The Commoner Consort: The Country's Respected Empress

Philip smiles looking at Maya affectionately "This child brings an immense happiness with her! Look at me! Till yesterday I was waiting for my death! Her single letter solved my long time sorrow at once!"

Madam Mary creases her eyebrows "What are you talking about, Your Majesty?!".

Emperor Philip nods eagerly "It was this child's suggestion! Take a look at the letter she wrote-!".

Maya interrupts as usually "No! I didn't write the letter!".

Emperor and Madam Mary frowns together in suspicion.

Maya speaks embarrassed "I..can't read or write...I asked Celina to write for me...".

Madam Maya wonders "Who is Celina?".

Maya points out of the chamber innocently trying to explain her relationship with Celina clearly to them "Sarah's friend? The one who is waiting for me outside".

Emperor and Madam Mary shares a look and smiles at each other meaningfully.

Finally, Maya was taken to the dinner by the Emperor Philip and Madam Mary personally.

Maya was seated first before Madam Mary who sat opposite to her.  Both The Emperor Philip and Madam Mary is busy discussing something.

But Maya was far away from hearing the conversation as she is too occupied with sight seeing before her.

She frowns at the dishes placed before her and twitches her lips.

'What in the world are they? How would they taste?!'

The Emperor sat next to an empty chair which is placed between Maya and him.

Maya is overly busy being confused of another important issue, whether to put the veil on or to remove it.

She clearly knows that she would be looking insane to eat with the veil on.

She takes a deep breath and removes the veil confidently.

'So what he is a Crown Prince?! I am a ... C-Commoner too...!'.

Maya curses herself for her stupid thought. She hears some children's laughter and looks at the 'source'.

'Children....trouble!'.

Maya couldn't help feel reluctant to be in the presence of the children. She tries to ignore them and turns to her right away from Madam Mary who is seated straight to her.

GASP!

Maya is stunned to see a pair of feet of someone down. She feels someone sat next to her and looks before her in worry.

'Who might it be?!'

She didn't take long time to find who that was. She takes several deep breaths inaudibly and frowns hearing a voice.

"Welcome to the dinner Sister-in-law!".

Maya "..." 

Maya literally forgot about this character for a long period of time and closes her eyes.

'She has the nerve to call me Sister-in-law?! After plotting to murder me?!'.

Seeing Maya's reaction, Madam Mary speaks hurriedly "That incident has nothing to do with Princess Veronica, dear. The investigations are still going on".

Maya frowns suspiciously and looks at Princess Veronica.

'Investigations it seems... I am very well aware of their process of investigations!'

Veronica walks towards Maya languidly and gives a subtle nod before going to her chair which second to the right of her which is next to the Crown Prince.

Maya just stares at her still she sat in her chair. But as soon as Maya gets a glimpse of  the Crown Prince, she looks down instantly.

She really couldn't handle his presence and thinks of a way to escape 'I wish someone could save me'.

"So be it!"

Maya smiles happily hearing the voice and looks up to the ceiling. But she gets disappointed seeing nothing in the ceiling.

'Where did the mist go?!'

Kalki asks looking around "Did anyone hear something?"

Maya "...." How did he hear the voice?! Stupid Mist-man! Did he speak without putting a spell? Others did not hear him as they are busy in their conversation! It's fortunate that there is no one who heard the sound to answer this Crown Prince! Ha haa!

"Meet me near the Imperial Court after the dinner", saying so Kalki stands announcing "Forgive me. I have something important to take care of".

While Maya was laughing in her heart, she freezes hearing the sentence from his stern voice. It's very difficult to find the tone of his voice whether he said that sternly or that was the nature of his voice.

FOOTSTEPS!

Before she could get her sits back, Kalki had already left the chamber.

No one has spoke against him. In fact they just sighed as if it was a usual thing to happen.

Maya creases her eyebrows 'Did he just talk to me?! Why did only I hear him?! Is that an art of talking secretively?'.

Madam Mary notices Maya's shocked face and smiles "Get used to his peculiarities, dear. Never try to do otherwise whatever he tells you to do".

Maya gets anxious 'Even Emperor's wife is advising me for my well being! Am I in trouble?'.

"Mother who is she?".

Maya looks at the little girl standing next to Madam Mary and marvels 'How beautiful and adorable this girl is!'

Madam Mary answers the girl "It's your Sister-in-law, Love. Won't you greet the new member of our family?".

Scarlett takes a sneaky look at Maya and greets in a low hesitant voice. She whispers something in Madam Mary's ears making her to raise her eyebrows. As soon as Scarlett finishes saying, Madam Mary nods eagerly and makes her sit next to her.

Maya looks at a little boy sat next to Scarlett silently and wonders 'Is he the youngest Prince?'

She takes a glimpse of the family and sighs worriedly 'Where did he call me?! Heavens! I can not the remember the place!'

"Prince Xavier has arrived!".

FOOTSTEPS!

Maya's mood brightens instantly amd looks at the door way eagerly.

Xavier walks towards the dining table and greets the Emperor. He sits after sharing a hug with his mother.

Maya gasps inwardly seeing his attire and looks at him in a trance until he replied her with a gentle nod. It was subtle and almost unseen to everyone but someone got it reached instantly because he or she was ogling him constantly.

Maya looks down embarrassed at her audacity 'What did you just do?!'.