The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Maya instantly blurts "I do not!".

Xavier's smiles broadens and mutters under his breath "Those three words...".

'Those three words are the words from her which could be breath-taking sometimes. These words from her in the Imperial Court really made me admire her bravery. Now the same words from her shows the eagerness of learning new skills which makes me want to ...adore her..'.

Maya gets the Bow in her hand and squeals lowly as she never thought that the bow could be so heavy!.

She c.a.r.e.s.ses the carvings on the bow and marvels the real Bow which looked ancient yet used regularly!

Xavier mocks "Have you ever seen a Bow in your life?".

Maya who was engrossed in surprise, scoffs "I am informing you now that I grew up witnessing every War forms, Sir. So, I fear you might feel bad in future for underestimating me".

Xavier asks suddenly remembering something "What was that Art form which you used before? You told me that you will teach me if I teach you to ride a horse, didn't you?".

Maya is holding the Bow in front of her skilfully and staring at the wooden boards hung all around them.

She smirks at his question and mocks "You almost killed me in your teaching method, Sir. I only hope that you would not literally kill yourself while I teach My Art form in future".

Xavier crosses his arms arrogantly "None of your skills could actually kill this Prince, My Lady. I wonder whether you could pull the string of this Bow to tie it first. If you couldn't do that forget about aiming an arrow further".

Maya takes a glimpse of the belt quiver filled with arrows which Xavier was wearing over his back.

She chuckles "Seems you really like to  challenge me at every chance. Very well then. I fear you are unaware of the fact...that...".

Saying so, she takes a step towards Xavier and looks his blue eyes which were into hers completely. She smirks "I grew up hearing and playing the characters of every warriors in The great Epics, which are known for every powerful Art and War forms".

Xavier creases his eyebrows with no knowledge of anything about her words and his mind is in a daze while seeing her so close to him.

She grabs an arrow from his quiver surprising Xavier and speaks looking at the sharp tip of the arrow "You shouldn't have challenged me in the Archery...Sir?".

Saying so, she pulls his crossed hand and makes him hold the arrow "Help me with this a little, Your Highness. I believe you would not mind?".

Xavier raises his eyebrows with a mocking smile yet his heart had an entirely different theory! 

'I never thought she could be this audacious! She is ....not less than any Princesses! Indeed... She is completely..Majestic...'.

Xavier stares her brown eyes which are filled with wittiness and smiles subtly suppressing his surprised expressions.

'However... How can someone know so many Art forms? She must be exaggerating her skills. How can someone be skilful just because they pretend to be a warrior in plays?...How can she be better than me in Archery? She can be good since she knows the Art forms ever since her childhood. ..But she can't be better than me. After all.. She was a simple commoner...she wouldn't have gotten enough chances to learn many things because of her status.. But from now on I will make her get everything she wishes for...I will help her-'.

Xavier "....".

Maya keeps one end of the Bow on the ground so that the bow stands vertically and holds other end by her hand strongly. She swiftly pulls the string from the lower end of the Bow. By bending the strong and heavy Bow's top end and ties it checking the appropriate tension of the string while tying it.

Xavier is already taken by complete surprise and still stubborn enough to think 'She might..know..*cough* that..but she can't be better than me, can she?! After all, I too grew up learning every War forms since my childhood!'.

Something crosses his mind suddenly which made his frown seriously 'I have never seen a girl so good at even tying the string! She is doing it as if she is... Completely trained! How is she so strong?! She looks slender and fragile...'.

Maya checks the tension of the sting by pulling it few times and looks back at Xavier's shocked face. She smirks taking the arrow from his hand "I believe you remember challenging me?".

Xavier just stares her without any words 'Does she really know Archery?! If so..I have to see how good she is!!'.

Without realizing himself, he already believes that she Knows Archery and now prays that she is just not as good as him! After all..he wants to impress her.

Maya lifts the Bow off the ground lightly and aims the arrow by placing it against the string. She notices Xavier's taken-aback expression and asks arrongantly "Where do you want me to aim, Your Highness?".

Even though Xavier could feel the arrogance in her tone, he could only look around blankly "A-anywhere? ".

Maya chuckles shaking his head and keeps the Bow on the ground back with a bitter smile. She states in a faint tone "I do not know further".

Only a gasp escaped from Xavier. He asks in disbelief "What?".

'She did everything with true skills! She just had to aim for it and win the challenge! How come she doesn't know further?! Is she ..lying? How can someone not learn to aim? She is just one step behind!'.

Maya was feeling restless by her overwhelming nostalgic sorrowful past memories where she has been only forbidden from everything she ever wanted or wanted to do! She is very new to this recently found freedom of learning. She is not able to handle this new feeling as it feels so really unreal.