Hadrian and Crispin arrive at the summer palace at Haspida, but Hadrian’s mother is not there to greet them. Hadrian is placed in quarters overlooking the water gardens, where the dying lilies and his sketchbook lead him into memories of Gibson’s lessons about memory, art, and imperfection.

Crispin enters Hadrian’s room and reveals that their mother is apparently in Euclid. Crispin speaks carelessly about the palace harem and a blue-skinned homunculus, while Hadrian remains focused on why their mother has gone away and why no one knows when she will return. The brothers briefly discuss how different the summer palace feels from Devil’s Rest, and Hadrian reflects that the relaxed atmosphere makes the war feel distant.

Crispin then awkwardly invites Hadrian to visit the harem with him, apparently trying to share one final experience before Hadrian leaves. Hadrian refuses curtly, later recognizing that Crispin may have been attempting friendship despite their emotional distance and the palatine family’s cold, artificial bonds.

Hadrian’s mother does not return the next day or the day after, and her failure to call wounds Hadrian more than her absence. With Gibson’s letter gone and Alistair’s threats still controlling him, Hadrian sees himself as a pawn in his father’s designs, trapped on the path to Vesperad and the Chantry. Hadrian sleeps to escape his fear and imagines the brutality of Lorica College, where he expects to be trained in sanctioned torture.

With only half a week left before his departure, Hadrian goes on a morning run around the palace grounds. A servant finds him and reports that his mother has returned and urgently requests his presence in her studio. Still sweaty and unwashed, Hadrian follows the attendant through the palace grounds to his mother’s separate villa, passing Kephalos legionnaires before entering.