In Rolfe’s office, Aelin maintains her old Celaena Sardothien persona, deliberately provoking the Pirate Lord while Dorian, Rowan, Fenrys, and Gavriel watch. Rolfe reminds Aelin that he once promised to kill her if Aelin returned to his territory, but Aelin treats the threat as entertainment and calmly greets Dorian as king.

Aelin needles Rolfe about his diminished fleet, flirts theatrically with Rowan, and toys with Rolfe’s emeralds, even stealing and then revealing hidden gems to prove Aelin’s old assassin skills remain sharp. Rolfe demands to know why Aelin has come, and Aelin claims war is coming and Aelin wants to see where Rolfe stands, framing the visit as a matter of profit and survival.

Rolfe brings up Aelin’s past destruction of Skull’s Bay ships and property, done years earlier to free enslaved people. Aelin uses that history to press Rolfe on the bargain he signed afterward: Rolfe confirms that neither Rolfe nor Rolfe’s ships have bought, traded, transported, or knowingly denied sanctuary to enslaved people since then. Aelin reveals Aelin has already inspected Rolfe’s warehouses, markets, ledgers, and records, confirming Rolfe has honored the agreement.

Still furious over the damage Aelin once caused, Rolfe offers Rowan, Fenrys, and Gavriel a price for Rolfe’s support in the coming war: kill Aelin. Aelin dismisses the threat and then stages a reveal by introducing the “Queen of Terrasen,” as another woman with Aelin’s face enters the room. For a moment, Rolfe is shaken by the apparent double.

The deception unravels when the newcomer is revealed as Lysandra, a shape-shifter, while the true Aelin has been sitting before them all along in black. Fenrys and Gavriel are visibly stunned by Lysandra’s power, and Dorian confirms Aelin’s identity as both Aelin Galathynius and Celaena Sardothien. With Rolfe forced to accept who Aelin is, Aelin prepares to negotiate Rolfe’s refusal to aid Aelin’s cause.