Vasalie wakes in Anton’s bed and finds him in the grip of a nightmare. After she comforts him, they share a playful and flirtatious exchange. Anton then grows serious and apologizes specifically for the kiss at the brothel—including the additional kiss he gave her even after the door clicked shut—admitting that he lost control and took advantage of her. His sincerity causes Vasalie to laugh, which leads to a moment of genuine intimacy. However, the feeling reminds her of being manipulated by Illian’s praise, and she questions Anton’s true nature, recalling his infamous Glory Court.

Their conversation is interrupted by Basile, the captain of Anton’s guard, whom Anton has already informed of Vasalie’s identity and mission. As Anton arranges a diversion for Vasalie to return to her room unnoticed, he makes her promise not to act against her father or Illian yet, arguing that her life is more valuable than swift revenge. Vasalie agrees. As she leaves, she realizes that Anton now knows all her secrets, which feels both frightening and liberating.

Vasalie finds her next task from Illian: She is to entertain guests at upcoming soirées to divert attention while he secures political deals, reinforcing her fears that he seeks to become the sole king of Miridran. In the Dance Hall, Copelan confronts Vasalie, having found the clothes she left in Anton’s wing the previous night. Their argument is interrupted by Anton, who dismisses their current performance plans and declares that he will oversee a new one. Vasalie suggests a theme based on the legend of Eremis and the Fate of Morta, one of the most important myths in Miridran (in the story, Eremis is the only man who has ever returned from the dead, escaping Morta’s lure). Vasalie proposes to reuse the already-made white silk costumes to depict the souls in the tale, which Anton agrees to, offering to provide the Fate of Morta gown himself—sidelining a furious Copelan.

Alone with Vasalie, Anton reveals that his notorious Glory Court is actually a secret refuge for people in danger; he lets the rumors persist since they act as a protective cover. He admits, however, that the other rumors about his womanizing and greed are true, stemming from deep loneliness. Later, Copelan confesses his feelings for Vasalie, but she realizes that their connection was born of mutual desperation. When Copelan pleads for her to reject Anton, she dismisses him.

Vasalie performs on a pleasure barge from Serai to honor the kingdom, sharing a brief dance with Anton before being unnerved by Illian’s threatening presence. Anton stays away from her for the next few days, not wanting to draw attention to their blossoming relationship. Vasalie decides to seek out Anton via the secret tunnels. She’s shocked to find a forgiving Laurent, who reveals that Anton secretly brought him back to help construct a magnificent gown of rare glass for her. Gustav is also present and shares details of Illian’s difficult upbringing under his mother, Queen Saskia. Though Illian was Saskia’s favorite, she pressurized him to behave like the future king of Miridran, drilling a cold ambition in him. Gustav’s account explains to Vasalie Illian’s bitterness over having to share the throne. 

Vasalie then finds Anton, and they share a passionate, romantic interlude—progressing to his bedroom before being interrupted by Basile, who reports a new development that Anton had previously asked to be informed of should it come to fruition. As Vasalie leaves Anton’s workshop, the sight of his signet ring triggers a memory. She recalls a servant from Illian’s court who appeared to spill water and bend down with a rag, and who carried a block of red wax. She deduces that the servant pressed the wax against Anton’s ring to duplicate the seal impression, concluding that Illian is forging letters in Anton’s name. Vasalie rushes back through the tunnels but is seized the moment she exits the cellar.

The person who grabs Vasalie is none other than Copelan, who reveals that he has already reported her to Illian. Illian and his guards arrive and take her into custody. Illian states that damning letters were found alongside a murdered courtier—invoking his pre-existing hold over Vasalie—and offers Copelan protection for Esmée in exchange for his silence, causing Copelan to abandon Vasalie. Illian then orders his guards to search the tunnels for Vasalie’s allies and privately threatens to torture them if she disobeys him.

While placed under constant guard in her room, Vasalie discovers that her performance costume has been delivered; it includes a silver circlet in which two obsidian dagger points are concealed within the frame, removable as weapons, accompanied by Anton’s note: “I cannot protect you. But I can arm you” (339). During a final rehearsal, she whispers a message to a guilt-ridden Copelan. Later, Esmée visits to help her prepare, revealing that she once had a relationship with Illian and wants to win him back, making her an unreliable ally. Vasalie’s attempt to get a message to Anton through Esmée fails. Finally, she’s manacled and escorted to the final performance.

Vasalie arrives at an island amphitheater for a performance before the Crowns’ Gathering. During her dance performance as the goddess Morta, Vasalie takes a look at Illian, and his smug expression confirms her fears: He has captured Anton. Immediately following the show, Illian takes the stage and publicly accuses the absent Anton of treason. He presents forged letters as proof that Anton was conspiring with Queen Sadira of Razam to illegally trade weapons and undermine Brisendale. King Rurik of Brisendale is convinced by the deception and declares his full support for Illian to become the single High King of Miridran, a motion that the other leaders quickly approve. Knowing she won’t be believed about Illian’s lies and his plot to kill Rurik, Vasalie creates a symbolic warning for the Brisendali ruler. She rips the Brisendali flag in two with one dagger and then snatches her father’s cap and—with the blade still in the fabric—pins it through West Miridran’s flag directly into Illian’s golden-threaded chalice emblem, exposing the conspiracy between the two men.

Vasalie flees the amphitheater in a boat. A storm rolls in, and she nearly drowns when her dress gets caught on an oar, but she uses her second dagger to cut herself free. She makes her way through the palace tunnels to Illian’s antechamber, where she finds Anton chained to a chandelier. Vasalie incapacitates the two guards by luring them into the dark tunnel and enters the room.

Before she can free Anton, Illian arrives with more guards and captures her. He reveals that her warning to the Crowns failed, as his men removed the evidence before it was seen. Illian gives Vasalie her final task: She must assassinate Rurik, using a specific weapon and costume to frame Razam for the murder. If she complies, Illian promises to spare Anton’s life and banish him instead. If she refuses, Anton will be killed immediately—Illian’s guard Aemon’s standing order is to kill Anton should anything happen to Illian. Seeing what she interprets as a hidden signal from Anton, Vasalie agrees to Illian’s demand.

Disguised as a dancer at a royal soirée, Vasalie plans to defy Illian’s orders by warning Rurik of the assassination plot. Before she can reach him, she’s confronted by a drunken Princess Aesir, who confirms her own complicity in the plan to kill her father. Vasalie prepares to approach Rurik but is shocked when Illian himself appears at Rurik’s side.

Realizing that she was never trusted, Vasalie sees Illian’s guards positioned above and recalls the threat to Anton. Forced to choose between Anton and Rurik, she crosses to the balcony and slits Rurik’s throat with the provided katar. As guards are alerted, Illian thanks her and pushes her over the railing into the sea below.

She lets go and sinks before Aemon—sent in advance by Illian, who knew she was never in real danger from the fall—pulls her from the water. She awakens in Illian’s apartments, uncertain how much time has passed, feeling emotionally hollow. She learns that Rurik is dead, that Aesir has been crowned queen and is engaged to General Stova, and that Razam has been blamed for the assassination, leaving the kingdom isolated and on the brink of war.