IFHWPUML Chapter 009

A week passed by quickly.

“This is the place?”

Wilhazelle muttered as she got off the carriage and looked at the golden gate.

She tried to enter the Duke’s residence in the family’s carriage but was blocked by the guards. She had no choice but to get off.

After Raphel fully recovered, they came to the Duke’s residence as planned. Her parents were sad to see Raphel leave. After saying their goodbyes at the door for 20 minutes, the two were able to get onto the carriage.

‘Well, we all did spend a whole week together. It’s natural to get attached.’

Her parents really liked Raphel. They said every time they saw him, it reminded them of when she was small. Like Raphel, she was spending pleasant days in the warm embrace of a family for the first time in a long time. Seven days passed and, before they knew it, the moment they would need to part ways came.

“What has brought you here?”

The knight standing in front of the gate asked as he eyed Lizelle.

For some reason, he had a displeased expression. Or was it just her illusion?

“My name is Wilhazelle Frosier. I have brought the child the Duke has been searching for.”

At her words the knight snorted, as if that was what he had expected her to say.

“Well, you can’t take your personal carriage inside. If you wish to enter, you must use the Duke’s carriage.”

What was up with his reaction?

The knight, with a disrespectful expression, looked at Wilhazelle as if looking down on her.

“This is how the Duke’s estate greets its guest? I will inform him of your conduct.”

Cold green eyes turned toward the knight; she was annoyed by his rude attitude.

“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding. It’s not like that…”

The knight only then realized his mistake and corrected his posture. Perhaps because he was so used to dealing with swindlers, he had ended up treating a noble lady carelessly without even realizing it.

“Enough, call the carriage.”

Lizelle ignored the knight, grabbed Raphel and helped him down from her carriage. She hadn’t even met the Duke yet but why was she so tired already? She had a feeling it was going to be a long day.

“Well, my Lady…”

The knight fidgeted and glanced at Wilhazelle. If she informed the Duke of what happened, it was possible he could be fired or have his salary reduced.

“The carriage.”

She spoke firmly.

He should have acted properly in the beginning. It was useless to regret now.

“Yes…”

The knight dragged his feet in despair.

“Wow!”

Meanwhile, Raphel’s eyes were opened wide, staring at the large gate in front of him.

“It’s so big!”

Amazed, he jumped up and down in place, holding Wilhazelle’s hand tightly. She also swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling intimidated just looking at the large gate in front of her.

‘What kind of person needs a gate this big…’

The gate seemed to be at least three meters high. It was also clearly made of real gold and stood out under the sunlight; it was extremely majestic. It seemed like he was flaunting his wealth to prove that he was the richest man in the empire.

Sigh.

Soon after, the gate opened and Wilhazelle was once again surprised by the carriage approaching them.

“Wow! Shiny! Shiny!”

Raphel’s eyes, shining brightly like stars, were fixed on the carriage. The silver carriage must have been well maintained as it was so shiny and polished, without a single scratch anywhere. It was so clean that you could barely spot a fingerprint if you put your finger on it. The vine decorations on the exterior were also gorgeous.

“You may get on.”

The knight opened the door and spoke kindly this time. There was an silent plea in his words.

‘No way.’

She didn’t even pay attention to the knight as she and Raphel got onto the carriage that looked twice as big as the Baron’s carriage.

‘It must have cost a fortune. He poured so much money into it.’

Is what she thought as soon as she saw the inside.

The interior of the carriage was so extravagant to the point of almost being excessive. The seats were made of soft red velvet and the walls had beautiful paintings on them.

The carriage and the paintings were well matched, it felt like looking at a work of art.

As she carefully sat down, it felt softer and more comfortable than her own bed.

“Wow!”

Raphel was bouncing around on her lap, excited.

Wilhazelle, in a trance, was just looking around the carriage, she didn’t even think about stopping Raphel. The interior was so spacious that a variety of drinks were available on display between the seats on both sides.

“This is first class…”

It was like the interior of a first-class airplane, which she had only seen in videos before, had been shrunk and moved into a carriage.

