Caraval

At last, Scarlett learns the identity of her fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy. He is a very finely dressed gentleman, but he doesn’t behave like a gentleman and shatters Scarlett’s illusions of the man she thought he was in his letters. Her father emerges from a back door, and Julian insists they leave. Count d’Arcy grabs at Scarlett, but Julian topples a display of glass eyes so they can make their escape. Scarlett and Julian run until they reach the canal. It’s storming, but they get in the boat anyway.

Governor Dragna pleads with his daughter, and she wonders if he’s actually crying or if it’s the rain. Julian rows the boat across the canal toward Castillo Maldito, and they run into the courtyard. Julian expresses frustration with himself for letting her play this game and wants her to quit now that there’s so much real danger. Scarlett isn’t having it and tells him he’s just being jealous. He assures her he isn’t, but she knows he’s lying. Soaking wet in the rain, they hold each other “[a] whisper shy of kissing” (276). Julian is worried she’ll regret her choices because there are things about him she doesn’t know. Scarlett wants him to feel comfortable telling her and says that she’s not afraid of his secrets. Julian replies that perhaps she should be and kisses her.

Scarlett and Julian share a night together. Scarlett announces that she thinks she knows what the last clue is: the roses for Rosa. They have to get back to the hotel to look at them closely to see if there’s any kind of hidden note with the roses. They take the tunnels to avoid encountering her father and the count. They hurry down into the tunnel, and Scarlett instructs Julian to go ahead of her and close the entry to the tunnel before her father reaches it. They’re too late, though, and they break into a run in the tunnels.

They manage to outrun her father, but Scarlett is captured by her fiancé, who seems to enjoy the chase. Scarlett begs Julian to run, but he won’t leave her alone with the count. Scarlett’s father reminds Julian of how he punishes his daughters and punches Scarlett for Julian’s behavior. Governor Dragna then pulls a knife on Julian. Scarlett pleads with him not to harm him and swears she’ll never disobey him again. Count d’Arcy silences Scarlett by covering her mouth as Governor Dragna slashes Julian’s face with the knife.

Julian torments the count for being so pathetic he has tortured another man to get the woman he wants. Governor Dragna moves to strike him again, but Count d’Arcy suggests that’s enough. Scarlett realizes Count d’Arcy has the power to stop all this because her father listens to him, but he chooses not to. They decide to move the altercation from the tunnels to the hotel; Julian will stay with Governor Dragna, and Scarlett will stay with Count d’Arcy. Scarlett is extremely uncomfortable with this proposition but agrees on the condition that they let Julian leave. Julian doesn’t want to go, but Scarlett demands that he does. She knows if her father is alone with Julian, he’ll kill him, and she has a plan. She looks Julian in the eyes, hoping he understands.

Scarlett and Count d’Arcy return to her room. The count apologizes to Scarlett for his behavior in the tunnels and insists he’ll be different when they’re married. Scarlett notices the count’s demeanor changes when they’re alone, as his “overbred sophistication [is] completely gone, replaced with clinical precision, as if this [is] a business matter he need[s] to wrap up” (291). Scarlett understands the count’s nefarious intentions as he unbuttons his shirt. Scarlett pretends she’s cold and stokes the fire. The count grabs her shoulder, and she points the hot poker at him. Scarlett directs the count to back up to the bedposts. She opens the wardrobe, and Julian topples out. The count is confused, and Scarlett seizes the opportunity to use the Elixir of Protection on the count, which renders him weak and unable to fight back. Count d’Arcy insists that she’s making a mistake and that breaking them up is exactly what Legend wants. Scarlett tends to Julian’s wounds and seeing the count for the vile man he truly is, Scarlett states she believes Legend is doing her a favor. The count warns her to not be so sure as “Legend doesn’t do anyone favors” (294).