The Virtually Exiled Duke’s Daughter Is Troubled When Her Fiancé in a Neighboring Country Says, "I Will Never Love You" - Episode 8

“Mrs. Lauren, what is this?”

“Did you not like it? It’s currently a popular romance novel among women.”

“Romance novel…”

Even though she already felt useless, the fact that she was indulging in entertainment made Deborah feel even more guilty. However, if she said that her taste in books was different, it would mean disappointing Mrs. Lauren, who had chosen the book for her, and that made her feel uneasy. So, Deborah decided to open the book and give it a try.

If it’s a romance novel, it’s common to read it with a relaxed attitude, immersing oneself in the characters’ emotions, but she hasn’t touched such things much since she read children’s entertainment novels when she was just learning to read.

Therefore, Deborah read the book at quite a speed, flipping through the pages quickly as if it were a reference material.

Mrs. Lauren, who witnessed this, remained expressionless, but the maid Shelly, who was with her, was wide-eyed and stunned. Deborah finished reading the book in no time.

“……?”

She slightly furrowed her brow, set the book aside, and picked up another one. She flipped through the pages casually, but after finishing the beginning of the book, she suddenly skipped to the end and read that part. Once she finished, she set it aside and started reading the third book. Not only the maid but also Mrs. Lauren looked at Deborah with suspicion at her rather unusual way of reading. After finishing a good portion of the third book, Deborah closed it with a snap and said this

“Mrs. Lauren, this is my first time reading a romance novel.”

“Is that so?”

“So, I just wanted to ask… in all three of these books, the protagonist is a baroness, and the prince, despite having a fiancée, awakens to true love, right?”

“Yes, this is the current trend.”

“That’s right.”

Deborah chuckled softly. It wasn’t a cheerful laugh, but rather a hint of discomfort… In other words, Mrs. Lauren, sensing a touch of irony, bowed her head.

“I apologize. Did it not meet your expectations?”

“No… Mrs. Lauren didn’t know what I went through at Mammut, did she?”

“wa”

Mrs. Lauren, who had lifted her head at Deborah’s words, widened her eyes in surprise. Deborah, realizing this, immediately smiled beautifully once again.

“I’m sorry. I said something unnecessary. Forget what I just said.”

“……Yes. Then let’s prepare another book.”

“I’m so happy, thank you.”

After Mrs. Lauren left, Deborah placed her hand on her forehead and slightly bowed her head. She half-lowered her deep crimson lashes and stared at the book.

“Ah…”

(She said something so backhanded. Mrs. Lauren hasn’t done anything wrong. How embarrassing…)

Deborah regretted having confused Mrs. Lauren. In the first novel, the prince’s fiancée was written as a wicked duke’s daughter who bullied the protagonist behind the scenes. In the end, the prince publicly condemned the duke’s daughter, broke off the engagement, and found true love. The other two books had similar plots.

Deborah never could have imagined that the engagement breakup drama at General Palm’s residence was following the plot of a popular romance novel. No, even if she had read the romance novel beforehand, she wouldn’t have been able to predict it.

Just because Aaron and Fiona acted like something out of a romance novel, would the other nobles present really accept their so-called “true love” and genuinely believe that Deborah, who had devoted herself to Aaron (at least on the surface), was a wicked woman? At the very least, Deborah thought that was ridiculous.

Deborah, who was now informed that she had been caught up in that ridiculous plot, not only let out a slight laugh filled with self-mockery and sarcasm but also uttered unnecessary words to Mrs. Lauren. Until now, having spent time in Mammut, she had never revealed her emotions, only making sarcastic remarks to Aaron without him noticing.

Always perfect, calm, and as beautiful as a doll, the duke’s daughter and the crown prince’s fiancée. That was the role assigned to Deborah, and she should have been able to fulfill it without any issues. So why is there a crack appearing here?

(Why is that… Is it because I’ve been constantly watched and I’m tired?)

In reality, it was the opposite; no one expected her to play a role… Deborah had not yet realized that she was in a position of freedom she had never experienced before.