Maya asks glaring at him "Then what about that shadow?'

Kalki becomes stern "That's nothing to do with this conversation!"

She insists "It's not your mother!"

Kalki snaps at her "I don't care!"

Maya "..." I can't believe this man.

She looks away defeated.

He sighs and walks out of the chamber.

------

Night.

The Emperor's Chamber.

Philip asks his spy "What is it?"

The man hands him the rolled cloth and stands bowing his head.

"What about the information I asked?"

The man speaks reluctantly "I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty! No one knows how Madam Maya reached The Southern Realm".

Philip's eyes turn curious and ask "What do you mean no one knows?!"

The man assures "I am telling the truth, Your Majesty. No one knows about how and when Madam Maya left the palace. I have even enquired personally. No one saw her leaving the Entrance of the Royal Palace too. Everyone saw her only when she was in the middle of the battlefield".

Philip smiles amused and wonders "Did that kid follow her husband to this extent? She must have followed him with much efforts to reach there without any Royal Carriages! Ha! I did right by bringing her here".

The man remains silent as if contemplating.

Philip asks noticing him "Speak".

The man speaks hesitantly "That.. Your Majesty. .Something is strange with this incident".

Philip laughs "What is strange about a wife goes finding her husband? Are you looking down on The Queen?-"

The man kneels instantly "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty!"

Philip states "Then speak".

The man states "As far as I investigated, Madam Maya was in The Palace when the chief servant fainted. The time Marcus mentioned about seeing Madam Maya on the battlefield was not any different. I-It sounds weird and strange that she reached The Southern Realm in just a few minutes-"

Philip grunts "What are you implicating?"

The man shivers hearing Philip's angered voice and bows "I am just informing the details, Your Majesty. This situation is apart from my understanding. I wanted to relay this information even though it sounded weird. The head servant who lost her conscious is the one who saw Her Highness lastly. She told the Imperial doctors that she couldn't remember anything about that time. But she stated that she was talking to Madam Maya before she fainted suddenly. Not only, but Marcus, even the other soldiers' answers were also strangely the same. Please forgive me if I am just speaking things which don't make sense".

Philip waves his hand gesturing him to leave.

He tilts his head suspiciously "How could this be like this?"

The man walked out of the Emperor's chamber finds Madam Mary and bows "Your Highness".

Madam Mary who was lost in her thoughts smiles hearing him "It seems you are working very hard".

The man states respectfully "This servant is just doing the duty, Your Highness".

She nods and sighs noticing him from head to toe "You need to take care of yourself too. Eat more to serve the nation more".

The man smiles and bows "Yes, Your Highness".

She sees him leaving with a smile and sighs looking at the door of the chamber in deep thoughts 'There must be something important. Why would his spy appear suddenly?'.

She enters the chamber and notices Philip too in deep thought.

'Something is going on...'

------

In a while Xavier in his chamber.

Mary enters the chamber and asks looking around "Xavier? Why are you sitting in darkness?".

Xavier stares his Bow and is lost in his thoughts.

'I couldn't overcome this weakness'

Mary asks lighting some candles around the chamber "What are you thinking about? You look worried. Is it about the dam?"

Xavier subconsciously answers "I couldn't protect her".

Mary stops lighting a candle and looks at Xavier "Her?"

She recalls that she received the news from her servant that Maya was imprisoned and asks surprised "Are you worried that Maya is imprisoned? Don't you know? The Crown Prince got her out of the prison within a few hours!"

He smiles bitterly "Of course... He did... He can do anything unlike me"

Mary gets uncomfortable seeing Xavier's desolate face in the candlelight and gasps "Xavier..."

Xavier mumbles "Why am I even living this pitifully?"

Mary cries in horror "Xavier! Don't forget you are a Prince of the Northern Realm! How could you?!"

He scoffs "What is the use of being a Prince, Mother? I couldn't go to Prison instead of her. I stood there uselessly. How will I protect the Realm when I couldn't even save my family?!"

Mary walks towards Xavier and holds his shoulder "Stop speaking nonsense, Xavier!"

He chuckles desolately "Nonsense it seems..."

Mary shakes him and speaks sitting in front of him "Wake up, Xavier! Just because you can't enter the Cold Prison doesn't mean you can spout nonsense! You are taking care of this country and even help your brother to conquer. Do you know what's the most important thing you do? You take care of your family better than anyone in this nation. Not even the Emperor does what you do! Do you know how happy and pride I feel when you put your brother and sister to sleep every day? You are more than anyone when it comes to taking care of your family! No one could love and take care of the family better than you, Xavier. Not even The Crown Prince. What happened to you?"

He states "At least he is capable of saving her".

Mary speaks rubbing Xavier's back "He brought her back just because he has the power of The Crown Prince. It's nothing to do with you, Xavier. Why are you blaming yourself for this mere thing?"

"Your Highness!"

Both stops speaking seeing a servant.

"The Crown Prince wants to see you, Your Highness".

Xavier nods at Mary and leaves at once.

Mary gets angry seeing Xavier leaving immediately even when he is sad and cries "Why is it only my son getting hurt always? Why?!"