In which Raoul returns to the Comte de la Fere’s country residence after a year of service at the prince’s household, bearing news of the king’s forthcoming marriage and encountering the gentle yet solemn presence of his father once more. Amidst the quiet gardens and familiar rooms, father and son exchange guarded words of affection and counsel, with memories and unspoken cautions lingering in the air like the shadows beneath the blossoming trees.