The next morning, Ravenna was waiting for me in the kitchen.
That alone was strange.
The Demon Queen usually spent her mornings buried beneath mountains of paperwork.
Instead, she stood in the middle of the kitchen wearing an apron.
I stopped at the doorway.
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
Neither of us spoke.
Then I said,
“You're wearing an apron.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I am cooking.”
I stared at her.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You can cook?”
Ravenna's expression became slightly offended.
“I can cook.”
“I didn't mean it like that.”
“You sounded surprised.”
“I am surprised.”
She crossed her arms.
“I can cook.”
“All right.”
“You don't believe me.”
“I do.”
“You don't.”
I smiled.
“I believe you.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because you look cute.”
Silence.
Ravenna froze.
I froze.
The entire kitchen froze.
A spoon clattered somewhere behind us.
Ravenna's face slowly turned red.
“I see.”
She turned away.
“You shouldn't say things like that so casually.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
She stopped.
“Because?”
“Because I don't know how to respond.”
I smiled.
“Then you don't have to.”
She looked back at me.
“That seems unfair.”
“Why?”
“Because now I have to think about it.”
I laughed.
She sighed.
“You are troublesome.”
“You invited me into the kitchen.”
“I regret that decision.”
“No, you don't.”
She stared at me.
Then quietly said,
“No.”
“I don't.”
The kitchen staff had mysteriously disappeared.
I suspected Ravenna had ordered them to leave.
Or perhaps they had simply decided that watching the queen cook with her new wife was too entertaining to miss.
Either way, we were alone.
“What are we making?”
“Breakfast.”
“I thought breakfast was already prepared.”
“It is.”
She pointed toward the table.
There were eggs, bread, fruit, and tea.
I looked at her.
“Then what are you cooking?”
She hesitated.
“Dessert.”
“For breakfast?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
Ravenna looked away.
“I like sweets.”
I smiled.
“I knew it.”
“You did not.”
“You looked happy when Garin made those pastries.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“I was simply satisfied with the quality.”
“That's a very complicated way of saying you liked them.”
Ravenna sighed.
“I like sweets.”
“There.”
“What?”
“You said it.”
She frowned.
“I don't understand why this is important.”
“It isn't.”
I smiled.
“I just think it's cute.”
Her ears turned red again.
She immediately turned toward the counter.
“We are making honey cakes.”
“Do you need help?”
“Yes.”
I blinked.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
She handed me a bowl.
“Mix this.”
I looked inside.
Flour.
Milk.
Eggs.
Honey.
“All right.”
Ravenna began preparing the dough.
We worked quietly for a while.
It was surprisingly comfortable.
No guards.
No priests.
No political advisors.
No representatives from either kingdom.
Just two women standing side by side in a kitchen.
Occasionally, our hands brushed.
Each time, Ravenna became slightly stiff.
I pretended not to notice.
Eventually, I couldn't resist.
“You're nervous.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I am concentrating.”
“On the dough?”
“Yes.”
“You're holding the spoon upside down.”
Ravenna looked down.
The spoon was, indeed, upside down.
She stared at it.
Then slowly corrected it.
“I knew that.”
I laughed.
“You're terrible at lying.”
“I am the Demon Queen.”
“That doesn't make you a better liar.”
She looked at me.
Then, unexpectedly, laughed.
The sound filled the kitchen.
I smiled.
There it was again.
That smile.
The one she almost never allowed anyone to see.
I wondered how many people in the kingdom had ever seen it.
Probably not many.
Perhaps that was why I felt strangely lucky.
The honey cakes went into the oven.
We waited.
Ravenna poured tea.
I sat beside her.
“Do you always cook alone?”
“Usually.”
“Why?”
“I enjoy it.”
“You could have the chefs make everything.”
“I could.”
“But you don't.”
“No.”
She looked down at her cup.
“When I was young, my mother taught me.”
I smiled.
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“What was she like?”
Ravenna was quiet for a moment.
“Strong.”
She smiled faintly.
“Very strict.”
“That sounds familiar.”
Ravenna looked at me.
“You think I'm strict?”
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Most of the time.”
She laughed.
“She taught me that a ruler should know how to take care of herself.”
“That sounds like good advice.”
“It was.”
Ravenna looked toward the oven.
“She also taught me that food should never be wasted.”
“Why?”
“Because there was a time when our kingdom had very little.”
I looked at her.
“The war?”
“Yes.”
She was quiet.
“People were hungry.”
I reached across the table.
My fingers touched hers.
She looked down.
I didn't move.
“I'm sorry.”
She gently turned her hand over.
Our palms touched.
“Thank you.”
We stayed like that for a moment.
Neither of us said anything.
Then the oven rang.
Ravenna immediately pulled her hand away.
“The cakes.”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
“The cakes.”
She stood too quickly.
I laughed.
“You're running away again.”
“I am saving the dessert.”
“Of course.”
The honey cakes were perfect.
Golden.
Soft.
Warm.
Honey dripped slowly from the edges.
Ravenna stared at them.
I watched her.
“You're excited.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“No.”
I cut one in half.
Then placed a piece on her plate.
“Try it.”
She picked up her fork.
She took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
She looked at me.
“This is good.”
“You're surprised?”
“No.”
“You look surprised.”
“I am surprised that it worked.”
I laughed.
She took another bite.
Then another.
I watched her.
“You really like it.”
“Yes.”
“You can have another.”
“I know.”
She immediately took another piece.
I smiled.
