IFAHWIPUTML Chapter 9

A week's time passed quickly.

"So this is the place?"

Verasielle stepped down from the carriage, muttering as she stared up at the golden gate.

She'd planned to ride the family carriage straight into the ducal estate, but a knight had blocked her path, forcing her to dismount.

She'd come to visit the duke's household as soon as Raphel had fully recovered, just as she'd planned.

Her parents had been so reluctant to see Raphel leave.

The two of them had spent over twenty minutes saying goodbye at the door before they could finally board the carriage.

'Well, they did spend the entire week together. Of course they got attached.'

Her parents had adored Raphel.

Every time they saw him, they said it reminded them of raising her when she was young.

Just like Raphel, she'd spent pleasant days in the warm embrace of family for the first time in ages.

Seven days had passed like that, and now the moment of parting had arrived before her eyes.

"What business brings you here?"

The knight standing at the gate spoke as he looked Verasielle up and down.

Was it her imagination, or did the knight's face show some displeasure?

"My name is Verasielle Prozier. I've brought the child the duke is searching for."

At her words, the knight snorted as if he'd known it all along.

"Ha, you cannot enter with a private carriage. If you wish to enter the ducal estate, you must use the duke's exclusive carriage."

What was with this reaction?

Standing with his weight on one leg, the knight wore a sullen expression as he glanced at her sideways—considerably lacking in manners.

"So this is how the duke's household receives guests. I'll be sure to mention this to the duke."

Cold green eyes turned toward the knight. Verasielle's temper flared at the rude knight's attitude.

"Ah, there seems to be some misunderstanding. That's not what I—"

Only then did the knight realize his position, hastily correcting his posture in confusion. He'd dealt with so many frauds that he'd unknowingly treated a noble lady rudely without thinking.

"Whatever. Just call the carriage."

Verasielle ignored the knight as she lifted Raphel down to the ground.

Why was she already tired when she hadn't even met the duke yet? She had a feeling today was going to be a very long day.

"M-Miss..."

The knight fidgeted anxiously, watching Verasielle's expression. If this reached the duke's ears, he'd be fired or at minimum face a pay cut.

"The carriage."

Verasielle spoke firmly.

Should've done it right from the start. What good did lowering your tail do now?

"Yes..."

The despairing knight trudged away with powerless steps.

"Wow!"

Meanwhile, Raphel's eyes had gone round as saucers at the enormous gate before him.

"So big!"

Finding it fascinating, Raphel jumped up and down in place while tightly gripping Verasielle's hand.

Verasielle also swallowed hard at the imposing gate.

'What kind of gate is this huge...'

The gate, which looked easily over three meters tall, crushed a person's spirit before they even entered the estate.

The gate radiated presence under the sunlight—whether it was actually made of real gold or not, it overflowed with grandeur.

It flaunted wealth to its fullest, proving the rumors that this was the empire's wealthiest family were true.

Creeeeak.

Soon the gate opened, and Verasielle was shocked all over again by the carriage that appeared.

"Whoa! Sparkly sparkly!"

Raphel's eyes fixed on the carriage, sparkling brilliantly like stars.

The silver carriage was spotless and gleaming, clearly well-maintained without a single scratch.

It was so clean that a single fingerprint would be a blemish, and the vine decorations drawn on the carriage's exterior were magnificent.

"You may board."

The knight opened the door and spoke kindly this time. Silent desperation dwelled in his manner, begging her to speak well of him.

'Not a chance.'

Verasielle didn't even glance at the knight as she climbed into the carriage with Raphel—a carriage that looked twice as large as the baronial family's.

'They poured money into this. Just poured it in.'

That was her first thought upon seeing the interior.

The carriage's interior was lavish to an almost excessive degree. The seats were plush red velvet cushions, and beautiful paintings adorned the carriage walls.

The carriage and paintings harmonized so well it felt like viewing a single work of art.

When she carefully settled onto the seat, she felt a softness more gentle and springy than her own bed.

"Wooow!"

Raphel excitedly bounced around on the seat.

Verasielle was too dazed to even think of stopping Raphel, simply staring blankly around the carriage.

The interior was so spacious that a display stand set up between the seats on both sides held various beverages.

"This is straight-up first class..."

It was like someone had miniaturized the interior of an airplane first-class cabin she'd only seen in videos before and transplanted it into a carriage.

"Firth clath? What's dat?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing."

