“Soniel, I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“My lady.”

Soniel spotted me and smiled brightly.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, this.”

When I asked, Soniel blushed slightly and opened her mouth.

“I was worried I might make a mistake.”

“……?”

“Yes, I wrote down what to say in advance so I wouldn’t make any mistakes when meeting His Majesty.”

I craned my neck to look down at the paper on the table.

The paper was filled with small but neat handwriting.

“Sometimes when I get excited, I talk too much. I’ve been criticized for it many times, so I’m trying to fix it.”

“Ah.”

I think I understand what she means.

“The top part has expected questions, and the bottom has my answers.”

“……”

“If you review it for me, I’ll remove any unnecessary words. Is this length okay?”

Then she held out the paper very politely with both hands.

Oh, what should I do?

“You really are… thoroughly prepared, Soniel.”

I held the paper up high to hide my awkwardly twisted lips.

‘How can I tell her that the Emperor doesn’t want to meet anyone?’

Oh, seriously.

Why is it so difficult to just have a conversation? Refusing to meet someone who’s finally entered the imperial palace.

Where does this stubbornness come from?

“My lady, is this okay?”

Just then, Soniel’s tense voice came from across the table.

I lowered the paper slightly and said.

“Yes. You’ve prepared very diligently, Soniel.”

“Really?”

Soniel sighed with relief and continued.

“Since you recommended me, I felt I needed to do well.”

“Ah, not at all. You don’t need to feel such pressure.”

I waved my hands frantically, but Soniel answered firmly.

“I can’t help it. I want to prove that your judgment wasn’t wrong.”

“……”

“I’ll really do well!”

Please don’t be so fired up…

“Um, Soniel.”

How should I phrase this to avoid hurting Soniel?

That Ainberg’s condition isn’t good?

No, that would be a lie, and it would be even stranger if I went to see him alone afterward.

But I also can’t say he doesn’t want to meet anyone except me right now.

‘First, I need to get her to stop preparing.’

“Actually, Soniel, it would be better to show your natural self. You don’t need to be this nervous. His Majesty…”

Ainberg is, well.

Not as eccentric as rumors say, nor is he unreasonable.

His expression may be dry, but he’s quite tender inside.

Of course, he can be a bit willful, but he’s not entirely unlikable—

Wait, what am I saying?

“His Majesty is…?”

While I hesitated, Soniel asked with sparkling eyes.

“…He’s not really such a difficult person.”

“Ah.”

Soniel nodded slowly and opened her mouth.

“Father told me that His Majesty is an extremely strict person. He said His Majesty doesn’t tolerate even the slightest mistake, so I should be tense at all times.”

That man always tells unnecessary things to a child.

“That’s not true. He’s a good person. You don’t need to be so afraid.”

Then Soniel narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled.

“Maybe he’s only like that with you, my lady?”

“……?”

“Of course he would be kind and gentle in front of someone he likes.”

Hmm?

“I have ears too. Everyone’s saying the lady of the Chadmon family will become Empress.”

“No, that’s…”

Ah, that’s not it.

I pondered for a moment.

It was hard to know where to begin correcting her.

Just then, I imagined revealing everything to Soniel.

‘Hohoho, Soniel! Actually, I’m not Leonora Chadmon!’

Starting with the fact that I’m not Leonora Chadmon.

…Soniel would probably believe me without any doubt.

A situation where I absolutely need someone else’s help. Moreover, she’s helping me despite knowing she might be in danger.

Yet I don’t tell her anything honestly. Is this really okay?

But at that moment, I remembered what Sabine had said.

‘You’re usually cautious and careful about everything, but you seem to trust Miss Soniel completely without any doubt.’

How could I suspect such a harmless child?

‘Miss Soniel’s life hasn’t been easy. I’m not sure if I should say this, but I know the characteristics of such people well.’

‘……’

‘They’ll do anything to survive. They instinctively know when to bend and when to flee. It’s not good to suspect people without reason… but I’d like you to be careful.’

