The scene opens with a flashback to the wedding of the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke has ordered the Duchess to dress in a dress made of a fabric called "the cloud brocade" , which he gave to the Duchess. The Duchess is outraged and demands that the dress be taken off. She tells the guards to take it off, but the guards refuse to do so, saying that the fabric is not theirs to take off, and that they are not in a position to intervene. The duchess tells her maids to go to the backyard and wait for the return of the commander. She then tells the maids to be careful not to let the Duchess fall asleep