In the bustling Baz House, Alizeh endures her mundane duties while suffering the occasional whims of her superiors. An unexpected visitor, Omid, arrives with an unexpected proposal. As a chosen guest for the king’s ball, he has been granted permission to bring a companion. He offers this invitation to Alizeh as a means to apologize for his past transgressions against her (i.e., attacking her in the street). This unexpected proposition offers Alizeh a rare glimpse into a world outside her monotonous existence, with the ball promising a night of grandeur, food, and dance. Omid hints that his presence at the ball as the prince’s “trophy” serves as a testament to Prince Kamran’s mercy. Their conversation is cut short by Mrs. Amina, the strict housekeeper, but not before Omid sets a time for their rendezvous. He also urges Alizeh to dress appropriately and discard her servant attire, the snoda.

Prince Kamran’s actions and decisions, which include a rash summoning and public reprimanding of officials, earn Hazan’s ire. In the private confines of the prince’s chambers, a heated exchange between the two reveals deeper undercurrents of tension and secrecy. The central issue in the tension between prince and advisor is Kamran’s growing attraction to