The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Sarah asks blankly "Sir? I beg your pardon?".

The doctor nods "It's still remains a mystery. I have tried every possible tests but I don't find any inkling of The Poison!".

Sarah stands in shock and whispers "Then…How can this be possible?! Everyone knows that she was poisoned? We have found the snake in her chamber!".

The doctor shrugs "May be Our Queen wasn't in her chamber that night? We are all fortune to not losing her because of some conspiracy! I recommend taking Our Queen as soon as possible to the Royal Palace where The Royal Infirmary is. We can't put her life in danger. The Royal Infirmary Doctors can have any exclusive procedure than mine".

Sarah nods and smiles nervously "Yes Sir. I will arrange a carriage at once!".

She sends the doctor and closes the door slowly not disturbing Maya. She thinks about the doctor's words.

'Maya wasn't in her chamber? It is impossible! I myself saw her getting into her chamber! She couldn't have gone from there! If she had to, then the only way she could have used was the window! She would have broken her every bones if she jumped out of the window!'.

She looks at Maya pitifully and sits tired.

'The Countryside Pavilion was built for prisoning The Consorts or keeping the persons whom the Royal people wanted to get rid of. Every servant who works for more than few decades knows this detail. I got to know this because my mother told me. My mother even made me swear on her. I felt sorry for Madam Maya at start but I thought she would be sent away. Crown Prince too ordered us to protect her'.

'But who planned this against Crown Prince?! How in the universe Madam Maya survived the Poison?! I couldn't help doubting her…'.

Sarah looks at the Maya's injured hand and contemplates everything.

'She fought for my sake? By hearing Celina's words….'.

She lets out a frustrated breath.

'I don't know what to do. Is Maya carrying some secrets? But she is a mere stranger to the country and even brought by Crown Price personally'.

"The Emperor's Head Servant has arrived!!".

Celina enters right after the declaration.

As soon as she entered, she ran to Sarah nervously. She whispers "The Emperor ordered to take The Queen to The Royal Palace at once!".

Sarah nods and walks towards the door to welcome the servant "Let me accompany Maya-".

Celina stops Sarah "I will!".

Sarah raises her eyebrows strictly "No! You won't!".

Celina whispers almost w.h.i.n.es as if she was wronged "Why?! Can't I serve my Queen?!".

Sarah shakes her head and walks ahead "No! It's not about serving. You know only a single maid is allowed into the Royal Palace and I am not risking Madam's dignity there. You can't be left 'unhandled' and so Madam Maya. She is just like you. Unstoppable! I had warned her! I had warned her before meeting Princess Veronica to not act inappropriate with her but she didn't hear me! I will accompany her personally from now on-".

Sarah stops sensing Celina wasn't following her and turns "Celina! Follow me quick! I have no time to babysit you!".

Celina gasps in utter shock as if she heard something impossible "Princess Veronica?!".

Sarah realizes what she had blurted and grabs Celina's arm "Don't ever open your mouth about this!".

Celina asks in shock "What happened Sarah?! WHAT our Queen did with HER?!".

Sarah warns "You know how serious is this and you also know if someone knows about this, they could easily frame the Royals by sending a complaint to The Imperial Court!. So I want you to keep your little brain and that big mouth shut!".

Celina giggles "Only if you tell me everything!".

Sarah closes her eyes "I will tell you but please keep your mouth closed!".

Celina smiles and follows her timidly.

-----------

Kalki's camp.

Kalki is standing in front of a broken mirror. He wipes the blood on his neck by a cloth. His eyes darkens seeing his blood still flowing.

'This can't be happening!'.

He looks at the wound sternly and presses his hand against the wound. He listens to the cold winds outside the tent and shakes his head.

'Now where would I find it?!'.

He strides out of his tent and looks at the campfire. He walks looking around so that no one could notice his presence. It was dark as it was already night.

Kalki picks up a burning wood and walks in opposite direction of his tent. He walks for about an hour in the whirling cold winds. But he didn't seem affected by any of that climate. He is still walking with his one hand placed on his wound. It's already started snowing faintly.

He squints his eyes in the darkness. The firewood was aleady went off in this weather. His eyes were searching something desperately.

He stops seeing something and takes his hand away from his wound. He looks at the blood still flowing from the cut and grits his teeth.

Without wasting much time, he shrugs his outer robe off showing his chiselled muscles of his body. He removes his boots and stands on his bear foot. The blood stains his c.h.e.s.t slowly as if it was running desperately to bleed him to death.

Kalki looks around for one time to sense if someone is around him. He finds himself standing in middle of a frozen lake.

DRIP…DRIP…DRIP

The sound of his dripping blood matched with sound of dripping water droplets from some distance.

He kneels down slowly with his right knee touching the frozen water. He looks his own reflection in the ice and smirks looking at his glowing eyes.

"Heal me!".

He punches the ice by his hand.

SPLASH!!

Kalki disappears within the lake in a glimpse. The ice was broken and Kalki had made himself drench in the frozen lake.

SPLASH!!

Kalki comes out of the cold water violently. He climbs up slowly from the water.

COUGH!! COUGH!!

He crawls weakly and coughs holding his c.h.e.s.t. He winces due to the burning sensation in his lungs. He suddenly rubs his neck where he was hurt before.

Kalki looks at his clean palm and stares in shock.

"This magic still works?!".