§My Future Queen§

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's puzzled expression made Katsumi feel embarrassed. "Uhh...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. 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, Izumi raised her eyebrows when Katsumi picked the piece of chocolate. "Are you sure you want to choose that one? To not have any regrets later, choose carefully now" Izumi said out loud and everybody stared at Katsumi. Katsumi picked the piece of chocolate and ate it without any hesitation. 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 realised that she isn't poisoned and looked at the princess with a proud smile on her face. "Very well then...seems that you are lucky enough to be my personal maid. As promised your friend shall also accompany you." Katsumi and Momo were both delighted. "Shoto show the other one around the palace and instruct her the rules." Shoto did as he was told and took Momo away. Ochako told everyone else to leave. "You...what's your name?" Izumi asked Katsumi. "My name is Kats- Ruby! My name is Ruby!" Katsumi said 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 response and looked down. "Why are you all red? Are you alright?" Izumi asked as she kept her hand on Katsumi's shoulder. "Let me see your face" Izumi held Katsumi's chin made her look up. "My~ You are all red!" Izumi panicked a bit but who can 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 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. Why do I feel like I have met her somewhere else too...she seems too familiar to be a mere stranger. I should keep an eye on her. I don't want my kingdom to suffer any more hardships because of a single mistake.^ Izumi thought as she walked towards her sleeping room.

Princess Izumi's personal quarter
"My princess" Shoto greeted Princess Izumi as she walked in her room. "Did you find anything weird about the one you accompanied?" Izumi asked as she sits down and asks Shoto to have cookies with her and Shoto agrees. "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. Apparently it was pretty easy to find out that she is a knight of Alora. It's almost as if they wanted us to find out..." Shoto said as he crushed his half eaten cookie. "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. Why would they take such a step just because we are not completely following the rules...rather than asking how we are, they are spying on us as if we are some traitors! Unbelievable" Izumi said as he also crushed her cookie. "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. "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 Ochako 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.