The Dragon King's Heart

Cordelia, now Colette, slowly opened her eyes. She found herself in unfamiliar surroundings. After the Royal Healer was called forth to check her and dress her wounds, she was put to sleep. 

Laina, worried about the young girl, had stayed by her bedside the entire night, much to Colette's annoyance. While she wondered if the Crown Princess of Kinshearth might have discovered something was amiss, she was fairly confident in her own skills as well. 

Colette poked Laina on the arm to wake her up. Moments later, the princess stirred awake.

"Oh Colette, you're awake," Laina said as she let out a yawn, "How are you feeling? Better?" 

"Colette is safe thanks to you! Thank you, pretty princess," she replied with a plastered smile of cuteness. 

Internally, Colette was disgusted. But for the sake of her plan, she was willing to do anything it takes to gain Laina's trust. Laina, who still had no idea, simply thought the young girl was innocent and adorable. 

She gently patted the little girl on her head with a smile, "You're most welcome, Colette. Shall we get some breakfast? I'm sure you must be hungry."

"Colette vehemently nodded her head while rubbing her belly, "Hungry! Can we get pancakes? With blueberries and honey?"

Margaret, who was watching from the side, was a little surprised by how straightforward the child was with her requests. But she did not think too much of it. Children were innocent, they did not know what status and hierarchies are. 

"I will get the kitchen to prepare them at once, your Highness," Margaret said as she bowed slightly. 

Laina nodded, "Thank you, I'll have a stuffed thick toast. Let's head to the Dining hall."

Just as Laina was about to pick Colette up in her arms, the little girl quickly hid beneath the covers. 

"No! Colette does not want to go out!"

"Why not?" Laina asked out of concern.

Colette peeked from behind the covers where she was hiding. She moved her foot a little and said, "My leg still hurts."

She winced in pain and forced a tear to roll down her cheek as she did so. Laina was heartbroken to see the child in so much pain. The hounds, not common in the area, seemingly came out of nowhere to attack the poor child. 

It was almost as if they had appeared out of thin air. Furthermore, their disappearance was just as mysterious. Laina had called for an investigation, but so far no evidence of the dark hounds had been found. 

Not even footsteps.

"Alright, how about let's have breakfast in bed?" Laina suggested with a smile. 

"Yay!" Colette exclaimed with glee. 

Margaret went off to send their breakfast orders to the Royal Kitchen, while Laina and Kol remained in the room to accompany Colette. A dining table was set up in the room as well for Laina to have her breakfast. 

When the food arrived, Colette was served her breakfast of choice, a stack of hot fluffy pancakes topped with blueberries with a side of honey. Laina was just about to walk over to the table to have her own breakfast when Colette grasped hold of her hand. 

With the cutest pair of eyes, she looked up at Laina. She did not need to say anything, Laina knew exactly what the child wanted. But before she could agree to it, Margaret came over with a smile. 

"Your Highness, I can feed her. You need to have your breakfast too. Morning Court is in an hour or so."

"But-"

"It's alright, I can handle it," Margaret reassured her. 

Colette did not have a say in it. Though she very much wanted Laina to do it instead, she did not argue. Laina walked over to the table where her breakfast had been set up. On a white porcelain plate, Laina was served a piping hot stuffed thick toast that had been egg washed and cooked in the oven. 

It was made out of a special square-shaped bread with its center being removed. In its place were a variety of breakfast foods. There were french toast breadsticks, scrambled eggs, grilled sausages, a small portion of beans, and a few other options. 

Laina picked up the knife and fork and dug in. All the flavors worked well together. She also had a cup of earl grey tea to wash it all down. When she was finished with her meal, it was almost time for Morning Court to begin. 

"No! Please don't go… I… I…" Colette held onto Laina's hand with tears in her eyes.

She was shaking like a leaf. 

"Hey, hey it's alright. You're safe now. No one and nothing can harm you. And we'll find your family too. I'm sure they are looking for you," Laina reassured her. 

Colette looked down, she averted her gaze. Laina sensed something was amiss. 

"What's wrong, Colette?"

"I… I don't have a family." She muttered. 

"What?" Laina gasped as she looked up at Margaret. The poor child did not have any family, she was all alone. 

"You have no family? Where did they go?"

"They… they're all dead, the… the hounds killed them!" Colette said as she burst out in tears.

Laina leaned in and embraced the crying child in her arms. She could not imagine what it must have been like for her, wandering all alone. Then to be attacked by mysterious hound creatures in the night. 

She must have been terrified. Laina wanted nothing more than to protect the child. She wondered how many more children were out there just like Colette. Many of them, who were not so lucky to have been found or rescued. What happened to them?

Laina turned to Margaret, "Cancel all my appointments for today."

"What? Are you certain, your Highness?" The handmaid asked in shock. 

"Yes, I'm sure. I want to accompany Colette for the day, maybe bring her into the city to cheer her up. I will do the rest of my work later in the evening or tomorrow."

"I can accompany her, your Highness. You need not trouble yourself with such trivial matters."

Colette listened to their conversation. She was secretly happy to know that Laina was willing to go through all this trouble just for her. This was exactly what she wanted. When she heard that it could be Margaret who goes with her instead, she knew she had to do something. 

Colette clung onto Laina tightly, "No! I only want Laina! I only want Laina!" 

The little girl's clear and strong stance on the matter brought a smile to Laina's face as she burst out laughing. She had barely known the child for a day and they were already clinging on to her. 

What will happen in the future? 

Margaret was taken aback by the child's behavior too. 

"I could use the day off anyway. Margaret, it's alright, I will accompany her."

"As you wish, your Highness," Margaret replied before adding, "I will see to it that all the necessary preparations will be made."