There appeared to be several more buildings in the back, and a wide open space was visible in front.

‘Am I allowed to enter this place?’

Anxiety surged within me, but curiosity overcame fear.

Hiding behind a tree and craning my neck, I could see sturdy men moving back and forth quite frequently.

‘What is this place for? I had no idea something like this existed here.’

Though my mind told me to turn back, my body refused to comply.

Just then, dozens of men poured out from inside the building.

They lined up in formation and began sparring with the wooden swords strapped to their waists.

‘Are these the Viper family’s private soldiers?’

Nobles maintaining private armies wasn’t particularly unusual.

However, the soldiers’ movements and scale were undeniably extraordinary.

‘Aren’t they too organized to be just private soldiers?’

What were those buildings visible in the back? Perhaps quarters for the soldiers?

Just as I leaned forward, wanting to examine the interior more closely, Sabine’s voice came from a distance.

“Miss!”

Some of the soldiers in the training ground stopped moving, perhaps having heard the voice. In my panic, I turned toward the direction of Sabine’s voice.

Crack.

Not watching where I stepped, I broke a thick branch under my foot.

“Who goes there!”

A rough male voice pierced from behind me. It felt like someone was grabbing at my ankle, but I ran with all my might.

“Miss?”

Fortunately, Sabine wasn’t far away. As soon as I spotted her, I gestured for her to keep quiet.

The quick-witted Sabine immediately closed her mouth, and we moved rapidly in the opposite direction.

Only after running for quite some time and reaching the front yard of the mansion could we catch our breath.

“……”

Sabine looked at me with eyes full of unspoken questions.

But I felt the same way.

“Let’s talk later. For now…”

Though there wasn’t anyone particularly noticeable around, I whispered with an awkward smile.

The sound of wooden swords clashing and heavy military boots still seemed to ring in my ears.

We hurriedly went back inside the mansion.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

“Soldiers were training inside the garden.”

“Ah.”

She nodded but then asked me with puzzlement.

“…So what?”

“Something seems off.”

“Off?”

“They didn’t look like ordinary private soldiers. Since they’re adjacent to the Viper family’s garden, they’re clearly related to this place… but there were no family emblems or markings.”

Sabine nodded slowly, waiting for my next words.

“It’s suspicious that they planted tall trees at the entrance and set up a screen wall. Why train so secretively?”

“Were there many soldiers?”

“Just the ones sparring outside numbered in the dozens. And there were several more buildings behind.”

Sabine tilted her head and said:

“The Duke must want properly equipped forces.”

“Yes, but this isn’t near the border. To raise such a large private army in the capital…”

Someone else might have dismissed it as insignificant.

But if it was my former father, Foil Viper…

“That’s true.”

This wasn’t something I could investigate through Sabine.

Sitting in the reception room with an uneasy mind, Soniel entered a while later.

No matter what conversation we had afterward, the earlier situation kept circling in my mind.

It remained so even when she brought a chess set and laughed excitedly, even when she placed her pieces.

“Alright, then I’ll block with my bishop.”

“……”

Might Soniel know something?

Had she heard anything from my former father?

If I asked her about this, would she think I was using her?

“My lady, are you alright?”

“……?”

“It’s your turn now.”

Soniel said with a bright smile.

“Ah, it’s my turn.”

I picked up the bishop and gave an awkward smile.

‘I just can’t concentrate.’

Feeling this couldn’t continue, I decided to ask Soniel.

“Soniel.”

“Yes, my lady.”

But would this child know about the existence of the private army?

She becomes intimidated just by mentioning my former father; even if she knew, wouldn’t it stress her to tell me?

Due to such thoughts, I hesitated to open my mouth.

“My lady, if you have nowhere to place it… shall I withdraw?”

Soniel said with an innocent face.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Ah, then are you thirsty?”

Just as I was about to answer that wasn’t it either, Soniel suddenly called to Johana standing by the door.

“Johana.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Go get us some juice, please.”

“Yes, I will.”

As the maid went outside, Soniel suddenly asked me in a low voice.

“Now tell me what’s on your mind.”

She noticed I had something to say.

I felt oddly proud that she seemed to have grown (?) so much in just a few days.

I opened my mouth, recalling what I had seen outside earlier.

“Soniel, I was walking in the garden while waiting.”

“Yes.”

“Have you… ever been to the inner part of the garden?”

“The inner part of the garden?”

“Yes.”

Though I asked out of curiosity, I wasn’t sure if it was right to do so even as I asked.

No matter how close we were, it was still her family matter.

It could seem impolite for an outsider like me to inquire about family affairs.

“Ah, the inner part of the garden…”

Soniel shook her head with gloomy eyes.

“That place is forbidden to me. Father told me not to set foot in the garden’s interior.”

“……?”

“I was curious why I couldn’t go in, but I couldn’t ask.”

Being a perceptive child, she must have judged it better not to ask about that part.

“I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.”

“But why do you suddenly ask about that?”

Soniel glanced at the doorway once, perhaps thinking it was time for Johana to return, and said:

“No. Let’s end our curiosity here.”

I didn’t want to drag Soniel into this.

Of course, since she lived here, she might easily discover the secret of the buildings and soldiers if I asked her to look into it.

But I neither wanted to nor could bring myself to do that.

“It seems to be a place not open to the public. And since the Duke has forbidden entry, I think it’s best to pretend we don’t know.”

“My lady.”

“I’m sorry. I think I’ve said something unnecessary.”

I regretted asking Soniel.

I should have chosen a method that took longer, even if it meant going around.

I shouldn’t have asked her. My heart felt uneasy, like I’d started something I shouldn’t have.

Just then, Soniel carefully took my hand.

“I’ve always been curious too. And you said it yourself, my lady. That I am also a proper lady of the Viper family.”

“No, that’s…”

“I’ll look into it.”

Just as Soniel said this subtly, the reception room door opened carefully and Johana entered.

I kept my mouth shut and shook my head at Soniel.

‘Don’t do it.’

She nodded lightly toward me and picked up the knight from the chess board.

“It’s my turn now, my lady.”

❀❀❀

Several days passed after that.

Ainberg still hadn’t returned, and there was no contact from Millean.

But something made me even more anxious than that.

‘She should have come by now.’

While biting my nails and pacing around the room, I heard footsteps outside the door.

When I rushed to open it, Avery stood there with a surprised face.

“Oh my, Leonora.”

“Come in quickly.”

I pushed the somewhat startled Avery inside and hastily closed the door.

“Avery, did you find out anything?”

“Yes, but…”

“……”

“Don’t keep me in suspense, hurry.”

For some time now, Soniel seemed to have completely disappeared without a trace.

There was no reply to my letters, and when I sent someone, they only returned with the answer that she was busy.

Could she be unwell, or was there some family matter?

At first, I thought she might have health issues, but that would actually be fortunate.

‘I should have told her absolutely not to look into it.’

I should have strongly dissuaded her.

The memory of Soniel’s meaningful smile as she picked up the chess piece tormented me endlessly.

My thoughts spiraled, heading in an increasingly terrible and depressing direction.

“Tell me quickly. I can hardly breathe.”

Could it be that my frequent association with her bothered my former father’s eyes?

Or should I have warned her about my former father’s sinister intentions beforehand?

If I had told her in advance, perhaps Soniel could have prepared herself.

I asked Avery to host a social gathering, but Soniel didn’t show up there either.

“Let me sit down first.”

Avery removed her hat and placed it on the table with a calm but stern expression.

“Soniel is…”