On the night before Hadrian is supposed to leave for Vesperad, Hadrian repacks his belongings in the Haspida palace while waiting for Lady Liliana’s secret escape plan to begin. Crispin enters to say goodbye, awkwardly revealing jealousy that Hadrian gets the Chantry path while Crispin receives Devil’s Rest. Hadrian, already fearful of Alcuin and determined not to become a Chantry inquisitor, thinks instead of the Free Trader escape to Karch arranged by his mother.

Crispin teases Hadrian about Kyra, and Hadrian warns Crispin to leave Kyra alone. The conversation worsens when Crispin casually repeats the official lie that Gibson was a traitor and dismisses him as only a servant. Hadrian, enraged by Gibson’s mutilation and exile, says Gibson was his friend and blurts that Gibson had been helping Hadrian because Hadrian asked him to.

The argument turns violent after Hadrian calls Crispin an imbecile and strikes him with heavy books. Crispin tackles Hadrian, and the brothers fight across the cluttered suite. Hadrian struggles to control his anger while Crispin accuses him of thinking himself superior, and both draw on years of rivalry, resentment, and their father’s manipulation.

Hadrian knocks Crispin down and urges him to stay there, but Crispin threatens that Kyra will suffer like Gibson after Hadrian leaves. Blinded by rage, Hadrian attacks again, throws Crispin to the floor, and kicks him unconscious. Hadrian confirms Crispin is still breathing, then realizes the cameras have almost certainly recorded the fight.

Lady Liliana arrives alone, shocked but quick to adapt. Hadrian lies that Crispin attacked him, then explains Crispin’s remarks about Gibson and Kyra. Liliana decides the crisis gives her a plausible excuse: she can claim Hadrian stole her shuttle and fled. She reveals she had previously interfered with security footage involving Gibson, tells Hadrian to take her people with him, and insists Bassander Marlowe will not dare touch her in her own family’s house.

As Hadrian packs frantically, Hadrian asks why Liliana is helping him, and she tells him he was always her favorite. Crispin begins to stir, but two Kephalos legionnaires and Kyra arrive. Hadrian realizes Kyra is one of Liliana’s agents. With no time left, Hadrian thanks his mother, and those become the last words he ever says to her.