Future Empress

Boiled Down to

"What's the wait for? Let's leave for the Damn Wedding already!", Katsumi yelled.

The Day of The Royal Wedding

In the Morning

Kingdom of Lockwood

Inner Palace

Kosuke's Old Bed Chamber

For the past few days, Izumi has been living in Kosuke's old quarters, the place where he spent his childhood. You would expect some childlike innocence in the aura of the room but it was filled with all agonizing emotions that if a child experiences will most likely end up delirious.

For the past few days, Izumi's breathing in a confused state of her body and surroundings. 

Now that her mother was out of danger. she could pull of any stunt and try to flee but she has no strength to execute her actions and her mind is too foggy to formulate methods of survival.

Was she accepting her marriage? Not at all, she is still clearly repulsed by the whole idea. Did she accept her fate in life? Yes. her mind and body stopped trying but her heart still ached. Why? The heart cannot be fooled by weak attempts...it's the only thing keeping her human, the pain she is feeling is keeping her alive and not letting her surrender altogether.

"How long will you remain like this? I cannot see you in such pain!", Kosuke said out of concern.

Izumi who lay on the bed, practically refusing to move, couldn't determine if he was being condescending or purely wicked. She just looked the other way, the room's aura was consuming her soul and yet her heart still beat. Her people were not going to attend. How could she forget the blood curdling warning from the damned devil? She dared not to yet she hasn't done anything to safeguard her people. The guilt gnawed her. She even questioned her last attempt to convey important information. Maybe she could have done something different?

Kosuke stood there, his eyes furrowed and nose scrunched, saddened by her lifelessness. At least before she used to fight with him but now she won't even look at him.

A few days ago when Izumi woke up afterwards and found herself in this chamber, she put up her last fight. She then succumbed to despair and Kosuke had to look after her. Can't marry a dead person right?

Izumi surrendered herself under his care and Kosuke gladly took control of the situation. 

But for some time, he hasn't liked this situation. He wished for her to be lively or feisty as she usually would have been but that didn't happen. Did he actually started to care for her? or did he miss the struggle she put up? It was a blurry line.

"The maids will get you ready for today...Comply with everything. From food to bathing to dressing up. Don't fight now, it will be futile, my love", Kosuke said with all the audacity he had and left her alone to attend to his matters.