Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion: What the Manhwa Did Better Than the Anime
By Sakshi Maheshwari
Anime is usually associated with Japanese adaptations of manga and light novels, but with the rising popularity of manhwa, it's no surprise to see multiple series finding their place in the anime wall of fame. There’s the classic Tower of God (2020), and recent hits like Lookism (2022) and Solo Leveling (2024) that have had popular anime adaptations. Among these is the adaptation of Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, a historical fantasy manhwa with just the right amount of mystery and romance.
Manhwa, which offers unique cultural references and elements compared to manga, is typically read left to right and often incorporates aspects unique to Korean culture, providing a fresh perspective for readers. Many popular K-dramas are also based on manhwas, making them worth exploring for their rich storytelling and vibrant visuals. Additionally, they are often available in digital format, making them convenient to read online on platforms like Webtoon, Tappytoon, and KakaoPage. Some popular manhwa include Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Who Made Me A Princess?, The Greatest Estate Developer, and Eleceed.
While both manhwa and manga offer incredible stories and art, they each bring something unique to the table. Unlike manga, which is predominantly black and white with multiple panels spanning a page, manhwa is usually fully colored with a focus on singular panels, offering a distinct reading experience to readers. It’s a unique counterpart to japanese manga, offering an interesting view of korean culture to a global audience!
With the ever-present popularity of isekai, it’s no surprise that stories with concepts similar to the genre have been adapted as well. In light novel fashion, The Reason Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion, a web novel turned manhwa turned anime, follows the story of Eunha (Rinko Hanasaki in the anime), who is not offed by truck-kun but is actually murdered! But as the story goes, in isekai, death is just the beginning. She wakes up in the body of Raeliana McMillan, a character whose death triggered the beginning of events in a novel she’d once read. To change her destiny, Raeliana strikes a deal with Duke Noah Wynknight, agreeing to pretend to be his fiancée for six months. This setup launches a narrative filled with clever twists, political intrigue, and a soft romance that blossoms as the plot unfolds in unexpected ways.
This manhwa, considered an Otome Isekai (a subgenre of isekai where the main character dies and is transported into another world they know through games, novels, or some form of media) is particularly well-known for subverting many of the cliché tropes that come with the genre.
The original source material is usually much better (I’m looking at you, Percy Jackson movies), but since I have yet to read the web novel, I can’t say much about that. But I did read the manhwa long before it got an anime adaptation, I would like to point out some details that could have made the anime stand out more than it did.
The first season of the anime follows the plot pretty well! However, its limited episode time and lofty goal of covering 52 chapters (the first volume) led to what I think is the biggest letdown. The anime, constrained by limited episodes, often skips details, resulting in a loss of narrative depth compared to the manhwa. A lot of the build-up seen in the manhwa is missed in favor of pushing the plot forward. While the manhwa balances romance, mystery, political intrigue, and comedy, making it a much more engaging experience, the anime doesn’t quite achieve the same effect.
The comedic moments (with chibi versions of the characters to boot) in the manhwa add to its charm, while the plot centric moments have this gravity to them that hook you. Whale's illustrations will sucker punch you because they’re amazing and bring the story to life with stunning detail and expressive characters. While the anime tries to stay true to the original designs, it doesn't quite capture the same level of artistry and emotion found in the manhwa. One of the biggest problems is the characterization of Noah in the anime. In the manhwa, Noah is mischievous and flirty, with a dynamic and snarky relationship with Raeliana. Their witty banter and evolving relationship add depth to the story. Unfortunately, the anime fails to capture this, presenting Noah as more bland and stoic.
Raeliana and Noah’s expressions and chemistry aren’t as apparent in the anime, and it’s a little sad given how iconic their relationship with each other and several side characters is. Of course, I do not mean to say the anime isn’t good. It has a very shojo feel to it that’s much more noticeable than in the manhwa since the focus there had been unraveling the plot. It has a beautiful soundtrack, stunning stills, and the fact that Yūichirō Umehara (omg omg) voices Noah, goes to show how much work and thought was put into the making of the adaptation. However, the anime just didn’t live up to my expectations. It seemed to prioritize moving the plot forward over allowing the characters to breathe and develop, missing the chance to fully capture the unique charm of the characters that made the manhwa so captivating.
Look, I won’t say the anime isn’t great either, and it could just be my nostalgia speaking, but the manhwa (one of my first) has been one of my favorites for a few years. The anime just doesn’t live up to the hype, foregoing a lot of the elements that originally made the manhwa such a fun read. What makes the manhwa so unique is that it’s not just a romance manhwa. It’s first and foremost a mystery while also being a funny, witty, plot-driven story that questions all that is happening and answers them instead of leaving the readers hanging. Who killed Eunha, and why did she end up in Raeliana’s body? Where is the original Raeliana? Why did Raeliana go to the Duke’s mansion? I can’t really say more without spoiling some stuff, so…
I highly recommend giving the manhwa a read! It’s a bit of a letdown that the anime didn’t quite capture the essence of the manhwa (at least for me), but that’s just how it is sometimes. Instead of just taking my word for it, consider exploring both the manhwa and anime yourself to see what ultimately clicks with you! Whether you’re into dissecting the plot, the art, or the animation, or just need something to help you relax and take your mind off those impending assignments, reading a few chapters or watching a few episodes is a great way to unwind (trust me on this).
For more details and to read the manhwa, check it out on Tappytoon here. The anime can be found on official streaming websites like Crunchyroll here.
