Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of drug abuse and child abuse.

When Rhys sees Nikolai alone, he realizes that something is not right and begins to worry about Bridget even on his day off. He learns from Nikolai and the palace staff that no one knows where Bridget is. After her argument with Nikolai, she stormed off and went for a ride on her horse. The weather has turned bad and her horse has been found, but no one is looking for Bridget. Furious at this inaction, Rhys searches for Bridget alone in the rain. He finds her unconscious with a big bruise on her head and takes her back to the palace. A doctor later tells him and the others that Bridget has a mild concussion and a sprained wrist, but she should be fine in a few weeks.

As Bridget heals over the following weeks, the palace makes plans to announce her ascension to the throne in just over a month. One night when Bridget is at her secret hideout on top of the palace roof, she is surprised to see Rhys there. When she offhandedly mentions moving back to Eldorra, she suddenly realizes that she has not yet told him about the abdications.