At the apothecary, Alizeh hesitates to show her ruined hands because her clear blood might expose her as Jinn. With no better option, Alizeh lets the apothecarist examine the raw wounds. Instead of rejecting her, the apothecarist quietly prepares salves, herbs, and clean bandages.

The apothecarist, Deen, treats Alizeh with unexpected compassion, easing the pain in Alizeh's hands and neck. Deen recognizes that Alizeh is being overworked because her Jinn body can endure more than a human one, and he notices the bruise on Alizeh's face beneath her snoda. Alizeh refuses to remove the snoda, fearing what might be revealed and knowing that reporting abuse could cost Alizeh her job.

While Deen works, Deen mentions rumors about the prince's return to Setar and the celebrations being planned. The news explains to Alizeh why the city is preparing festivities, why Miss Huda needs new gowns, and why Duchess Jamilah's house must be cleaned so thoroughly. Relieved by Deen's kindness, Alizeh speaks too freely, criticizing the prince's isolation, privilege, and publicly funded celebrations.

Deen's warmth vanishes when Alizeh's remarks sound disloyal. Deen defends the prince as a dutiful protector rather than an arrogant recluse, and Alizeh realizes she has mistaken compassion for friendship. Ashamed and frightened that Deen might report Alizeh, Alizeh apologizes and pays for the medicine.

Deen then mentions that the prince saved a red-haired Fesht boy who supposedly tried to kill himself after attacking a servant girl. Alizeh realizes the boy is Omid and becomes alarmed, especially because the rumor resembles Alizeh's own knife wound. When Deen says Omid is at the Diviners' in the Royal Square, Alizeh abruptly leaves.

Outside, Alizeh runs into a violent winter storm and thinks of Iblees's riddle about a man with snakes on his shoulders and murdered children. Alizeh connects the hooded man from the square, Omid's disappearance, and the devil's warning, concluding that the face in her vision must belong to the prince. As Alizeh races back toward Baz House, someone grabs Alizeh's wrist from the darkness, and Alizeh screams.