On the cold eastern terrace at La Casilla, Luzia observes Gracia de Valera posed like a queen beneath a canopy while an Italian artist, Signor Rossi, frantically sketches her. Nearby, Teoda Halcón lounges beneath an apple tree, and Luzia decides to study the others as Santángel advised, learning how court players watch and test one another.

Luzia introduces herself to Teoda, who casually orders chocolate for her and then insists on swapping cups when Luzia hesitates, confirming rumors about the scorpion under Luzia’s pillow. Their guarded exchange turns oddly companionable, and Teoda notes Fortún Donadei’s arrival, commenting on his real power, his beauty, and the danger posed by his patron, Doña Beatriz Hortolano.

Fortún joins them with his vihuela and tries to ask Teoda who will win the torneo, but Teoda admits her angel is silent when her own fate is bound up in the outcome. She then grows disturbed by La Casilla, describing it as plundered and death-stained—"At night the walls bleed"—before snapping back to politeness when Fortún clutches his cross and defends Spain’s treasure. Teoda rebukes Signor Rossi for chasing perfection, and Gracia departs into the gardens under protective footmen.

Left with Luzia, Fortún probes whether Luzia’s performance was planned, and the two recognize in each other the disorientation of rising from hard labor into court life. Fortún admits he wants the comforts he’s been given and presses whether Luzia is Víctor de Paredes’ mistress; when Luzia denies it, Fortún reveals the truth about himself: he is effectively owned by Doña Beatriz, and he intends to win so he can stop having to sleep with her and stop hating himself.

Luzia warns Fortún that such honesty could destroy him, but she agrees not to betray him and asks for useful information. Fortún says the next trial will test their purity before the vicar, possibly against Satan himself. When Teoda calls Luzia to sit for Signor Rossi, Fortún stops Luzia with a final warning: he saw Víctor’s servant, Santángel—El Alacrán—riding out, and Fortún insists Santángel is not what he seems.