Chapter 24

Diem’s training with Luther, Taran, and Alixe fails to spark her godhood. Overwhelmed and afraid of her own emotions, Diem ends the session early and retreats to her rooms, promising herself there is still time to figure it out.

Eleanor finds Diem withdrawn and reframes the ball as a stage where Diem can control perception. Weighing personas among gowns, Diem chooses an unexpectedly un-Diem ensemble to signal strategic intent: to appear nonthreatening yet potentially allied, shaping how the Twenty Houses approach her.

At sunset, Diem studies Teller’s notes while watching guests arrive beneath a magically transformed palace facade. Sorae scans intentions, growling at Iléana Hanoverre and bristling at powerless foreign representatives from Faunos, Ignios, and Sophos, hinting at unseen risks despite the Forging’s nullification of their magic.

Aemonn arrives dazzling as her escort and presents a House Corbois phoenix medallion—both a promise of resilience and a veiled threat. Sorae distrusts him, but Diem accepts the necklace, uncertain whom the warning truly targets.

When Diem accuses Aemonn of blackmail based on Luther’s claim, Aemonn counters that Luther orchestrated the escort to keep Henri away and to control Diem’s access. He details how Luther has isolated her behind his allies and proximity. The revelation unsettles Diem; she does not fully commit to Aemonn, but keeps him as escort while re-evaluating Luther’s influence.