After Aeri proves her skill, Sora joins Mikail, Prince Euyn, Aeri, Royo, and Tiyung by the fire to plan King Joon’s assassination. Mikail says the king will attend Tamneki’s millennial celebration in a sunsae, ending with the Millennial Championship tuhko match in the King’s Arena. They agree to strike there, betting the crowd and chaos will provide both access to the king and a chance to vanish if the attempt fails.

Sora privately weighs the risk, remembering past poison jobs for the Count where a mistake forced her into a bloody fight with guards and nearly got her killed. She studies the others for weaknesses and hidden motives: Euyn’s dependence on Mikail, Royo’s hard-to-read nature, and Aeri’s cheerful talk masking nervous watchfulness. Sora’s dread sharpens because this group’s success will decide her sister Daysum’s fate as well as her own.

The group departs in a fast fleet carriage for Tamneki, a trip shortened to under ten days, leaving Sora little time to judge whom she can trust. Seating arrangements place Euyn with Mikail, Aeri with Royo, and Sora beside Tiyung, which Sora dislikes because she believes Tiyung was sent to kill her after she helps topple the “god king.”

Discussing logistics, Mikail explains that Dal, the eastern count, will bring Sora to the arena as his newest courtesan; because of Joon’s rivalry with the Count of Tamneki, Mikail expects the king to try to take Sora for himself. The plan is for Sora to get close once the crown is removed and kill him with a kiss. Sora agrees outwardly but worries about the next step: after the assassination, Aeri is supposed to place the etherum crown on Euyn’s head, and Sora doubts she can get the crown from Aeri without persuading her.

When Aeri questions Tiyung’s role, he admits he is mainly there to burn Sora’s indenture after the king dies. Under pressure, Tiyung reveals his father holds the contracts for both Sora and Daysum, having purchased them as children. Sora lays out the coercion plainly: she must succeed to win freedom for herself and her sister, and if she fails or runs, Daysum’s debt will be sold to Tiyung’s uncle, a powerful pleasure-house owner who is present to ensure Sora complies. Aeri responds with sympathy, then admits she is in the plot for money and family but also to settle an old score with King Joon, giving Sora hope she can win Aeri’s help.