The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 46

Marquis Sisley, Deborah, and Prince Riold enjoyed tea and conversation in the lounge.

**”To be honest, I’ve been trying to get Marquis Sisley to take a position in the castle, but he keeps refusing.”**

At Riold’s words, Deborah’s gray eyes blinked. The marquis responded with a wry smile.

**”I’ve told you many times that such a role is too much for me.”**

**”You’re far too modest. This is a good opportunity. I’ll find a trustworthy and capable deputy to replace that useless one. You can leave your territory in their hands and work at the royal castle.”**

**”Then I would have to bring Deborah to the royal capital as well. She is my wife, after all.”**

The prince exhaled in mild boredom.

**”…So that’s your move. You’ve become quite the negotiator. I used to think you were too straightforward, but it seems you’ve gained some wisdom with age.”**

**”Not at all. I truly care for my wife’s well-being, so I want her where I can keep an eye on her.”**

Beside the composed marquis, Deborah maintained a graceful smile, concealing her complicated feelings. She certainly had no desire to go to the capital. Just earlier, it had been Riold himself who mentioned there was some dispute over where she should be sent. In the royal capital, where the nobles of Volks gathered, there was no telling what kind of trouble she might get caught up in.

**”I see. Well played. A wife is someone you can’t take your eyes off, after all.”**

Riold seemed to have the same thought, letting out a small, ironic laugh.

Deborah suddenly recalled a time before tensions arose between Volks and Mammut, when Prince Riold and his wife, Violetta, visited the Mammut Kingdom on a diplomatic trip. Back then, he had appeared as a dazzling prince, never once showing the expression he wore now. Perhaps Marquis Sisley was someone with whom Riold could be his true self.

*(That’s why the marquis told me I didn’t have to force a polite smile around him.)*

Even royalty could speak freely around Marquis Sisley. It was likely because of his broad-mindedness and discretion. Deborah understood why Riold wanted him close as a trusted ally. If she had been the crown princess, she too would have wished for someone as reliable as him.

Slowly, she looked up at the man beside her.

**”Hm? What is it?”**

The marquis asked gently. With a perfectly pleasant smile, Deborah concealed her thoughts.

*(If I were to ask His Highness right now to transfer me somewhere else…)*

Riold wouldn’t assume the marquis was at fault. If she mentioned how much Magdala was loved—not just by the marquis, but by the entire estate—he might even sympathize. There was a real chance he would consider her request.

*(…But saying it now, without consulting him first, would humiliate the marquis. I can’t do that.)*

**”…No, it’s just that His Highness holds you in very high regard.”**

That was all she said. To an outsider, it might have looked like a simple moment of a wife proudly admiring her husband.

—

Riold was in an excellent mood. He had laughed heartily after hearing the reason why a whole chicken ended up covered in dirt.

**”Well, since only the steward, the deputy, and I were going to eat it, I figured I could just wash it off…”**

Deborah explained; her cheeks slightly flushed. Seeing this, Riold smirked.

**”I never imagined Marquis Sisley’s wife would be such an amusing lady. You seemed so different when we last met.”**

**”I apologize for burdening you with such an embarrassing story.”**

**”No, that’s not what I meant. Actually—”**

Riold paused, then changed the subject.

**”For example, have you ever been interested in plays about a prince who secretly visits the town?”**

**”If His Highness is the model for such a play, I would love to see it.”**

Deborah replied with a bright smile.

**”…I see. That’s your answer.”**

**”?”**

Before Deborah or the marquis could question him, Riold smoothly moved on.

**”Then, how about dresses? Do you remember the gown Violetta wore at the banquet on the second night of our visit to Mammut?”**

**”Of course. Her Highness wore a beautiful light green dress with white and gold embroidery, evoking the fresh breeze of early summer.”**

**”Exactly. Violetta loved that dress and wore it often. Because of that, embroidered gowns are now all the rage among the noblewomen of our kingdom.”**

**”Embroidery, you say?”**

Deborah immediately thought of the embroidery style famous in the southern regions.

**”Then are they importing embroidered fabric from the south, or bringing craftsmen from there?”**

**”Something like that. I don’t know the details, but the more elaborate the embroidery, the better. Apparently, at evening parties, noblewomen now compete by showing off their gowns.”**

**”Oh my, then most of my dresses must be outdated. But since I have no one to show them to, it’s of no concern to me.”**

She meant it literally—being a captive, she wouldn’t have the chance to wear fine dresses in noble society unless she were reduced to some distasteful spectacle. Deborah bowed her head slightly.

She heard a faint chuckle from Riold.

**”Haha… Well, that’s true. You don’t have to worry about that.”**

When she looked up, their eyes met directly. His amber gaze, narrowed with irony, locked onto hers.

**”Yes, you haven’t changed in the past two years. You subtly steer conversations in areas you understand, and when you don’t know something, you answer safely without overstepping. You don’t seem very interested in theater.”**

It wasn’t that she had no interest in plays or operas. But in her homeland, she never had the luxury to enjoy such things.

She lowered her crimson eyelashes slightly. Aaron’s voice from the past echoed in her mind—*”You’re such a dull woman.”*

It seemed Riold had come to the same conclusion.

*(…It can’t be helped. That’s a fair judgment.)*

To those around her, Deborah had always been a tool—useful, but not entertaining. And over time, she had accepted it. A tool had no need for charm.

But Riold’s next words were entirely unexpected.

**”Back then, I thought you were a flawless, perfectly crafted noble lady. But in reality, you were just hiding your true self completely. Seeing glimpses of that now is actually quite amusing.”**

**”!!”**

Deborah’s gray eyes widened in surprise.

Riold grinned.

**”Of course, I have no right to talk. I was hiding my true self just as perfectly. When I was on that diplomatic visit, I was the picture of a charming, dazzling prince, wasn’t I?”**

**”Oh my.”**

Deborah chuckled. This time, it was a genuine laugh.

And so were her next words.

**”Your Highness, I believe you are even more perfect and charming now than you were then.”**