The bell rang again.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Ravenna was already moving.
"Stay here."
Elara stood from her chair.
"No."
Ravenna stopped.
Elara met her eyes.
"If something is happening at the northern border, I want to know."
"This may be dangerous."
"So may staying here while everyone else runs toward the danger."
Ravenna frowned.
"You were sick three days ago."
"I'm better."
"You were supposed to rest."
"I did."
"You still look pale."
"Ravenna."
"I am being serious."
"So am I."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Ravenna sighed.
"You are very difficult."
"You knew that."
"I am beginning to."
Elara smiled.
Ravenna tried not to smile back.
She failed.
"Fine."
She held out her hand.
"Stay beside me."
Elara took it.
"I will."
They left the dining hall together.
The castle had changed.
Servants were moving quickly through the corridors.
Guards were putting on armor.
Messengers hurried from room to room.
The comfortable warmth of the castle had not disappeared, but beneath it was something sharper.
Urgency.
Ravenna walked quickly.
Elara kept pace beside her.
At the end of the corridor, Professor Orin was waiting.
He was carrying several books and looked more serious than usual.
"Your Majesty."
"What happened?"
"The northern bell."
"I heard it."
"It was activated at the old watchtower."
Ravenna's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"We don't know."
"Any reports?"
"None yet."
Ravenna turned to the guards.
"Prepare a messenger."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Send two patrols to the northern road."
"Yes."
"And wake the border commanders."
"At once."
Elara watched her.
Ravenna was different when she gave orders.
Her voice became calm.
Her movements became precise.
There was no hesitation.
This was the queen the kingdom depended on.
The woman who could walk into a crisis and somehow make everyone else believe it could be solved.
Elara admired her.
She also knew that beneath that calm was fear.
Ravenna simply never let anyone see it.
Or almost anyone.
"Your Majesty!"
A young soldier rushed into the hall.
He stopped and bowed.
"The northern messenger has arrived."
"Bring him."
A moment later, another soldier entered.
His cloak was covered in snow.
He was breathing hard.
"Your Majesty."
"Speak."
"The watchtower..."
He swallowed.
"It was attacked."
The hall went silent.
"By whom?" Ravenna asked.
"We don't know."
"Human soldiers?"
"No."
"Demons?"
"No."
The soldier looked frightened.
"What did you see?"
"Nothing."
Ravenna frowned.
"Nothing?"
"There were no footprints."
The soldier looked at Orin.
"No tracks in the snow. No bodies. No weapons."
"Then how do you know it was attacked?"
The soldier hesitated.
"The tower bell rang by itself."
A cold silence settled over the room.
Orin's face became pale.
Ravenna looked at him.
"You know something."
"I have a theory."
"I don't want a theory."
She stepped closer.
"I want the truth."
Orin lowered his voice.
"The Void King."
Elara felt a chill.
Ravenna's hand tightened around hers.
"That quickly?"
Orin nodded.
"The ancient seal is weakening."
Elara looked toward the windows.
Outside, the sky had become strangely dark.
It was still afternoon.
But the clouds were almost black.
Ravenna looked at the soldier.
"How many people were hurt?"
"None."
Ravenna's eyes narrowed.
"None?"
"They simply..."
He hesitated.
"Fled."
"Why?"
The soldier's face went pale.
"They heard voices."
"What kind?"
The soldier looked at Elara.
Then Ravenna.
"Voices calling their names."
Nobody spoke.
That evening, the castle was placed on alert.
The gates were closed.
Messengers rode toward the border.
The servants were instructed to remain inside the main halls.
Even Blue seemed to understand that something was wrong.
He stayed unusually close to Elara.
Ravenna spent most of the evening in the council chamber.
Elara tried to read.
She couldn't concentrate.
Every few minutes, she looked toward the door.
She told herself she was simply worried.
That was all.
She had no reason to be restless.
Ravenna was safe.
Ravenna was only one room away.
Ravenna was surrounded by guards.
And yet Elara kept looking toward the door.
Eventually, it opened.
Ravenna entered.
She looked exhausted.
Elara immediately stood.
"How bad?"
"Not as bad as it could be."
"That's not reassuring."
Ravenna smiled faintly.
"Sorry."
She sat beside Elara.
"We don't know what attacked the watchtower."
"Do you think it was the Void King?"
"I don't know."
Ravenna looked at the fire.
"But I think something is testing the seal."
Elara sat beside her.
"Can we stop it?"
"I don't know."
Ravenna's voice was quiet.
Elara took her hand.
"We'll find a way."
Ravenna looked at her.
"You're always saying that."
"Because it's true."
"You don't know that."
"No."
Elara smiled.
"But I know you."
Ravenna's eyes softened.
Then the door opened again.
A servant stepped inside.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Prince Adrian requests permission to remain in the castle."
Ravenna frowned.
"Why?"
"He says the northern roads may no longer be safe."
Ravenna was silent.
Then she nodded.
"Allow it."
The servant bowed and left.
Elara looked at Ravenna.
"You trust him?"
"Enough."
"Enough?"
"He knows the northern mountains better than anyone."
"I see."
Ravenna glanced at her.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"You've become quiet."
"I'm tired."
Ravenna studied her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Ravenna nodded.
"Then rest."
Elara smiled.
