The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

 Xavier holds her shoulder hurriedly and assures "He won't harm you, My Lady. Don't get scared!".

Seeing her still scared, Xavier holds her hand and places it again on Charles's face. He guides her hand and speaks sensing her shivering hand "He is not scary anymore, is he? See he is liking your presence".

Maya nods in wonder and asks "Can I learn riding?!"

Xavier's smile fell instantly and says looking down "No".

She asks "Why?"

Seeing him avoiding her eyes, she asks sternly "Why can I not learn?! Didn't you promise me previously?!Are you going back on your words? I never thought The Respected Prince of this nation would back on his words!"

Xavier "..." Now how would I calm her down?!. 

Xavier gets an urge to laugh seeing her fuming but nods "I will ..I will.. but later".

Maya raises her eyebrows suspiciously "How could I believe you?  It has been just few days since we met first but you are unpredictable! You treat me well and then throw me some etiquette at my face when I don't like to be treated that way!"

Both walks with Charles for few distance silently. Maya remains silent as she is angry.

'Who wants to be treated the way he treats me? I want him to respect me but I don't want him to bow in front of me just because I married some…'.

She gets uncomfortable to continue her thought stream further.

Xavier stares at her for a minute and smiles defeated "Forgive me for the inconvenience, My Lady. I won't trouble you in future".

Maya sighs looking away 'As if he is the only person who is considerate here..There is something in his voice.. But he is very easy to persuade! Unlike the servants… Perhaps it's because he is a Prince?'

Xavier asks seeing her calm "How about you teach me something incredible than riding my horse?"

Maya creases her eyebrows "Teach you?" and stares him puzzled.

'What is he talking about? How can I teach something to a Prince? Is he mocking me for my insanity of slipping from that cliff?!'

Xavier looks at her confused face and wonders "What was the technique that you used to save yourself from falling?"

Maya opens her eyes wide 'How could he?! Was that too obvious?! How could he have easily found that that was a technique?!'

Xavier smirks "Now don't tell me that was a mere coincidence, My Lady".

She clears her throat carefully and confesses before wondering "It was indeed a technique, Sir. But how did you find?"

He pats Charles and smiles "I am a Prince, My Lady. Unusual things get caught in my eyes usually. So, Tell me. Does it have a name?"

He gazes at Maya curiously waiting for any reply as he wants to know the name of the technique which could save someone from death!

'How could a Prince not get curious about a new art form, which would save him in dire situations?!'

Maya smirks looking at him "Once you teach me riding a horse, I will even teach you the technique, Sir!"

Xavier looks at her in disbelief "Did you just deny telling its name, My Lady?! Don't you believe me?!"

Maya shrugs controlling her smiles which seem to be uncontrollable whenever she looks at him "I won't. Not until I get what I wanted!"

Xavier avoids seeing her smile and asks "Do you feel any discomfort, My Lady? Would you mind carried by Charles-"

Maya interrupts looking at Charles "No! I-I am fine!"

'How could I? I am scared to see him! Did he really hear my mind?! Why don't I check him again?'

She looks sneakily at Charles and tries to speak with him in mind 'Huh… Charles? Charlessss?'

Hearing no acknowledgement from Charles, Maya purses her lips embarrassed 'Did I hurt my head somewhere? I know magic exists. But didn't I go too far by thinking this absurdity?!'

Xavier remembers something and says "The Emperor issued an Imperial order to build the dam-".

Maya gasps in shock "What?!"

He smiles proudly and mocks "Didn't you think worse about the Royals? Do you see how considerate are they now?"

Maya smiles nodding "Indeed!".

'The Emperor didn't even delay in this issue. So, he really cares for the nation like every King should do'.

Xavier smirks mockingly "Poor ignorant people! They always like to blame others. They don't think of the Royals' difficulties while serving them. We need to protect them from our enemies and also solve their every single problem. But what do they do? Preaching bad things about the Royals and raise in revolt against them and eventually die in vain. Do they think that they could defeat us?"

He turns to see her but frowns seeing her not beside him. He turns to find her standing with a 'fear-me' look.

'What's with that look? Does she want me to surrender to her?! Not this time! Because I am right this time! I won't give her a chance to blame the Royals anymore! I might dislike them sometimes, but how could I allow her to blame us? After all, they are my family!'

Maya stopped walking when he just started the first sentence of this long paragraph.

Seeing him looking at her smugly, she couldn't help getting angry. Suddenly, she remembers The Crown Price and wonders 'The man in front of me is the most humble and kind mind that I have ever seen. But he himself gets arrogant whenever he talks about the Royals. I wonder how that arrogant Prince would be?! Would I even able to argue in front of him like I talk to this man?! Forget about arguing Maya… Would you even able to speak? No… I couldn't even see him when he stood before me! I wonder how he looks… Would he be a little kind in any corner of his personality? He could never be…'

"My Lady?!"

Maya jumps out from her fearful thoughts and looks at Xavier. She looks away irked "They died. That doesn't mean they are defeated".

Xavier "..."