The women's faces remained impassive, but beneath the surface, a myriad of emotions stirred: Grimilde was worried about the future of the continent, while the Empress was curious to see what the couple from Arran was made of; Alex, on the other hand, had little patience for political discussions and simply looked bored. Finally, Snow White had no idea what to expect from the meeting, but she was certain it wasn't wise to linger near a witch whose intentions were unknown.
"How do you take your tea? We also have a vast assortment of sweets."
Snow White couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes upon hearing the Empress's words, who noticed and smiled at her: "Please, enjoy the flavors of these lands. They know how to make excellent desserts."
Grimilde took a small cup and asked the nearby servant for black tea. The Empress did the same, and Alex simply ate sweets with Snow White. Speaking of the witch, the topic of the previous evening's events was soon brought to the table.
"Alex wanted to speak with you." Zeyana glanced at the woman beside her, and the amber-eyed beauty nodded, sitting up straight in her chair and turning her torso toward the two women from Arran.
"I realized I was not at all sensitive to your feelings. Snow White, I offer you my most sincere apologies for what I said last night."
Snow White observed her carefully, trying to catch any detail that might reveal dishonesty, but she genuinely seemed sincere. Before she could open her mouth to reply, Alex continued: "Furthermore, I haven't been completely honest with you, but then again, probably no one here has truly been."
When the hot tea arrived, the four women sat looking at each other in silence; then, Zeyana ordered the surrounding servants to leave, and finally, they were alone.
"Secure the area." Alex listened to the Empress's request, and her eyes lit up as she muttered a few words under her breath. "Now we can speak in complete safety. No one will be able to hear or interrupt us."
Grimilde had to admit she was fascinated by the witch's abilities: it was a pity she was so aloof and unpredictable.
"I would skip the various pleasantries... let's get straight to the point. We would like to know the reason for your invitation: are you interested in us, or in our kingdom?"
Zeyana made herself comfortable in her chair and took a sip of her tea, hiding her thoughts behind an unbothered expression: "Both."
"Does this have anything to do with the demons?" Grimilde remained calm during the exchange, but the princess noticed her nervousness through small gestures: for example, the hand not holding the teacup rested on her knees, occasionally rubbing the soft silk fabric.
"Yes. I imagine you already know about the Order."
"And you know about my origins."
Alex was captivated by this conversation—so direct, fast-paced, and above all, seemingly peaceful: it was as if the two women were discussing their hobbies and not highly important, dangerous matters involving demonic figures and the secret groups that dealt with them.
"Do you want to invade Arran for some reason unknown to me?"
"Not exactly. That was the goal at first, but I've recently changed my mind." She smiled and grasped the hand of the woman beside her; Alex shot her an intrigued look and smiled sweetly. "Alex told me that you undoubtedly possess skills that could be useful to us."
Grimilde furrowed her brow and remained silent. Snow White took advantage of the standstill to speak up: "Do you not fear our intentions?"
"If you're talking about the demon following you around like a lapdog, he's no threat to us. We know he's bound to the Queen of Arran, and she doesn't strike me as the kind of person who shows up at someone else's home and decides to murder her host."
"You are right. Nor am I the kind of person who sends her soldiers into someone else's kingdom without clarifying her intentions."
At that point, the Empress laughed heartily, making Grimilde even more perplexed: she hadn't thought she'd made a joke. Snow White was eating a pastry but stopped when she noticed the witch's gaze on her. She offered her a faint smile and pretended nothing was amiss, but Alex had no intention of leaving her alone.
"Forgive me for interrupting this pleasant and important conversation... but I am curious about something... Snow White?"
The princess nodded with a confused expression and waited for the young woman's question. She set the pastry down, wiping the traces of sugar from her fingers.
"I'm usually never wrong about these things... are you two a couple?"
Grimilde froze, Snow White's eyes widened, and Zeyana stared at them with interest. Her beloved witch was as direct as ever. At that point, the Empress thought it best to be more honest and amicable, given that she planned to collaborate long-term with the royal family of Arran. She grabbed Alex's hand and kissed her fingers, locking eyes with her partner.
"We've been together for quite some time now."
"It hasn't been that many years, Zey."
"You're right. Yet, I feel like I've known you my whole life. Do you still remember that day on the beach?"
"How could I forget our promise? Eternity is not sworn lightly."
Grimilde and Snow White exchanged a glance and both blushed: they remembered their own oath and what followed.
"So? Are you a couple?"