Kai goes to Kitt’s study seeking answers after the throne room announcement. He notes Kitt’s calmer demeanor and is surprised when Kitt addresses him warmly and returns his Enforcer’s ring. Though Kai accepts the ring, he reflects on its violent legacy. He presses Kitt on keeping him in the dark about the marriage plan.

Kitt admits he was uncertain what to do with Paedyn until he listened to Calum and found records alongside a letter from King Edric. Kai challenges Kitt’s trust in Calum, but Kitt defends it, saying Calum opened his eyes to the truth about the slums and Ilya’s decline. Kai declares he supports welcoming Ordinaries back but insists they discuss Paedyn specifically.

The brothers argue over the marriage. Kai claims a king always has another option; Kitt replies that the only other option was executing Paedyn for killing Edric. Kitt frames the betrothal as mutual protection and a symbol to restore trade and peace. He explains that grief, learning, and rejecting Edric’s obsession changed him from a vengeful son into a pragmatic king intent on strengthening Ilya.

Paedyn enters mid-conversation, revealing she overheard their raised voices. She confronts Kitt for not speaking to her sooner and raises the specific issue of Lenny being ordered to guard Blair, the Trial winner who killed Adena, which Kitt justifies as necessary to keep peace with Blair’s powerful family and to restrain Paedyn’s revenge.

Paedyn asks if Kitt hates her and whether he forgives her for killing Edric. Kitt says it is not about hate or love, and while he notes she has not apologized, he states she needs his protection and that he has given her purpose. Paedyn clarifies she acted in self-defense, apologizes for killing Kitt’s father but refuses to apologize for killing a tyrant, which Kitt receives without granting forgiveness.

Paedyn and Kai present Adam Gray’s journal showing Edric bribed Healers to spread lies about an “Ordinary disease” and that Healers prospered while the slums suffered. Kitt confirms he knows of the lies through Calum and Edric’s letter and intends to tell the kingdom a softened version to protect the Azer legacy while also protecting Paedyn. He recounts how Calum’s counsel, the earlier clandestine glimpse of the slums, the damning supply records, and the letter exposed Edric’s small-minded plan and Ilya’s impending shortages.

Kitt asserts he now rejects blind obedience to Edric and will act to make Ilya great, not to honor Edric’s anti-Ordinary agenda. He admits he does not pursue unification for its own sake and worries about Elite power dilution but says unity is now necessary. Paedyn, declaring she has always dreamed of a free, united Ilya, accepts the marriage as the only viable path and vows to spend her life changing Kitt’s perspective on Ordinaries. She concludes by agreeing to marry Kitt to save the kingdom.