The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Sarah supports Maya and asks recalling Celina's words "Celina must have sent some servants. She told that she has sent some soldiers for your help-"

Maya gestures Sarah to stop and asks the old man in suspicion "Who informed you about my injury, Sir?".

The old man bows gently "We are informed by a servant from The Countryside Pavilion".

Sarah looks at Maya questioningly.

Maya walks into the sick room and whispers secretively "I was myself not aware of the injury, Sarah. I am very certain that Celina too would not have known about my injured leg!"

Helping Maya to lay on the sick bed, Sarah wonders 'Would it be The Crown Prince then?! But how could he have noticed the injury, when I failed to notice? I was literally next to Maya ever since she came back…'.

Maya finally looks at the injury in her leg and closes her eyes defeated 'I always end up troubling myself! Here I am! Came stabbing a wooden twig!'.

In midst of her cursing, she frowns 'How did the bleeding stop? Ever since I started fighting for others, I can see the changes in my body! Then… Am I going in the right path? I wish I could have someone to guide me-'.

"So be it!"

Maya opens her eyes wide seeing the mist of dark cloud above them in the chamber.

Sarah holds Maya's hand and assures "Endure the pain for few moments. I am here. Don't be scared".

Maya doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

'I am shocked to see that mist again and here she is. She thinks that I am afraid of the injury! Why would I be scared when I endured that brutal cut before?'

AH!

Before she could speak, she sits suddenly and cries in pain while the old man squeezed the twig out of her leg.

The old man assures "It won't be hurting anymore Your Majesty. Please be at ease".

Maya lays back in relief and feels Sarah wiping the cold sweats on her forehead. She mocks herself for her over confidence.

'I thought it will not hurt! Heavens! I swear that I would never put myself in danger in future no matter what the situation is! I will not yield to my tempting mind by getting hurt in any way!'

Maya clears her throat and mocks herself 'As if I would control my mind…' and nods at Sarah who was in panic. She looks towards the ceiling secretively and gets worried 'What if others see this-'.

"Please be assured Little Girl. I can only be visible to my students!"

Maya frowns "I am not you- "- r student and you are not my Master!'.

She stops seeing the old man and Sarah looking at her in shock. She holds her forehead cursing under her breaths and manages seeing him tying the cotton gauges "I am not…feeling well…C-can you treat me fast and let me alone to rest?"

Sarah nods and asks the old man to prescribe some medicines before going out.

After Maya is let alone in the sick room, the voice asks "How do you want me to guide you, Little Girl?"

Maya asks directly "Tell me about My Curse. How was I Cursed? And tell me whether I could relieve myself from this in future if I walk in the path that I have chosen!"

"…."

Maya looks around to see the mist disappeared and opens her mouth to yell but clutches her fist tight "This! Where did it go?! Did I ask something wrong?"

She rests her head on the headboard and sighs "What should I do? Should I really believe that mist?". She frowns and thinks seriously.

Sarah enters the room hurriedly "You are invited to The Royal Palace!". Sarah places something in her hand which was covered with a cloth.

Maya looks away boringly and lets out a deep breath.

Sarah tilts her head "Did you know about this?".

Maya nods and asks seriously "Can I not avoid going there?".

Sarah shakes her head "You can't. But what about going there? Everyone in our nation wants to visit the Royal Palace at least once in their life time! Why don't you like to go there?".

Maya states "Why would I like to go there?".

Sarah shrugs "Because that's your future home".

Maya points at the thing which Sarah placed on a table and asks "What is in it?".

Sarah smiles happily "I have brought a surprise for you!".

Maya scoffs "Now what else is waiting for me? I don't think I could be surprised anymore. I have been surprised ever since I came here!".

Sarah purses her lips and asks reluctantly "Can I ask you something?".

Maya nods ignoring her.

Sarah asks in awe "Did you really not feel the pain? How did you even able to walk with that injury?!".

Maya looks at her darkly yet answers "I was not paying attention as I was shocked by the news of 'Invitation' to the Royal Palace".

Sarah questions "But who saved you?".

Maya answers in a low voice "It's Prince-".

Sarah gasps "Crown Prince?! How is that possible?!"

Maya scoffs "Yes! How could that be possible?! It's Prince Xavier!".

Sarah opens her mouth enlightened and declares "I forgot to inform you! Crown Prince has visited the Pavilion-"

Maya whispers inaudibly "What?!"

Sarah nods "He was in your old chamber just before Celina arrived screaming all the way through the corridors. I forgot about his visit after hearing about you and when I remembered he was nowhere in the Pavilion".

Maya gulps in fear 'I don't know why I fear his presence to this end! I find him very...'.

Before she could continue her thoughts Sarah announces "I have brought you a traditional dress!"

Maya looks at the saree in her hand and smiles pitifully "How sad! I

am not going to wear it in your country's weather".

Sarah smiles disappeared and mumbles "But…I tried so hard to find this in our country!".