The chapter opens with news of victory as the Duke accepts defeat and the hostages are taken to headquarters. The scene then shifts to the birthday banquet at the Imperial Palace: while everyone is talking about Lady Arsinoe, the Crown Prince arrives, presents a gift, and threatens her for refusing to reveal Parnassus's secret passage. Enraged, Arsinoe shouts that she has returned as Empress and wakes up; it turns out it was all a dream, and she is resting at the Heiberg Mansion beside Walter.