Edric
Contains spoilersOverview
The chapter flashes back to King Edric Azer visiting his pregnant wife, Queen Iris, in her chambers, revealing his origins, paranoia, and devotion to power and control. Edric vows to keep Iris hidden until he eliminates remaining Ordinaries, while Iris longs to be seen by the people and to show their child to the kingdom. A mysterious pink rose and note from a handmaid subtly unsettle Edric. The scene ends as Iris goes into labor, marking the beginning of the chain of events that will lead to Edric’s eventual downfall.
Summary
The narrative opens with the assertion that every end has a beginning and identifies this visit as the start of King Edric Azer’s demise. Edric strides through his castle, reflecting on childhood struggles with reading and his cruel father, Landan Azer, whose harshness he credits for forging him into a ruler. He relishes power and sees cruelty, not kindness, as the path that made him king.
Edric goes to Queen Iris’s chambers. Iris, a descendant of an Izrami queen and an Elite with rare ability, has been kept secluded, especially late in her pregnancy. Their marriage followed the Purging, when Elites were confined to Ilya; Edric chose Iris to preserve his bloodline’s strength. Edric is captivated by Iris’s beauty and affection, but their intimacy is edged by his protective control.
Iris gently confronts Edric about her isolation, noting that the people have neither seen nor heard from her in years and might believe she died after giving birth to Kitt. Edric insists that keeping her hidden is necessary to prevent Ordinaries from using her against him. Iris resists his paranoia and asks to be allowed to show their child to the kingdom.
Edric promises that “soon” he will free her from confinement after he disposes of lingering Ordinaries, calling them a mistake he is remedying and claiming Elites support their removal. Iris accepts the promise for now and expresses her love. Their exchange underscores Edric’s fear and control contrasted with Iris’s warmth and desire for visibility.
Iris experiences labor pains, and Edric helps her to the bed, momentarily dropping his stoic demeanor for concern. As he steadies himself, Edric notices a pink rose and folded note on Iris’s jewelry box. Iris explains that a handmaid brought the rose from the gardens, then casually hides it under the box lid. Edric’s reaction cycles through curiosity to jealousy, but he lets the matter drop.
The scene closes with Iris’s labor progressing and the bedcovers dampening. The narration frames this as the moment when the final warmth in Edric begins to end, signaling that this intimate domestic scene is the beginning of the path toward his future downfall.
Who Appears
- King Edric Azer
king of Ilya; recalls his harsh upbringing by Landan, asserts power and paranoia, keeps Iris secluded, vows to eliminate Ordinaries; present during Iris’s labor.
- Queen Iris Moyra
Edric’s wife; Izrami-descended Elite; heavily pregnant, longs to be seen by the people, receives a pink rose from a handmaid, begins labor.
- Landan Azer
Edric’s late father; referenced as cruel and instrumental in forcing Edric to learn to read; died peacefully.
- Kitt Azer
Edric and Iris’s son; mentioned as already born child whose birth preceded Iris’s long seclusion.
- An unnamed handmaid
new; brings Iris a pink rose and note from the gardens, prompting Edric’s suspicion.
- Ordinaries
group; discussed as targets of Edric’s planned purge and the source of his paranoia.
- Elites
group; referenced as supporting Edric’s stance against Ordinaries.