§Future Empress§

A Friend or A Foe?

Izumi was tied to the chair overnight in the dark chamber. She tried a lot but the ropes only got tighter. Ultimately she gave up and fell asleep. Her exhaustion from the entire day got her and she couldn't resist any further but she also knew when she will wake up when her guilt will catch up and mentally drain her. 

Life kept testing her but for what?

----

A girl walked into the chamber, she jumped and twirled around and reached Izumi who was fast asleep. Cute giggles arose from the girl and woke up Izumi. "Oh my~ You are awake! Let me help you get ready for the day! You pretty girl!" The high pitched voice rang Izumi's ears and she looked at the blonde girl who had a wide smile on her face and a knife in her hand held near her face. Izumi swiftly retracted back. "Oh! Don't get scared! this baby is here to cut you out of your binds! Besides the king will hang me if you get even a small scratch!" The girl exclaimed as she began to cut the ropes. After Izumi got out of the binds, she stretched- relieving all the pent up tension from last night. 

"Here! Your bathrobe! Clean yourself well and I will ready your dress for today! It's a pretty green color too!" The girl kept speaking and Izumi just took the robe and went to bath.

After an hour or so, Izumi was adorned in a beautiful dress and jewelries of silver. Izumi didn't want to admit but this kingdom's fine arts have always been famous and being dressed in them made her feel a lot. What she felt was mostly disgust and admiration. Disgusted by the notion of belonging to this savage kingdom and admiration for the artisans' work.

"What's your name, lady?" Izumi asked the blonde girl who worked so hard in taking care of her needs. "Oh! Why? I thought you would never ask princess, My name is Himiko Toga!" she exclaimed as she jumped around. Izumi laughed slightly at her cuteness. "You are so pretty when you smile then why do you usually have a scowling expression?" Toga asked curiously and hovered over Izumi like a bee. Izumi sighed deeply. 

"That's because this is a fowl kingdom", a familiar masculine voice spoke up from the direction of the balcony. The girls swiftly turned their heads towards the direction of the voice and saw a lean man leaning on the balcony with a pleasant smile and relaxed red eyes. Before Izumi could identify the man, Himiko leaped and hugged him tightly. "Tenko-kun! Where were you! I missed you so much!", Himiko cried heavily. Tenko hugged her back gently and caressed her head. "Sorry I took so long to visit...I missed you too Toga", Tenko said gently as he continued to calm Himiko down by caressing her head. After a few minutes both regained their composure and Izumi waited patiently with doe eyes to know about their relationship. Tenko noticed and let out a soft chuckle.

"That must have been confusing for you princess but thank you for waiting patiently. You see Himiko and I are old acquaintances and we fondly look at our relationship of that of siblings", Tenko explained and Himiko just laughed. "Oh that's quite beautiful. Even I had a sister figure back in my kingdom. Her name is Ochako Uraraka and she must have a lot of work to do now because of this god forsaken marriage" Izumi vented and looked to see a very astonished expression on Toga. "Is something the matter, Toga?", Izumi inquired and even Tenko couldn't understand her expression. It was a face full of sorrow, anger and surprise. Tenko nudged her out of her frozen state. Himiko then ran towards Izumi and fell on her knees while holding Izumi's hands. Obviously taken aback, Izumi stood up swiftly. 

"Princess...is Ochako in Galilee? How could she be there? She is of Lockwood!" Himiko started crying in frustration. Tenko's eyes widen in realisation. "Is that the maid who worked here over 5 years ago? Wasn't her family executed for treason?" Tenko said and Himiko cried louder. Izumi kneeled down and hugged Himiko. "I still don't quite understand why would Ochako be  in Galilee if she's from Lockwood?", Izumi said and then her eyes widened. "Unless...if she was sent to sent as a spy..." Izumi added. "It could be very much possible but if the news about her family being executed is true then Lockwood did her wrong...very fowl and wretched", Tenko said as his face became visibly angry and his hands forced into a tight fist. 

Izumi still couldn't believe that Ochako had been a spy for so long. She wished these words were a lie and that nothing changes between them but then again she was reminded of moments when Ochako did seem odd and not to mention Katsumi's sudden flight from the palace of Galilee. ^Could it be Ochako's doing?^ Izumi thought.

Izumi looked at Tenko with doubt. Tenko sensed the tension and didn't press further. 

"I will need to talk to my mother at any cost. She knows many things and at this point of events I believe I should know them too...for the sake of our future", Izumi said. Her chest tightened as she grasped for breath. She was extremely anxious but definitely had to know the reality of things. Tenko gently patted her back and sat her down. 

"But how will you leave? Kosuke has ordered for you to be locked in this room. And you do not even know where your mother really is?" Himiko said, anxiety evident in her tone. 

"He said that my mother is unaware of all this and living comfortably in the palace. I assume she would be in the guest quarters away from the main palace", Izumi said as she glanced at Tenko and Himiko. Tenko seemed to understand what Izumi had in her mind and proposed a plan. 

"When Kosuke visits today, I will knock him out and princess, you can then leave to meet your mother. Till the time he visits, Himiko will go and find the Queen and make a direction chart for you, princess, so we do not waste any time."

Everyone agreed to the plan for the day. Himiko left to find the queen.