I don’t know why I feel so uneasy. Yes, I know she’s pure, kind, and good.

But as Sabine said, there’s no harm in being careful.

Sigh, let’s calm down.

“Nobody can know that. Anyway, His Majesty isn’t such a frightening person, so don’t worry too much.”

Soniel nodded with cheerful eyes.

I need to change the atmosphere a bit.

“Soniel, shall we go for a walk?”

“Now? Is that… okay?”

“……?”

“Is it alright to spend time like this when we haven’t met His Majesty yet?”

Yes, completely fine.

“He’s asleep now. So let’s go out for a walk.”

I need to get her out of here quickly.

❀❀❀

Once outside, the weather was clear, belying the complex imperial situation.

Soniel and I strolled slowly through the well-maintained garden.

“It feels so good to come out like this.”

Soniel chattered continuously with an excited face.

“The imperial garden is truly like heaven. Ah, though I’ve never been to heaven. But if I had, wouldn’t it feel like this?”

When I just smiled without saying anything, Soniel glanced at me once and covered her face.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I talked too much again. This is why Father probably…”

“No, today is leisurely for once, and my heart feels strangely at ease.”

As I said that, Soniel showed a slight smile with an expression similar to mine.

“That’s good.”

We continued strolling peacefully through the garden.

‘It’s strange, why is that?’

I couldn’t really understand why.

There was still a mountain of unresolved issues, and the events yet to unfold were equally daunting.

My body lying in the Empress’s chambers, Millean who had disappeared like the wind, and Ainberg lying injured.

Plus Foil Viper, my former father targeting the Emperor, and the unrevealed truths.

‘Yet strangely, my heart feels at ease.’

But at that moment, the face of the sleeping Ainberg I had last seen came to mind.

“……”

It was the first time he looked so peaceful.

In my memory, Ainberg’s face was always dry and rigid.

Could that be why?

No! What does Ainberg’s peace have to do with my mood?

I hit my cheeks hard.

“My lady, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Ah.”

“Are you worried about His Majesty?”

“What? No, why would I worry.”

After reflexively denying it, I quickly added more words, thinking this answer might seem strange.

“I mean, since he’s sleeping now, there’s no need to worry particularly, that’s what I meant.”

“Yes, then could we go see His Majesty in the evening?”

Haha, I had forgotten.

That this girl doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.

Just as I was about to tell her that he didn’t want to meet anyone today.

I saw Sabine approaching from a distance.

But she wasn’t alone; she was with Brother Allentain.

‘Brother?’

As I turned to look at Brother, Soniel also stopped walking.

“My lady, who is that person next to Sabine?”

“It’s my brother.”

“Ah.”

“I just saw him earlier, I wonder what’s happening now?”

Meanwhile, Brother approached us.

Meeting Allentain, Soniel greeted him with a dignified posture.

“Brother, this is the lady of the Viper family, Miss Soniel Viper.”

When I introduced her, Brother acknowledged and greeted Soniel.

“Nice to meet you. Thank you for being Leonora’s companion.”

“It’s my honor to be with the lady.”

“In the future—”

“So—”

Soniel and Brother, both trying to speak at the same time, burst into laughter.

As the laughter subsided, Soniel couldn’t look directly at Allentain and bowed her head deeply.

When Allentain extended his hand, Soniel mumbled in a mosquito-like voice.

“…So, I will learn many things from the lady in the future, and also be a good companion to her.”

“That’s good.”

Then Soniel, stiff as a board, shook hands with Allentain.

‘What’s this?’

After a brief moment of puzzlement at this unfamiliar sight, I turned to Brother.

“Brother, what brings you here? Could it be…”

Has he already found out everything I asked for?

It took less than half a day to confirm all those things?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Brother shook his head.

“A letter came for you, so I brought it.”

“A letter?”

Who would write me a letter?

Unable to think of anyone, I tilted my head as Brother pulled an envelope from inside his coat and held it out.

“Open it yourself.”