Lloyd and Chloe grow still closer, but is Chloe ready for what that closeness might demand? A duel fought for her, a commission for her embroidery, and deepening ties with friends in the capital all lay the groundwork for a better and more stable (if no less exciting) life. But do scars ever truly fade? Can trauma be plainly overwritten? Just as Chloe wonders whether “normal” might be within her reach, an old enemy arrives in the capital, poised to upset the fragile peace she’s built.