The next morning, Elara woke to the smell of cinnamon.
She opened her eyes.
Blue was sitting on her chest.
He was staring at her.
Elara stared back.
"Good morning."
Blue chirped.
Then he sneezed.
A tiny puff of smoke floated toward the ceiling.
Elara sighed.
"You really should stop doing that indoors."
Blue looked away.
"You know I'm right."
He refused to look at her.
Elara smiled.
"Come on."
She lifted him from her chest.
Blue immediately wrapped his tail around her wrist.
"You're getting heavier."
The dragon made an offended noise.
"I didn't say you were fat."
Another offended noise.
"I said you're growing."
Blue looked pleased.
Elara carried him toward the door.
When she opened it, Ravenna was standing on the other side.
Elara nearly walked into her.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Ravenna looked at Blue.
Blue looked at Ravenna.
Then he reached one tiny claw toward her.
Ravenna sighed.
"Good morning, Blue."
The dragon immediately climbed from Elara's arms onto Ravenna's shoulder.
Elara smiled.
"You've made up."
"We were never fighting."
"You looked jealous yesterday."
"I was not jealous."
"Of course not."
Ravenna narrowed her eyes.
"Would you like breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Then come with me."
Elara followed her.
"Did you make it?"
"No."
"Did Garin?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you asking?"
Ravenna stopped.
"I thought married people were supposed to have breakfast together."
Elara blinked.
Ravenna's ears turned slightly pink.
"I read it in a book."
Elara smiled.
"What book?"
Ravenna hesitated.
"A book about human customs."
"Of course."
"I was researching."
"Naturally."
"Elara."
"I'm not teasing you."
"You are."
"A little."
Ravenna sighed.
But she was smiling.
The dining room was already warm.
A long table had been prepared, but only two places had been set at the center.
Elara stopped.
"Why only two?"
Ravenna looked at the table.
"Because there are two of us."
"I thought you usually ate with the council."
"Sometimes."
"And the servants?"
"They eat in the kitchen."
Elara looked at the table again.
It felt different from their previous breakfasts.
This time, there was no formal distance.
No stack of documents.
No political reports.
Just food.
Bread.
Fresh fruit.
Eggs.
Honey.
And a large pot of tea.
Ravenna pulled out a chair for Elara.
Elara sat.
Then Ravenna sat opposite her.
Blue immediately flew onto the table.
Ravenna pointed at him.
"No fire."
Blue chirped.
"No flying over the food."
Another chirp.
"And absolutely no stealing."
Blue looked at Elara.
Elara shook her head.
"She's right."
Blue sighed.
Ravenna raised an eyebrow.
"He understands you."
"I think he understands that I'm easier to convince."
"That is concerning."
Garin entered carrying another plate.
"Breakfast."
He placed it on the table.
Then he looked at the dragon.
"Blue."
Blue stared at him.
"Don't."
Blue stared harder.
"Fine."
He placed a tiny piece of cooked egg on a separate plate.
Ravenna frowned.
"You said he shouldn't eat human food."
"He's been eating human food for three days."
"That doesn't make it safe."
"Your Majesty."
Garin pointed toward Blue.
"He breathes fire."
Ravenna paused.
Garin continued.
"He lives in a castle."
"He sleeps in the Saint's bed."
"He has already eaten half my honey cakes."
"At this point, I think we're past worrying about whether he has an unusual diet."
Elara laughed.
Ravenna looked at the ceiling.
"I am surrounded by traitors."
Garin smiled.
"Good morning to you too."
Breakfast was unexpectedly peaceful.
Elara had grown used to Ravenna eating quickly.
The Demon Queen usually treated meals as another task to complete.
But today she remained at the table.
She drank her tea slowly.
She listened when Elara spoke.
And occasionally, she smiled.
Elara began to notice small things.
Ravenna liked the crust of the bread more than the soft center.
She disliked overly sweet jam.
She always added exactly two spoons of honey to her tea.
She preferred green apples to red ones.
And she secretly fed Blue pieces of egg whenever she thought Elara wasn't looking.
Elara eventually caught her.
"Ravenna."
Ravenna froze.
"What?"
"You gave him another piece."
"No."
"I saw you."
"You did not."
"You have egg on your finger."
Ravenna looked down.
There was, in fact, egg on her finger.
Blue chirped triumphantly.
Elara laughed.
"You are terrible at hiding things."
"I am the Demon Queen."
"That doesn't make you better at lying."
"It should."
"It doesn't."
Ravenna wiped her finger with a napkin.
Then she looked at Elara.
"Do you enjoy this?"
