Rishe's secret plan advances perfectly. Then she receives an invitation from Arnold to join him on an incognito trip into town. Certain it must be for official business, Rishe goes along only to end up at a jeweler's where Arnold has a plan of his own!

As Rishe picks herbs for Kyle from her garden, Michel, a scholar she apprenticed under in her third life, appears before her. Later, at the party, Rishe spots Arnold and Kyle quietly slip away. She follows them and overhears Kyle make a bold request.

Rishe has kept a certain activity of hers secret from Arnold, but when he appears right in front of her, there's no escaping his notice. Later she learns that Michel believes Arnold fulfills every condition necessary to conduct a particular experiment.