try:
            import vowpal_wabbit_next as vw
        except ImportError as e:
            raise ImportError(
                "Unable to import vowpal_wabbit_next, please install with "
                "`pip install vowpal_wabbit_next`."
            ) from e
        model_data = None
        if self.model_path.exists():
            with open(self.model_path, "rb") as f:
                model_data = f.read()
        if model_data:
            logger.info(f"rl_chain model is loaded from: {self.model_path}")
            return vw.Workspace(commandline, model_data=model_data)
        return vw.Workspace(commandline)