The Dragon King's Heart

For the rest of the day, Laina and Dante explored the different thermal baths. They ended their long relaxing afternoon with a herbal bath. Mixed with over ten different special herbs handpicked from various regions across Dracona, it had strong healing properties. 

The mix of herbs dyed the water light shades of green. 

"I am already beginning to feel rejuvenated," Laina remarked as she leaned back on a folded towel. 

Her body was fully submerged in the water, with only her head and neck above. Dante was the same, lying next to her. 

"It's also very good for the skin and complexion," Dante added. 

Laina slowly lifted her hands out of the water. She flipped her hands front and back, frowning at the sight of her prune-textured fingers. She could see the creases in her fingers and they felt weird. 

"I guess that's a sign that it is time to get out of the water," she declared. 

"You sure you don't want to soak in here a while more?"

Laina shook her head, "No, I don't want to turn into a prune! Then who would want me?"

Dante grinned as he turned over to face her, "Even if you were to turn into a prune, I would still want you."

Laina was grinning from ear to ear after hearing his reply. But she could not help but take the opportunity to tease him. 

"Awww that's so sweet of you," she said as she leaned in close, laying her head on his bare chest. 

She turned to face him, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, "Too bad if you were to turn into a prune, I wouldn't want you anymore."

Laina turned back and slowly got out of the water, a smirk flashed across her face as she pictured Dante's disappointment at her reply. 

"You wouldn't want me anymore?" Dante echoed her words in a softer voice.

"Yes, that's right," Laina replied absentmindedly as she put on her bathrobe. 

Dante got out of the water as well, he also put on his bathrobe before hugging Laina from behind. Laina could feel his arms around her, the light fragrant scent of the bath emanated from his skin. 

"In that case, I have only two options," he declared. 

"What two options?"

"Either I turn you into a prune as well, or… I remain as handsome as I already am."

Laina could not help but burst out laughing. She had not expected him to reply this way. Dante joined in the laughter as well, as they made their way out of Thermal Baths to return to their room. 

At first, Dante had an elaborate dinner planned out for them in the Dining Hall. But Laina convinced him otherwise. 

"I say we have dinner in here instead, just the two of us," she suggested as she wrapped her arms around his waist. 

"Is that truly what you want?" He asked as he ran his hand through her hair, caressing the side of her face. 

Laina nodded. 

"Very well," Dante replied as he kissed the back of her hand, "Your wish is my command, princess."

While the staff of the mansion made preparations, Dante suggested they view one of the rooms he had been wanting to show her. It was just down the hallway from where their room was so they did not have to go very far. 

Upon entering, Laina gasped in shock. She walked down the grey stone ground, admiring the paintings that lined the walls. Each of them seemingly told a story, a story she was familiar with. 

Dante walked closely by her side in silence, watching her admire the works. He could not help but smile when he saw the expression on her face. When they reached the center of the room, she turned to him. 

"Did you… did you paint all these yourself?" Laina could not help but ask. 

With the consistent art style, color pallet, and brushstrokes, it was clear that all the paintings in the room were from a single painter. Dante simply replied to her with a nod. He carefully watched her expression, seeing which painting she seemed to like. 

"How does the Dragon King find time to paint all of these?" She asked as she continued making her way through the room. 

One of the paintings caught her eye. She recognized the scene depicted in it immediately. The painting depicted a dark night sky, with vibrant fireworks all across while the back view of a couple seated on the roof of a building was in the foreground. 

"Do you recognize it?" 

"Yes. That's when we met during the Ball. We watched fireworks on the roof of the building."

Laina continued to admire the paintings. She quickly recognized another one. It was of a cat and dog, prancing happily in a field of brightly colored flowers. It took her a while, but Laina soon realized the animals in the painting were of Shadow and Titan. 

When she pointed it out to Dante, he confirmed her guesses. Shadow, Dante's obsidian cat, was depicted with her lying on her back while playing with some butterflies. Titan, Laina's Solar Mastiff, on the other hand, was depicted frolicking through the flower field. 

"I don't think we've ever been to such a place with our pets before," Laina said as she admired the details in the painting. 

"That can be arranged for the future," Dante replied with a soft smile and a slight tinge of disappointment. 

As they continued further into the room, Laina stopped before one of the largest paintings. It was a scene depicting a dragon and a phoenix. The dragon had glistening midnight blue and black scales. 

It almost looked as if it was ready to leap out of the painting. The phoenix had beautiful dark red feathers with fiery flames accompanying it. Laina felt a strong affinity for the painting. Both mythical creatures were interlocked with one another in mid-air, surrounded by clouds. 

"Is that you? In your dragon form?" She turned to ask Dante. 

"Yes, it is. Do I look handsome?" He asked with a smile. 

Laina chuckled, "I don't think 'handsome' is the right description for this one. How about, 'majestic'?"

"I'll take what I can get."

Laina continued to look at the phoenix. The dark red feathers reminded her of her own hair. The flames from the phoenix also reminded Laina of the flames she was able to summon. 

Was this phoenix supposed to represent her?

Not putting much thought into it, she looked towards the end of the room, surprised to find a portrait painting of Dante and a familiar-looking woman. Laina was drawn to it. The more she looked at it, the more she felt as if the woman in the painting looked like her. 

But because the clothes they wore were nothing like anything she had seen before. 

"Is that…" she turned to Dante and asked, "Is that your lover who passed?"

Laina tightened her hand into a fist. Her jaw was clenched as she waited for Dante to reply. Different assumptions on the situation swirled through her mind. She was hanging on, waiting to hear his reply.

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