Chapter 6
Leah left the drawing room with Raphaella and went back to their room on the second floor to pack their things.
But honestly, there wasn’t much to pack.
She had only brought the essentials.
Just as she finished and sat down to rest a bit—Knock knock knock.
There was a quick, lazy knock on the door.
And without even saying who they were, the door swung open.
‘…Who’s that?’
Leah was caught off guard by the sudden appearance, but the woman walked in so confidently that she had no choice but to get up.
“Hello, I’m Daria, the head maid of the
duchy.”
The woman who came in so rudely was apparently the head maid.
“Oh, okay.”
Standing at the door, the maid looked Leah and Raphaella up and down.
Her attitude felt slightly rude and dismissive.
Leah was about to say something, but—
“You’ve heard from the Duke, right? I’ll show you to your new room.”
The maid didn’t even let Leah respond before turning and walking off.
‘She’s definitely being rude, right?’
Leah was offended—she could handle being treated like that, but seeing someone act that way toward Raphaella really got to her.
The maid walked ahead at a pace too fast for a child to keep up, almost like she did it on purpose.
Leah had to pick up Raphaella and follow.
‘Not even trying to hide how annoyed she is.
Just like before…’
“This is the place.”
They arrived at a door made from very fine wood.
The maid glanced back at them briefly, then opened the door.
“…Wow.”
Both Leah and Raphaella gasped.
The room Raphaella was getting was nothing like the guest room—they were completely different levels.
“This used to be Lady Penelope’s room—His Grace’s sister who stayed on the 4th floor.”
Then the maid paused, and added,
“…This room on the 3rd floor is usually reserved for the ‘Lady of the House.’”
She stepped into the room and started explaining.
There was a drawing room, a bedroom, a small study, a bathroom, a dressing room, and lastly—“This is where the lady’s nanny or personal maid usually stays.”
There was a plain, shabby-looking door.
Leah got the message from the maid’s eyes: Your daughter might be important, but you? Not so much.
But she didn’t feel the need to argue.
‘I’m only staying here for a little while anyway.’
Even if she’d be spending most of her day in the luxurious room with Raphaella.
“…We’ve put some dresses and pajamas in the dressing room.
They used to belong to Lady Penelope when she was young.”
The maid asked if Leah had extra clothes.
Leah shyly said no, and the maid replied she’d send some over.
“Since the room was prepared in a hurry, there might be a few things missing.”
The room looked perfect, but apparently there could still be “issues.”
“If you need anything, just pull the bell cord or shake the little chime to call a maid.”
Then, without even saying goodbye properly, she gave a half-hearted nod to Raphaella—who was now officially the duchy’s young lady—and walked out.
‘Even though she’s head maid of a grand duchy, she can’t hide how much she hates us…’Was it a lack of professionalism?
Leah couldn’t tell what was normal and what wasn’t.
She’d never been inside a noble’s home before.
In her previous life, she hadn’t even seen Raphaella’s room.
Once the maid left, Leah and Raphaella explored the place again.
The drawing room was cute and elegant, just right for a young lady.
The golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling sparkled, and the floral sofas were so soft it made them gasp.
The legs of the table in front of the sofa were made of gold and carved to look like wolf paws.
‘…This place really is amazing.’
Even the fireplace that warmed the room didn’t look ordinary.
“Mom, it’s so cool! The ashes in the fireplace disappear by themselves!”
“Wow, you’re right.
Maybe it’s powered by magic stones?”
Leah had never seen anything like it.
She held Raphaella’s hand and walked into the bedroom next.
The girl squealed in excitement when she saw the big velvet canopy bed.
“Mom, come up here! It’s super soft!”
Raphaella jumped on the bed happily.
Leah didn’t jump in but sat on the edge, watching her.
‘…In my past life, this maid was one of the people who treated Raphaella badly.’
Just from her behavior earlier, Leah could already tell what kind of person she was.
The maid probably acted nice in front of the Duke but looked down on Raphaella when no one was watching.
And young Raphaella probably didn’t even realize it.
Earlier, the maid had sounded polite, but her attitude was full of contempt.
‘I can accept being treated like nothing, but not Raphaella.
She’s going to live here now.’
Leah knew she had to set the tone from the beginning.
She was too flustered earlier to say anything, but next time, she wouldn’t let it slide.
“Mom, this room is amazing!”
“You like it?”
“Yeah, I love it!”
Raphaella’s eyes sparkled as she looked around the room.
“Is this really our room?”
“Yep, it’s yours.”
“Hehe! Let’s go check out the bathroom now!”
They walked into the bathroom and were stunned by the marble bathtub.
Then they went to the dressing room and were amazed again.
This place was like a dream.
The dresses didn’t even look old—they shined and looked brand-new.
The silk pajamas were unbelievably soft.
“Let’s try this one on, Raphaella.”
Leah picked a sky-blue dress that looked perfect for her daughter.
“…Wow, Raphaella, you look beautiful!”
The dress had a matching blue sash, and she looked just like a princess from a storybook.
“Really?”
Raphaella stood in front of the mirror and couldn’t stop staring at herself.
‘Just a few adjustments and it’ll fit perfectly.’
Leah kissed her daughter on the cheek.
“Do you want to play here for a bit while Mommy puts the stuff away?”
“Okay!”
Leah picked up her bag and headed to the side room the maid had shown earlier.
It was the only plain room in the whole place.
There was an old wooden desk, a chair, and a bed.
After seeing the rest of the suite, it felt gloomy and dull.
Compared to the fancy rooms, this one felt familiar.
‘It kinda reminds me of our old house… maybe that’s why it feels more comfortable.’
She opened her bag and took out the notebook filled with magic recipes she wrote with her grandmother, a few potions, some magic tools, and her parents’ keepsakes.
She put the notebook and potions in the top drawer of the desk, and stared at the keepsakes.
‘…Will Raphaella forget me too?’
Leah couldn’t remember her own parents, who died when she was little.
Her grandma said it couldn’t be helped, but it still hurt not remembering the people who gave you life.
‘I’m scared Raphaella will forget me too…’
Was it selfish to want her daughter to remember her?
Leah quietly put the keepsakes in the bottom drawer and walked back to the dressing room.
Bang!
Suddenly, the door flew open without a knock.
A noblewoman stormed in—dressed in velvet, with neatly styled jet-black hair, and sharp blue eyes that blazed with anger.
“…Who are you?”
Startled by the sudden intrusion, Leah blurted out a question without thinking.
The woman looked very important—maybe even her husband’s aunt.
‘Oh no, I shouldn’t have spoken first…’
People of high rank usually hated when others addressed them first.
Leah swallowed nervously.
“…What? Who are you?”
Just as she feared, the noblewoman’s expression turned even nastier
.
Those piercing blue eyes stared her down like daggers.
Before Leah could explain anything—
Smack!
The woman slapped her across the face.
Even the maid standing behind her looked shocked.
“How dare you speak so rudely!”
