Paedyn struggled to ready herself for dinner with King Kitt as Andy repaired her door. They discussed Andy’s work as a Handy despite her powerful shapeshifting; Paedyn contrasted Andy’s choice with her own life of surviving without power. Andy bluntly told Paedyn she could become queen if she survived the Trials and warned her not to hurt Kitt, saying he could not afford to break again.

In the corridor, Paedyn briefly traded dry remarks with a red-haired masked Imperial guard before entering the throne room. Seeing the formal, distant seating, she moved her chair beside Kitt to reject old customs and to signal a desire for partnership. Kitt, weary from meetings with Scholars, allowed the informality and insisted they serve themselves, acknowledging the staff by name, which reminded Paedyn of his compassion.

Paedyn tried to address his past suffering after Edric’s death and her betrayal. Kitt said he had put it behind him but did not offer forgiveness. He stated that their relationship needed only to function for Ilya’s sake. Paedyn refused a merely transactional bond and asked to repair “us,” which led Kitt to bring up Kai, noting Kai’s concealed feelings for Paedyn. Paedyn denied any current involvement, claiming whatever existed ended when Kai brought her back under Kitt’s orders.

Pressing for a path forward, Paedyn asked to earn Kitt’s trust and placed her hand on his. Kitt agreed to give her a chance. Talk turned to the Trials: Kitt revealed they would not all be in the Bowl and identified the two remaining landmarks—the Scorches and the Shallows—tying the first Trial to bravery and personal fears. When Paedyn asked about his own fear, Kitt admitted “failure” and “insignificance.” Paedyn acknowledged this without judgment and affirmed she was not pretending about wanting his friendship.

The scene closed with a warmer tone as they shared small jokes about food, symbolically toasting with forks to her dislike of mashed potatoes and wishing it to be their biggest problem. The dinner ended with tentative mutual goodwill, framed as the beginning of a friendship rather than love on Paedyn’s part.