At Lady Sullivan's birthday banquet a guest insults a woman and Alexia erupts, physically confronting the offender. She declares, "This slap is exactly like the one in my past life. Only this time, you'll never touch me again," and refuses to be silenced. Hosts and servants rush to calm Alexia and the mother while warning her about His Highness's fragile recovery and the many guests present. Despite pleas to compose herself and even to change, Alexia storms out, leaving the celebration unsettled and the immediate consequences of her outburst unresolved.