Future Empress

An Opportunity Missed?

Izumi hurried out of the room, realizing how much time had passed- it was already afternoon and the sun glared to fiercely.

She reached her room and found the court lady to be missing. She internally cursed at her luck but focused on keeping the satchel hidden. She tossed it under the bed near the wall and stuffed some pillows and her court lady outfit over it. Izumi quickly rummaged through her clothes and dressed herself and waited at the balcony to see if anything is amiss.

After a few minutes she heard firm knocks on her door, annoyed, Izumi went to open the door only to find her mother in front of her with a visible frown.

"Mother?", Izumi was so confused with the situation.

"I am sorry to interrupt your pleasant stay here my daughter but you should have taken some time out to visit me!" Queen Inko complained.

"Please do not be so angry mother!", Kosuke chimed in from behind the door. Izumi felt like as if she were in a nightmare. Inko and Kosuke went inside her room, acting like family and giggling away at little things.

"What are you both doing here?", Izumi asked expecting a clear response.

Inko knew that Izumi is upset about the whole marriage but she thought that Izumi would have adjusted to the setting by now. So, slightly disappointed, Inko said, "Well I came to tell you something important and King Kosuke was generous enough to lead me to you." 

"Oh mother! I mean Queen Inko... you give me too much credit. It's only natural for me to take care of you!", Kosuke explained. Izumi rolled her eyes at their sweet moment.

"Well anyhow, Izumi I have to leave for the Capital and meet the sovereign", Inko said while looking towards Izumi. 

"Why do you need to go?", Kosuke cooed and Inko giggled at his childishness. 

"I need to inform the Sovereign about this marriage and discuss a few other things with him. It was planned months ago but I received a invitation only a few days ago which got delivered today here in this kingdom. So I must make haste! I will be back before the wedding and gladly bless you both!", Inko explained.

"But the Capital is far away! How can you possibly be back for the wedding on time!", Kosuke whined. 

"I know and that's why I must hurry!", Inko played along.

"Mother, If you must go then you should leave at once! If you delay any longer we may not have the Sovereign's blessings!", Izumi said as she wrapped her arms around Kosuke's neck. Honestly everyone in the room was surprised.

Inko smiled and left for the capital.

"What are you planning?", Kosuke asked as he grabs Izumi by her waist. Izumi smiled and broke out of his arms and showed him the door. 

"Sometimes you seriously hurt my feelings...Why?", Kosuke asked.

"You should speak less and what can I do? I have no reason to love you but I have no means to reject this marriage so just accept all my advances and do whatever you may wish to do with this marriage...I don't have the energy to fight anymore!", Izumi yelled.

"The way you confess your love is unique!", Kosuke chirped. "The way you spill utter non sense from your mouth should be studied!", Izumi spat. 

"Well whatever...but do not think you have me distracted. I know you went out in the morning...and with your mother no longer present, who will come save you?", Kosuke said, each word coated with contempt and anger. Izumi was slightly taken aback and lunged towards Kosuke, trying to push him out and she managed to lock him out. 

This was honestly the first time she genuinely felt scared of him.

Without wasting a moment, she searched for the satchel she hid under her bed and emptied out her evidences and wrapped them in a satin cloth. From the balcony of her room she could see her mother's carriage pass by. She had to give this to her and make sure it would be safe. She opened her trunk and took out her bow and arrow. She skillfully tied the cloth to the arrow and aimed it at Inko's carriage end and released the arrow. 

The arrow struck the carriage at it's rear but no one seemed to have noticed. When Izumi turned back, Kosuke hit her with a rod and she fell unconscious. 

"You honestly are a handful", Kosuke said as he picked her up in bridal style and left the room.

.

.

.