Isla reflects on the truth behind her position: she was born without the Wildling curse and without Wildling power. Because her mother fell in love and failed to kill Isla's father, Isla's father murdered her mother after Isla's birth, and Isla inherited a different fatal weakness—powerlessness. Poppy and Terra have kept Isla hidden because a ruler without power cannot sustain a realm, and the Wildling people are already weakening.

Isla considers the full stakes of the Centennial. The oracle's prophecy says one ruler must die to break the curses, but because a ruler's power is tied to the life force of a realm, a ruler's death without an heir would also destroy that ruler's people. The rules of later Centennials were created after the first gathering became a failed bloodbath that killed many bystanders but left all rulers alive.

In the grand hall, Isla notices that Oro stands before his golden throne rather than sitting on it, and that the room is filled with fire from chandeliers and hearths. She wonders why Oro avoids the throne and why the king insists the fires never go out. Hungry after finding only poor food that morning, Isla also realizes she needs a safer long-term way to eat without revealing her inability to consume hearts.

As the rulers gather, Isla observes Celeste looking refreshed and imagines Celeste may have visited Star Isle. Isla longs to speak with Celeste, but meeting too often would endanger their alliance. Isla then crosses Cleo's path and recognizes the Moonling ruler's predatory interest, suspecting Cleo will retaliate for Isla's insult at the previous dinner.

Oro announces the three binding rules of the Centennial: rulers may not assassinate one another until after the fiftieth day; all rulers must attend and participate in every Centennial event; and no ruler may have an heir. The first twenty-five days will feature demonstrations hosted by each ruler, and the winner of the most trials will decide the pairs for the remainder of the Centennial. Since Isla and Celeste intend to leave before the fiftieth day, the assassination ban gives Isla temporary protection.

The rulers seal the rules in blood by cutting their palms with their crowns and feeding the blood to Oro's fire. Isla secretly hides petals in her hand so her powerless blood appears to bloom a rose, while the others' blood reveals their true powers. Once the fire accepts their blood, the rulers are bound: most would lose claim to the prize if they broke the rules, while Oro is bound by his life. Isla concludes that Oro likely has a plan that requires keeping her alive for now.