The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 30

Deborah stayed in her room, spending the entire day in bed.

To be honest, she already felt like a useless person, and now she was even pretending to be sick, doing nothing but lying down. It made her feel extremely guilty.

So, she thought many times about getting up and saying she felt better.

But—

“Lady Deborah, I brought you some honey tea. It will warm your body and is also good for your throat. Please drink it.”

As soon as Mrs. Lauren entered with the tea, Deborah’s face turned red again, and her eyes filled with tears.

Normally, Mrs. Lauren was a quiet person.

But on the first day they met, she had spoken harshly to Deborah.

Deborah had wondered if it was because she resented losing Magdala.

(And yet… everyone in this mansion is so kind to me…)

The two people who came to her room most often were Mrs. Lauren and Shelly.

Just seeing them made Deborah’s chest hurt.

If she went outside, she would probably think about Magdala every time she met another servant.

And there was also the risk of running into Marquis Sisley.

That was impossible.

If she saw him now, she might cry in front of him.

In the end, Deborah stayed in bed until nightfall.

Dinner was brought to her room, and the chef, worried about her condition, had prepared a bowl of bread porridge.

The gentle sweetness of the milk-cooked bread warmed her heart, making her feel even more overwhelmed.

“I’m glad you have an appetite!”

Slowly, sometimes staring silently at the spoon, Deborah somehow managed to finish most of the porridge.

Seeing that, Shelly let out a sigh of relief.

Deborah then made a request.

“Shelly, I need to talk to Swallow.

If possible, just the two of us.”

“Eh…?”

“Is that not allowed?”

Shelly hesitated for a moment but quickly made up her mind.

Even though he was retired, Swallow had served the Sisley household for many years, and she trusted him completely.

If he was there, no other guards would be necessary.

“I’ll ask Swallow.”

Shelly told another maid to call Swallow.

A little while later, he arrived.

“I apologize for the wait. Lady Deborah, do you need something?”

As Swallow entered the room, Shelly left, closing the door behind her.

Now they were completely alone.

“Yes, I have something to ask you.

It’s something only you can answer.”

She couldn’t ask the other servants.

It was too cruel of a question.

Of course, even for Swallow, it wouldn’t be a pleasant topic.

But unlike the other servants, he hadn’t interacted with Deborah much.

That meant he wouldn’t pity or comfort her—he would just tell her the truth.

And for Deborah, it would be easier not to worry about the other person’s feelings.

“What is it?”

“This house… shouldn’t it still be in mourning?”

The more she thought about it, the more certain she became that Magdala had died in the war.

And if she followed that thought further, she reached an even more painful realization.

The war started a year ago.

The peace treaty was signed about six months ago.

If Magdala had died in the war, then not even a year had passed since her death.

If she had been so loved by everyone in this house, wouldn’t it be natural for the entire mansion to still be in mourning?

But then, Deborah had suddenly arrived as a bride—

Or more accurately, she had been forced upon the Sisley family as a hostage by the Volks royal family.

Perhaps, because of that, the people of Sisley Mansion had no choice but to force themselves to end the mourning period and welcome her.

Swallow’s gentle, elderly expression did not change even slightly as he answered.

“You are quite perceptive. I had heard rumors that you were a wise lady.

You realized it from my earlier words, didn’t you?”

“Yes… so the one who passed away was really the former lady of the house.”

Deborah let out a small breath.

She didn’t want it to sound like a sigh.

“That is correct.

I deeply apologize if this has caused you any discomfort.”

“Discomfort?”

Her gray eyes blinked.

The word “discomfort” didn’t seem right for this situation.

Rather—

“Isn’t my very presence here what makes you uncomfortable?”

“……”

Swallow, who had likely been a perfect butler in his active years, was momentarily speechless.

The woman standing before him had no expression, like a doll.

But her large, beautiful eyes blinked repeatedly.

The long red lashes framing them trembled slightly.

“I wish I could leave this place and go somewhere else.

Tell me, is there another family in Volks that would accept me as a hostage?”

“……”

“I have no money, but… if I sell the dresses and jewelry I brought from Mammut, it should be a considerable amount.

If I use that as a dowry, maybe some noble house would take me in.”

“Lady Deborah…”

“Swallow, could you suggest this to the marquis?

Depending on the family, I wouldn’t even mind if it weren’t just a political marriage.

I came to this country prepared for that.”

“Lady Deborah, please calm down!”

“…I am calm.”

She had always been composed and perfect.

A duke’s daughter, and the future queen.

That was the role given to her.

So something like this—

Of course, she could think about it logically.

If she removed herself from this mansion, everyone would feel at peace.

Marquis Sisley could have his heart at ease.

It was better for everyone.

It was simply a necessary decision.

(A piece to be sacrificed…?)

“…Ah.”

A soft sound escaped Deborah’s red lips.

Her gray eyes widened, staring into the air.

The color drained from her face, turning pale.

“Lady Deborah?”

“…Ah…”

She had realized it.

Why she never cried in her homeland.

Why, now, she felt like she could cry at any moment?

Deborah had always been just a piece on the chessboard.