Immediately after Cardan returns to himself, Cardan clings to Jude while trembling, then resumes his public mask as soldiers gather. Grima Mog asks Jude whether Madoc should be chained, and Cardan answers for the crown: Madoc is manacled and led away while Madoc’s army surrenders and the battlefield settles into the grim aftermath of victory.

Cardan and Jude return to the palace, where Cardan insists on seeing the damaged throne before bathing. In the brugh, Cardan uses his restored power to heal the cracked earth and transform the split throne into two separate thrones, making their joint rule visible. Randalin then leads Cardan toward the royal chambers, but Jude slips away because she is overwhelmed, bloodstained, and uncomfortable being watched.

In Jude’s old rooms, Jude finds Heather, who has come for the revel and confirms that Vivi has made her protective rowan berries. Heather helps Jude remove her armor and distracts Jude from panic by explaining that Heather confronted Vivi about the stolen memories and demanded that Vivi win Heather’s love again honestly. Oriana then arrives, bows formally to Jude as High Queen, and asks Jude to show Madoc mercy for Oak’s sake; Jude replies that she has already been merciful and leaves.

Jude hurries back to the royal chambers, afraid that Cardan’s survival might somehow be unreal, but finds Cardan gone to the brugh. Tatterfell bathes and dresses Jude in bronze finery, then sends Jude to the feast, where the court honors Cardan’s return and Jude’s victory. The celebration mixes joy and horror: songs praise the serpent king, courtiers eat meat from Cardan’s serpent body, and Cardan jokes through the discomfort while refusing to deal with political matters until later.

Cardan asks Jude to dance and leads Jude away to the secret room behind the dais. Jude apologizes for cutting off Cardan’s serpent head and for delaying, then finally confesses that she loves him. Cardan doubts that Jude means it, so Jude explains how her feelings grew through their past alliances, betrayals, and rescues; Cardan accepts her confession, tells Jude that as a serpent he was trapped in terror and darkness but always knew her, and kisses Jude, allowing Jude to feel at peace at last.