Impa retracts her embrace. The sickening feeling in her stomach returns twice as noxious as before. Count Caedis. Count Caedis. The one she had sat next to on many occasions at Royal Court banquets. The one she had visited numerous times at the Castle Town Milk Bar at the request of Her Majesty. The one she had collected letters from on her behalf…love letters.
All the pieces fall into place: the snake-ring. The ring must have held some sort of significance to the pair of them. It must have triggered his ultimatum. Impa had unknowingly assisted in the cuckolding of the King himself, right under his nose.
Her perception of the Queen alters dramatically before her eyes: where once she saw a sobbing victim of complex feelings, she now sees a manipulative puppeteer who used her to conduct her own wrongdoings.
The Queen smiles. "I am so grateful for your understanding, Impa. Now that my conscience is clear, I may finally sleep. You are hereby dismissed from your duties for tonight."
Impa rises from the bed swiftly and retreats to the darkness of her bedroom. She lies awake with the curtains open, looking up at the moonlit ceiling. The callous, cunning, conniving, cuckolding wench! She took advantage of her service and used her as a messenger of betrayal. How could she be forgiven? The poor King…
And so the pleasant mood of the Castle is ruined for Impa. Each morning, she serves tea in the Lounge to the happy couple, conscious of the sad ignorance of His Majesty to the affairs conducted behind his back. Each day, she passes Faito in the corridor, hiding his face in shame as she blazes past him. Each evening, she dines between the pair of them, straining to conceal her true feelings behind a mask of pleasantries. Just when it can't get any worse:
"I have an announcement." His Majesty clinks his wine glass with the tip of his knife. He squeezes his wife's hand affectionately and clears his throat for the congregation of two. "What with the upcoming birth of our first child, heir to the throne, the two of us have agreed that we will host a celebratory banquet in attendance of the Royal Court!"
Faito applauds. On the other hand, Impa fails to fake enthusiasm.
"It shall take place next week at the usual time of six o'clock, and I expect both of you to attend. Let us consider it a reunion of old friends!"
He claps twice to summon the dessert. As the usual trifles are passed around, Impa catches the eye of the Queen. She smiles innocently and turns her attention to the pudding on her plate.
