The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Xavier furrows confused "What do mean?"

Maya scowls displeased "Was it because they reminded you of your duties? You killed them like your mere enemies just because they asked questions against you. You should be ashamed rather than proud of your actions, Sir".

She glares at him confidently "In my view, they succeeded in showing you your insecurities. They succeeded in scaring you and even making you do your duties of serving them! They successfully won in reminding your work and lost their lives in this process. You only see their death, Sir. Not your failure. I see their success and your irresponsibility in this place. Indeed building dam is a right move but a late one!"

Xavier "…"

Maya shakes her head in confusion "Aren't they your own people? How can you be so proud of killing them?"

Xavier "…"

'I thought I was winning in this argument… How did I end up like losing terribly?'

(Author: Winning in an argument with Maya? Better quit that idea now. Or start finding the person who could!)

Maya felt her left leg going week and stops walking.

Xavier who is still in shock as this simple girl never fails to surprise him, wonders 'She leaves no chance to impress me in every way. Alas! How unfortunate I am! Every man would crave for a Lady like her'.

'Who wouldn't like a person who always makes you admire them? Who wouldn't like a person who always shows you light in the darkness? She broke my every excuses of supporting my family! Was she a mere commoner in her country?'

Keeping his doubts aside, Xavier declares "The Emperor has invited you for tonight's dinner. As for your request, you may return to The Countryside Pavilion once the dinner is over".

Maya "…"

Now it's Maya's turn to go speechless.

'Dinner? Again?'

Xavier couldn't help laughing "What happened, My Lady? Are you scared?"

'Is she the same girl who was roaring as if she was a lioness?! What happened now? Is she scared? She looks very …innocent now'.

Xavier clears his throat awkwardly and Maya rebukes "I don't want to go there!"

Xavier smiles "It's just a dinner My Lady. The Emperor is waiting to see you. I wonder why he is so eager to meet you suddenly".

Maya ".." I should not have written that letter. Huh.. I should not have asked Celina to write the letter! Why am I creating hardsh.i.p.s for myself?! Maya, you better control your stupidity!

Both have already reached the entrance of The Countryside Pavilion, Xavier declares first "I will be leaving then, My Lady. Hope you meet The Emperor tonight-".

Maya asks nervously "Would you be there?!"

Xavier is taken aback by her and denies "I wouldn't be there as I have to go to the Southern Country. Even though I return, it would be too late when I reach The Royal Palace".

Maya is not convinced with his reply and continues asking as searching for some hope "You ….Can you reach early? I don't know any of them there-".

Xavier says reluctantly "You might find …My Brother tonight, My Lady. Please, rest assured!"

Saying so, he hops on Charles and nods "See you soon, My Lady".

HORSE NEIGHS

With heavy heart, Xavier leaves the place. He doesn't want to see her happiness after hearing his Brother's early arrival. He couldn't stand seeing her happiness because of his brother. Even though it felt wrong, he couldn't help it.

Maya is stoned after hearing his words and didn't even realize Xavier's departure from there. She gasps finally in horror.

"The Crown Prince has returned?!"

--------

The Countryside Pavilion.

Maya's old and burnt Chamber.

"Long Live Crown Prince!"

Sarah kneels down hurriedly before Kalki, as she accidentally saw him entering this room. No one has known about his arrival. If not for her work, even Sarah wouldn't have seen him.

Kalki waves his hand sternly and peers around the burnt room, as if he didn't like the fact that he was noticed. He walks around the room slowly and notices each and everything burnt in the chamber.

Sarah stands up and speaks or she tried to speak "I will inform Ma'am at once about your arrival-".

"Don't!"

A single word came from him deeply made her stop in her tracks. It even stopped her train of thoughts about other things.

Sarah looks perplexed and bows hurriedly "This servant understands!"

She stands silently in a corner of the room and felt herself sweating with cold sweats. She felt her heart beating so fast and making her scared to be in his presence. She didn't expect his visit and not to mention his entry into the Pavilion without announcement! Moreover, his domineering aura even makes her want to disappear from there. But she can't as she is the Chief Servant of this Pavilion.

After scrutinizing for few more minutes, Kalki asks finally looking at the person standing in the room, carelessly "Where is she?"

Sarah answers instantly "In the Royal chamber next to the infirmary. The doctors asked us to let Ma'am stay there until the cut gets heeled".

Kalki nods subtly and walks near the window of the chamber. He looks at the cracked frame of the window and declares "Explain everything".

Sarah takes a deep breath before starting to speak. As per his order, she literally did explain every single event from Maya's arrival in this Pavilion. The encounter with the woman in the village, Maya's visit to the village, her every questions and her every behaviours without missing a single detail.

You would have marvelled by her memory. She really did tell everything. For your clarification, she even mentioned the incident where Sarah found the children embracing Maya previously!

After few minutes, Kalki is still watching outside the window nonchalantly, as if nothing affected him. Sarah would have thought that he didn't even listen till he asked a single question "Is she healed complete-?".

 "Madam Maya is in danger!!"

A sudden voice startled Sarah and caught Kalki's attention.