Duty-Bound: Chapter 82
...xXx...
He was surprised when she formally summoned him as her suitor. True, he had been avoiding her, but he didn't think she would found a way to see him without being obvious that they were in some kind of disagreement. Dressed in his casual dark shade of blue kimono, he left his room to see her. After a few minutes, he reached the common room that connected to the lily garden.
Once he stepped inside, he saw her back with her long hair down trailed behind her multi-layered kimono. Surprisingly, she, too, was wearing the same colour as him for her outer kimono. A tray of refreshment was already placed at the low table. He quietly sat down on the other side. Neither said a word for a long time. Both were contently watching the blooming Sakura tree that stood beside a small koi pond.
Feeling her eyes on him, he turned to her.
"Natsume-dono, may I ask you something?"
This was the first time she called him so formal. He couldn't help but feel awkward.
"Do you wish to withdraw your suit?"
Shocked beyond words, he could only stare at her.
She sighed before gazing away. "I can only see that as your reason for missing our meetings."
Before he could open his mouth to apologise, she continued, "However, I have myself to blame if that is what you wish to do."
As a princess, he knew that that was her way of apologising. To be honest, he, too, wanted to say he was sorry. Both might be childhood friends, but after a decade of separation, they still had much to learn about each other.
"Princess..."
She looked at him, waiting.
"I apologise for making you wait and..." He looked into her eyes. "Never doubt that I want you."