Alex turns with a smirk playing on his lips "Hmmm.. It is located just in the centre of all the realms and the construction of it was done with the strongest wood in the Earth. So basically its a fort for Northern realm... But other realms didn't like Northern Realm having this invincible fort in their defence and a way to attack others easily as it is the highest point for other 3 realms. Now you asking it for yourself as your wish of winning The Contest caused more chaos... A long lost fear again resurfaced in their mind that they might be attacked in future!"

Maya is speechless "..."

Did I do that again? Digging my own grave? How in the heavens did I manage to stir this big of trouble? Maya... you are solely enough to cause your death... 

She mumbles blankly as she didn't expect The Countryside Pavilion to be this important "I...didnt know"

'Wait.. why would he make me stay there if he wanted to abandon me? In that well-protected place... Did he keep me safe-'

Alex interrupts with a smile "Of course, you didn't know! But fortunately you helped the Crown Prince immensely by asking it".

She asks in genuine doubt "Huh? Didn't I stir trouble instead?"

Alex speaks "That's what everyone would think but for the Crown Prince... Your decision fastened his plans further!"

Maya frowns "Plans? What plans are you talking about?"

Alex states staring her meaningfully "You did attack The Southern realm and you don't know what his plans are? I don't think you don't know yet".

Maya stares Alex's knowing look for few moments dumbly and asks in shock "Is he going to attack the Three Realms in future?!"

He smirks in his mind with pride 'Smart!'

She asks in disbelief "Why?!"

Alex shrugs "You are asking the wrong person, Lady. Ask your husband instead".

He chuckles seeing her shocked face and is about to walk away.

Maya speaks calmly as if mocking him "When The Crown Prince's most trusted person is here, why would I bother to ask him?"

Alex freezes hearing Maya's words and stands stoned. It took a few moments for him and he snaps back at her "What did you say?"

Maya giggles "You look silly even when you are in shock!"

Alex frowns as he senses something weird by her words before and states "I did say that I hate your husband, Lady".

Maya now smirks with a knowing look and speaks nonchalantly "I don't care whom you serve as long as you don't betray me. I thank you for your help today".

Alex "..." What is she saying? Wait! Did she ....find about my disguise? No... It can't be... But-'

Maya waves her hand "You should leave now. I hear someone entering the Prison".

Alex stares him for a few moments and leaves the Prison confused.

Maya sighs and smiles seeing Alex leaving confused "Silly man..."

Her eyes turn playful 'The Crown Prince calls for him while he faints and here he is lying through his teeth... Hates him it seems'

She scoffs in her heart 'You must be very loyal to him but you will need to work hard to fool me. Thank goodness! I sent Bhommi to follow them! How can he forget that I was the one who sent Jonathan to bring him to help The Crown Prince?!'

She shakes her head and chuckles recalling his shocked face again.

Maya leans on the metal door and sighs. She looks around the dark chamber and bites her shivering lips before calling hesitantly "Bhommi?"

SILENCE!

She huffs helplessly seeing the empty chamber "Very well! Now, I have learnt the other thing...I couldn't contact Bhommi when I am surrounded by coldness. I wonder what do they do to keep this chamber to keep it freezing... Would they fill ice around this? Then it would be a penalty for whoever filling the ice around this chamber instead of the prisoners"

"HAHA! True!"

Maya chuckles nodding but freezes "Did I hear something?"

-------

Emperor's Courtyard.

Kalki is walking out of the Emperor's chamber with an Edict in his hand. He orders Jonathan who was waiting for him "Bring her out of Prison at once and take care of her safety personally. I will be leaving to The Western Realm".

Jonathan bows "Yes, Your Highness! At once!"

He forwards his hand to get the Edict from Kalki but frowns seeing Kalki still holding the Edict in his hands without forwarding. He is still thinking about something deeply.

Kalki wanted to leave her as she would be fine if she gets out as early as possible but something tells him that she is not well. He finds it strange but ignores it thinking that he was just overthinking. He hands the Edict to Jonathan and walks away.

------

Meanwhile.

Maya looks around the darkness and shrugs 'I was just imagining the sound it seems'.

Maya started shivering badly and frowns recalling the strange scene before she entered this Prison chamber.

'Who was that woman? Wasn't she there? How could no one saw her? Was she really there and injured? And those footsteps?'

She looks around the chamber and gets suspicious as it has been more than an hour now. Till no news of Kalki. 

Her initial doubts now escalate.

'What if he leaves me here to die? Why did I believe him? What if he tricked me again to imprison me and freeze me to death?! Did I fall into his traps again? How could I...If not for Prince Xavier's intrusion, I would have never taken this decision! Heavens! What does he want from me?! Till when is he going to hurt me?!'

Maya starts regretting as the coldness around her is now unbearable. The blanket also is of no use. She has been always betrayed whenever she believed him. Foremost, she believed that he will marry her and he broke her by abandoning her just the first day she came to this Realm.

'Why?!'