In this chapter, we get a flashback to a time when a man had everything. The emperor ordered the man to accept his master as his wife. Now, the man is forced to accept "a male life partner" . This means that the man has betrayed the empire. The man begs the emperor not to give up hope. He says that the prince gave him a " glimmer of warmth" and that he wishes to take his life. The prince decides to kill himself because he is left with nothing.