Duty-Bound: Chapter 22
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He had agreed the first time, so he would continue to be by her side to encounter Lady Yuka. Standing in the shadows, he listened to Mikan and Lady Yuka discuss their agreement. It was true that Mikan had never intended to reign over the lands, most probably because of the unpleasant memories from her childhood.
"I refuse to be your heiress," Mikan stated rather stubbornly.
"Do you not care about this land, Mikan?" Lady Yuka's voice dropped an octave.
Mikan refused to look at Lady Yuka's pleading eyes, and he knew why. Even if it had been ten years, she didn't change that much. She still felt anger and irritation towards her betrayal. Suddenly, she looked at where he was hiding. The look on her face was asking him for advice.
After a moment of stillness, she glanced at her Lady Mother and breathed out, "My sister did care about this land."
"…"
"We may look alike, but we're not the same, Lady Yuka."
"Mikan, I can't take back what I did, but you should know that I did it because I had to."
"My apologies for being honest, My Lady. I have no interest in the reason for my banishment from this land for which you thought I cared."
Sadness was clear in Lady Yuka's eyes, but Mikan didn't see it. Even though she had agreed to meet her Lady Mother, she still refused to acknowledge Lady Yuka's feelings of remorse for disowning her. He couldn't blame Mikan for acting this way, but…
Mikan stood on her feet. "My sole purpose in this land is to fulfill my sister's request. Unless my sister wants me to replace her, I refuse to take over the throne."
Before leaving the study, Mikan bowed toward her Lady Mother one last time.