The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 55

The following week.

For the embroidery lesson, Tom came along with his mother and sister.

Deborah’s way of teaching was not so much strict as it was rather peculiar.

On the table, there were various embroidery samples she had made, pieces of fabric with the same designs drawn on them, and notes with illustrated stitching instructions.

“Now, I will show you how to stitch. First, please watch my hand movements.”

Sitting across the table, the three of them observed her hands intently.

“The type of stitch varies, but in general, you do not make a knot at the end of the thread. Instead, you leave some extra thread on the back before starting to sew. Like this…”

After finishing several patterns while explaining, Deborah turned to Tom’s mother and sister.

“Now, please choose a design and start stitching right away. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.”

However, when they did have questions, most of them were answered by Mrs. Lauren, who stood nearby. Deborah only smiled across the table, watching quietly.

Even so, since Tom’s mother and sister already had experience with mending and simple sewing, they quickly got the hang of it and proceeded smoothly.

The real challenge was Tom, who had never touched a needle before.

“You should start with this.”

The fabric given to Tom wasn’t exactly a design—it was just a pattern of lines.

There were four long straight lines drawn at equal intervals, with short horizontal lines intersecting them at right angles, also evenly spaced.

However, it was not balanced enough to be called a grid pattern. The gaps between the long lines were about three fingers wide, while the short horizontal lines were spaced even closer than the tip of a pinky nail.

“Let’s start with a running stitch. This is one of the most basic stitches and is commonly used in sewing. So, let’s practice it until you can do it perfectly.”

Mrs. Lauren placed her hand over Tom’s and carefully guided him through the needle movements.

“Push the needle up from here, then insert it here. Then, bring it up again from the back. Aim for the intersection of these lines.”

“U-uh… okay…”

Practicing the running stitch, Tom tried to sew a dotted line along the long straight lines. He was clearly struggling, but Deborah continued to smile from afar while focusing on her own embroidery.

“Ouch!”

“Are you alright? Mrs. Lauren, please tend to him.”

Even when Tom accidentally pricked his finger, while Deborah did show concern, she did not get up from her seat.

“A-ah, I’m fine…”

At this sight, Tom and his family likely felt a bit disappointed. Although she claimed to be teaching, she left most of the instruction to a servant and remained composed. It was a stark contrast to Magdala, another noblewoman of similar status.

However, in reality, this was a deliberate decision that Deborah had made, even though it was difficult for her.

◇

“Marquis, regarding the embroidery lessons, I would like to avoid direct interaction with them as much as possible.”

On the same day the plan was finalized, Deborah had said this to Marquis Sisley.

“? Why?”

“I do not want anyone to suspect that I am secretly communicating with outsiders or sending messages to Mammut.”

“…Ah.”

The marquis immediately understood her concern and, though he furrowed his brows slightly, he smiled.

“You do not need to worry about that. There is no one in this household who doubts you anymore.”

As he spoke, he glanced behind him. The servants all gave small, firm nods with sincere expressions.

“A-ah… thank you…”

Deborah’s tense expression softened slightly, and she lowered her gaze in gratitude. The marquis, Mrs. Lauren, and Shelly could all tell—she was happy but embarrassed.

However, she quickly straightened her posture again.

“Still, I remain a hostage. I must not trouble Prince Riold any further. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, I believe I should be as discreet as possible.”

“I see… That makes sense.”

“If I always maintain a distance across the table, it will serve as proof that I am not secretly passing letters. Additionally, if someone supervises our conversations, they can ensure nothing suspicious is said.”

“But will you be able to teach them properly like that?”

“It will be fine. I will prepare plenty of embroidery samples and practice designs, as well as write detailed instructions on how to stitch. If they read them—”

“No, many of them cannot read or write.”

“…Ah!”

Deborah’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand. It was the first time anyone had seen her so shocked. Then, the contrast was even more striking—she seemed utterly deflated, like a wilted leaf.

“Oh no… I didn’t think that through at all…”

“Pfft… Hahaha!”

Seeing her dramatic reaction and genuine disappointment, the marquis couldn’t help but laugh.

“I think it’s rare to find someone who considers so many things as deeply as you do, Lady Deborah.”

“That is not true…”

“It is. Many nobles perform acts of charity, but rather than simply handing out handkerchiefs, you are teaching embroidery to a poor boy, trying to give him a future. That is something I never would have thought of.”

“That is because… in this country, my options are limited. But embroidery is something I am good at. If I can pass on this skill not just to Tom but to many others, it might eventually become a local specialty…”

“What!?”

The marquis was taken aback, and Deborah fidgeted.

“It might be an overly ambitious idea, but… I heard that embroidery is a thriving industry in the southern region of this country. Their style features vivid birds and large floral patterns. However, not everyone prefers such flashy designs. If we create patterns based on the plants of this region, using small floral and vine motifs, it could differentiate us from the south and turn into a new industry for this territory.”

“…”

The marquis was speechless. Just how many steps ahead was this woman thinking?

She possessed remarkable intelligence, education, and quick wit, yet beneath her composed exterior, there was a faint kindness towards those in need. But why?

(She has no ambition for status or power…)

She was once engaged to the crown prince, destined to be queen—the highest possible status for a woman. However, when her fiancé relinquished his claim to the throne due to illness, her position also fell.

If she had truly cared about status, she could have married another royal or high-ranking noble. Her parents could have used her for political gain, but they did not.

The marquis came to a conclusion—she had no desire to climb any higher.

“…Lady Deborah, why are you doing all this?”

Without hesitation, Deborah answered.

“I simply want to be useful in any way I can.”

“You once said you felt uneasy doing nothing.”

“…Ah, yes, I did, but…”

Her tone suddenly became hesitant, and the marquis watched her with curiosity, wondering what she would say next.

“Um… that is true, but maybe it’s a little different now.”

“How so?”

“Promise me you won’t laugh?”

“Of course.”

A faint blush spread across Deborah’s cheeks.

“I… I like everyone here at Sisley Manor. Maybe it’s because… I want to stay here forever…”