The Dragon King's Heart

"Your Highness, these would cover the debts we owe in a glance. Why are we sending it back?" Margaret could not help but ask. 

Laina shook her head as she folded her arm, "I cannot just accept a hand out like this. I would become a joke amongst the other royals."

She knew more money would only solve the surface issue. It would not change the way Kinshearth earns and sustains itself. While she was glad to have received this helping hand, she was not about to accept it. 

But sending Dante's gift back to him was also a feat on its own. How was she going to transport everything back to him? Lucky for her, the items had been delivered using a spatial storage box. A magical item that could store a large number of items in a small box. 

All they needed to do was to return everything into it. As the items were being placed back into the box, an item, in particular, caught Laina's attention. She stopped the servants who were moving them so that she could take a closer look. 

It was a beautiful painting of breathtaking scenery. There was something very unique about the painting that captured Laina's attention. In the sky, was both the sun and moon. One side of the painting was of a picturesque sunny day with warm light. 

On the other side, was the elegant beauty of the night with a crescent moon in the sky. Twinkling stars covered the darkened night sky. In the foreground, there was the shadow o a couple, holding hands. 

Laina crouched down to admire the painting up close. As she tilted her head from side to side, she noticed that there was a layer of glitter over the paint. Laina's eyes sparkled. She had an idea. 

"Your Highness, we are done with the packing, all that's left is the painting," a servant informed Laina, bringing her out of her thoughts. 

Looking back at the painting, she bit her lip. 

"The painting will remain. I would like it moved to my bedroom," she instructed without much thought. 

Margaret, who silently watched as things unfolded, could not help but smile a little. No matter how much she tried to hide it, it was clear that Laina liked Dante's gift. 

-He has always been your weakness.- she thought to herself. 

Laina arranged for the spatial storage box to be sent to her quarters too, for safekeeping. She wanted to return it to Dante in person, and to also express her gratitude for his kind gesture in person. 

But right now, she had the bigger task at hand to accomplish. Since it was already getting late, Laina decided to retire for the day and continue her work in the morning. But later that night, Laina tossed and turned in bed. 

She could not sleep. 

The gears in her mind were turning and moving. She had ideas and she had adrenaline pumping in her veins. Though it was late into the night, Laina got up and tied up her hair. She moved over to the writing desk in her room, lit a lamp, and got to work. 

Past midnight, Margaret came over to check on Laina, as she usually does. It was the duty of the handmaiden to ensure her mistress was well taken care of. She was surprised to find Laina hunched over the writing desk, writing and flipping through papers. 

"Laina, it's late, what are you doing?" she asked as she walked over. 

Laina was so focused on her work that she did not hear Margaret. She only realized her handmaid's presence when she stood right next to her. Laina almost jolted out of her seat, surprised to see her. 

"My goodness, Margaret, you scared me!" Laina exclaimed as she rubbed her chest to calm her palpitating heart. 

The handmaid chuckled, "My apologies, your highness. You were so engrossed in your work, you did not even hear me enter. What are you doing up so late? You still have the morning court session to attend later."

Laina leaned back in her chair and let out a yawn. Looking over to the ticking clock on the wall, she realized how late it was. But her mind was still churning out ideas. Laina wanted to write them all down before they disappeared. 

"I need you to bring me some documents, Margaret," Laina asked her handmaiden to bring her the finance documents from the Royal Office. 

Margaret placed a hand on Laina's shoulder, "Princess Laina, these can wait till tomorrow. You need your beauty sleep, my princess."

But the princess was not about to back down. She was on a roll with the work she was doing. All the papers she had laid out before her were going to be part of her plan. Laina wanted to keep working on it until it was complete. 

Seeing her working so hard, Margaret did not stop her from doing so any further. The handmaid did as her princess had asked. On top of that, she also returned with a piping hot pot of coffee and a plate of cookies.

Margaret sat by Laina's side as she worked, silently watching Laina as she worked. When the sun rose the next morning, Laina finally put down the pen in her hand and stood up from her seat. 

The handmaid had dozed off but as soon as Laina stood up, she woke up. 

"Your Highness, your work is complete?" she asked before letting out a yawn. 

Laina shook her head as she took another sip of coffee, "Far from it, there is still much to be done."

Just then, a loud growl and tummy rumble could be heard from Laina's stomach. The handmaid and princess looked at one another for a moment before bursting into laughter. Margaret got up from her seat. 

"I think it is safe to say that the work should continue after the hungry demon in your belly is subdued, your Highness," she teased. 

Laina chuckled, "I guess you are right. Could you get the kitchen to make something quick and bring it here? I will take a quick nap while you're at it."

"Very well, Your Highness.. I will be back shortly."