Kaitain is a planet mostly covered by a single metropolis known as Corrinth City, home to CHOAM, the Landsraad, the Spacing Guild, and the Emperor’s throne. The surrounding natural space is the personal property of the Emperor and his family.
Baroness Sarenna receives a wrapped scroll from Elias Adler inviting her for a romantic evening. Unlike her relationship with Philipe, Elias treats their intimacy as contractual, devoid of emotion. Sarenna appears to prefer the approach Elias takes.
They discuss their ambitions, revealing that both are driven by a desire for control and power - they both self-identify as a “Beast of Ambition”. Elias shares a Ridulian Crystal with falsified records implicating the Ur Director of CHOAM in fraud, urging Sarenna not to let Quinn Adler interfere with his morals.
Quinn spends the evening with Xermal, who when invited to impersonate “anyone attractive,” transformed into the visage of a younger, nude Sarenna. The two of them had a jovial evening together, mocking the House Mejora council.
Quinn is summoned to the Child’s Quarters, where he finds Mallik upset, believing that his mother, Sarenna, does not love him. Resha is disappointed in her brother and leaves him alone with Quinn.
Quinn's attempt to comfort Mallik is awkward and ineffective. Mallik demands that Quinn gets rid of all his toys so that he can finally “grow up.”
Sarenna and Quinn discuss their plans to increase their succession score. Sarenna recalls that the Emperor had always desired a son and was disappointed with his daughters, despite their brilliance - although this information could be outdated.
Sarenna gives Quinn the Ridulian Crystal from Elias. Quinn investigates it further and adjusts the documents to make them more believable - going against his loyalty to CHOAM, risking losing his title and career.
When he approaches Elias for verification on the data, Elias belittles him, showing disappointment.
Sarenna travels to the Narwhal Jousting event, where various figures are travelling alongside her, including Juliette Kestrel, Khagan Tenecles Thennatt, and Alma Upta, the Spacing Guild Ambassador.
Sarenna goads Khagan Tenecles into competing in the unshielded duelling competition, resulting in his loss and a decrease in House Thennatt’s succession score.
Meanwhile, Resha discusses her issues with Mallik, revealing she used Bene Gesserit techniques on him for discipline.
Juliette Kestrel receives distressing news about her husband’s death from a plague that struck Kestrel territory. Sarenna learns that the Great Plague on Komorebi has killed 650,000 people and has spread to Okinahana City.
Juliette Kestrel promises and threatens to find those responsible for the Great Plague and bring them to justice.
Sarenna and Quinn attend the painting competition at Corrin Square. Despite not winning, Grunkle, Quinn’s protégé, impresses the winner, Corio Tagliari.
Both Sarenna and Quinn feel an inexplicable attraction to Corio, realising he used a technique similar to The Voice to control their emotions.
Sarenna meets with Crown Princess Irulan and Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam after the competition. The Reverend Mother probes Sarenna’s intentions on Kaitain and offers her two choices:
Sarenna accepts the second offer, which will take effect once she resigns as the head of House Mejora.
With Sarenna’s CHOAM shares, she is superior to Quinn within the corporation. Quinn and Sarenna discuss the CHOAM findings, agreeing that Sarenna will push the findings, claiming that it was an audit that she put in place.