After the masquerade, Norterang is enveloped in a heavy rainstorm, but the difference between alex's highness and mine is what concerns me the most. Anas it turns out, merely his "highness" is "ready to depart" . He rushes off to find a towel to dry the soaked begonias. He tells himself that he can still get some books using the name "Cecil" , but he cant "grow complacent" about his current situation. He says that he is glad that he did not get soaked, as "slaves are forbidden to study . . then he hides in the warehouse, at night, to read "to lead a happy future life ." He says he is sure that when the sun returns, they will be beautiful again. He asks if his books are alright, and he says that they are not "that incomprehensible though." He adds that he used to hear stories about how beautiful "the princess of Vesperang" was, but today he has discovered that her beauty stems from her "strong will." He tells his brother that he has wasted his time teaching him, and that he still is as foolish as his father. He warns him not to fight, but to follow him to the open garden of his highness.