Minutes before noon, Tiyung takes Sora by carriage to the Palm Teahouse to meet Bay Chin, the northern count. Tiyung is struck by Sora’s beauty but is haunted by a nightmare and the belief that his father, Seok, wants Sora dead or controlled, possibly tied to Dal’s death or the assassin stalking them.

In the teahouse garden, Tiyung formally introduces Sora as Seok’s courtesan, keeping Seok’s poison school secret. Bay Chin, powerful despite his age, studies Sora with restrained but obvious appetite while making polite conversation about where Sora is from and the instability in the old borderlands.

Bay Chin asks after Seok, and then confirms Tiyung will attend the Council of the Lords at three bells in Seok’s stead. Bay Chin turns the conversation to the day’s celebration parade and the Millennial Championship (tuhko), pressing Sora to admit she enjoys the blood sport.

Following Mikail’s suggested approach, Tiyung claims they will not attend the championship because Seok wants the trip to remain “business” and Tiyung cannot leave Sora’s side. Bay Chin dismisses the excuse and offers Sora a place as his personal guest, but Sora initially refuses, insisting she cannot disobey her “lord and master.”

Bay Chin overrides her refusal by declaring Sora has only one true master—King Joon—and promises to introduce her to the king that night. Sora accepts with thanks, while Tiyung agrees outwardly but privately feels the plan is succeeding too easily and notices Bay Chin’s satisfied, predatory gleam.