In the underground room at the side of the palace, the "pseudo-dragon" is confused by the flow of the dragon's power and is unable to communicate with the "real" dragon, who is in pain. The real dragon, however, is confused and cannot communicate with his mother, who has taken her away from the palace because of a rumor that the "cubine" has killed the empress. The mother explains that she is taking the girl to visit her grandparents and that the palace gate is closed so that the family can send someone to pick them up. She explains that the whole palace is in white, and that no one has come to ask them why they are running away. She tells the girl that she heard that the Empress woke up and would arrest her for the crime. The girl begs her mother to go back to the capital so that she can clear her name. She has a pearl that she wants the Empress to take from her, and she wants to kill the woman who is trying to trap her.