“I think this is the first time I've seen you eat something so quickly.”
Ravenna stopped.
Then looked at me with complete seriousness.
“I was hungry.”
“Of course.”
“I skipped lunch yesterday.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Work.”
I frowned.
“You shouldn't do that.”
Ravenna blinked.
“Why?”
“Because you need to eat.”
“I am fine.”
“You aren't.”
She stared at me.
I pushed another piece of honey cake toward her.
“Eat.”
She looked at the cake.
Then at me.
“You sound like my mother.”
“Good.”
Ravenna smiled.
“All right.”
She ate.
I watched her.
Something about the scene felt strangely domestic.
Almost normal.
Almost like we had been doing this for years.
The thought made my chest tighten.
I quickly took a sip of tea.
After breakfast, Ravenna returned to her office.
I followed.
“You don't need to come.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I want to help.”
“With paperwork?”
“Yes.”
She looked doubtful.
“You hate paperwork.”
“I don't hate it.”
“You fell asleep while reading a trade report yesterday.”
“I was tired.”
“You drooled on it.”
I covered my mouth.
Ravenna stared at me.
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“That is impossible.”
“I saw you.”
She looked horrified.
“You will tell no one.”
I smiled.
“I won't.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
She relaxed.
Then she handed me a stack of documents.
“Sort these.”
I looked at the papers.
“By subject?”
“Yes.”
“And these?”
“Village requests.”
“These?”
“Trade.”
“And these?”
“Military.”
I nodded.
“All right.”
We worked together.
Hours passed.
It was surprisingly peaceful.
Sometimes we spoke.
Sometimes we didn't.
Sometimes Ravenna explained something about the kingdom.
Sometimes I told her about the Holy Kingdom.
I learned that she hated overly sweet tea.
She learned that I couldn't stand mushrooms.
I learned that she preferred winter.
She learned that I liked spring.
She hated loud festivals.
I loved them.
She preferred quiet libraries.
I preferred gardens.
We were different in many ways.
But the more we talked, the more I realized that our differences didn't make conversation difficult.
They made it interesting.
In the afternoon, a messenger arrived.
He bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty.”
Ravenna looked up.
“Yes?”
“There is a message from the Holy Kingdom.”
The room became quiet.
My heart tightened.
“From my kingdom?”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
He handed Ravenna the letter.
She looked at the seal.
It was the symbol of the Holy Kingdom.
Then she handed it to me.
“It is yours.”
I opened it.
The message was short.
The royal council requested a report about my life in the Demon Kingdom.
They wanted to know if I was being treated well.
If I was safe.
If I was being pressured.
If Ravenna had harmed me.
I read it twice.
Then I laughed.
Ravenna looked concerned.
“What?”
“They think you've imprisoned me.”
“I expected that.”
“They want to know whether I'm being treated well.”
Ravenna looked at me.
“And?”
I smiled.
“I suppose I'll have to tell them.”
She became serious.
“You don't have to protect me.”
“I know.”
“You should tell them the truth.”
“I will.”
I took out a piece of paper.
Then I began writing.
I am safe.
Ravenna watched silently.
The Demon Queen has treated me with respect.
I paused.
Then continued.
The castle is warm, the food is excellent, and I have acquired a small dragon who refuses to leave me alone.
Ravenna's lips twitched.
I smiled.
Then I added one final sentence.
I have no wish to return home yet.
I folded the letter.
Ravenna looked at me.
“You really mean that?”
I met her eyes.
“Yes.”
She was silent.
Then she said,
“Thank you.”
I shook my head.
“Don't thank me.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not doing it for the treaty.”
She looked at me.
“Then why?”
I thought about it.
Because I liked the garden.
Because I liked the kitchen.
Because Blue slept on my pillow.
Because the servants smiled at me now.
Because I had begun to enjoy drinking tea with her.
Because the castle no longer felt like the home of an enemy.
Because Ravenna had become someone I wanted to understand.
“I don't know yet.”
Ravenna smiled.
“That's all right.”
That evening, we returned to the garden.
The White Rose had opened another flower.
This time, Ravenna didn't say anything.
She simply stood beside me.
The Black Roses moved gently in the wind.
Our hands rested close together.
Not touching.
But almost.
Then Blue ran between us.
He jumped into my arms.
Ravenna sighed.
“You're interrupting.”
Blue chirped.
I laughed.
“Don't be jealous.”
“I am not jealous of a dragon.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
Blue climbed onto Ravenna's shoulder.
She froze.
The dragon curled around her neck.
I stared.
Ravenna looked at me helplessly.
“Help.”
I laughed.
“You said he doesn't like strangers.”
“I was wrong.”
Blue yawned.
Ravenna slowly raised one hand.
She touched his head.
The dragon immediately relaxed.
I smiled.
“You look good together.”
Ravenna looked at me.
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
Then she looked at the White Rose.
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Black flowers.
One white flower.
A small blue dragon.
And two women standing beneath the evening sky.
It was a strange little family.
We had not meant to become one.
Not yet.
But somewhere between the wedding and the garden, between the tea and the honey cakes, between awkward conversations and quiet smiles, the Demon Castle had begun to change.
Or perhaps it wasn't the castle that had changed.
Perhaps it was us.
And deep beneath the earth, the ancient seal pulsed again.
This time, the sound traveled through the roots of the White Rose.
A faint silver line appeared beneath its petals.
Neither of us saw it.
Not yet.
But something had begun.
Something that had been waiting for Black and White to stand together.
And it was getting closer.