The Dragon King's Heart

Margaret had assumed it was simply the work of King Kragen. She assumed he simply hired a lackey to cast it on Laina. She had hoped the Werewolf King would turn out to be a decent option for Laina, but things didn't go as planned.

"Cordelia is here? You've seen her? When?" so many questions raised through her mind.

Dante realized Margaret had no idea. He could not blame her for it. After all, Cordelia's appearance in his castle in Dracona was not known to many.

"She was. She's been meddling. Marius saw her too," he replied.

Margaret turned to Marius, "You knew she was here and you did not tell me?"

Caught completely off-guard, Marius was unable to defend himself. He only had Dante to thank for throwing him under the bus like this. Cordelia's presence amongst them simply made things even more troublesome.

"Now Cordelia is here too?! What's next?" she pushed the blame to Dante, "It's all your fault! If you had not come here too none of this would have happened!"

Offended, Dante lost his cool.

"My fault?! So everything is my fault. Is that right, Moira?" he asked in anger.

"Yes! If not, whose fault could it possibly be?! Mine?" Margaret roared in anger.

Tears began to well up in her eyes. Her vision blurred but she did not care any longer. The feelings she had buried deep inside her heart bubbled to the surface. She pointed at Dante.

"Because of you, I lost my best friend. Because of you, she died! Have you already forgotten that?!" she cried as tears flowed down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Margaret was trembling. Her hands were shaking. Her lips quivered. It pained Marius to see her like this. He knew this was not the time for him to speak. He watched on in silence, unable to comfort her.

"Don't say it," Dante asked coldly.

But she did not heed his words, "Say what? The truth? She died to save you, Dante.

I lost my best friend because of you.

I'm not about to let history repeat itself so that you can feel a little better."

"I-" Dante tried to speak but Margaret did not allow it.

"I have sacrificed too much to bring her back. All I want is for her to be alive. If she grows to hate me for pulling the both of you apart... then so be it."

She took in a deep breath, wiping away her tears as she calmed her heart. Dante was silent for a moment. Margaret turned back to look at the Dragon King. He looked up at her too. At that moment, she knew what he was about to say.

"You thought I didn't know about the curse they placed upon you, didn't you?" she asked him.

Dante widened his eyes in shock. Indeed, he had assumed Margaret was unaware of it. After all, that happened after she left. Margaret chuckled as she shook her head.

"Did you know that Laina is afflicted with the same curse?"

"No… you're lying…" he replied in disbelief.

It could not be possible, could it? Dante took a step back. Margaret must be saying this to spite him so that he would stay away. She seemed to have read his mind.

"You think I'm lying to you so that you would stay away from Laina? I'm not. It is the truth. You can verify it for yourself if you don't believe me."

Dante had not expected it to be this way. Their hearts were linked. But never in a million years would he have thought the curse placed upon him would in turn be placed on Laina too.

Margaret walked up to Dante.

She did not really hate him. She knew how hard it would be for them to be apart. She had seen it herself, it was agony. But if keeping them apart means Laina would live to see another day, then it would have all been worth it.

"If she still had her celestial body, the chances of her surviving the curse would be higher. But the body she inhibits now, would not be able to withstand it. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Margaret asked as she looked into Dante's eyes.

"I understand."

"Good."

"But I cannot do as you ask," Dante replied.

"Dante, if the curse takes effect-"

"It won't. I promise," Dante assured Margaret, "I swear to you, Moira. I will not let it happen."

An idea sparked in his mind. He would do anything to remain by Laina's side. Even if it meant he would never hear her say the words he wanted to hear the most.

"I want to protect Laina too. Let me protect her alongside you."

"What?"

"The nature of the curse is simple. I cannot say the words 'I love you' to Laina and neither can she to me. As long as we avoid that, Laina will be safe."

He knew he needed more to convince Margaret. Dante placed a hand on her shoulder. First, he acknowledged her efforts.

"I know it has not been difficult for you. You've done the unimaginable to bring her back," he said as he placed his hand over his heart, "For that, I am eternally grateful."

"Like you, I don't want anything to happen to Laina. I simply want her to be happy. I will make this promise to you, Margaret. Should the time come and Laina truly finds someone else to be within this world, I will leave."

"Dante, you can't be serious?" Marius asked in shock.

He never expected the Dragon King to ever say those words. Even Margaret was stunned. She did not believe he would be able to do so.

"I am serious," Dante replied without looking at him.

"Are you sure?" she asked in disbelief.

"I am certain."

All he ever wanted was for Laina to be happy, to be well. He had lost her once and the agony was intolerable. He never wanted to experience it ever again. Dante would do everything to make her happy.

If that means she ends up in someone else's arms, he will give them his blessing.

There was no one that could ever replace her in his heart.

Her happiness is his everything.