The Dragon King's Heart

"No please, give me a chance. Please!" A voice rang out from the turn down the hallway. 

Curious, Laina went over to see what was going on. The voice belonged to a man who was holding multiple painted canvases. He was on his knees, clinging on to the arm of the guard. 

"Look, sir, I don't make the rules here. The competition registration already ended…"

"Please, please show some kindness, sir," the man continued to beg. 

Laina bit her lip. From the corner of the man's eye, he noticed Laina standing in the corner. The guard noticed him looking behind and turned around too. As soon as the guard saw Laina, he immediately got down onto his knees. 

"Your highness," he greeted her. 

Laina came over and the man let go of the guard. He was still kneeling on the ground and kept his head low. His entire body was trembling in fear. The man did not even dare to say a single word. 

"What's going on here?" She asked

"Your highness, this man wants to enter the art competition with these paintings that he has. But the deadline for the sign-up has already ended," the guard explained.

The man bit his lip. Whether it was good luck or a curse, the Princess was standing before him right here. Right now. He knew if the paintings in his possession were to have a chance, he had to take a leap of faith. 

"Your highness, pardon me for being so bold and rude. My name is Theon Van Hoff, a merchant here in the capital. I beg your forgiveness, Crown Princess Laina, but I have these paintings and I want to submit them in for the competition." the man explained his request. 

Laina folded her arms, contemplating over what the man had just said. 

"But you do know that the painter has to be here in person, to paint?" she asked. 

"Yes…" Theon looked a little dejected, but then he perked up and explained further, "I must confess, your Highness. The painter is not me, it's my brother. He's really talented, he really is. But I couldn't secure the papers for his release in time for him to attend."

"Secure the papers for his release?" Laina echoed his words. 

"He's not been the best of health. But he's the most talented painter I have ever seen. Please, your highness, I hope that you can give his work a chance. To show his worth," Theon continued. 

She could see that he was genuine, but Laina knew she could not bend the rules too much for just one person. Then, she came up with the perfect order. 

"How about this, the competition will end only in three days. I will write you a letter that should help to secure his release. After that, he can come and take part," Laina suggested. 

Theon looked up at her with gratitude. When Margaret and Kol caught up to Laina, she instructed Margaret to assist Theon when he was able to bring his brother to take part. She also asked for some paper and a pen so that she could pen down the letter

"What's your brother's name?" Laina asked. 

"Vincent, your highness."

She nodded, "Good, I look forward to seeing his work. Hopefully, he is as great as you say, Theon."

After finishing the letter for Theon and handing it to him, Laina bid him farewell before continuing her way back to her quarters. Laina was tired from the day's activities. Rather than having dinner in the main Dining Hall, she decided to have her meal in her room instead. 

While Laina sat at the table, Kol stood beside her, watching her the entire time. Feeling uncomfortable, Laina instructed Kol to take a seat instead. He did not move from his position until Laina told him it was an order. 

Instead of seating on the chair next to Laina, he sat on the ground instead. Seeing his obedience, she did not know to laugh or cry. Margaret came into the room, carrying a tray of food for all of them to have. 

"Why is he on the floor?" she asked Laina.

Laina chuckled as she shook her head, "I told him to take a seat, and he chose to sit on the ground. Kol, seat here. Next to me."

Kol pursed his lips. It was as if he wanted to say something, but he did not dare to speak. The seal on his chest began to burn bright red, causing him to wince in pain. Surprised by what was happening, Laina did not know what to do. 

"What is happening?" she flustered. 

"It's because of the contract seal. It sees it as he is defying your orders. The seal is punishing him." Margaret explained as she came over to check on Kol. 

"What…"

Kol quickly got up onto the chair and sat there. Immediately, the pain stopped and the seal no longer burned his skin. Laina heaved a sigh of relief and so did Margaret. 

Laina felt bad for what he had to go through. She reached out her hand and apologized, "Sorry, Kol, I didn't mean to…"

But as she did so, Kol leaned away from her and covered himself with his hands. He trembled in fear. Margaret was surprised by his actions too. It was as if he assumed Laina was going to hit him. 

"Hey, I wasn't going to hurt you, Kol. No one here will hurt you," she placed her hand on his, reassuringly. 

Hearing her words, Kol slowly lowered his hands. His piercing ice-blue eyes were mesmerizing to look at. Just then, a tummy rumble broke the silence between them. It was coming from Kol's stomach. 

Embarrassed, he looked away. Margaret and Laina chuckled as they began to plate the food before them. Tonight's dinner was a simple meal of grilled pork chops with a side of gravy-covered mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. 

Seeing the delicious food plated in front of him, Kol salivated. The aromatic fragrance wafted into his nostrils. He wanted to eat it so bad but he dared not move. Laina picked up her fork and knife, ready to take a bite when she noticed Kol staring at his food. 

"Kol, you can eat," she said to him. 

Given the go-ahead, Kol immediately picked up one of the pieces of the pork chop and stuffed it into his mouth. He was eating as if he had not eaten in days. Margaret gently tapped on his hand and told him to use the fork and knife instead. 

She even showed him how to use the cutlery to eat properly at the table. Kol did as she showed. Instead of eating like an animal, he slowly learned to eat more like a human. Laina and Margaret looked on as they ate their dinner. 

Just how badly had Kol been mistreated in the past?

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