§Future Empress§

Conversation with an old Friend

Near Emerald's Borders

It was a cold breezy morning signifying that winters is right around the corner. The Princess of Galilee had to go for a border check again this month and upon several requests by her maid to join her, she finally allowed her to join along with a certain gentleman. So the three left early in the morning with proper breakfast. "I usually go alone on these routine checks, may I know why today you both decided to join me?" Izumi asked as she trotted her horse.

The two looked at each other knowing very well why the other was there. They huffed in annoyance leaving Izumi with a sigh. The whole trip had been nothing but a void of silence.

 Izumi made random remarks about the surroundings and nature just to earn a few responses of her companions. "May I know what's bothering you both?" Izumi asked the two. Katsumi said, "I, as your personal maid, shall accompany you to the depths of hell if needed. So it's natural for me to be here unlike this fellow right next to me." Todoroki scoffed and replied, "I, as your personal knight, have more reason to be present here than this lousy maid."

"Well I suggest you both to be on your best behaviour since this is the border, and being attentive to the surrounding is key, we might get ambushed if you two keep fighting like this", Izumi instructed.

Katsumi and Shoto decided to not fight for the time being. Reaching the end of the border, a small sweet shop appeared to be in sight. Izumi halted her horse and dismounted herself and said, "Let us rest before we head back! We can replenish ourselves with some sweets too!" And she went inside the shop to discover her new favorite sweet. Both Shoto and Katsumi were not a good fan for sweets, they rather eat something spicy.

"Oh man I do not enjoy sweet snacks" Katsumi said. "Me neither" Shoto replied. They both stared at each other awkwardly. "Well either way, as her knight, I shall accompany her inside the shop. Mind keeping attention to the horses?" Shoto said in a politely disrespectful way. "Keep saying that you are her knight and you might be just that for the rest of your life" Katsumi said, clearly annoyed by Shoto's words. "What do you mean?" Shoto asked the ash blonde maid. "I am only stating the obvious. Can you not see that she is disinterested in you? You certainly have everything a woman wants in a man but still you haven't earned Her Highness's affections in a romantic way", Katsumi lashed out at the Knight. Shoto dismounted his horse and went inside the shop. "Wow, what an arrogant man" Katsumi dismounted her horse and followed Shoto inside the shop. They both saw the princess trying out every single sweet sample given to her by the owner of the shop. The owner seemed to be in his late forties with a slender figure and long black hair.

"I must say, these sweets are better than what's sold in nearby kingdoms! You must have magic in your hands to create something this blissful and delicious!" Izumi complimented the man. Shoto and Katsumi scoffed at the compliment. "I see that you are a traveler for knowing that my sweets are the best in the whole continent" The man made a rather prideful remark. Izumi smiled at his remark and said, "May I have few of each sweet you made me taste?". "You must be quite rich but again sweets are not gold", the man said, clearly surprised by the purchase, and packed the sweets and handed it to Izumi. 

"Who is this sweet couple behind you?" The man asked. Izumi turned around to notice both Shoto and Katsumi in utter disgust. Izumi laughed at their silly expressions. "Did I say something wrong?" The shop owner asked. "No you are right, these two were quarrelling the whole way here", Izumi said while barely containing her laugh. The so called couple in question couldn't respond to the comment. "Enough with the teasing, let's leave as the sun is setting" Shoto said as he took the sweets from Izumi's hands and walked out of the door. A grumpy Katsumi followed him outside. "Thank you for the sweets, here is your money" Izumi said as she handed him a bag of silver coins. "These are a lot my lady! I can't accept this amount" the man tried to refuse the money. "Please keep this money and make this shop known to the whole continent and not just me! I am taking my leave!" Izumi said as she exited the shop.