After Apollo leaves, Valentine answers Ilsa’s questions and explains that she is a witch from a long line of powerful witches. Valentine says her magic allows her to travel between worlds and move other people with her. She tells Ilsa that they are no longer in their own world but in a parallel universe called Fleuridia, where every person has a counterpart.

Ilsa struggles to believe any of it and keeps trying to reduce the situation to something understandable. Valentine insists that this is real, warns Ilsa that stranger things are coming, and says Ilsa must adapt quickly because she is safe here and will not be sent back. She also stresses that Apollo Ulfr is not the same man as the abusive Pol, even though they are counterparts.

Valentine then reveals the most disturbing truth: there is another Ilsa in this world, but she has died, and she was Apollo’s wife. Ilsa fears Apollo brought her here to replace the dead woman, but Valentine says Apollo knows she is not his wife. Valentine explains only that Apollo was determined enough to pay for Valentine’s help, that his grief has not faded, and that he is an honorable man who feels deeply.

As the conversation overwhelms Ilsa, she becomes drowsy and realizes Valentine has drugged the wine. Valentine says sleep will help Ilsa recover and better understand her new circumstances. Unable to resist, Ilsa falls asleep.

Later, Ilsa half wakes to find Apollo in bed with her, holding her close. When she calls him Pol, he firmly corrects her, then calls her "my dove" and says a dove is beautiful but easily broken. He makes clear that his dead wife was "my beauty," not Ilsa, and when Ilsa apologizes for his loss, Apollo admits he could not save his wife but says he can save Ilsa. He refuses further discussion and tells her to sleep, and she drifts off again in his arms.