Snapping back to her senses, Verasielle quietly seated Raphel on the cushion.

"Then we'll depart."

The stopped carriage gave a very slight rattle as it began moving. But the shaking was felt only for that first instant.

The stability and smooth ride were amazing—it created the illusion of staying in place even though the carriage was clearly moving.

It didn't even feel like riding in a carriage at all.

'How much would a carriage like this cost?'

It was certainly on a different level from the baron's carriage she'd arrived in.

Her carriage had rattled so much she'd nearly emptied her stomach from motion sickness... Money really was nice, apparently.

"Veraseel! Water go swoosh swoosh!"

Raphel, who'd pressed his nose against the window at some point, tugged at Verasielle's collar, urging her to look at this.

"Water! Swoosh swoosh!"

"Swoosh swoosh?"

What's swoosh swoosh? Verasielle leaned over as Raphel led her.

The two pressed their faces together adorably against the small window, gazing outside. To anyone watching, they'd look like a quite affectionate family.

"A fountain?"

"Fountin?"

"Yeah. Fountain."

In the middle of the courtyard leading to the mansion stood a large circular fountain.

Water jets that changed color every moment like a seven-colored rainbow shot up from the ground before falling back down.

"It's a rainbow. Raphel, a rainbow."

Verasielle couldn't contain her amazement. She'd never seen a fountain like this before.

"Ohhh... Wainbow."

Raphel was completely captivated by the fountain, unable to pull his face from the window. Judging by his fascinated expression, he seemed to be exercising maximum concentration for his age.

Throughout the carriage ride, Raphel continuously let out exclamations of wonder. From lion statues that looked like they might move and come alive to enormous angel sculptures.

It was because various artworks were installed here and there, as if an entire art exhibition had been transplanted to this place.

'Wait, so when do we actually reach the mansion?'

At least ten minutes had passed since boarding the carriage, but the mansion was nowhere in sight.

It felt like entering a village rather than a ducal estate.

She leaned back against the plush backrest.

She was already exhausted without even meeting the duke. The novel had simply described it as a splendid, grand, and spacious mansion—who knew it would actually be the size of an entire village?

Would they even arrive today at this rate? It was another moment of realizing the ducal family's wealth.

How much time had passed?

After traveling for quite a while longer, the carriage finally glided to a smooth stop.

A haggard shadow had settled over Verasielle's face by then.

"Haaa..."

Verasielle took a deep breath from tension. Following the man who introduced himself as the butler Rohan, she'd finally arrived at the drawing room.

The butler said the duke had stepped out briefly and left the drawing room to bring something to drink while they waited.

"Nervoth?"

Sitting on the leather sofa, swinging her dangling legs back and forth, Raphel asked with an innocent face.

She was the only one who was nervous.

"No, no."

Verasielle casually wiped her hands, drenched with nervous sweat, on her dress.

The reason for this tension was probably this drawing room.

'His taste is really... excessive. Too much.'

The carriage had been impressive, but the drawing room was more so.

Even the corridor leading to the drawing room had captured her attention. If it had been the original Verasielle who indulged in luxury, her eyes would have rolled back in her head.

"Hmm, hmmm."

Raphel seemed to be in a good mood, continuously humming and grinning cheerfully.

Verasielle petted Raphel's head like that as she waited for the duke.

Before long.

"His Grace the Duke enters."

The solid, thick drawing room door opened, and a man dressed in a suit walked in with confident strides.

The man with long legs arrived in front of Verasielle in just a few steps.

"My apologies for the delay. I am Chayston Halos."

Chayston greeted Verasielle with proper courtesy.

His low, deep baritone voice rippled like waves in Verasielle's ears.

She slowly raised her head from her seat on the sofa to look at Chayston's face.

And then she opened her mouth without thinking.

"Holy shit, he's hot..."

Gasp.

Verasielle clapped both hands over her mouth in shock.

What did I just say? Have I lost my mind?!

Her pale cheeks burst into flames in an instant.

"Hot? Wha 'hot' mean?"

Ahhhhh!

Verasielle looked at Raphel with a mortified expression.

The oblivious Raphel wore a genuinely curious, purely innocent expression.

Raphel's question—killing her a second time—brought another wave of humiliation. She couldn't say anything to that innocent face.

She ducked her head, her face ripening to red. She wanted to hide in a mouse hole and cry right now.

She had absolutely no idea what face to make when looking at the duke standing before her.

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

That's what Verasielle thought.