Duty-Bound: Chapter 58
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Staying under the rain for hours was not healthy at all. Mikan fell ill for the first time since she came back here. It was his fault, but his mother always told him that it was not. Just like everybody else, Mikan needed time to accept her position in this land. The palace flew into a panic when they heard she had fallen sick, but his mother as the head healer had assured them that there was nothing to be worried about.
It seemed everyone had accepted her as a worthy heiress to the western lands, not because of Yuki's influence but because of her way of solving the mystery of her twin's death. True, Yuki had seen the future, but the silver-haired lady had not lent a hand when it came to unearthing the horrific truth of the former heiress's death. Elder Kajiura's involvement was only to ensure certain events took place, and Yuki was the only one who knew the details of the future.
The hand he was holding gripped his, bringing him back from his scattered thoughts, and he turned to her sweaty form. Her fever had receded, albeit slowly. He watched her bleary eyes flutter open.
"Natsume…" Her voice was low and hoarse.
"I'm here," he muttered softly while squeezing her hand lightly.
His mother who happened to be in the room offered a cup of water. Without another word, he hauled her up gently as his mother helped her drink the water.
As soon as he laid her down, she muttered frantically, "Don't go…"
Through her half-consciousness state, she didn't know that he hadn't left her since she collapsed. His second-in-command had taken his place temporarily. "I'm not going anywhere." I'm not leaving you.
She went back to sleep with a smile on her lips.