The invitation arrived three days later.
It was sealed with red wax.
Elara stared at it across the breakfast table.
Ravenna stared at it too.
Neither of them touched it.
Finally, Garin placed another basket of bread on the table and sighed.
"You two have been looking at that letter for five minutes."
"It is from the Holy Kingdom," Elara said.
"I can see that."
"It is addressed to both of us."
"I can also see that."
Ravenna picked up her tea.
"Then perhaps you should open it."
"You are the Demon Queen."
"And?"
"You are supposed to be the one who opens frightening letters."
Ravenna looked at her.
"That is not a royal duty."
"It should be."
Garin quietly left the room.
He had learned when not to become involved.
Ravenna finally broke the seal.
She unfolded the letter.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she sighed.
"Peace Celebration."
Elara blinked.
"What is that?"
"A formal ball."
"Here?"
"Unfortunately."
"Why unfortunately?"
"Because I dislike dancing."
Elara smiled.
"I thought Demon Queens were supposed to be good at everything."
Ravenna gave her a flat look.
"I have never claimed that."
"You look like someone who would be very good at dancing."
"Why?"
"Because you look elegant."
Ravenna stared at her.
Elara realized what she had said.
She cleared her throat.
"I mean..."
Ravenna's lips curved slightly.
"I know what you meant."
Elara looked down at her tea.
Her cheeks felt warm.
Ravenna returned her attention to the letter.
"The Holy Kingdom is hosting a celebration for the peace treaty."
"That sounds reasonable."
"It is."
Ravenna paused.
"There will also be nobles from both kingdoms."
"Ah."
Elara understood.
"It is a political event."
"Yes."
"And because we are married..."
"We are expected to appear together."
Elara nodded.
Ravenna folded the letter.
"Which means everyone will be watching us."
The ball was held in the old palace at the border between the two kingdoms.
It had once been a fortress.
Now it served as neutral ground.
The walls were white stone, decorated with banners bearing the symbols of both nations.
Black roses.
White roses.
The two flowers were woven together along the entrance.
Elara stopped when she saw them.
For some reason, the sight made her chest tighten.
Ravenna noticed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
Elara touched one of the embroidered white petals.
"They look beautiful together."
Ravenna looked at the banners.
"They do."
Neither of them mentioned the ancient inscription beneath the castle.
Neither mentioned the Silver Rose.
But both remembered.
When Black and White bloom together, the sleeping king shall awaken.
Ravenna offered her arm.
"Ready?"
Elara looked at her.
Ravenna was dressed in black.
Her gown was simple by royal standards, but the dark fabric shimmered faintly like moonlight.
A black rose was pinned near her collar.
Elara wore white.
A silver thread ran through the edges of her dress, catching the light whenever she moved.
Ravenna looked at her for a moment.
Then she quietly said,
"You look beautiful."
Elara froze.
Ravenna immediately looked away.
"I mean..."
"You don't have to explain."
"I wasn't..."
"You were."
"I was simply stating a fact."
Elara smiled.
"Then thank you."
Ravenna's ears turned red.
Elara thought it was adorable.
She decided not to tell her.
Yet.
The moment they entered the ballroom, the room fell silent.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward them.
Elara felt the change immediately.
Whispers followed them.
"The Saint."
"The Demon Queen."
"Look at them."
"Is it really true?"
"They actually married?"
Ravenna noticed.
She leaned slightly closer.
"Do you want to leave?"
"No."
"You don't have to endure this."
"I know."
Elara looked around the room.
"They're only staring because they have never seen us together before."
Ravenna's voice was quiet.
"They are also afraid."
"Of you?"
"Of both of us."
Elara looked at her.
"Why me?"
"Because you are the Saint who married their enemy."
Elara considered that.
"Then perhaps we should give them something new to talk about."
Ravenna raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Elara smiled.
"Smile."
Ravenna looked horrified.
"I am smiling."
"No, you aren't."
"I am."
"You're doing the Demon Queen face."
"I have only one face."
"You have several."
"I do not."
"You have the one you use when you're angry."
Ravenna frowned.
"The one you use when you're thinking."
Ravenna frowned harder.
"And the one you use when you're embarrassed."
"I am not embarrassed."
Elara smiled.
"That one."
Ravenna stared at her.
Then, very slowly, she smiled.
A real smile.
The whispers around them changed.
Elara heard someone gasp.
Ravenna leaned closer.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Very."
The first dance began.
A group of musicians entered the hall.
The melody was soft at first.
Then the drums joined.
Couples moved onto the floor.
Ravenna remained still.
Elara glanced at her.
"You really don't dance."
"I can dance."
"Then why aren't you?"