"What?"
"Arguing with me."
Elara thought about it.
"Yes."
Ravenna looked mildly offended.
"Why?"
"Because you always look surprised."
"I do not."
"You do."
"Perhaps I am simply unused to someone arguing with me."
Elara smiled.
"Then you'll have to get used to it."
Ravenna's expression softened.
"I suppose I will."
After breakfast, Elara expected Ravenna to return to her office.
Instead, Ravenna remained seated.
"Are you not working?"
"I am."
"Here?"
"I thought..."
She stopped.
Elara waited.
Ravenna looked slightly embarrassed.
"I thought we could have tea."
Elara smiled.
"We just had tea."
"That was breakfast tea."
"And now?"
"Morning tea."
"How many kinds of tea do you have?"
"Several."
Elara laughed.
"All right."
Ravenna looked pleased.
She poured the tea.
They sat beside the tall windows.
Sunlight entered the room.
Outside, the castle grounds were slowly waking.
Servants crossed the courtyard.
Guards changed shifts.
Blue chased a butterfly.
For once, Ravenna did not seem to notice any of it.
She was simply sitting there.
With Elara.
Elara took a sip.
"This is good."
"Jasmine."
"I know."
"You like it."
"How did you know?"
"You drank three cups yesterday."
Elara looked at her.
"You remember?"
Ravenna looked confused.
"Of course."
Something warm settled in Elara's chest.
It was a small thing.
Almost nothing.
Yet she found herself smiling.
"Ravenna?"
"Hm?"
"Do you remember the first breakfast we had together?"
"Yes."
"You barely spoke."
"I was nervous."
"You?"
"Yes."
"You didn't look nervous."
"I was very good at hiding it."
Elara smiled.
"I thought you didn't like me."
"I was afraid you didn't like me."
Elara's smile faded slightly.
"Why?"
"Because you were the Saint."
Ravenna looked down at her cup.
"You were supposed to hate me."
"But I didn't."
"I know that now."
There was a pause.
"Did you hate me?"
Ravenna looked up.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Elara blinked.
"Not even when we first met?"
"No."
"Why?"
Ravenna looked toward the window.
"I don't know."
Elara waited.
"Perhaps because..."
Ravenna stopped.
"Because?"
"You looked frightened."
Elara's eyes softened.
Ravenna continued quietly.
"And I realized that I was frightening you."
She looked at Elara.
"I didn't want that."
Elara stared at her.
"You were worried about me."
"Yes."
"Even though I was your enemy?"
Ravenna shook her head.
"I never thought of you as my enemy."
Elara's heart skipped.
"Then what did you think I was?"
Ravenna looked away.
"My future wife."
Elara's face became warm.
Ravenna seemed to realize what she had just said.
Her own cheeks turned red.
"I mean politically."
"Of course."
"That was what I meant."
"Naturally."
"Elara."
"I'm not teasing."
"You are."
"A little."
Ravenna covered her face with one hand.
Elara laughed.
The laughter continued for several minutes.
Neither noticed the servant standing quietly outside the door.
The servant listened.
Then smiled.
Later that morning, the castle kitchens were filled with whispers.
The Demon Queen had laughed.
The Saint had made her laugh.
And they had spent an entire breakfast together without discussing politics.
The servants considered this important news.
Garin considered it excellent news.
Blue considered it irrelevant.
He was too busy stealing another honey cake.
That afternoon, Elara returned to the garden.
The Silver Rose was still there.
It had not withered.
If anything, it looked stronger.
Its petals reflected the sunlight.
Elara crouched beside it.
"You really are strange."
A tiny sound came from behind her.
Blue landed on her shoulder.
"I suppose you think it's pretty."
Blue chirped.
Elara smiled.
She reached toward the rose.
Before her fingers touched it, a voice came from behind.
"Don't touch it."
Elara turned.
Ravenna stood at the edge of the garden.
This time, she was not carrying a sword.
She was carrying two cups of tea.
Elara smiled.
"You brought tea."
"I thought you might want some."
"Morning tea?"
"Afternoon tea."
"How many kinds of tea are there?"
Ravenna smiled.
"Enough."
She handed Elara a cup.
Then she sat beside her.
For a while, they watched the Silver Rose together.
Neither spoke.
The flower glowed softly between them.
Elara finally whispered,
"Whatever happens next..."
Ravenna looked at her.
"We'll face it together."
Elara nodded.
"Together."
Neither of them noticed the tiny black mark that had appeared beneath the Silver Rose.
A symbol.
Old.
Almost forgotten.
And shaped exactly like a closed eye.