Paedyn is jolted by the sight of Kai’s uncovered face in the ring. Seeing him clearly forces Paedyn to confront the gap between the boy she had grown attached to in the forest and the man she now remembers as her father’s killer. Paedyn hardens herself, deciding that Kai must be nothing to her but an enemy.

The fight immediately turns harsher. Kai punches Paedyn, grabs her chin, and pulls down the fabric over her mouth, so Paedyn bites his hand and shoves him away. They trade quick, practiced moves until Kai throws Paedyn to the mat, pins her beneath him, and warns that if Paedyn keeps struggling, he will reveal the unusual hair color she has hidden under her scarf.

Paedyn pretends to surrender so the match can end, but uses the opening to strike Kai in the face instead of tapping out. After kneeing him and flipping their positions, Paedyn draws a hidden blade from her boot and presses it against Kai while the crowd remains unaware. Kai goads Paedyn, telling her she should have killed him on the roof and daring her to spill more royal blood.

Paedyn wants to follow through and kill Kai, believing it would finish what she failed to do before and answer the pain tied to both fathers’ deaths. But when the moment comes, Paedyn hesitates, torn between rage and whatever still remains between them. Kai uses that hesitation to free a hand, knock Paedyn’s knife arm aside, and rip the scarf from her head, putting her hidden identity in immediate danger.