The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 23

“The previous lady of the house…”

Deborah immediately understood. It was obvious how much the servants in the mansion admired and loved her.

“Yes. My mother often scolded her, saying, ‘That is not how a marchioness should behave.’ But she would chat easily with the servants, even with the common folk, and sometimes she would join them in the fields, covered in mud while helping with the farming.”

Although the marquis was looking at Deborah, his eyes weren’t focused on her. He was seeing something far away—his memories of his late wife. His expression was filled with warmth, cherishing those past moments. Seeing this, Deborah felt a tight squeeze in her chest.

(…?)

Confused by this feeling, she quickly masked her emotions with a calm expression.

“I understand. The previous lady must have been a very kind and warm person, someone without pretense.”

She couldn’t add, Unlike me. For as long as she could remember, Deborah had learned never to reveal any weakness. It was a habit deeply ingrained in her—to never speak words that would worsen her own image.

But the marquis seemed to grasp the unspoken words behind her response. His gaze shifted from his memories and locked onto Deborah with clarity.

“Ah, I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. I wasn’t trying to say that you’re cold or insincere.”

“Huh?”

Deborah flinched. It felt as if he had seen right through her, and her body stiffened.

“A cold person wouldn’t say, ‘I feel guilty just being taken care of. I want to be useful in some way.’”

“T-That’s because… I truly have no use…”

“That’s exactly what I mean. Why do you think so little of yourself?”

“Ah…”

Deborah averted her gaze and fell silent.

She was someone who had been cast aside, abandoned, and discarded. In truth, she had no value as a hostage. If the marquis had at least taken her as a concubine, she might have had some worth. But as things stood, she was nothing more than a burden.

It would be so much easier if I could just say that.

The marquis and his servants were all kind people. If she told them the truth, they might not be angry. Instead, they might pity her and allow her to stay as a lowly worker—perhaps as a maid or a musician playing the piano.

But…

(I can’t do that.)

What if this information leaked outside the estate?

The fragile peace between the two kingdoms would surely crumble. And the Kingdom of Mammut would undoubtedly claim, Deborah was mistreated in the marquis’s household, and in her suffering, she invented such a wild story.

(I could never let that happen to these people…)

With her red lashes casting shadows over her pale face, Deborah remained silent. Seeing this, the marquis seemed to misunderstand something.

“…Lady Deborah. I’m sorry. I must have reminded you of painful memories.”

“Huh? Ah…”

“But I want you to know that you do have worth. So please, don’t belittle yourself too much. And if you can, I’d like you to speak your true feelings.”

“…”

His kind words were actually painful to hear. Deborah had no worth. If she spoke the truth, she would only expose that fact.

“…I will try my best…”

That was all she could manage to say.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The marquis led Deborah inside the building.

The warmth of the greenhouse reminded her of the one at the Mauzy ducal estate, but unlike that one, the Sisley estate’s greenhouse had fewer flowers.

“Oh, my lord. What brings you here today—”

A middle-aged gardener, sturdy like a tree but with a sharp, disciplined presence, greeted the marquis. However, upon seeing Deborah, he paused mid-sentence.

“Lauren, you know who she is. This is Lady Deborah. I thought I’d show her the greenhouse and the gardens.”

“…Are you sure about that?”

The gardener’s cautious words made the marquis widen his eyes for a moment, and then he let out a hearty laugh.

“Hmm?”

Both Deborah and the gardener looked puzzled.

“That’s the third time I’ve heard that question today.”

“Ah…”

Deborah blushed slightly.

“It’s fine. You can ask the same thing as many times as you like. You are free to do so.”

As he spoke, the marquis recalled something Deborah had once said during dinner.

“I may not be allowed to leave the estate, but other than that, I have complete freedom, don’t I?”

That statement alone revealed how suffocating her life must have been in the Kingdom of Mammut.

“I can’t let you leave the estate or allow you to contact your homeland. But while you are here, you may say and do whatever you like.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Deborah smiled—this time, not out of politeness, but with a small trace of genuine joy and embarrassment.

Seeing this, the gardener muttered under his breath.

“I see… Hmph.”

It seemed he had come to some realization.

“Well then, let me show you around. This way, please.”