Dr. Zhoma waits anxiously outside Prince Roderick Corrino’s offices, disturbed by the Butlerian destruction of the old Suk School headquarters and fearful for the future of medicine and civilization. She reflects that Salvador’s credulity and dependence on physicians will make it easy to give him vitamin supplements laced with a sterilizing drug, but Roderick’s rationality makes him seem like the better potential ruler.

Roderick apologizes for the Suk building’s destruction, explaining that allowing it helped contain Manford Torondo’s fanatics temporarily, and offers Imperial compensation. Zhoma asks Roderick to advocate for the Suk School and advanced medical treatment against Butlerian limits, and Roderick agrees while admitting Salvador may not listen. When Roderick’s young daughter Nantha interrupts in tears over her missing dog, Zhoma sees Roderick’s humanity and decides that merely preventing Salvador from having heirs is not enough; she begins rationalizing Salvador’s murder as a way to save lives.

Later, Zhoma examines Roderick, Haditha, and their four children in the palace clinic and declares them healthy. When Zhoma praises Roderick’s children as the future Corrino line and implies Roderick could rule well if Salvador produces no heir, Roderick sharply rejects any ambition against his brother. Zhoma’s evasive explanation of Salvador’s special supplement raises Roderick’s suspicions.

Roderick investigates Zhoma’s background and finds muddled travel records, a strong medical education, and a past connection to the Sisterhood school on Rossak. This leads Roderick to think about Sister Perianna’s suspicious conduct and Anna’s current placement with the Sisterhood, making him wary that the Sisterhood may be manipulating the Corrinos.

At a private dinner with Salvador, Roderick stops Salvador from taking Zhoma’s honey-colored supplement and insists on chemical testing, comparing it to the poison testing already used for Imperial food. Salvador reluctantly agrees, and Roderick keeps the vial because he remains determined to protect his brother.

Afterward, Empress Tabrina spends time in Roderick’s office seeking political influence and then propositions him, suggesting she could bear Roderick’s child and pass it off as Salvador’s heir. Roderick refuses out of loyalty to Salvador and to his own family. When the chemical-analysis results arrive, Roderick dismisses Tabrina, rushes to Salvador, clears the room, and tells the Emperor that he has uncovered a plot against him.