Three days after their garden picnic, a royal carriage arrived at the Demon Castle.
It was not unusual for visitors to come to the castle.
Merchants came regularly.
Ambassadors came even more often.
Representatives from villages, nobles from neighboring territories, scholars, soldiers, and occasionally people who simply wanted to see whether the Demon Queen really had horns all visited the castle for one reason or another.
But this carriage was different.
It bore a silver wolf on its crest.
Ravenna saw it from the western tower.
Her expression immediately became serious.
"He's early."
Elara, who had been standing beside her, looked down at the courtyard.
"Who?"
"Prince Adrian of the Northern Kingdom."
"The Northern Kingdom?"
Ravenna nodded.
"They control the mountain passes between our territories and the eastern human kingdoms."
"Why is he coming here?"
"Politics."
Elara sighed.
"That explains everything and nothing."
Ravenna smiled faintly.
"Welcome to my life."
Below them, the carriage stopped.
Several guards stepped down.
Then the door opened.
A young man emerged.
He was tall, dressed in dark blue and silver.
His blond hair was tied behind his neck, and a sword hung at his side.
He looked nothing like the cruel nobles described in demon stories.
He looked polite.
Calm.
And very confident.
Elara watched him approach the castle entrance.
"Do you know him well?"
Ravenna's expression became unreadable.
"We met several times."
"Friends?"
"No."
"Enemies?"
"No."
"Then?"
Ravenna thought for a moment.
"Complicated."
Elara looked at her.
"That is usually not a good answer."
"It isn't."
The doors opened below.
Prince Adrian entered.
Ravenna straightened.
The change was subtle.
Her shoulders became more formal.
Her expression became colder.
Elara noticed immediately.
This was the Ravenna the rest of the world knew.
Not the woman who ate honey cakes in the garden.
Not the woman who laughed beneath a cherry tree.
Not the woman who had once fallen asleep beside Elara while trying to keep watch over her.
This was the Demon Queen.
Adrian approached.
"Your Majesty."
"Prince Adrian."
They exchanged a formal bow.
Adrian smiled.
"It has been some time."
"Indeed."
His eyes moved toward Elara.
"And this must be the Saint."
Elara smiled politely.
"Elara."
"Prince Adrian."
He bowed.
"It is an honor."
Before Elara could answer, Ravenna spoke.
"She is my wife."
Adrian's eyebrows rose slightly.
"I am aware."
Ravenna's expression did not change.
"Good."
Elara glanced at her.
Something about the tone had changed.
Very slightly.
But enough.
Adrian noticed too.
He smiled.
"I hope the journey here does not cause trouble."
"It won't."
"Good."
He looked at Elara again.
"I have heard many stories about you."
Elara smiled.
"I imagine most of them are wrong."
Adrian laughed.
"Probably."
Ravenna stepped between them.
"Why are you here?"
"Straight to business?"
"Yes."
"You haven't changed."
"Neither have you."
Adrian smiled.
"I came to discuss the northern border."
Ravenna sighed.
"Of course."
The meeting lasted almost two hours.
Elara did not attend.
She spent the time in the library with a book about ancient magic.
At least, she tried to read.
She found herself thinking about the conversation downstairs.
Especially the way Ravenna had said:
She is my wife.
It should not have mattered.
It was simply a fact.
A political fact.
A legal fact.
A fact written into a treaty.
And yet Elara had felt something warm when Ravenna said it.
Something she could not quite explain.
She closed the book.
Blue, who had been sleeping on the windowsill, opened one eye.
"Don't look at me."
Blue chirped.
"I don't know either."
The dragon chirped again.
Elara frowned.
"You think I should know?"
Blue nodded.
"You are becoming far too opinionated."
Blue looked pleased.
The library doors opened.
Elara looked up.
Ravenna entered.
She looked tired.
"Finished?"
"Finally."
"Was it difficult?"
"Very."
"Did you win?"
"It wasn't a game."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"No."
Ravenna smiled.
Elara closed her book.
"Did something happen?"
"No."
"Ravenna."
"Nothing happened."
"You look annoyed."
"I am annoyed."
"Why?"
"Because Adrian enjoys making things complicated."
Elara tilted her head.
"What did he want?"
"Access to the northern roads."
"Did you agree?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because he wants more than he is saying."
Elara nodded.
"Then you're right to be careful."
Ravenna looked at her.
"You trust my judgment."
"Yes."
"Without asking why?"
"I know you."
Ravenna was quiet.
Then she smiled.
"That makes me happy."
Elara felt that strange warmth again.
Before she could answer, someone knocked.
A servant entered.
"Your Majesty, Prince Adrian wishes to speak with Lady Elara."
Ravenna's expression changed.
"Why?"
"He did not say."
Ravenna was silent.
Then she looked at Elara.
"You don't have to."
Elara smiled.
"I know."
Ravenna hesitated.
"Do you want to?"
Elara considered it.
"Yes."
Ravenna nodded.
"I'll wait outside."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Elara smiled.
"You really do say that a lot."
"I learned it from you."
She left.
Elara stared after her.
Then laughed quietly.
Prince Adrian was waiting in the western hall.
