§My Future Queen§

The Day of Choosing

"Why did you not let me know earlier that mother asked for my presence?!" Izumi frantically saying rushed to her mother's office while Shoto and Ochako accompanied her. "Last night she visited you but you seemed busy" Ochako said. Izumi entered her mother's office while leaving the two outside. "Oh you are here!" The Queen said. "Yes...I am sorry mother for making you wait last night" Izumi kept apologising. "Honey, it's alright and because of you last night I got to witness something beautiful." Inko smiled. "May I ask what it was?" Izumi asked. "I saw two beautiful people laughing and having fun with each other, it almost looked like they were in a relationship" Inko said. "May I ask who it were?the couple?" Izumi asked. "Now...do not try to fool me by pretending" Inko chuckled. "I cannot understand what you said" Izumi was confused. "Oh my, I know you and Shoto Kun are seeing each other." This reply left Izumi speechless. "If only I knew earlier, I wouldn't have given Prince Kosuke the chance to woo you" Inko sighed. "Who is he?" Izumi said. "He is the prince of Lockwood, and son of the man who killed your father" Inko said. "Mother I do respect your decisions but what is all this?! Why would You let him woo me?!" Izumi yelled. "I knew you would never agree, I am glad. I had to let him woo you because of the rules but since you are against it I will send him your reply." Inko said. "Why would he be interested in me? Does he pity me? Does he want to ridicule me?" Izumi said while biting her lips. "It was a fair fight...his father also died in that fight with your father, they fought each other to death" Inko mumbled. "Today is the day of choosing, I should go. I don't love Shoto Kun romantically."and with that Izumi excused herself out of the room. The queen was dumbfounded as she misinterpreted the whole situation.

"What happened inside , princess?" Shoto asked. "Oh..nothing much, Prince Kosuke wants to woo me but I rejected him." Izumi said. "Shoto do you like someone?" She added. Ochako nudged Shoto to confess and Shoto took the chance. "Princess you asked me earlier why I was distant from you...the answer is I couldn't face you let alone have a conversation with you." Shoto said "why couldn't you face me?" Izumi asked and Shoto gulped then took a deep breath. "I love you...princess Izumi, since the past few years my heart is devoted to you." Shoto confessed and Ochako almost clapped for him but got interrupted by Izumi. "Shoto, you have been my friend ever since you came here. It's true you have a precious place in my heart but my love for you is that of a friend. I don't love you romantically. Forgive me if you can but I want you by my side as my friend not lover. Forgive me for being selfish." Izumi then walked away. This was one of the rare times when Shoto wanted to cry but he quickly composed himself and started to walk towards the princess . "Shoto where are you going?" Ochako asked. "I am Izumi's friend and guard, who else is going to protect her if not me?" Shoto replied and walked beside Izumi, Ochako followed.

At the Princess Izumi's castle's courtyard
Hundreds of women from all over the world came to test their luck to be princess Izumi's personal maid. Katsumi was present amongst the crowd and observed her surroundings. She noticed a glum Izumi walking into the courtyard with her guard who seemed as if he would cry any moment now. Izumi sat on her cushioned chair with Shoto standing beside her. Ochako stepped out and said, "the test will begin in 15 minutes and by that time let me brief the stages to all of you. 1st stage is of your ability to calculate and solve situations, a single answer incorrect you will be out. 2nd stage is of manners and etiquettes, a single mistake and you will be out. 3rd stage is about cooking, the food must look good and taste good, if not then you are out. 4th and last-stage is of physical fitness, you will be given certain tasks that you have to carry, if not then you are out. The women who will pass the last stage will be ranked accordingly by the princess."
"They are really taking this seriously." Katsumi looked frustrated as she saw many competent women round the courtyard. "Don't worry, you have practiced enough" A beautiful black haired woman said. "Thank you Yaomomo...but you have to admit we have tough competition." Katsumi said. Momo Yaorozu, the personal guard of Princess Katsumi, was called here at the last moment to help Katsumi.

"Let us begin" Ochako announced. "Wait!" The princess ordered and everyone stood still in their places. "Is there a problem? Princess." Ochako asked. "I think it's pointless to test them this way and it's rather time consuming" Princess Izumi sighed. "But these are the rules" Ochako said. "I don't care...let's just have a lucky draw. Since we all have given you a number we can call any number out and have them be my maid." Izumi said "Shoto could you please bring me that?" Izumi pointed towards a wooden box. Shoto, without any delay, brings the box. "Thank you Shoto" Izumi takes the wooden box and shakes it. "According to me luck is very important. I am sure you all are the finest maidens of your land but if you are unlucky then I have no place for you." Princess Izumi said childishly and the other maidens started to whisper. ^Why is she behaving this way? She is not like the Izuku I know...what happened?^ Katsumi thought. "I thought of earlier calling out a number and then that maid will serve me but that's quite boring and really can't test luck" Izumi said and then smirked. "In the life of royalty Maids always taste the food served to their master to check whether it's poisoned or not. If you serve me, you will be there after I become the queen and then many people might poison me." Izuku opens the box to reveal fifteen delicious looking mini chocolate bars. "These chocolates have poison but only one of them is not poisoned. So who wants to try out their luck?" Izuku smiled. Katsuki's eyes widen with surprise and Yaomomo whispers ~This is not what we prepared for...she is really sly...~ Katsuki then whispers ~She knows that there are spies present in this crowd, in case the spy tries the chocolate and is poisoned then no worries and they will try this till the time someone actually wins~ Yaomomo bites her lips.
"Is no one willing? How sad... you can't do at least this much!" Izuku chuckles. Katsuki raises her hand, "I am willing to try it!" She said. "Good job! Come on up!" Izumi said "on one condition..." Katsuki added. "Hmm what may that be?" Izuku asked.