The rumor began the morning after the ball.
By noon, it had crossed the border.
By evening, it had reached the Demon Castle.
And by the following morning, everyone knew.
Elara had been bewitched.
That was the story.
The Saint of the Holy Kingdom had been taken to the Demon Castle.
The Demon Queen had used forbidden magic on her.
The marriage was not a peace treaty.
It was an act of manipulation.
The Saint had not chosen the Demon Queen.
She had been forced.
Elara read the letter twice.
Then she slowly lowered it.
"This is ridiculous."
Ravenna sat across from her.
She said nothing.
Elara looked up.
"Ravenna."
"I know."
"You know?"
"I received three reports this morning."
"Three?"
"One from the western border. One from the capital. One from the Holy Kingdom."
Elara frowned.
"Already?"
"Rumors travel faster than armies."
There was no humor in Ravenna's voice.
That worried Elara.
Usually, Ravenna would have made some dry remark.
Today, she simply looked tired.
Elara folded the letter.
"They are saying you enchanted me."
"I know."
"They are saying you forced me to marry you."
"I know."
"They are saying I am being held prisoner."
Ravenna looked at her.
"You are not."
"I know that."
"I know."
Silence filled the room.
Elara waited.
Ravenna looked down at her tea.
Then she said quietly,
"Perhaps you should return to the Holy Kingdom."
Elara froze.
"What?"
"You should go home."
"Why?"
"Because the rumors will continue."
"Then let them."
"They may become dangerous."
"Then we will deal with them."
"We?"
Ravenna looked up.
Elara could see the exhaustion in her eyes.
"You should not have to."
Elara stared at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Ravenna stood.
"I can send an escort."
"No."
"I will make certain you are treated safely."
"No."
"You can return to the palace."
"No."
"Elara."
"Stop."
Ravenna went silent.
Elara stood as well.
"You are trying to send me away."
"I am trying to protect you."
"Without asking me what I want."
Ravenna's expression tightened.
"I know what you want."
"No, you don't."
"I know that you did not choose this marriage."
"Neither did you."
Ravenna looked away.
"Exactly."
Elara's chest tightened.
For a moment, she did not understand.
Then she did.
Ravenna was trying to make the decision for both of them.
Because she believed Elara would eventually regret staying.
Because she believed she was doing Elara a favor.
Because somewhere inside that proud Demon Queen was the same frightened woman who had once asked whether Elara hated her.
Elara walked closer.
"I am not going anywhere."
Ravenna's eyes met hers.
"You should."
"I don't want to."
"You don't know what will happen."
"Neither do you."
"Elara."
"I chose to stay."
Ravenna said nothing.
Elara's voice softened.
"I know what people are saying."
"I know what they believe."
"And I know what is true."
She placed a hand against the table.
"You never forced me."
Ravenna's expression shifted.
"You gave me choices." This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
"You let me keep my own rooms."
"You let me write to my family."
"You let me walk through the castle without guards."
"You even let me name a dragon Blue."
From somewhere beneath the table came a tiny chirp.
Elara looked down.
Blue poked his head out from behind a chair.
Ravenna glanced at him.
"That last one may have been a mistake."
Elara laughed despite herself.
For the first time that morning, Ravenna smiled.
Only slightly.
Then the smile disappeared.
"I still don't want you to suffer because of me."
Elara's expression softened.
"You are not the reason I am suffering."
Ravenna looked at her.
"The people who spread these rumors are."
That afternoon, Elara went into town.
Ravenna tried to stop her.
She failed.
Not because Elara argued.
Not because she demanded permission.
She simply said,
"I want to see how your people are doing."
Ravenna stared at her for several seconds.
Then she sighed.
"I will come with you."
Elara smiled.
"I thought you had paperwork."
"I hate paperwork."
"You said queens had responsibilities."
"I am beginning to question that statement."
They left the castle together.
Blue followed them.
He had grown considerably more confident since the day Elara first found him.
He flew ahead.
Then behind.
Then around Ravenna's head.
"Blue."
The dragon landed on Ravenna's shoulder.
"Stay there."
Blue chirped.
Elara smiled.
"He's listening."
"He only listens to you."
"Perhaps he likes me more."
