Florence Weston is elevated to Queen but immediately accused in court of slandering Consort Snider and colluding with the Veyrak tribes. The King, shown letters of treason, orders her to apologize or be secluded; her husband Clement publicly humiliates her, forcing her to strip and crawl to Snider's door. Florence renounces the throne instead. Chaos escalates as Veyrak forces reach the gates and an assassin strikes the King. Physicians are summoned; the mortally wounded King murmurs, "I was wrong," naming Atticus as Florence's sole supporter. The palace seals, and the King's fate hangs unresolved while Florence faces ruin.