Ravenna looked toward the crowd.
"Because I have not danced in years."
"Why?"
"I had other things to do."
"Like ruling a kingdom?"
"Yes."
"That sounds terribly boring."
Ravenna looked at her.
"Would you like to dance?"
Elara blinked.
"With you?"
"There is no one else I would ask."
The words were simple.
But Elara felt them anyway.
She placed her hand in Ravenna's.
"All right."
They stepped onto the dance floor.
The first few steps were awkward.
Ravenna nearly stepped on Elara's foot.
Elara laughed.
"You said you could dance."
"I can."
"You nearly killed my foot."
"I apologize."
"You should."
Ravenna looked down.
"I am nervous."
Elara stopped.
"You?"
Ravenna nodded.
"Why?"
"Because everyone is watching."
Elara smiled.
"Then don't look at them."
Ravenna looked at her.
"Look at me?"
"Yes."
Ravenna did.
The music continued around them.
The ballroom faded.
For a moment, Elara could hear only the sound of Ravenna's breathing.
Her hand rested gently against Ravenna's shoulder.
Ravenna's hand was at her waist.
There was nothing inappropriate about the position.
It was simply a dance.
Still, Elara was suddenly very aware of how close they were.
Ravenna's eyes softened.
"Better?"
"Yes."
They moved together.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Ravenna was a surprisingly graceful dancer.
Elara had expected someone stiff and formal.
Instead, once she stopped thinking about the people watching, Ravenna moved with quiet confidence.
"You really can dance."
"I told you."
"I didn't believe you."
"I noticed."
Elara laughed.
Ravenna smiled.
Until a voice broke through the music.
"Saint Elara."
Elara turned.
A young nobleman stood nearby.
He bowed.
"I hope you are enjoying your stay in the Demon Kingdom."
Ravenna's expression immediately became colder.
Elara noticed.
"I am."
"I was surprised to hear that."
"Why?"
The nobleman smiled.
"There are many stories about the Demon Castle."
"I have heard them."
"And yet you seem..."
He hesitated.
"Happy."
Elara said nothing.
The nobleman glanced at Ravenna.
"Perhaps the Demon Queen has been kinder to you than expected."
Ravenna's eyes narrowed.
Elara felt the change beside her.
Before Ravenna could answer, Elara spoke.
"She has."
The nobleman's expression changed.
Elara continued.
"She has treated me with respect from the day I arrived."
A few people nearby began listening.
"She has never forced me to do anything."
Ravenna looked at her.
"And she has given me a home."
The room became quiet.
The nobleman smiled awkwardly.
"I see."
Elara smiled back.
"Then I hope you will not spread stories that suggest otherwise."
The nobleman bowed.
"Of course."
He walked away.
Ravenna remained silent.
Elara turned toward her.
"What?"
"You didn't have to defend me."
"I know."
"Then why did you?"
Elara thought about it.
Because it was true.
Because she hated the idea of people misunderstanding Ravenna.
Because somewhere along the way, she had begun caring about what happened to this woman.
But she wasn't ready to say any of that.
So she simply answered,
"Because you are my wife."
Ravenna stared at her.
Then her expression softened.
"Right."
Her hand tightened slightly around Elara's.
"My wife."
Later that evening, they stepped outside onto the balcony.
The music continued behind them.
The night air was cool.
Below, the gardens stretched beneath the moon.
Elara rested her hands against the railing.
"That was exhausting."
Ravenna laughed.
"You survived."
"Barely."
"You danced."
"That was the easy part."
Ravenna leaned against the railing beside her.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For tonight."
Elara looked at her.
"You don't need to thank me."
"I know."
They stood together.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then Ravenna spoke.
"I was afraid you would hate me."
Elara looked at her.
"When?"
"When you first arrived."
Ravenna's voice was quiet.
"I thought perhaps one day you would look at me and only see the Demon Queen."
Elara turned fully toward her.
"I don't."
Ravenna met her eyes.
"What do you see?"
Elara hesitated.
She could have said many things.
A queen.
A woman.
A friend.
Someone who brought her tea in the morning.
Someone who remembered how she took it.
Someone who laughed quietly when Blue slept on her head.
Someone who had given her a black rose and told her it meant protection.
Instead, Elara smiled.
"I see Ravenna."
Ravenna's breath caught.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she looked toward the moon.
"That is enough."
Elara smiled.
"Good."
Neither noticed the faint silver light that appeared far below the palace.
But somewhere in the darkness, an ancient seal trembled.
And this time, the whisper beneath the earth was clearer.
"Black."
A pause.
Then another voice answered.
"White."
The sleeping presence beneath the world opened its eyes.
And the first crack appeared in the seal.