When Elara arrived, he bowed.
"Thank you for coming."
"Of course."
He gestured toward a chair.
"May I?"
Elara sat.
Adrian remained standing.
"I wanted to speak with you privately."
"About Ravenna?"
"Partly."
Elara waited.
Adrian sighed.
"You should know that not everyone is happy about this marriage."
"I expected that."
"The Northern Kingdom has benefited from the war."
Elara looked surprised.
"How?"
"Trade."
He smiled sadly.
"War is terrible for ordinary people. It is profitable for certain kingdoms."
Elara looked down.
"That's unfortunate."
"Yes."
Adrian walked toward the window.
"The peace treaty threatens several old arrangements."
"Is that why you're here?"
"Partly."
He turned toward her.
"I also wanted to see whether the stories were true."
"What stories?"
"That the Saint has been captured."
Elara almost laughed.
"Captured?"
"Some people believe Ravenna is forcing you to remain here."
"She isn't."
"I suspected that."
"How?"
"Because you don't look frightened."
Elara smiled.
"Should I?"
"No."
He studied her for a moment.
"You seem happy."
Elara paused.
Happy.
Was she?
She thought about the garden.
Breakfast.
Tea.
Blue.
Ravenna's laughter.
The hidden garden beneath the cherry tree.
The way Ravenna had held her hand.
"I am."
The answer surprised even Elara.
Adrian nodded slowly.
"I see."
He looked toward the door.
"Then I suppose there is nothing else to say."
Elara stood.
"There is."
He looked at her.
"Ravenna isn't what the stories say."
"I know."
"Do you?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"I knew her before the war ended."
Elara stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"Ravenna's mother and my father knew each other."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Adrian looked toward the castle walls.
"Your wife has spent most of her life being told what she was supposed to become."
Elara's expression softened.
"She has."
Elara looked at him.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because someone should."
He smiled.
"She will not."
Elara was quiet.
Adrian bowed.
"That is all."
As Elara left, she noticed Ravenna standing at the far end of the corridor.
Waiting.
She had clearly heard nothing.
But she had been waiting.
"Are you all right?" Ravenna asked.
"Yes."
"What did he want?"
"To make sure I wasn't being forced to stay."
Ravenna's expression softened.
"And?"
"I told him I wasn't."
Ravenna nodded.
"Good."
They began walking together.
After a few steps, Elara stopped.
"Ravenna."
"Yes?"
"Did you know his father?"
"Yes."
"Your mother knew him too?"
Ravenna looked surprised.
"Adrian told you?"
"Yes."
Ravenna sighed.
"My mother and his father were friends."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Ravenna looked down.
"Because that part of my life is complicated."
Elara took her hand.
"You don't have to tell me everything at once."
Ravenna looked at their hands.
"Thank you."
They continued walking.
Neither noticed Adrian watching them from the window above.
His expression was thoughtful.
Not suspicious.
Not jealous.
Simply thoughtful.
That evening, Elara and Ravenna ate dinner together.
The conversation was surprisingly ordinary.
Garin had prepared roasted vegetables and fresh bread.
Blue had somehow acquired a spoon and was attempting to carry it across the table.
Ravenna watched him.
"Why does he need a spoon?"
Elara shrugged.
"He has ambitions."
"Apparently."
Blue dropped the spoon.
It landed on the floor.
He looked at it.
Then looked at Ravenna.
Ravenna sighed.
"I am not picking that up."
Blue chirped.
"No."
Another chirp.
"No."
Elara laughed.
"He'll keep trying."
"I know."
Ravenna reached down and picked up the spoon.
Blue immediately celebrated.
Elara smiled.
"You always give in."
"I do not."
"You just did."
"I was preventing further disruption."
"Of course."
Ravenna looked at her.
"You are enjoying this."
"Very much."
Ravenna smiled.
Then, without thinking, she reached across the table and took Elara's hand.
Elara looked down.
Ravenna seemed to realize what she had done.
She paused.
But she didn't let go.
"I was thinking."
"About?"
"Adrian."
Elara nodded.
"What about him?"
"He asked whether you were happy."
Elara looked at her.
"And?"
"I told him you were."
Ravenna was silent.
Then she asked quietly,
"Are you?"
Elara looked at her.
The question was different now.
It was not about the castle.
Not about the treaty.
Not about political safety.
It was about them.
Elara squeezed her hand.
"Yes."
Ravenna's shoulders relaxed.
"Good."
Elara smiled.
"Are you?"
Ravenna looked at their joined hands.
Then at Elara.
"Yes."
The answer was quiet.
But certain.
Outside the window, the Silver Rose glowed.
One black petal.
One white petal.
One silver petal.
Three colors beneath the moon.
And somewhere beyond the northern mountains, an old bell began to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Ravenna looked toward the sound.
Her smile disappeared.
"That isn't good."
Elara's hand tightened around hers.
"What is it?"
Ravenna stood.
"The northern border."
The Silver Rose suddenly went dark.
For one heartbeat, the entire castle fell silent.
Then, from somewhere deep beneath the earth, came a sound like a distant crack.
The seal had moved.
And this time, it was not waiting for them.
It was calling them.