The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Maya jolts from her sleep hearing a deep voice beside her ear.

As soon as she opened her eyes, a pair of blue eyes welcomed her. Only then she realizes, she slept in his embrace.

'You slept in a stranger's embrace! How dare you Maya?!'.

She turns suddenly and Xavier smiles "I hope you slept very comfortably?".

Maya purses her lips and just nods in response. She looks before her blushing and gasps "The Harbor?!".

Maya gets down by holding his big hand by her small hand. She didn't fail to notice his tanned hand and how different they are.She pats her cloth and covers her shoulder by her cloth.

She looks at Xavier and smiles "Thank you for helping me Sir! I would never forget this help in my life time".

Xavier smirks "So you will remember me but I am not allowed to remember you and your name?".

Maya purses her lips and smiles faintly "What is the use Sir? We aren't going to meet in future once I go from here".

Xavier sighs sadly and pats Charles "I wish I could stop-".

He looks at something ahead and asks Maya "Will you come with me?".

Maya gets startled "Where?".

He holds her wrist and drags her "Just follow me My Lady".

She frowns seeing a big white building and gasps noticing the design of its construction. It looks so pure and even the place is spotless.

Xavier stops walking inside the building and looks at her frowning in confusion.

Maya was looking around the place in wonder and her eyes fell on the statue before her.

She holds her both hands on her mouth and gasps "What is this place?".

He smiles "Its a Church. Have you ever went to one?".

Maya shakes her head "What is this place for?".

Xavier looks at her clueless face and asks "Do you believe in God?".

She looks at him and shakes her head slowly "I believe in power above us...Not in any God..actually I believe..but doesn't want to give any name or image..Just the nature's power?".

She looks at the statue before her and asks "You worship here?".

Xavier asks "Would you mind if I ask you to stay while I pray My Lady?".

Maya smiles "I don't believe in God Sir. But that doesn't mean I would disrespect him".

Xavier kneels and holds his both hands. He holds his hand close to his c.h.e.s.t.

'Father. Please bring her into my fate. Tie this Lady's destiny to mine if she is really meant to be mine. I know she doesn't believe-'.

He opens his eyes to look at Maya but gets shocked.

Maya is kneeling beside him and holding her hands against her c.h.e.s.t. But instead of praying, she is looking at the statue sadly.

Xavier asks "Didn't you say that you don't believe in God My Lady?".

Maya looks at him blankly "Yes Sir...But ...I just want to ...greet him..you know...What if he really exists and gets angry at me for not greeting him in his place? Like..How can I not greet someone in their place? I can't get cursed by my ignorance".

Xavier chuckles "You are truly one of a kind My Lady! But you wouldn't get cursed. He is kind".

Maya whispers "Really?".

Xavier nods and says "Then let me pray".

Maya nods and continues looking around curiously.

Xavier opens his eyes after asking his wish once again. He looks at his platinum chain hanging in his neck with a cross pendent. He removes it and smiles at Maya.

Maya is now staring at the craving works over the ceiling amused.

Without thinking anything, he speaks "At least keep this to remember me".

Maya who turns to see him as he spoke, gets stoned seeing him putting a chain around her neck.

Xavier smiles looking at the chain around her neck and states "It looks-".

He frowns seeing her shocked face and asks "What happened My Lady?".

Maya looks down slowly at the chain and back at Xavier's face still in shock.

'Just what did he do?! Did he do this on purpose?!'.

Seeing his genuine ignorance in his eyes, she swallows her nervousness and shakes her head.

Xavier is not satisfied with her reply and insists "What is it My Lady? Did I do something inappropriate? ".

She gulps yet asks stuttering "W-what would...you do..to marry a girl in your religion Sir?".

Xavier anwers looking her anxious filled face "We would exchange wedding rings after taking vows-".

He looks at her shocked now and points at the chain "Why are you asking about the marriage? Why are you- Wait..Do you exchange chains in your religion?!".

Maya looks at the true panic in his eyes and fakes a smile "I...I told you Sir..I ..don't believe in them...It's just a ..." and sighs closing her eyes.

"Don't ever do this mistake Sir. Not every girl would be like me who doesn't believe in religions and the rituals. You might end up marrying that girl if she is from Hindustan! This really means marriage as the groom makes the bride to wear a ..chain...or even a simple thread...in her neck!".

Xavier "..." I never know!.

Maya removes the chain instantly and holds in her hands "I wish you take this back-".

Xavier declines "It's one of my precious treasure My Lady. I am not taking it back" and asks astonished "So...are we married now?!".

'I don't know why I am happy about marrying a mere stranger and sad too...Why doesn't she believe in religion?!'.

Maya forwards the chain and says "No! because I don't consider it as marriage and how could I allow a stranger to marry me?".

'But I followed a stranger to a country just because he claimed that that was My Father's wish! And My instinct too agreed!'.

Xavier holds her hand and closes her palm with the chain "My Lady. Do you have any thought of coming back here? In future?".

Maya looks at his eyes and blinks with no idea of his feeling "No".