In the aftermath of Kitt’s public declaration, Kai is overwhelmed by shock and grief. He feels as though he is drowning under the weight of the command that Paedyn will marry Kitt, and he struggles to breathe or steady himself while standing before the court.

Kai fixates on what the marriage means: not Paedyn’s death, but a permanent loss that will force him to watch her belong to someone else while he continues serving the crown. He cannot understand why Kitt wants Paedyn after everything that has happened, yet Kai recognizes that he still loves her despite all their conflict, pursuit, and betrayal.

As Kai stands in court, he thinks about how little time he had with Paedyn and how he may never be able to confess his love. He fears Paedyn will remember him only as the man who delivered her to this fate, and he imagines destroying the palace just to speak honestly before losing her forever.

Kai’s thoughts briefly turn to a happier memory of their bond, reducing everything they were to two people dancing together under the stars. That memory contrasts sharply with the present moment, where duty and royal power separate them and leave Kai powerless.

Finally, Kai forces himself to step away from Paedyn’s kneeling form and hides his emotions behind a blank expression. He retreats into the crowd to stop himself from taking her and fleeing, then resolves that this will be his future: loving Paedyn from a distance, mourning her daily, and watching her become someone else’s while believing he does not deserve her.