The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 24

The gardener led the two of them deeper inside. Just as Deborah had thought when she first stepped in, the greenhouse was mostly filled with green and brown. There were very few ornamental flowers. There were also many young saplings growing.

“What kind of seedlings are these?”

Deborah asked as she looked at the thin young leaves just sprouting from the soil.

“Oh, these are wheat seedlings that we are developing through crossbreeding,” the gardener explained.

“Wheat?”

“The type of wheat commonly grown in this territory is sweet but weak against the cold. So we are trying to cross it with a northern variety that is more resistant to cold weather.”

“Oh! My country also tried that. But it didn’t seem to work out.”

“Really!?”

The gardener’s voice clearly showed his interest. Deborah responded instinctively, matching his enthusiasm.

“Yes. Do you know? The Mauzy Ducal Territory has the richest farmland in all of Mammut. It’s in the southern part of the country, so it’s relatively warm. But sometimes, cold waves still damage the wheat crops. That’s why my father said improving the wheat variety was necessary.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to share that with a neighboring country?”

“!?”

The gardener’s sharp gaze pierced through Deborah. But she didn’t flinch. Instead, she flashed a beautiful, practiced smile. She was used to cold stares and people trying to read her intentions.

“Oh my, I am a hostage, after all. If I’m asked something, I’ll answer… unless it’s something that would put my life in danger.”

“I see. That means some of your words might be lies as well.”

“That’s possible. But… the marquis and everyone here have been so kind to me. I don’t want to lie to them if I can avoid it. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“Failing to improve wheat varieties isn’t exactly top-secret information. If it had succeeded, maybe I’d have kept it secret… but if my father decided to keep it hidden, I wouldn’t know about it anyway.”

The gardener lifted the corners of his lips slightly.

“I see. That makes sense. I apologize. The older I get, the more suspicious I become.”

“Oh, no. Your doubts are understandable.”

“You’re quite skilled at talking, Lady Deborah. But you have a bit of a mischievous side.”

“Excuse me?”

“If you can talk this easily, you should have done so from the beginning. My wife was agonizing over it last night.”

“Your wife… Oh! Mrs. Loren!”

“Yes. My wife, Laura Loren.”

The gardener, now revealed to be Mrs. Loren’s husband, gave a sly grin.

“Oh dear, did I trouble Mrs. Loren? I’m terribly sorry… But did I say something so difficult?”

“Haha, my wife told me all about it. How you got upset over a romance novel, how you wanted to try being a maid, how you even peeled onions.”

“Oh my!”

“You always say such unexpected things, but last night, you kept hitting the mark so accurately that it confused her.”

“Oh…”

Deborah tilted her head elegantly and thought for a moment.

“Ah, was it because I asked about Count Supreme? I only asked because I thought the marquis wanted an excuse to stop me from playing the piano.”

The corners of Marquis Sisley’s eyes crinkled as he chuckled.

“Mrs. Loren already told you that was just your misunderstanding.”

“It seems so. But if I confused her and made things difficult, I truly am sorry. I’ll apologize to her later.”

“You would apologize to a servant?”

The gardener’s blunt question came without hesitation. Deborah turned to face him. Loren’s gaze was still probing, just as before.

For a brief moment, Deborah hesitated. But then, she let out a small breath and relaxed. She also wanted to respond to the marquis’s wish that she be more open about her true feelings. Besides, this wasn’t something that would put her life at risk.

“Yes. Until now… in Mammut, I had never apologized to a servant. But things are different now.”

“Different how?”

“The people here are nothing like the servants at the Mauzy Ducal Estate. And besides, I am a hostage, not the lady of this house.”

“That’s true. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“I should be grateful to everyone here for their kindness. And if I cause trouble for them, I should apologize. Don’t you think?”

Deborah gave a charming, practiced smile as she said the last part.

The gardener blinked in surprise, then turned to look at Marquis Sisley.

“…My lord. I don’t think I have much right to say this, but…”

“What is it, Loren?”

“This lady… she’s quite an odd one, isn’t she?”

The marquis burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

“Haha… Well, if you say she’s odd, then Maggie was a strange noblewoman too.”

“But she’s different from the late marchioness. How should I put it…”

The gardener scratched his head awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Deborah.

“?”

“Your words just now… there was no lie in them, was there?”

Deborah’s heart skipped a beat. But she reminded herself that she hadn’t said anything untrue.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Well, normally, a noble lady would get furious about what I’m about to say… But if you truly feel grateful to the people here, then I’ll go ahead and say it. Forgive me if I’m being rude, but don’t get mad, okay?”

“Oh? But wasn’t calling me ‘odd’ already rude?”

Loren smirked.

“Fair enough. You have a sharp tongue, the kind that makes even men who don’t fall for flattery feel good when talking to you. You’re quite something, my lady.”

“Oh my, a compliment? I thought you were going to make me angry.”

“Haha. But you will be now. Lady Deborah, you should stop that fake smile.”

“…What?”

“You rarely smile for real, do you?”

“!?”

Deborah’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected someone she had only just met to see right through her.