Sora prepares to leave the City of Gain on a mission to kill an immortal king. She packs her finest dresses and veils alongside a selection of fast-acting poisons—sweet poisons for wine and desserts, odorless ones for meals, and lethal poisoned lipsticks—while accepting that success likely means she will not survive. Her focus is on freeing Daysum, though Sora still cannot recall what Daysum whispered before being taken away.

Sora says goodbye to her pet, Dot, and arranges for Gli to care for him. To prevent Gli from stumbling into danger, Sora locks away the poisons she will not take and reminds herself that the Count ultimately owns everything in her cottage and will likely clear it out after she leaves.

At noon, Tiyung—the Count’s son—arrives to escort Sora. Sora treats him with open disdain, recognizing his charm as a mask for cruelty and recalling how Yusan’s inheritance laws concentrate power in noble sons. She refuses his offered hand and climbs into the coach, only to discover a drunken man already inside.

Tiyung explains the man is Duri, found passed out after a night in the pleasure district, and Tiyung intends to deliver him home discreetly. Sora condemns nobles who exploit indentures, and Tiyung needles her with the comparison to poisoning. At Duri’s villa, Tiyung forces Duri out of the coach and warns him to behave lest Lord Kang hear of it, leaving Duri shaken into obedience.

Back on the road, Sora questions why Tiyung bothered helping someone he claims is not a friend; Tiyung admits he collects leverage because he cannot trust anyone. When Sora urges avoiding Use, Tiyung reveals a change in route: instead of heading toward Tamneki, they are traveling north to Rahway on the Count’s orders to wait for further instructions. Uneasy about shifting plans, Sora withdraws into her memories of Tiyung’s complicity—especially his role in brutalizing Daysum—and resolves that once Daysum is free, Sora will kill Tiyung and send his head to the Count.