After leaving Lumnos City, Maura remains silent until Diem apologizes for the disastrous palace visit. Maura says she should have trusted Auralie’s judgment and kept Diem out of the palace bargain, then sharply reminds Diem that her impulsive choices endangered Teller’s education, the healers’ center, Maura, and Diem’s family. When Diem insists she can still serve as palace healer, Maura refuses to allow another attempt.

Maura presses Diem about whether her recklessness is tied to Prince Luther or to unhappiness with healing. Diem denies both, but Maura argues that Diem’s heart may not be in the healer’s life Auralie chose for her. Diem insists she is happy and apologizes, though Diem privately struggles to believe it.

Later, Diem goes to the Guardians’ meetinghouse to report to Vance. After arguing with the doorkeeper over the secret entrance code, Diem is admitted and tells Vance, Brant, and Francis that Diem escaped her escort at the palace but failed to reach the Crown’s boat. Brant questions why the palace let Diem leave, and Diem defensively explains that Diem was threatened, cut, and nearly injured; when Francis asks about the cut on Diem’s neck, Diem realizes the wound has vanished, alarming Diem and reviving suspicions Diem refuses to face.

Wanting to prove usefulness after failing the mission, Diem impulsively reveals a secret hole in the palace garden wall. Vance, Brant, and Francis immediately become interested, and Diem marks the location on their map, then regrets it because children live in the palace and Lana, another Guardian, had apparently kept the same entrance secret. Diem tries to volunteer to return to the palace herself, but the men decide Diem is brave yet not ready for more missions, leaving Diem afraid that the information will be used in ways Diem cannot control.

Henri waits outside and comforts Diem as Diem confesses the mission, Maura’s anger, and the Guardians’ judgment all went badly. Henri argues that the Guardians’ cause justifies compromises because they are trying to save mortals from Descended rule. Henri also admits he hid the Guardians from Diem because Auralie wanted Diem kept away from the Descended, then praises Diem’s recent defiance and kisses Diem, making Diem briefly feel valued.

Henri abruptly proposes marriage, asking Diem to be his wife and fight the war beside him. Diem panics, especially when Henri imagines Diem moving in with him, eventually stopping work, and raising a family after the war. Diem asks for time instead of answering, while Henri reacts as if the future is assured; Diem returns home unsettled, trying to convince herself that maybe she can accept the life Henri wants.