Ravenna gave her a look.
"I am beginning to suspect you enjoy provoking me."
"Perhaps."
Ravenna shook her head.
But she was smiling.
The town was quieter than usual.
People stopped when they saw them.
Some bowed.
Others simply watched.
Elara expected hostility.
Instead, an old woman approached.
"Your Majesty."
Ravenna stopped.
The woman bowed.
Then she looked at Elara.
"Saint."
Elara returned the bow.
"Good morning."
The woman hesitated.
Then she smiled.
"My granddaughter keeps asking when the Saint will visit again."
Elara blinked.
"She does?"
"She liked the little white flowers you showed her."
Ravenna's expression softened.
"Where is she?"
"At the bakery."
Blue suddenly flew toward the bakery.
Elara laughed.
"I suppose we know where he wants to go."
The old woman smiled.
"He has excellent taste."
They followed him.
Inside the bakery, a little girl rushed toward Elara.
"Saint!"
Elara knelt.
"Hello."
The girl looked at Ravenna.
Then at Elara.
Then back at Ravenna.
"Are you really married?"
Ravenna nearly choked.
Elara covered her mouth.
"Yes."
The girl looked thoughtful.
"Do you love each other?"
The bakery became completely silent.
Ravenna stared at the floor.
Elara looked at her.
Neither answered.
The little girl tilted her head.
"Not yet?"
Elara's face grew warm.
Ravenna looked as though she wanted the earth to swallow her.
Finally, Elara smiled.
"We are learning."
The girl seemed satisfied.
"Then you should share cake."
"That's what my parents do when they are learning."
Ravenna stared at the cake.
Elara laughed.
"I think that's excellent advice."
They sat together.
For the next hour, the rumor seemed very far away.
They returned to the castle before sunset.
Ravenna was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elara noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"That's not true."
Ravenna stopped walking.
"I was thinking."
"About the rumor?"
"Yes."
Elara waited.
Ravenna looked toward the garden.
"People are afraid."
"Some people."
"Enough people."
She paused.
"If they believe I have taken the Saint prisoner, the peace treaty could fail."
Elara's expression became serious.
"Then we need to show them the truth."
Ravenna looked at her.
"How?"
Elara smiled.
"Together."
Ravenna stared at her.
"Together?"
"Yes."
"You would stand beside me?"
"I already am."
Ravenna looked down.
For a moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she whispered,
"I don't deserve you."
Elara frowned.
"Don't say that."
"It's true."
"No."
"Elara."
"You don't get to decide what you deserve."
Ravenna looked at her.
Elara stepped closer.
"You asked me what I wanted."
"Yes."
"I want to stay."
"Even after this?"
"Especially after this."
Ravenna's eyes softened.
Elara reached out.
She took Ravenna's hand.
The gesture was simple.
Yet Ravenna stared at their joined hands as though it were something precious.
"You're trembling," Elara said.
"I am aware."
"Are you frightened?"
Ravenna nodded.
"Yes."
Elara squeezed her hand.
"So am I."
Ravenna looked at her.
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because I'm not alone."
For a long moment, Ravenna simply looked at her.
Then she smiled.
Not the careful smile of a queen.
Not the polite smile she used before nobles.
It was the same small, honest smile Elara had seen in the garden.
The one that belonged only to Ravenna.
"Neither am I."
That night, Elara returned to the garden.
The White Rose had opened another flower.
Its petals were brighter than before.
She crouched beside it.
Then she noticed something strange.
A thin silver line had appeared along the stem.
Elara touched it.
Warmth traveled through her fingertips.
Behind her, Ravenna suddenly gasped.
Elara turned.
Ravenna was holding her own hand.
A faint silver glow rested across her palm.
They stared at each other.
Then at the rose.
The glow disappeared.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Finally, Ravenna whispered,
"That has never happened before."
Elara looked at the White Rose.
"Maybe it is trying to tell us something."
Deep beneath the castle, something answered.
A crack.
Small.
Almost too quiet to hear.
But this time, both women heard it.
Ravenna's expression hardened.
Elara stood.
The two of them looked toward the castle.
Neither knew what waited beneath their feet.
But whatever it was, it had begun to wake.
And for the first time, they faced it together.