The Dragon King's Heart

Laina took a few steps back. Ethan turned back around to face the ceremonial minister. He was ready for his coronation. The nobles in attendance chuckled at Laina's plight. None of the Nobles of High Court came to her defense.

Even those who voted for her did not stand with her. They feared for the retaliation they would face from their new king. Laina did not crumble to the ground. She looked over to Ethan with fury in her eyes. 

"Lord Ethan," Laina called out to him. 

She took off the tiara she wore on her head. Ethan never looked back. He did not care to even give her that sliver of respect. 

"Are you sure this is what you wish to do?" she asked. 

The nobles were livid. Laina had lost everything, yet she was still making an empty threat. Ethan heard every word of it. Though he knew things were in his favor, a small part of him felt as if Laina had some weight to her words. 

"The people of Kinshearth have spoken, Laina. They've chosen their Monarch. You need to come to terms with it too," he said without looking back. 

Laina grinned. 

She nodded. 

Laina dropped the tiara onto the carpeted ground. Everyone gasped in shock. Even Dante and Victoria were shocked. Ethan expected her to crumble to the ground in tears. 

Perhaps he might even have to call for the guards to escort her out. 

"Very well," Laina declared, "All the best, cousin."

All the best? Lord Ethan was surprised by her response. He turned around to see Laina turning her back to him. She did not crumble to the ground. There did not seem to be any tears in her eyes. Laina elegantly made her exit from the Throne Room. 

The tiara she had dropped sat in the middle of the carpeted walkway. 

Seeing as Laina left the throne room, Dante and Victoria saw no reason for them to stay. They followed suit shortly. Margaret, Kol, and Florin did the same. Nyx and the Queen's Order of Knights were in shock. 

"What should we do?" one of the knights whispered to the rest. 

Nyx gritted her teeth. Her hands curled into fists. She wanted to follow the Crown Princess, but her line of duty was to the crown, not the wearer. Her heart was conflicted. 

Nyx turned to look at the podium. They were getting ready to crown Lord Ethan. She hesitated for a moment before attempting to make a move. She wanted to follow Laina. The leader of the knights had admired the crown princess since the beginning. 

She saw Laina as a role model. 

As soon as she got out of line, Alum held her back. He was shaking his head. 

"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Nyx yelled at him silently. 

Alum reminded her, "Where do you think you're going?"

"After Her Highness of course!" 

"Nyx, we serve the crown, remember? Not the Crown Princess." he reminded again. 

"I know that but-"

"Laina would have wanted us to stay. As the Order of Knights, our duty is to the Crown, to the people."

Nyx gritted her teeth as she wriggled her hand out of Alum. She knew he was right and she hated it. The knights kept silent too. They too knew what Alum said was right. 

No matter how unwilling they might be, they had a duty to uphold. 

Outside, Laina heaved a sigh of relief as she exit the throne room. Without the tiara on her head, she felt a little lighter, a little more carefree. For the first time in a while, she felt as if a large rock had been lifted off her chest. 

As soon as her friends caught up to her, they were surprised to see the wide smile on her face. 

"Laina, is everything alright?" Victoria asked out of concern. 

"I'm well, Victoria. Fear not," she reassured the werewolf queen. 

"I can't believe they would do such a thing to you!" Victoria yelled in anger, "Laina, if you wish to fight back, Wolfenheim will stand by you. You have my full support. Your enemy is my enemy. I-"

Laina was touched by her support. She never expected to have found such a trustworthy ally in Victoria. She held both of her hands.

"Thank you, Victoria. Truly, from the bottom of my heart. Should the day comes when I need your help, I hope you would extend your hand. 

But today is not that day."

"What are you planning to do then?" Victoria asked. Her voice was full of worry. 

"If you need a place to stay and recuperate," she added, "Wolfenheim welcomes you with open arms."

"Don't steal the limelight, Queen Victoria," Dante interjected as he wrapped his hand around Laina's shoulder. 

"If Laina needs a place to stay, it should be with me." 

She was glad to have so many people to care for her. But Laina did not need to seek refuge.

"Are you thinking of returning to the mansion in Everfree?" Dante asked. 

He read the expression on her face and assumed she was thinking of a place to stay for the time being. The mansion in Everfree by the beach would have been the perfect place. 

Laina shook her head. While she would have loved to be there, it would be too easy for them to find her there. A place came to mind. But for now, she wanted it to remain a secret. 

Laina thanked Dante and Victoria for attending the ceremony. But for now, she wanted them to return to their respective kingdoms. 

"And leave you here alone? Absolutely not," Dante objected. 

He knew things could turn ugly very soon. Ethan might even call for Laina's arrest. He was not about to let that happen. But Laina was adamant. She had a plan. 

"In order for me to work this out, I need you both to cooperate with him," she held onto his hands and gave him a reassuring look.

"Once I have settled, I will send word to both of you to notify where I went," she looked into both of their eyes, "I promise."

Though they wanted to protest further for Laina's safety, they ultimately decide to respect her wishes. As such, they parted ways in the corridor. Dante was hesitant at first. It felt as if he was abandoning her when she needed him the most. 

"Let me stay with you, Laina," he pleaded with her. 

His genuine request was enough to melt her heart. But Laina politely turned him down. She wanted Ethan to think the world had turned its back on her. 

"I need him to think I have no one left," she explained to him. 

After much persuasion, Dante finally relented. He would watch Laina from a distance for her safety and respect her wishes. With all that settled, they went on their separate ways.

Now only Laina, Kol, Florin, and Margaret remained. They headed back to Laina's quarters immediately. Instead of going to her room, Laina went straight to the vault first. She took what belonged to her and prepared to leave. 

As soon as the ceremony was over, Nyx was ready to leave the throne room.. She wanted to look for Laina. 

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