After Havelock retreats to his library, Yannick confides in Agnes. He clarifies that while other magicians have romantic feelings for Havelock, he does not; he is simply grateful because Havelock took him in as an apprentice when his own family disowned him for being a magician. 

Yannick reveals that Havelock and Valérie are twins. He explains their childhood history: Valérie was once fiercely protective of a sickly Havelock, but she grew jealous when his magical abilities eventually surpassed hers. Her jealousy festered into rivalry, and she became convinced that Havelock possessed Vortigern’s legendary book of spells and was hiding it from her. Yannick adds that Havelock was a quiet, bookish child who didn’t even discover his magic until he was 17.

Later, while alone, Agnes uses Havelock’s enchanted pen to identify spells on various Artefacts. That night, she discovers the shelter’s oven is enchanted when it produces a tray of fresh éclairs at midnight. Havelock appears from the Rivenwood and explains the oven’s magic is a remnant from a “heart’s desire” locket he disposed of, which likely manifested his longing for pastries from the shop’s former baker, Claude de la Fosse.

Havelock warns that Valérie seeks Vortigern’s library, which contains spells powerful enough to level mountains and armies or alter memories. He tells Agnes that while he almost destroyed the world, Valérie is likely to succeed in his place. The conversation turns personal, and when Havelock asks, Agnes shares that her husband, Robin, died suddenly from a rare heart condition. In turn, Havelock clarifies how he stopped the apocalypse: He intended to use a lantern made by Vortigern capable of absorbing magic, but was stolen from him before he could use it. This proved fortunate, however, as the lantern was not designed to undo an enchantment of that scale and would simply have wasted Vortigern’s spell. Realizing the solution was his alone, he travelled to the Fourth Fathom of the Rivenwood to gather enough power for a 12-layer spell of partitioning, the only spell strong enough to stop the apocalypse.

When Agnes mentions a flea infestation among the cats, Havelock casts a simple spell to eliminate them. Overcome with gratitude for his kindness, Agnes spontaneously kisses him, then immediately runs back upstairs.

Rattled by the kiss, Agnes flees to the Rue Sainte-Sophie shelter the next morning. She finds the building locked and empty of all cats. Mina, who manages the shelter, explains that a sympathetic article in the Daily Gazette headlined “Mystical cat shelter under police investigation” (237) has publicized rumors of the cats’ magical healing abilities. The resulting publicity caused every cat to be adopted within 20 minutes of opening. Agnes deduces that Roger Fairwood likely planted the story to generate public support against a police crackdown. 

Realizing she left Élise alone to face a similar potential stampede at the Rue des Hirondelles shelter, Agnes rushes back.

Agnes arrives at Rue des Hirondelles to find a large crowd watching a standoff between Valérie and Élise. Valérie reveals she has trapped Havelock in the Rivenwood and uses a compass Artefact to confirm that Vortigern’s book is in the shop. She attacks the building with phantasmal horses made of snow, which shatter a window but fail to break Havelock’s wards. Just then, Havelock unexpectedly emerges from a window of darkness opening in the sky and begins to fight Valérie’s apprentices. One apprentice briefly traps him in a thornbush of ice, but Havelock frees himself and sends that apprentice into the storm clouds before sweeping the remaining apprentices away with a massive wave of snow.

During the battle, His Majesty viciously attacks Valérie, clawing her leg. As Havelock prepares a final assault on his sister, Valérie grabs His Majesty and escapes through a magical door. Havelock vanishes through a portal of his own, while Agnes, who had been restrained throughout the battle by Élise, wrenches free and searches the street for the cat before realizing he went through the door with Valérie. Agnes weeps in Élise’s arms.

In the following days, Agnes grieves for His Majesty, remembering him as Robin’s cat. Havelock returns, unable to track Valérie. He magically repairs the shelter, and then retreats to his workshop. 

When two police officers arrive to investigate the public disturbance, Élise cleverly invites them to search the basement, even suggesting the former baker may have been Havelock Renard in disguise. An enchantment conceals the workshop, and the officers find only a normal cellar. 

Later, Élise’s husband, Gabriel, warns that the city council is close to passing a bylaw that will grant police new powers to search for Artefacts using magic. Amid the turmoil, Agnes receives a telegram from Detective Laurent Rouzet, reminding her of their planned outing.

Agnes meets Laurent at a winter market, where he confronts her. He reveals that the police have long suspected Havelock operates a magic shop beneath the shelter. He warns that once the new city bylaw passes, they will have the authority to raid the premises. Laurent then gives Agnes an ultimatum: Help the police or be arrested. 

During the conversation, Laurent discovers the enchanted pen Agnes had forgotten in her coat pocket, immediately identifying it as an Artefact and placing it in an oilcloth bag to suppress its power. He explains that he is also a magician but has never visited the Rivenwood, which is why he lacks the distinct visual aura of others like Havelock. Realizing she has no choice, Agnes peacefully surrenders and is taken into custody.