Two years had passed since Ash had made her choice—since the war between Heaven and Hell had been stopped, and a new era had begun. An era in which Heaven and Hell were not enemies, but separate parts of a whole, each with their ruler: Ash, the queen who bridged both realms. The arrangement had been difficult at times, but Ash had never wavered. Her kingdom, her rule, and her power were undeniable.

The past two years had seen Ash grow into the queen she was always meant to be, though not in the way her parents had originally imagined. With both realms in her hands, she had shown the world that Heaven and Hell could coexist in harmony, that the boundaries between light and darkness were not as unbreakable as once thought. And through it all, the Prince of Hell had remained by her side—more than just her ally, her partner, her equal.

It had been a long road, but now, standing in the vast garden at the palace that straddled the line between Heaven and Hell, Ash felt it was time for something new. Something more.

The air was warm, the sky above them a beautiful gradient of sunset hues—pinks, purples, and soft oranges—fading as night threatened to take over. It was the perfect setting for what was about to happen. The King and Queen of Heaven had arrived today, as they did every year, for their usual diplomatic visit. As rulers, they still kept up appearances and maintained a tenuous relationship with their daughter, but Ash had long since claimed her independence, and both realms had adapted to it.

The King and Queen of Hell stood proudly by Ash’s side, just as they always had. They, too, had accepted her rule, not only as their daughter’s choice but as a force for change. The two realms had learned to work together—slowly, cautiously, but steadily. The garden, with its vibrant flowers from both realms—lilies from Heaven, dark roses from Hell—was a perfect representation of the peace Ash had achieved. But today was about something more personal.

Ash felt the soft brush of the prince’s hand against her own as they stood in front of the gathered dignitaries, both divine and demonic. Her heart quickened at the sight of the two kings and queens. Today wasn’t just about peace; it was about a promise, a bond.

“I know this may seem like an odd place for such a moment,” the Prince began, his voice carrying across the garden to everyone present, “but sometimes the most important moments come when you least expect them.”

Ash looked up at him, the smile on her face softening as she held his gaze. He had always been her constant, the one who never hesitated to stand by her side, even when the world seemed to collapse around them. But today—today he was going to do something that would change everything.

“I have watched you grow, Ash,” the prince continued, his voice stronger now, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. “I have seen you become the queen you were always meant to be—someone who can balance both the light and the dark, who commands respect from both realms and yet has remained true to yourself, true to who you are.”

Ash swallowed, her breath catching as her fingers trembled slightly. Her wings fluttered at her back, the golden light of her angelic half flickering and mingling with the darker, more ominous shadows of her demonic side. She had spent so long trying to reconcile these parts of herself, to balance the celestial and the infernal, but the prince—he had seen her in a way no one else ever had.

“You are the reason everything has changed,” the prince said softly, his gaze never leaving hers. “You’ve brought peace between Heaven and Hell. You’ve made this possible. And for all of that, and so much more, I am forever grateful. But there’s one thing I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

Ash’s heart pounded in her chest as she felt the world around her still. She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she could feel the weight of the moment, the intensity of it all. The King and Queen of Heaven stood silent, watching as the prince knelt before her. The King and Queen of Hell looked on with amusement and approval, their smirks never fading.

The prince lowered himself to one knee, the light of the setting sun casting a golden glow on his face, making him appear almost ethereal. In that moment, it was clear: he was no longer just the Prince of Hell. He was something more—something changed by Ash’s light.

“Ash,” he began, his voice soft but firm, “I love you. I have loved you for as long as I’ve known you. And I want to stand beside you, not only as a prince or as a king but as someone who shares your heart, your soul, your future.”

Ash’s breath hitched in her throat. The Prince of Hell, the one who had once been a symbol of everything she had fought against, was now kneeling before her, offering her something that transcended realms, something beyond power and politics.

“Will you marry me, Ash? Will you rule both Heaven and Hell by my side?”

Her eyes went wide, and for a moment, everything around her seemed to blur. The garden, the sky, the figures standing in front of her—it all faded as the question echoed in her ears. The silence between them stretched, and Ash felt her heart pounding in her chest.

“I—” she started, her voice faltering, but the prince reached up, gently cupping her face with his hand.

“Take your time,” he said softly, “but know that no matter what you choose, I will always be by your side.”

Tears welled up in Ash’s eyes, the weight of his words, his love, pressing down on her. She didn’t need more time to think. She knew. She had always known.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The prince’s face broke into a smile that lit up the garden, and without hesitation, he stood and pulled Ash into his arms. Their lips met in a kiss—slow, tender, and full of promises for the future.

But as they kissed, something extraordinary happened.

Ash felt a surge of power within her, a blend of both her celestial and infernal halves. It rushed through her like a wildfire, but this time, she wasn’t the only one affected. The prince, too, felt it. His form shimmered as the kiss deepened, the same celestial and demonic energy flowing through him as well.

When they finally broke apart, gasps of surprise echoed from the onlookers. The prince, once fully demon, now stood before Ash, his features illuminated with both heavenly light and infernal darkness—his eyes glowing with a fierce determination that mirrored Ash’s own.

He had become like her—a half-angel, half-demon, bound to both worlds in a way neither Heaven nor Hell had ever seen before.

“Ash,” the prince said, his voice filled with awe, “I’m with you now. In every way. We are no longer just two realms—now, we are one.”

Ash smiled through her tears, her heart full. She had never been truly alone, but now, standing in front of her, was a partner who understood her in ways no one else could. Together, they would rule—not as enemies, but as equals.

The King and Queen of both realms exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and admiration. The King of Hell stepped forward, a proud grin spreading across his face.

“Well, looks like we have ourselves a new king, after all,” he said with a chuckle.

Ash and the prince laughed, their hands intertwined, knowing that together they could face whatever came next, whether it was ruling Heaven, Hell, or both.