After killing Gilliam Vas in the duel, Hadrian is brought before Count Balian Mataro. Mataro angrily says Valka has influenced Hadrian and explains that Grand Prior Ligeia Vas wants revenge for her son's death. Although Hadrian insists he sought only first blood and acted within the law, Mataro warns that legal technicalities will not protect him from the Chantry.

Mataro reveals that he still needs Hadrian. He had planned, quietly and years in advance, to marry Hadrian to Anaïs Mataro after her Ephebeia, not for affection or alliance in the usual sense, but because Hadrian's noble genome is far more valuable than Mataro's family bloodline. Hadrian is shocked and humiliated, realizing that Anaïs's friendliness toward him was likely calculated from the start.

Hadrian protests that his father would never approve such a match, but Mataro produces a transmitted writ of disavowal signed by Hadrian's father, Alistair Marlowe, and his grandmother, Elmira Kephalos. The document legally severs Hadrian from House Marlowe and condemns his conduct in connection with the Inquisition. Hadrian realizes Mataro contacted his family immediately after Hadrian arrived and may have helped arrange the disavowal.

The revelation leaves Hadrian stripped of the last dignity and security tied to his name. He feels reduced to the value of his genes and compares the proposed marriage to prostitution. Mataro insists Hadrian should be honored to become his son and argues that marriage into House Mataro would eventually shield Hadrian from Ligeia.

Because the marriage cannot happen for three years, Mataro decides Hadrian must be removed from Borosevo until the danger lessens. He considers sending Hadrian to Tivan Melluan on Binah to keep him out of Ligeia's reach. Overwhelmed by guilt, grief, and betrayal, Hadrian gathers himself enough to ask Mataro one question.