Gideon jolts away from Rune after she dumps wine on him, leaving a dark stain on his expensive jacket. Rune scrambles to help and offers to call Lizbeth, but Gideon refuses further fuss, takes off the ruined jacket, and prepares to leave.

Verity rushes in, clearly thinking something worse has happened, and is stunned to find Gideon in Rune’s bedroom. Gideon takes the interruption as his cue to go, bids Rune good night, and exits into the hall.

Once Gideon is gone, Verity angrily confronts Rune for deviating from their plan, insisting Gideon Sharpe was never meant to be one of Rune’s suitors. Rune admits Gideon showed unexpected interest and shows Verity the silk rose Gideon brought, explaining she improvised because the other options suddenly felt insufficient. Verity warns that Gideon does not court girls like Rune and suggests he may be playing her; Rune privately acknowledges Gideon outmaneuvered her attempts to extract Blood Guard secrets.

Verity, frightened of losing Rune, asks her to promise to reject Gideon and choose someone safer. Alex enters mid-conversation, learns the discussion is about Gideon, and Verity leaves them to return to the party.

Alone with Rune, Alex asks where Gideon is and then firmly tells Rune to stop whatever is happening between them. He warns that Gideon is obsessed with hunting witches and would kill Rune if he learned what she is; he adds that Gideon was damaged by “horrible things” he saw at the palace. Exhausted, Rune lets Alex pull her close, finds comfort in his familiarity and safety, and falls asleep before hearing what he says next.