In the King’s Arena as alarms and confusion spread, Royo reels from the failed attempt on King Joon: Aeri stole the etherum crown and Sora kissed Joon, yet Joon is still alive. Royo notes Mikail likely destroyed the crown, but Euyn never appeared, and suspicion hardens into certainty that the entire plot was a setup.

Royo concludes Euyn betrayed them and vows revenge, calling Euyn the “Butcher of Westward Forest” and recognizing he was never reformed. Despite the rage, Royo’s immediate priority is Aeri’s safety, driven by his promise to protect her.

Royo charges out of the high-noble box, knocking a guardsmith aside and forcing through the crowd toward the royal box. He arrives too late: palace guards already have Aeri and are hauling her away. Aeri catches Royo’s eye and silently signals for him not to intervene, shaking her head as she is taken.

Overwhelmed by pain and panic, Royo lashes out when palace guards grab him. As he prepares to fight barehanded against drawn swords, a posh nobleman with “snake eyes” halts the guards and orders Royo to surrender, implying he knows Royo was part of the plot and that it has gone wrong.

Royo recognizes the man as likely the western count, inferring this from who is dead, missing, or already arrested. Royo stops resisting and allows himself to be taken, not out of obedience but to get answers and increase his chance of reaching Aeri. He resolves to free Aeri when the opportunity comes—and hopes that path also leads to killing Euyn with his own hands.