Over the next few weeks, Maura keeps Diem away from palace calls despite Diem’s promises to behave. Maura takes the royal-family visits herself, sometimes with Lana, which leaves Diem anxious and ashamed. Diem and Lana avoid each other, and Diem fears every palace visit may bring news that the Guardians used the secret garden entrance Diem revealed to harm the royal children.

Diem tries to make herself useful without taking more dangerous risks. Maura still allows Diem to treat Descended patients in Lumnos City, while the Guardians decline to include Diem in further missions and tell Diem to keep watch during patient visits. Henri is mostly absent on a secret mission, giving Diem space from his unanswered marriage proposal. Meanwhile, Diem’s inner voice grows more constant and becomes especially loud whenever Diem nears the palace.

After visiting a Descended patient near the palace, Diem encounters Princess Lily with a group of fashionable Descended girls. Lily warmly thanks Diem for saving Lily’s life during the palace accident, though both Diem and Lily are confused by how unusually fast Lily healed. Diem explains that Diem only used pain medicine and herbs to slow bleeding, which leaves the cause of Lily’s rapid recovery unresolved.

Once Lily’s friends leave, Lily speaks openly with Diem. Lily says Teller has always praised Diem and reveals that Luther has been asking about Diem and may have gone to Mortal City looking for Diem. Diem grows wary, but Lily insists Luther is a good man, explains that Luther blamed himself for the children’s injuries because he is High General of the Royal Guard, and suggests Luther may trust Diem because Diem did not treat him like everyone else does.

Lily then invites Diem to dinner at the palace and asks whether Diem might bring Teller. Diem realizes Lily may be trying to create goodwill between Diem and Luther so Luther will stop opposing Lily’s relationship with Teller. Rather than agree to palace dinner, Diem invites Lily to the Bellator home, promising there will be no judgment there. Lily accepts happily and asks Diem to teach Lily some healing knowledge, which Diem agrees to do despite suspecting Luther would object.