Oak wakes in his familiar Elfhame bedroom, struck by how unchanged it is despite how much he has changed. Hearing a noise, he grabs his hidden dagger, only to find Madoc rummaging through leftovers. Madoc reveals that Jude has rescinded his exile rather than pardoned him outright. When Oak presses whether Madoc is done scheming, the redcap evades, instead pivoting to discuss Oak's wedding.

Madoc explains that several Court factions favor the marriage because a powerful but naive queen like Wren could be leveraged to support Oak against Jude and Cardan. He warns that these factions will approach Wren tonight to gauge her hatred of the High King and Queen, and hopes her vows are ironclad. Oak uneasily recalls Wren's claim that she could break vows like curses, and recognizes Madoc still values naivete in him as a potential puppet ruler.

Madoc summons Oriana via a prearranged signal before leaving. Oriana arrives with tea and sandwiches and immediately declares Oak will not marry Wren. She questions whether he's marrying out of love or to save the world from Wren, and Oak insists he cares for her. Oriana presses Oak about his royal responsibilities, hinting she now hopes he might one day wear the crown, which alarms him given Madoc's similar ambitions.

Oriana reveals that Jude's people captured Jack of the Lakes, who is being held as a quasi-guest after being interrogated about Oak's journey. Jack described Wren as more animal than girl. Oriana dismisses Wren as dull and graceless and urges Oak not to marry her. Oak pushes back firmly, asserting he knows what he wants. Oriana relents on the argument but insists he dress in finer clothes, revealing that tonight's gathering is not a small family dinner but a full feast.