.

As I waited to hear what she wanted to say, she spoke again.

“Were you perhaps acquainted with Her Majesty the Empress?”

I faltered at the unexpected mention of that name. Of course, I quickly composed my expression.

“Why do you ask that suddenly?”

When I asked with puzzlement, Soniel scratched the back of her neck.

“I knew this was an important place, but I didn’t know the Empress was my father’s daughter.”

“Ah.”

“I heard she’s now unfortunately…… bedridden.”

“Yes, it’s been about a year.”

When I answered, Soniel continued with a somewhat precarious expression.

“I can’t imagine how heartbroken my father must have been. How painful it must have been for him.”

At this point, I almost burst into laughter.

Heartbroken?

He probably thought of it merely as a troublemaker finally causing an accident.

‘Come to think of it, his only daughter ended up like that…… yet he’s trying to bring in an adopted daughter to place beside the Emperor. What a cruel and terrible person.’

Does he not want to let go of his connection to the imperial family that badly?

What could be worth going to such lengths?

“I heard she was my father’s only daughter.”

“Soniel.”

Judging by Soniel’s attitude, her former father hadn’t fully revealed his intentions to her yet.

If he had, she wouldn’t be showing such concern for her father.

This time, does he plan to manipulate from behind rather than directly stating his plans?

“About her.”

It’s actually me.

“I don’t know much either.”

In reality, Leonora didn’t know the Empress well, and I thought it wouldn’t be good for Soniel to know too much.

“Then the name Sienna.”

“That’s the current Empress. She’s also Duke Viper’s daughter.”

When I answered calmly, Soniel bit her lower lip.

“I almost made a big mistake. That was…… the Empress’s name.”

“Yes, but why?”

“I saw a handkerchief with that name embroidered on it. I also saw her portrait in the basement. No one told me exactly.”

“……”

“I want to become a daughter the Viper family could be proud  of, like her.”

The conversation topics after that were mostly about me. That is, about Leonora Chadmon.

Soniel fired questions like an interviewer, and unable to resist her bright eyes, I answered most questions honestly.

“To think you were ill for so long.”

Soniel was at a loss with her moist eyes.

“I had no idea you went through such pain.”

To be honest, it wasn’t me but Leonora’s body that experienced it.

I felt a bit guilty for not telling my real story.

“But it’s such a relief that you’re healthy now.”

“Yes. It’s something to be grateful for.”

After that day, Soniel and I grew closer.

The next day, Soniel came to visit the imperial palace, and I invited Avery to spend time together.

Avery, who had initially viewed her with some suspicion, quickly fell for Soniel’s charm, just as I had.

Perhaps because I had mentioned it several times, Soniel didn’t talk about her past in detail as she had when we first met.

“My, then how long were you in Scott?”

“Quite a while. By the way, this tea you brought has a lovely aroma.”

“Really? Is it good?”

“Yes, it suits the elegant Lady Avery very well.”

Soniel balanced what to hide and what to reveal, controlling the flow.

To adapt so well to this atmosphere in just a few days.

How heartwarming.

“Soniel, we’re planning a picnic to Lake Kilketa in a few days. Would you like to join us?”

At Avery’s words, Soniel glanced at me once.

“Oh, really? Is it alright for me to come?”

“Of course. Everyone will be happy if you come.”

While Ainberg was away from the castle, I often spent time with Soniel, Avery, and Sabine.

I had been anxious about how my former father would react, but perhaps because the Emperor was absent, he showed no particular movement.

‘That’s fortunate.’

Ah- was I speaking carelessly?

A few days later, something unfortunate happened to me while I was enjoying the peace.

“Miss.”

Sabine, who had gone out to get juice, returned empty-handed. Then she stood at the doorway with a completely frozen expression.

“Sabine, what’s wrong?”

“Miss, right now, that is-.”

Before Sabine could finish, the sound of rough military boots began to echo outside the door.