The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 35

Madam Lauren’s heart was not completely at ease for several reasons. These reasons tangled together like a knotted ball of thread, refusing to disappear from her mind.

One of them was Magdala.

Madam Lauren understood Magdala’s pain better than anyone because of her own experiences. That’s why, while serving as the head maid under Magdala, the mistress of the Sisley estate, she also treated her like a younger sister—caring for her, supporting her, and loving her.

When Magdala passed away, the hole in Madam’s heart was unbearably large. She even blamed herself, thinking, why wasn’t it me who died instead of her? If her husband had not been by her side, she wasn’t sure what would have happened to her.

That was why she hated the enemy nation. She despised everything about the neighboring country that had taken Magdala’s life.

When she was informed that a bride from that hated country was coming, she was still in mourning. Deeply shaken, she agonized over the situation and eventually confessed to her master that she could not welcome the girl with a calm heart.

“Then take some time off.”

The Marquis of Sisley’s response was unexpected.

“With Swallow retired, your absence will certainly be a blow to this house. But it would be even worse if you cannot find peace in your heart… Do you remember Maggie’s final words?”

Hearing this, Madam Lauren gasped. The last letter from her beloved mistress, whom she had cherished like a sister—it had shocked her when the Marquis first showed it to her.

“Don’t hate anyone. Don’t hold grudges.”

Magdala knew that her death would cause everyone in the estate to hate and resent the Kingdom of Mammut. She knew how deeply she was loved. Yet, even in her final moments, she worried that her death would taint their hearts with hatred.

(And yet, how foolish I have been…)

Blinded by sorrow and hatred, Madam had even forgotten Magdala’s last wish. She felt ashamed of herself. The Marquis smiled at her, but there was a trace of sadness in that smile.

“I tried imagining what she would do if she were alive and had to take in a hostage. Maggie would surely…”

“Even if the person was a spy from the enemy nation, she would treat them with the utmost hospitality. She would probably smile and say, ‘I grew these vegetables myself. Please try them!’”

“Hah… Haha, exactly.”

For the first time, the Marquis smiled without hesitation.

“I won’t ask you to go that far, but I do hope you will treat the lady from Mammut properly… However, I know this is selfish of me. As I said before, your peace of mind is the most important thing. You have the right to take time off.”

Madam Lauren thought for a moment before shaking her head.

“No, I’ll take my leave another time.”

And so, Deborah was welcomed into the household. However, the very first words she spoke upon their meeting were extremely rude, and Madam had lost her temper.

(Lord Gary is suppressing his grief over losing his wife and doing his best to create a comfortable environment for her!)

Later, after calming down, Madam realized that Deborah was not entirely at fault. In fact, the Marquis himself had been quite rude to his new bride on their wedding day, despite her being a hostage. Telling a bride on her first day, “I will never love you,” was hardly appropriate.

Besides, Deborah likely didn’t even know that Magdala had died recently due to the war. Madam had assumed she had prior knowledge of their circumstances, but after hearing what Count Supreme had said the other day, she realized that Deborah’s past behavior didn’t suggest she knew about Magdala at all.

Because of all this, Madam felt a bit guilty for being so cold to Deborah at first. That was the second reason for the haze in her heart.

The third reason was Deborah’s age.

Talking about children in front of her husband was forbidden. He might have noticed, but he never mentioned it.
The child Madam had given birth to in her first marriage… The baby girl who had already lost her breath at birth… If she had lived, she would be the same age as Deborah now.

Every time she saw a girl around that age, Madam couldn’t help but remember. It was foolish to compare herself to Deborah, who was far more beautiful than she could ever be, but when she saw Deborah’s emotionless face, she couldn’t help but think—If my daughter had lived, she might have been like that too.

And now, seeing a girl the same age as her lost child trying to live bravely as a hostage, saying “I want to be useful somehow,” it made something tighten in her chest.

“Ah, but…”

Madam had been lost in thought, going over these things in her mind. But then, she muttered something out loud.
But… the haze in her heart wasn’t just because of those reasons.

When Deborah was designing an embroidery pattern, she felt different from the girl she had been until yesterday.

The girl who had spent time mimicking the maids, working in the kitchen, and chatting with the gardener had once said she would “try to stop forcing herself to smile.” Yet today, she had given a perfect, practiced smile.

It was as if she had drawn a line between herself and them. As if she had returned to the person she was on the first day she arrived at the Sisley estate.

Maybe it was just her imagination. Maybe it was because Deborah had been dressed in an extravagant gown again, looking like a proper noble lady. Maybe, as Sherry said, she was simply like a fickle cat.

Or maybe it was just Madam Lauren’s own worry-prone nature making her overthink things…

“Tch, they’re here already?”

Her husband’s voice snapped her back to reality. In the distance, the faint sound of carriage wheels could be heard.

“Oh no! I have to go.”

As she stood up, Lauren stopped her and ran ahead.

“I’ll get there first! I’ll inform everyone, so you can take your time bringing the dishes.”

“Thank you!”

The head maid quickly gathered the dishes for two and followed after the gardener, who was already far ahead.

They were about to greet an unwanted guest… or rather, an unwelcome master.