"I will."
But something inside her had changed.
She didn't understand it.
It was small.
Unreasonable.
And slightly embarrassing.
When she had heard that Adrian would remain at the castle, she had felt something unpleasant.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something else.
Something warm and sharp at the same time.
She didn't like it.
The next morning, Elara understood the feeling.
At breakfast, Prince Adrian joined them.
He was polite.
He spoke calmly.
He discussed the northern roads with Ravenna.
They seemed familiar with each other's way of thinking.
Sometimes Ravenna finished his sentences.
Sometimes Adrian understood what she meant before she explained.
They had known each other for years.
Elara knew that.
She had no reason to be bothered.
And yet...
She was.
Adrian laughed at something Ravenna said.
Elara's spoon stopped halfway to her mouth.
Ravenna noticed.
"Elara?"
"Yes?"
"Are you all right?"
"Perfectly."
Adrian looked at her.
"You seem distracted."
"I'm not."
Ravenna frowned.
"You are."
Elara looked at her.
Then at Adrian.
Then back at Ravenna.
"I'm fine."
She smiled.
It was a perfectly polite smile.
Ravenna looked unconvinced.
Adrian, however, seemed amused.
"Perhaps I should leave."
"No," Ravenna said immediately.
Elara's expression tightened.
Ravenna noticed.
"Elara?"
"I'm going to the garden."
She stood.
"By yourself?"
"Yes."
"Wait."
"I'll be fine."
Elara walked away before Ravenna could stop her.
Blue followed.
Ravenna stared after them.
Adrian quietly drank his tea.
"She's jealous."
Ravenna nearly dropped her cup.
"What?"
Adrian smiled.
"You heard me."
"She isn't."
"She is."
"Why would she be?"
"Because she cares about you."
Ravenna stared.
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you look so frightened when she left?"
Ravenna opened her mouth.
No answer came.
Adrian smiled.
"You may be the most powerful person in this castle."
He stood.
"But you're remarkably helpless when it comes to feelings."
Ravenna glared at him.
"I dislike you."
"I know."
He smiled.
"That is why we're friends."
Elara was sitting beneath the cherry tree.
Blue was curled beside her.
She had brought a book.
She had not opened it.
She stared at the pond.
"What am I doing?"
Blue chirped.
"I know."
Another chirp.
"No."
Blue tilted his head.
"I am not jealous."
The dragon looked unconvinced.
Elara sighed.
"I just..."
She stopped.
She didn't know how to finish.
Ravenna had been kind to her.
Ravenna trusted her.
Ravenna had shown her the room where her mother had died.
Ravenna had held her hand.
Ravenna had told her she didn't want her to leave.
And now...
Elara didn't like watching someone else make Ravenna laugh.
The realization made her face warm.
"Oh."
Blue chirped.
"Don't say anything."
Blue chirped again.
"I know."
She covered her face.
"This is embarrassing."
A voice came from behind her.
"Are you talking to Blue?"
Elara turned.
Ravenna stood there.
She looked slightly amused.
"Perhaps."
Ravenna sat beside her.
"You left very quickly."
"I wanted some air."
"Are you upset?"
"No."
Ravenna waited.
Elara looked away.
"No."
Ravenna smiled.
"You are a terrible liar."
"So are you."
"That's fair."
They sat quietly.
Then Ravenna spoke.
"Adrian told me something."
Elara stiffened.
"What?"
"He said you were jealous."
Elara's face became hot.
"He did what?"
Ravenna looked at her.
"I told him he was wrong."
"Oh."
Ravenna paused.
"But then I thought about it."
Elara slowly looked at her.
"And?"
Ravenna's cheeks were pink.
"I realized I was happy."
Elara blinked.
"Happy?"
"That you might care."
Elara's heart skipped.
Ravenna looked down.
"I don't know what we're becoming."
"Neither do I."
"But..."
Ravenna reached for her hand.
"I don't want to stop."
Elara's fingers curled around hers.
"Neither do I."
For a moment, the garden was silent.
Then Blue sneezed.
They both laughed.
The strange tension disappeared.
Ravenna squeezed Elara's hand.
"Next time you're jealous, tell me."
Elara looked horrified.
"I'm not doing that."
"Why?"
"Because it's embarrassing."
Ravenna smiled.
"I'll tell you when I'm jealous."
Elara looked at her.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Of whom?"
Ravenna hesitated.
Then she looked toward the castle.
"Anyone who makes you smile more than I do."
Elara stared.
Ravenna's face turned bright red.
"I didn't mean..."
Elara smiled.
"You did."
Ravenna covered her face.
"This is why I shouldn't talk."
Elara laughed.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about."
Ravenna lowered her hands.
"Why?"
Elara smiled.
"Because you're the one who makes me smile the most."
Ravenna stared at her.
Neither moved.
Their hands remained intertwined.
And beneath the cherry tree, something quietly changed between them.
Not love.
Not yet.
But the distance between them had become very small.
That night, the Silver Rose opened another petal.
Far beneath the castle, the ancient darkness stirred.
But this time, it did not whisper Ravenna's name.
It whispered Elara's.
And somewhere beyond the northern mountains, something answered.
"The White Rose remembers."
The war that had been sleeping for a hundred years had begun to remember them too.