Synopsis

The chapter opens with the third prince of Kairis being barred entry, seemingly deliberately, due to a lack of an invitation and the high standards of the gatekeeper. He is then seen trying to leave the city, breaking the rules of the festival, and is assisted by an attendant who claims to be the Duke Siegfried's son, allowing him to escape. This escape leads to a conversation between two officials who reveal a complex plan to manipulate the situation, indicating a hidden relationship between the young prince and the older man he is following. The chapter concludes with the old man admitting he is nitpicking on purpose and a final reveal of the young prince's surprisingly mature gaze.