The Dragon King's Heart

Princess Kalfina took a quick sniff of the air around them and revealed a smile of triumph, "Ah, it seems like you've completed the mission. I must say I'm quite impressed."

"Impressed? Impressed?!" Florin roared in anger as he lunged at Kalfina. 

Kol could not stop him in time. Florin held his sister by the collar of her blouse, pinning her to the wall. His expression was twisted in pain, agony, anger, and confusion. 

"You lied to me! You used me!" Florin yelled in anger as he punched the wall right next to Kalfina. 

But she barely flinched. 

"I did," Kalfina admitted. 

She pushed Florin off of her and dusted off her clothes. 

"Did you have a hand in her death?" Florin asked as he materialized his sword in his hand. 

"That is a strong accusation you have there, Florin. Watch your words," Kalfina warned as she drew a sword of her own. 

Kol got between the both of them, hoping he would be able to diffuse the situation. If it was not for Kalfina, he would not have been able to get to Florin in time to save his life. 

"Calm down, Florin. Hear her out before you make a judgment," Kol said to him. 

He was exasperated. Florin threw his sword on the ground in anger. He did not know what to believe in anymore. All he wanted was the truth. Kalfina understood his frustration. 

But things were never truly black or white. Things happen. People die. Indeed, she had taken advantage of the situation for her own benefit. She had hoped Florin would not find out about it that way. 

Yet, it was impossible. 

"Where is her body? At the very least, I want to give her a proper burial," Florin broke the silence. 

He was holding all of his emotions in, careful to not let them show. But it was clear to everyone else that he was no longer the same after he had received the news. 

"She…" Kalfina hesitated for a moment. There was no way she could sugarcoat the truth. 

"She was reduced to ashes, Florin. I'm sorry."

Florin turned to look at Kalfina straight in the eyes. He could tell from the look in her eyes that she was telling the truth. He clenched his jaw and curled his hands into fists. 

He glanced over to the coffee table and noticed a bottle of blood wine. Without any hesitation, he walked over and uncorked the bottle. Instead of pouring it into a wine glass, he downed the bottle. 

Neither Kalfina nor Kol said a word. They watched in silence as Florin drank half the bottle before stopping for a breather. 

"How did it happen," he asked. 

"I was not there to witness it. I only have second-hand reports about it. But after you escaped, she threw herself in the line of fire to buy you time. When her barrier spells were broken through, she was reduced to ashes," Kalfina explained as she took a seat. 

Florin closed his eyes. He finished the remaining wine all at one go before placing the empty wine bottle on the table. 

"There's nothing left for me," Florin muttered beneath his breath as he stared blankly. 

Realizing he no longer had a reason to remain in Sanguim, Florin got up from his seat and turned to Kol. 

"I'm done with what I have to do. Let's go find your family," Florin declared. 

The sudden change in attitude surprised Kol but he did not want to pry. After all that has happened, perhaps what the vampire prince needed most was time to think. As they turned to leave, Kalfina stopped them in their tracks. 

"That's it? You're leaving? Don't you want to fight for the throne?" Kalfina asked in disbelief. 

Florin looked at her with his soulless eyes. He shook his head. 

"There's nothing here left for me," Florin replied, "Let us go. I promise I will not return to Sanguim or interfere with any of your plans."

Just as he was about to take another step forward, Kalfina bit her lip as she grabbed hold of his hand. She forced him to turn back around to face her once more. 

"You want to leave? Leave for good?" She asked. 

Florin nodded. 

Sanguim was his home. It was where he grew up, where he spent his time under his mother's care. But now that she was gone, there was nothing to keep him here. 

Remembering the places they had been to, the memories they shared only brought him more pain. He recalled his mother's final words to him. To live. Perhaps he could find the will to continue living elsewhere. 

Seeing as she would not be able to convince him otherwise, Kalfina let out an audible sigh. She let go of his arm. But before they left, she offered to do them a favor. After all, they completed the mission for her. 

The least she could do was to reward them for the work they had done. Kalfina produced a number of items and a small wooden box. The moment Florin saw the box, he knew what it was. 

It was a keepsake box his mother had kept. It contained small items that marked specific keystones in her life and in Florin's. It was recovered from their living quarters after they had left. 

Apart from that, there was a pouch of gold coins. 

"If you're going to live on your own, you're going to need money," Kalfina advised. 

She also handed him a small number of gemstones and jewels for safekeeping. Before they parted, Kalfina made him a promise. 

"Should I rule over Sanguim one day, I will allow you safe passage back here whenever you wish. For now, I will declare you dead, so as to stop the others from coming after you."

Florin was surprised by her kindness. He did not understand why she would lend a helping hand after everything. But he did not say anything. He merely accepted the assistance with a word of thanks.