Jealously and Resentment!

Hearing the announcement, everyone turns towards Maya only after standing up and both the Princes didn't forget to stand either.

Maya notices people's mixed reaction and avoids looking into their eyes.

Her heart almost trembled to see both Kalki and Xavier standing and gulps.

'At least there are few etiquettes to preserve my self esteem in this place... If not for the rule, would they even think of paying respect to me?!'.

"Look at her!"

"She looks gorgeous! Look at her dusky skin!".

"Is she the girl from a different country whom Our Crown Prince brought?!".

"Why is she here?!".

"What is she doing in the Imperial court?!".

She hears someone praising her beauty and some people even surprised to see her in the gathering.

Maya only understood that most of the people didn't like her presence in the Imperial Court.

Even though people are mesmerized by her presence, they can't accept her as a Queen just because she is married into Royal.

If it was for the common people, they might have accepted her as she too is a commoner.

The people in the Court is completely belonged to Royals and not to mention many Royals would have planned to make their daughters married to the Crown Prince and make them Queen.

It is normal for them to be displeased by a commoner's presence in the place of their cherished and adored daughters.

In the midst of their jealousy and resentment, they totally forget to greet her.

Even Xavier stood as a rock seeing her in the red gown. He never noticed anyone's clothing with so much details especially women's. He is astonished to realize how attractive she is in every clothes whether it is just some torn and untidy clothes or in this Royal attire.

She never failed to surprise him.

Kalki raises his eyebrow and traces  Maya's elegant movement till she reaches the centre of the Imperial Court.

Kalki creases his eyebrows displeased and sneers looking around the people present in Imperial court.

Before he could speak, a soldier greets in a loud voice, startling each and every person in the room.

"The Imperial Court welomes The Queen Consort of the Northern Country!".

Maya stops by his sudden voice and blinks confused.

'Why would he force them to greet me?!'.

THUD!

"Long Live The Queen!!".

Before she could realize, she looks at everyone kneeling before her.

Maya "...." 

Kalki smirks seeing startled Maya and just nods.

It seems the soldier has been keenly observing Kalki's gestures and reactions. 

He announces "Everyone may raise!".

After everyone greeted Maya, she is guided to her throne next to Kalki's by a soldier. She walks anxiously yet with some blind confidence. 

If someone doesn't know what to do in a difficult situation  and also does not want to embarrass themself,  then they just have pretend that they are confident. Even though they are trembling inside.

How would you expect her to react when she has never seen such gathering with Royal people in one place. Altogether! 

Not to mention as a wife of The Crown Prince who is also The Emperor to-be of the country!

She walks to her throne and bows slightly before sitting on the throne. She is about to let a relaxed breath but chokes seeing Xavier smirking at her.

'This man! Why is he looking at me?! Is he mocking me?!'.

She uses her everything to stop the coughs escaping out from her mouth. She never expected she would be welcomed here without any problems and now she doesn't want to embarass herself by making sudden noise. She doesn't want anyone to even look at her from now on! 

Xavier smiles contently seeing her but only one thing bothered him. That the throne she has to be seated was in his left side. He doesn't want her to be on his right side as his Brother's woman.

'I have to talk about this to Xander'.

Xavier diverts his thoughts away from her temporarily and stands to explain the situations and the need of the dam construction.

Maya purses her lips seeing his different aura while speaking to the crowd.

After two whole hours of explanations and discussions, a solder asks a final round of agreement "Does the Council of Royals agree to the Royal decision?".

Before passing the decision, they would ask once before they sign the edict. Once the edict has issued then no one can stop it from implementation.

A man stands among the crowd, formally and bows "On behalf of the Royal Council, I do!".

The soldier asks once again "Does the Prince Xavier agree to the Royal decision?".

Maya looks at Xavier sneakily as if anticipating something.

Xavier nods "I do".

Maya sighs and whines mentally that they would go straight to the Crown Prince.

The soldier asks loudly this time,  making Maya to wake from her own thought castles "Does The Queen of The Northern Country agree to the Royal decision?".

Seems he has been watching everyone's gestures very keenly in order to avoid doing any mistakes.

Maya "..." I too have a say?! Why didn't Sarah mention about this before?!.

The whole people in the Imperial court were looking at Maya and she opens her shivering lips to speak.

Xavier almost laughed seeing her 'Is she shivering to say two words?! I wonder how she would say those two words while marrying me!'.

Maya declares "I do not!".

Her three words shattered Xavier's mocking thoughts and even startled the whole people.

GASP!

Xavier "..."

The soldier who was preparing to ask the same question to Kalki "..".

Kalki for the first time turns towards her side but remains silent as if he is waiting for her further explanations. 

A man from the Royal Council stands and asks after a short bow "Could Madam show mercy and enlighten us with a proper reason for Her Highness's disagreement ?".

Everyone could feel his mocking tone in the question. But none warned him as if they too doesn't want a mere commoner to interfere in their Country's political decisions.  So, everyone remained silent as if they are supporting him.