“First class? What is that?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.”

After coming to her senses, she quietly placed Raphel on the seat next to her.

“Then, let’s depart.”

The stopped carriage began to move with a slight tremor, though she was only able to feel it for a moment.

The stability and comfort were surprising, to the point where it felt like the carriage wasn’t even moving, though it clearly was.

It practically wasn’t even a carriage anymore.

‘How much would a carriage like this cost?’

It was on a totally different level from the Baron’s carriage. Their carriage was so shaky she almost emptied the contents of her stomach, like she was seasick. As expected, it was nice to have money…

“Lizelle! The water is wooshing!”

Nose pressed up against the window, Raphel tugged on Lizelle’s sleeve and urged her to take a look.

“Water! Woosh, woosh!”

“Woosh, woosh?”

What is woosh, woosh? Lizelle leaned forward following Raphel’s lead. The two leaned their faces toward the small window and looked outside. To others, they would have looked like a very close family.

“A fountain?”

“Fountain?”

“Yes, fountain.”

There was a large circular fountain in the middle of the yard leading to the mansion. A stream of water, changing colors every moment like a rainbow, was shooting up and then falling back down.

“It’s a rainbow, Raphel. Rainbow.”

Wilhazelle couldn’t contain her surprise. She had never seen a fountain like this.

“Wow…”

Raphel was so mesmerized by the fountain he couldn’t tear his face away from the small window. Judging by his excited face, he seemed to be using the maximum concentration available for his age.

As the carriage kept moving, Raphel would let out exclamations from time to time. From lion statues that looked like they were alive and moving, to angel statues. Various works of art were positioned throughout the manor as if it was an art exhibit.

‘When will we arrive at the mansion?’

After riding on the carriage for more than 10 minutes, there was still no sign of the mansion.

It felt like they had entered a village, not the Duke’s residence.

She leaned against the soft backrest.

They hadn’t even made it to the Duke and she was already exhausted. In the novel, it was described as a splendid and grand manor, but in reality, it was the size of a village.

Would they even be able to arrive that day? This was another moment that made her realize just how wealthy the Duke really was.

How much time had passed? After traveling for a while longer, the carriage came to a gentle halt. A shadow fell over Wilhazelle’s face.

“Whoa…”

She took a nervous breath and followed the man who introduced himself as Rohan, the butler. Before she knew it, they arrived at the parlor.

The butler left the parlor, saying the Duke was busy at the moment and left to get them drinks while they waited.

“What?”

Raphel asked with an innocent look on his face, sitting on the leather sofa, swinging his legs back and forth.

She was the only one who was nervous.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

She absently wiped her trembling, sweaty hands on her dress skirt.

Perhaps the reason she felt so nervous was because of the room they were in.

‘Control your taste. It’s way too excessive. Too much.’

The carriage was extravagant, but the room was even more so. Even the corridor leading up to the room caught her eye. If she were the real Wilhazelle who enjoyed luxury, she would have loved it.

“Hehe, hmhm.”

Raphel kept humming happily, smiling brightly in a good mood. Wilhazelle patted his head while they waited for the Duke.

Suddenly.

“The Duke has arrived.”

The solid thick door to the room opened and a man dressed in a suit entered with firm steps. His long legs taking him to them in just a few steps.

“I apologize for the delay. I am Chase Halos.”

Chase greeted Wilhazelle politely in a deep, low voice.

Seated on the sofa, she slowly raised her head to look at Chase’s face. Without realizing it, she spoke.

“Wow, you’re handsome…”

Oops.

She was surprised and covered her mouth with both hands.

‘What did I just say? Am I crazy?!’

Her pale cheeks instantly lit up.

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Oh no!

Wilhazelle looked at Raphel with a horrified expression. He had an innocent expression that showed genuine curiosity. She was once again filled with shame at his question. It was impossible to say anything to his innocent face.

She lowered her red face wishing there was a hole she could hide in.

How should she look at the Duke standing in front of her?

‘Ah, today is going to be a really long day.’

Lizelle thought.