Paedyn woke abruptly to find Queen Zailah already in her room holding an impromptu tea. Zailah revealed she had seen Kai leave and acknowledged his obvious feelings for Paedyn, then quickly shifted topics, asking for details about Paedyn killing the former king. Paedyn confirmed she stabbed him in the chest and cut his throat; Zailah expressed jealousy and disdain for the dead king.

When Paedyn asked how Zailah knew so much given the severed communications across the Shallows, Zailah replied that she had her ways. Zailah then bluntly asked whether Paedyn intended to kill the new king, Kitt. Paedyn said she would never; she insisted Kitt was unlike his father, that he was saving Ilya, and that she would marry him to unite the kingdom. Zailah accepted the answer, questioned Paedyn’s trust, and asked if they would be friends. Paedyn hoped so, thanked Zailah for her generosity, and referenced the roses as repayment. Zailah noted Izram’s lesser healers but her own success in making the city thrive despite opposition, then advised Paedyn not to fear power, saying being an Ordinary was not weakness—her heart was.

The narrative shifted to Paedyn and Kai aboard ship in oppressive heat, sharing bland food on the floor of her cabin. They joked briefly about missing land and the unnervingly calm sea. Paedyn brought up Zailah’s conversation with Kai, then asked whether Zailah mentioned Kitt; Kai said Zailah had asked if Kitt knew about their relationship, having seen him in Paedyn’s bed.

Paedyn insisted there could be no “us” because she was still bound to marry Kitt. Kai went cold, saying even Zailah had sensed their doomed situation. He accused that he would be left as a mere weapon for the royal couple, and Paedyn, hurt, retorted that their fantasy could never last. Kai admitted his selfishness and confessed he would burn everything down for her, but said none of it mattered given her destiny as the Silver Savior to wed Kitt.

The argument escalated as both traded barbs about distraction and distance. When Kai asked what Zailah had asked Paedyn about Kitt, Paedyn revealed the queen had asked if she planned to kill him. Kai pressed if she would, and Paedyn refused the implication, saying he should know her answer. Kai warned that if forced to choose between Paedyn and Kitt, he would have to choose; Paedyn said she understood, though both ended uncertain and wounded.