Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

On the way to the palace, Maura outlines the protocol for interacting with the king. Diem can’t help but make jokes about how silly the rules seem. Maura warns her that even though the king is “a helpless, dying old man” (229), Diem must treat him with the required respect. Diem assures her that she will behave, silently aware that Maura would be furious if she knew what Diem was really planning for their trip to the palace.

Luther greets Diem and Maura at the palace. He pushes away the guards and insists on patting Diem down himself. Diem panics when he touches the blade in her boot. She knows that he felt it, but he doesn’t seize it. He lets her into the palace and then leads the women down several corridors. When they reach iron doors flanked by guards, Luther bypasses the guards and lets them through, using his magic. When Diem asks how his magic works, Maura warns her to be quiet, but Luther humors her questions.

They reach the king’s chambers, where Diem momentarily forgets the protocol, bowing and lowering her head reluctantly. She feels suddenly enraged at the king even though he is lying weakly in bed.