§Future Empress§

A Tyrant and his Fiancée

A week ago from present timeline

Inko and Izumi's arrival at Lockwood

The mother and daughter finally reach the destination of Izumi's marriage to Kosuke. Needless to say Izumi wasn't happy at all. In fact her whole mood was darkened by merely stepping out of the carriage. If people could witness her aura then they would have guessed that she was here to kill rather than marry but unfortunately the only ones to see her spoiled mood was her mother who commanded her to straighten up by gesturing her.

"Is this the way to present yourself? Straighten up...this is your future...Our future!" Inko said as she looked at Izumi trying to cheer her up and remind her to be more considerate and sacrifice because that's the life of a woman. Izumi closed her eyes and smiled plainly at her mother. She was too angry to process any words and speak. Never in her whole life did Izumi think she had to sacrifice herself in a ceremony...she felt like an animal to be slaughtered- scared, without dignity and hopeless.

Soon heavy steps walked towards their direction. They looked up to see King Kosuke of Lockwood and another man with white hair. Kosuke was in his royal attire- the cape and royal sceptre. His black hair tucked behind with a few strands lose. His dusky skin glistening in the sun.

"My! I am so happy that you are finally here my princess~" Kosuke chirped and Izumi tried smiling at him gently but her face felt like it would cramp.

"Where are my manners? It's been a while since we met but anyways we have to spend our whole lives together so plenty of time to know each other! Am I right?" Kosuke smirked as he kissed Izumi's hand.

"Nice to meet you too Queen Inko! Thank you blessing our marriage! Please treat me like your own son~" Kosuke said.

"Oh my! Nice to meet you too King Kosuke. I am more than happy to bless your union with my daughter" Queen Inko said, keeping her pretense up. They can't ruin it now after getting so far.

"All that's fine but who is this?" Izumi said as she looked at Zen Shigaraki. Zen seemed amused by her curiosity and a smirk appeared on his face. He bowed down to greet Izumi. "I am Zen Shigaraki, the royal advisor to throne of Lockwood, princess" He said as he straightened up.

Izumi's emerald eyes seemed to be piercing him but their interaction was interrupted by Kosuke who chimed in saying, "Let's go inside. After all you both should rest."

And with that Kosuke guided Inko and Izumi inside. Zen stood at his place still. Did he forget he had to move? He simply remembered something by looking at Izumi's eyes. Those strikingly nostalgic emerald eyes. Similar to his Brother Yoiichi's. For a moment, Zen got deluded with past memories causing him to lose his composure but he straightened up quickly. He can't ruin it now after so long. Was Izumi's similarities to Yoiichi just a coincidence? Why would such a coincidence even happen right now when things are about to get Chaotic. Zen wondered as stared into the hallway which was treaded by the other three just now.

After a few hours, Evening time

Princess Izumi's allotted room

Izumi looked out of her balcony and stared into the forest which begun behind the castle. No matter how many times she looks at it she cannot nudge away the feeling that something terrible might happen.

Izumi slightly shivered as a cool gust of wind hit her. The ominous feeling had been eating her since the time she made eye contact with the royal advisor. She sighed and turned around only to be startled by Kosuke already standing in her room- without notice or call.

Her eyes widened in suspicion and she called him out, "What are you doing there? Without any prior announcement of your visit or a knock just now?"

Kosuke chuckled, "I did knock but you seemed so dazed that you couldn't hear me", he said. Izumi knew he was lying but let it slide in order to avoid any weird interaction.

"So...what's your business here?" Izumi asked plainly. Kosuke pouted with wide eyes and said, "Can't I just visit my fiancée whenever I wish?" His straightforward maniacal way of saying the most outrageous things caught Izumi off guard. She felt queasy.

"What we have is a political arrangement...let's keep it that way" Izumi replied. Kosuke walked up to her and Izumi kept her place. She wasn't going to be startled by him anymore.

"Your dress is pretty. It suits you well. I am happy that you chose my kingdom's silk to cover your body" Kosuke said and Izumi had a long time processing his yet another maniacal and outrageous dialogue. No way this was a normal dialogue.

"Is this how you normally converse? From what I remember in our last meeting and your letters, this shouldn't be your usual mannerism" Izumi pointed out. Kosuke was startled by Izumi's glare but kept his composure. "Well as you can see I am trying to be flirty over here because I need to set a mood since we are about to get married in 8 days" Kosuke said as he smiled at her.

Izumi was caught off guard by this newfound information. ^Getting married in 8 days!?^ Izumi thought. "What do you mean ? The guests from my kingdom won't be here until 2 weeks later" Izumi further inquired.

"For that my love, your kingdom should even exist" Kosuke said. He started laughing and his chuckles grew deeper. Tears forming in his eyes as he laughed.

"Explain yourself clearly you foul mouthed demented King!" Izumi said, asserting dominance in her voice as she grabbed him by his collar and threw him on the ground.

"You might regret that princess! but I will forgive you just this once because I understand your confusion. Your kingdom will be turned to ashes in a week's time. Your people will be forced to be my slaves. Your children will be left to fetch for themselves with all sorts of horrors waiting them. Your sick kingdom needed a purgatory!" Kosuke yelled as he cackled.

Izumi kicked him in the stomach. "Did you even hear yourself? To me you sound like the sick one" Izumi spat on him. Kosuke got up and reached inside his pocket and pulled out a emerald necklace. Izumi's eyes widened. It was the same necklace her mother gave to her father who died after that. "How do you have that?! Return it to me! It's my mother's!" Izumi yelled at him.

"It was recovered from your father's dead body by my soldiers. I was told I needed to return this to you and assert dominance completely. But you know...I am not pious enough to do that. In fact I am a scoundrel with raging thoughts and ideas. I am too savage to be a noble king so here you go" Just as he finished speaking he threw the necklace outside the balcony. Izumi rushed after it but it was too late- the necklace vanished.

"The only mistake you made was coming here. On paper we will be an approved couple and our kingdoms will merge but we both how it will be in future. If you have any fire to rebel then quell it, if you wish for your mother's safety, and yours if that matters. I might even not torture your sick people for a while" Kosuke laughed and left.

Izumi was in utter shock. What type of evil had been brewing here? and since when?