§Future Empress§

Confusion

Back to present timeline when Izumi found the note left to her in Katsumi's room

At Izumi's castle

There it was...Izumi's worst nightmare- losing Katsumi. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Why would Katsumi run away like this? Was it something she had done? Izumi cursed herself for coming to apologize very late. Maybe Katsumi got tired of waiting.

Izumi collapsed right there. The exhaustion took a toll on her. 

The noise made other workers wake up and check the source of noise. They were absolutely stunned to see their princess in such a fragile state. 

The commotion got Shoto's attention who was about to leave. He ran towards the servant quarters and saw Izumi passed out. Ochako came in a little later. Both were in a state of panic. Shoto immediately took Izumi in his arms and asked Ochako to alert the infirmary. He carried her swiftly to the infirmary.

The next morning

Izumi opened her eyes, laid down on the infirmary bed, scanned the room she is in. Unable to process the events of last night but realization hit her quickly. She got up frantically and ran out of the infirmary, only to be stopped by her mother.

The older woman looked at her daughter with concern and disbelief. The look which made Izumi the saddest.  Her mother sat her down and gently stroked her daughter's back and looked at the physicians- signaling them to leave the room. 

"What's wrong my child?"  Inko asked, perhaps a little too late, only for Izumi to break down in tears. "What's wrong with me? I screw up whenever it's related Katsumi! Be it now or 5 years ago or 12 years ago! I keep making her run away! this is not my intention at all...why does this happen to me all the time! why am I so unlucky in love..." Izumi complained to her mother like a child. Her mother could only hug her in empathy , controlling her tears, Inko said, "I suppose it's my cursed fate in love which passed on to you, my daughter, I am sorry" 

the entire room was filled with Izumi's desperate cries. The castle attendants couldn't believe their ears. They never thought their strong and graceful princess would end up in such a state and that too because of love.

 As news travelled fast, the entire Todoroki family came to check on Izumi as she was like family to them. The Todoroki couple tried convincing Queen Inko to pursue the matter further about the maid's disappearance.

Shoto couldn't care less for Katsumi's actions, he just wanted to be with Izumi. 

The Queen wanted answers but was also glad that this chapter might have ended. 

Duke Enji volunteered to be the envoy to Kingdom of Aurora and seek a clear answer. It was revealed that Ruby was actually Princess Katsumi of Aurora. She infiltrated the Kingdom as spy in disguise of Izumi's personal maid. Although Queen Inko knew about this since the beginning, cause c'mon how hard is it to recognize that ash-blonde hair and fiery eyes. The Todoroki family were extremely upset on this matter.

 Izumi had enough and she stepped up to defend her love, "Will you all just shut it? She is not like how you portray her to be...she was concerned about the relationship between our kingdoms since someone here did not keep her end of the Pact with Alora" Izumi said as she faced Queen Inko at the latter part of the conservation. "I had my reasons which I would like to discuss with you in private" Inko replied.