"I...! I don't...!" Natalia faltered, taking a step back from Yuri. She had a sinking feeling that this wasn't really the issue at hand, but her feelings ran so deeply, even she wasn't entirely sure what her shadow self wanted to say. She shook her head, pulling her fists close to her chest.

"I'd be much better suited to take the throne," Calamity Natalia preened, narrowing her eyes coolly. "Father never listened to reason. Never saw my potential. I'm sure he would have been satisfied if I'd just sat there and looked pretty, when I could have been soooo much more." She spread out her hands as her expression soured, brow darkening. "I hate him."

"No! You're wrong!" Natalia rounded her and stamped her foot stubbornly. "I love my father, with all my heart. And I love my people!"

The shadow narrowed her eyes at her, and began to laugh haughtily. "You can't even admit it to yourself! You just have to be perfect little Natalia, don't you? But deep down, you know who you really are. Meryl." She spoke the name viciously, smirking as Natalia flinched. "Just a simple mercentary's daughter. You're not cut out to rule over anyone, let alone an entire kingdom. Your life is nothing more than a lie, and it's high time you realized the truth!"

Natalia tensed, ready to fling back her own retorts. But she stopped, her eyes flicking briefly to Kumew who stood close by, paws clasped together, tiny face screwed up with worry. Natalia wasn't here to deny her shadow. She had to listen. This was a part of herself, something she'd buried so deeply that she couldn't bring herself to believe they were her true feelings.

"Please. Give me a moment to think this over." She bowed her head, eyes squeezed shut. Did accepting this part of herself mean that she despised her father? That couldn't possibly be right, her affection was still there. What was she supposed to believe?