§Future Empress§

A Friend

After Himiko had left, the room was in awkward silence for a good few minutes until one of them spoke up.

"So...princess, do you not find it weird to get help from a person like me? I want to know what exactly are you thinking?", Tenko said as he looked around trying to find more words in his head to beat this silence. His cheeks grew slightly pink- being embarrassed as the Princess took more time to answer him. Honestly it wasn't that long but Tenko had a different way to process things. Maybe now he is more conscious of their social standing or is it something more?

Izumi took a deep breath and let out soft exhale. "A person like you is exactly what I need to overcome this bastard king and hope to see a future with this kingdom regardless of the past", Izumi spoke as she looked at Tenko with determined eyes. Tenko seemed to have understood what she meant to say with that. 

"What's your opinion on your Kingdom, Prince Tenko?", Izumi spoke up out of respect. The respect which could never be given to Kosuke in any right mind.

"I am no longer a prince but I do have my opinions to straighten this mad house", Tenko spoke out of his humbleness. 

"Well if our ideas align, then soon you could have the power to implement your ideas", Izumi said, every word dipped in truth and reason. Tenko was honestly surprised at her serene way of thinking.

Before Izumi could answer him, she heard footsteps approaching her room. Tenko immediately leapt to lock her doors and asked Tenko to quickly hide. Concerned for both his and Izumi's safety, Tenko hurriedly went under the bed. 

Izumi wasted no time and unlocked the door. She stepped away and waited for the doors to be smashed open considering the aggressiveness of the footsteps. And just that happened. 

Tenko kicked open the door and Izumi didn't respond well to that but honestly didn't expect much from a brute. "What insolence! Entering a lady's chambers like that! what gives you the right?", Izumi spat, trying to throw him off guard but his eyes had no shine. He snapped his fingers. The royal guards entered with Himiko- bounded with ropes. This earned a loud gasp from Izumi. 

"What are you doing with her? Let go of her this instant!", Izumi ordered but it was futile. 

"My princess...I am the King of this Land and you have no authority here unless you marry me and stop your childish rebellion", Kosuke spoke with utmost arrogance and spite. He simply couldn't tolerate her antics anymore. 

Tenko got out and freed Himiko from their grip and stood in front of her. 

"Oh my...Good to see you big brother! I am afraid you are a little early for the wedding but judging from your unauthorized entry in my future Queen's chambers, I am assuming you do not have the best intentions for this marriage. Also, My dear didn't you just say how inappropriate it is for me to enter your chambers then what is he doing here? Answer me!", Kosuke rambled as he grabbed Izumi's wrist tightly. Izumi tried to remove his hand but she cannot exactly harm the King in front of his minions. 

Tenko was furious by the slander and the wretched behavior that he pounced on Kosuke but the guards attacked him and restrained him. "Throw him in the dungeon...and as for the maid...burn all her belongings and banish her from the castle at once." The guards took immediate action and exited with the two. 

"Now...what exactly do you want? what will keep you from meddling in my affairs? Speak now!" Kosuke spat. Izumi decided to stay silent and stared at him in disbelief. Kosuke groaned in annoyance and left after locking her doors from outside. 

Izumi collapsed on the floor. Everything she did led her to a dead end and misery started to fog her thinking. She hated how instantly she fell into misery and became senseless. And maybe this was how she figured out how to get out of such situations. Pushing someone to their limits can unleash some latent potential even they themselves were unaware of. Izumi stood up and rushed into the bathroom. She wanted that magical mist to come to her again and guide her. She was at her wit's end and thought only a miracle could help her.

She waited till nightfall. The servants did bring her food accompanied by soldiers. She couldn't care less. Izumi kept sitting on the bathroom floor in hopes for the miracle to come her way.

Her head was buried as she hugged her legs tighter by the moment and then it dawned her. The mist came to her when she was in complete silence and tuned out from the world. What would calm her the most? She racked her brain. Then she remembered a moment she had spent with her lover. The thought of when they bathed together in the waterfall hidden from the world's gaze and secured in each other's arms.

She got up and ran herself a bath in the stone carved bath tub. Within some time the bath filled to it's brim and Izumi took of her dress and went into the tub in her inner-wear. The white fabric turned translucent as she sank further into the tub and let herself get comfortable.

In The Dungeon

Tenko Shimura's cell

Tenko sat under a dwindling lamp, resting his back on the eroding stone wall. His was the only cell on that floor of the dungeon. The guards monitored the section promptly, leaving no room for a mistake. Tenko cursed under his breath. He was annoyed by his actions but more importantly he was worried about the princess and Himiko. After knowing what would happen to Himiko, Tenko kept blaming himself. Why did he have to reveal himself? Had he waited the result would have been better! Such thoughts tortured him but he had no one to blame. 

Suddenly, he heard metal clash outside. Curious, he got up and leaned against the metal frame. He saw the guards on the floor- probably bleeding. He was shocked and backed up into his cell. Was it inside mutiny? He thought. Then suddenly a figure rushed upto his cell and rested on the metal frame. From what Tenko could see, it was a tall man with a good build and covered by a dark cloak. He took the dwindling lamp and raised it to the man's height. 

Tenko's eyes widened. It was his old friend Toya! Due to obvious reasons they couldn't meet up more but he cannot forget those blue eyes.

"Toya! What are you doing here?! How did you even get here!?", Tenko spoke up in his raspy voice- his throat drying with no water the entire day. Toya tossed his bottle inside. "Drink up, and back up as I have to break you out of this place!", Toya said and Tenko backed up.

"Don't you mean us? Tenko-kun! I am also here to break you out of this!", Himiko spoke up and danced behind Toya. Toya just sighed and hacked the lock away in one swift motion. Tenko swiftly got out and hugged Himiko. "How are you?! Is everything okay!?", Tenko asked worriedly.

"They just burned some old stuff besides I will not need it where we are going next", Himiko spoke as she giggled childishly. "What do you mean by that? Where are we going?", Tenko asked as he broke out of the hug. "To Galilee", Toya said sternly. "Why? What place do we have there?", Tenko asked, completely dumbfounded. "It is a safe place for us, especially you as that bastard might just execute you for anything at this turn of events, and judging from your expression you know how true that is", Toya explained as she crossed his arms. Tenko sighed, "I cannot leave the princess alone here!", he rebelled. "We are not fleeing forever, we will return with a plan and set things right! The princess is strong enough to handle herself!", Toya explained. "We need to leave, the next set of guards will be here any moment", Tenko said and leapt towards the exit.

And with that Tenko left Lockwood with his friends and hoped to return soon to save his kingdom.