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Izumi · 9/25/2026, 10:32 PM

The blue chieftain of Walosi came quite promptly, and the Empress greeted the man with a gentle bow of her own head. She’d nearly forgotten how chipper and full of life he’d been since the last time they’d met, and perhaps that played into the reason she felt strangely at ease in his presence. We meet again, Chieftain Nate. It’s been a while. she greets as her head rose again, meeting him with a warmed smile.

To think that once upon a time, Izumi could barely lift her lips to smile at strangers without straining herself. Practice made perfect, as one said, yet this time it was genuine.

Izumi was not blind to the way his gaze shifted to her figure every now and then. It was quite hard to miss the swell in her sides by now, no longer as nimble on her feet as she was before — and within just as short as a month, she was due to give birth. An idea that still made her inwardly nervous, as this was her first time ever carrying children.

If you stare for too long, I fear you’ll burn a hole into my stomach. She quips with a hint of mirth which lifts her lips. Regardless of her inward fear of what would happen come the day of labor , the pregnancy itself was never something she was ashamed of showing. The cranebird not only carried the next generation of her family — she also carried the Dynasty’s future heirs. Osamu’s children, nonetheless — and she carried that knowledge with a swell of pride.

—and while married, she was not yet, there was none else who she’d imagined taking her side other than the samurai…

Upon the chieftain's permission, the woman’s paws would cross over the borders. Approaching Nate’s side to trust that he’d lead the way towards the spring he’d mention. I’d be delighted. Maybe there, we’d be able to catch each other up to speed. The empress responds with a short nod. After all, Izumi had also come to discuss political relations…

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Greetings Stranger!

Lapis Nestle

The Silent Crane