Duty-Bound: Chapter 10
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Stabbed by her words, he grimaced painfully. After spurring her tears, he lost his right to live. Seeing her tears hurt like knives, even more so when it was he who caused it. What was wrong? He then thought back to what he had said and realized his mistake. It was too late though. While he was lost in his thoughts, she had left. Cursing under his breath, he anxiously left in search of her.
"You must return to your room, Princess Mikan. Everyone's looking for you," he said after finding her somewhere in the white rose garden.
She turned to him with tears on her face. "I told you not to call me Princess when no one is around!"
He sighed. "My apologies."
Slowly, he approached her. "Please don't cry, Mikan."
She tried to wipe her tears. "I'm not crying, stupid Natsume."
He noticed a hand print on her left cheek and knew where she had gotten that mark. Knowing she wouldn't stop crying anytime soon, he hugged her. She seemed to stop crying for a few seconds before continuing again. He did nothing but hold her as she cried.
"I hate this place…" she mumbled quietly.
"I know." He kissed her brow gently. "I promise you, Mikan. One day, I'll become the head and protect you."
He looked at the roses around him before closing his eyes and straining his ears so that he could hear her voice. In order to find her, he needed to know where she had escaped to. When they were young, he was the only one who could find her in this garden. Moments later his eyes snapped open, and he ran in the right direction. When he finds her, he would apologise to her and tell her that he truly loved her.