§Future Empress§

On one Condition

"Is no one willing? How sad... you can't do at least this much!" Izumi chuckles. Katsumi raises her hand, "I am willing to try it!" She said. "Good job! Come on up!" Izumi said "on one condition..." Katsumi added. "Hmm what may that be?" Izumi asked.

 
"If I ate the non poisoned chocolate then you have to choose me and my friend to serve you" Katsumi said. Izumi was surprised at the request and looked at Katsumi with a visible question mark on her face. No jewels? No money? No raise? Nothing profitable.

 Izumi's puzzled expression made Katsumi feel embarrassed-^ I hope she doesn't think of anything funny...I have to bring my bodyguard^, she thought. "Ok...sure, well only if you eat the non poisoned chocolate." Izumi said as she stood up and brought the chocolate box towards Katsumi.

  "Go on...pick your piece" Izumi whispered in Katsumi's ear and pulled herself back to open the chocolate box. 

 Katsumi blushed at Izumi's slightly deep voice reaching the depth of her ears. Katsumi took the piece of chocolate which was on the 7th column and 15th row; ^I know your birthday...any idiot could figure out that this was a calendar pattern^, Katsumi thought as she placed the chocolate in her mouth and chewed it slowly. Izumi raised her eyebrows when Katsumi picked the piece of chocolate. "Are you sure you want to choose that one? Well too late I suppose, you already ate it" Izumi said out loud and everybody stared at Katsumi. Of course Izumi was trying to scare Katsumi a little bit but then again this is infamous princess Katsumi we are talking about. Katsumi gulped down the chocolate and sighed whilst looking down at the ground. Izumi stared at Katsumi to see if anything were to happen to her but to her surprise Katsumi was perfectly fine. Katsumi realized that she isn't poisoned and looked at the princess with a proud smile on her face. Everyone present were stunned by this spectacle and some even gossiped about how it could have been staged because the odds of not dying or falling seriously ill were too low.

"Very well then...seems that you are lucky enough to be my personal maid. As promised your friend shall also accompany you" Izumi said as she signaled someone to take away the box. Katsumi and Momo were both delighted. "Shoto show the other one around the palace and instruct her on the rules" Izumi ordered. Shoto did as he was told and took Momo away. 

"Alright everyone! Thank you for participating in the selection. Do not feel bad for not getting selected. This time the selection was a bit unorthodox...But anyways Have a safe trip home! You will be equipped with essentials for your journey at the rear gate of the palace!" Ochako announced. The crowd started to leave quietly. 

  "You...what's your name?" Izumi asked Katsumi. "My name is Kats- Ruby! My name is Ruby!" Katsumi yelped as she almost gave herself away. "That's a pretty name for a pretty lady like you" Izumi smiled as she looked at Katsumi. Katsumi blushed at Izumi's words and looked away. "Why are you all red? Are you alright?" Izumi asked as she kept her hand on Katsumi's shoulder- genuinely concerned. "Let me see your face" Izumi held Katsumi's chin made her face her. "My~ You are all red!" Izumi panicked a bit but who could tell her that Katsumi is all red because of her and not because of some sickness. 

"Let me take you to the physician...she will make sure if you are alright" Izumi held Katsumi's hand and walked a little before Katsumi stopped her. Izumi looked back to ask her what had happened. Katsumi said, "I am feeling alright...don't worry about my red face...it happens sometimes" Izumi felt relieved and let go of Katsumi's hand. "That's good to know...Ochako can take you to your quarter" Izumi said and Ochako took Katsumi away. ^she is definitely the one I met at the border...so she is here. I wonder what brought you here Katsumi...^ Izumi thought as she walked towards her bed chamber.

Princess Izumi's personal quarter

"My princess" Shoto greeted Princess Izumi as she walked in her room. He had been waiting inside the waiting area adjoined to Izumi's main bed room.

 "Did you find anything weird about the one you accompanied?" Izumi asked as she sat down and asked Shoto to have cookies with her and Shoto nods in agreement. They both sat facing each other. 

"Her name is Momo Yaoyorozu and she is from kingdom of Alora...she is the personal knight of the princess of Alora. I am afraid that she is a spy" Shoto said as he picked a cookie to eat. "How can you say all that about her?" Izumi asked as she laid back in her chair. "I did a thorough background check on each and every participant. I admit it was quite tough to get any information on the real her and I have got nothing about the lady who accompanied her...just her name Ruby" Shoto said as he crushed his half eaten cookie in his palm- quite frustrated with his incompetence as he often thinks like that for himself.

  "Stop that, you are making a mess...if what you said is true then the blonde girl must be the Princess of Alora...there is no way a personal knight can leave the princess, it means sentenced to death in Alora; I agree their rules are way too strict but every kingdom has something unique to them. Why would they take such a step after so long? It's been twelve years since the alliance was made and now they seem concerned about our kingdom? Not officially but using spies and that too their own princess? Do they not realise what would happen if any terms of the alliance are broken?" Izumi said as she also crushed her cookie. She was concerned about this because she didn't want her mother to worry and take severe actions against the present spies and the kingdom of Alora.

  "Since they started this game of misunderstanding and zero trust...I think it's better to give them what they are asking for...the death of their beloved princess can shake the entire kingdom and they will oblige to our powerful kingdom" Shoto said as he looked at Izumi's eyes anticipating a positive answer. Izumi, undoubtedly was taken aback from such a response but kept her poker face on. "We need not to be so hasty...I will discuss this matter with the Queen and inform you later till then keep your eyes on them. Don't do something which can lead us to our downfall. You may leave." Izumi said and Shoto walked away disappointed. "He is way too ambitious sometimes...I hope I didn't hurt his feelings...I don't want to lose him as well" Izumi said to herself as she looked at the mess made by them with crushing cookies.

At the Royal Maid Quarters

"I hope you are clear with all the instructions Ruby...please serve our princess with utmost care and respect" Ochako said this to Katsumi whilst standing at the door of Katsumi's quarter. "Yes...I will do my best!" Katsumi said to Ochako and She smiled at her and then left.

  "Yaomomo...are you sure we won't get caught?" Katsumi asks Momo Yaoyorozu who was sitting inside the quarter. Katsumi walked inside the quarter and locked the door.
"I made sure to leave no trace of our identities...there is no way they can figure us out before we get what we want..." Momo said proudly. Katsumi trusted her word and both began their preparations for upcoming days in this castle of Galilee.