- It's interlude time, Shmoopsters, and we finally meet the infamous Cabbarus, chief minister of Westmark. He's got a finger in every administrative pie in the kingdom, and says that the people want strict guidance from the government, even if they don't know they want it. The deaths of anyone killed in the process of achieving Cabbarus's greedy goals are for the good of the realm, he claims. Ugh—we can see right through this guy already.
- Cabbarus trots off with his lackey, Pankratz, at his heels to meet with King Augustine in the Juliana Palace. There used to be lots of bells ringing in the palace in the capital of Marienstat, but Augustine forbade them to ring ever again after his daughter, Princess Augusta—who loved the bells—died. He's stuck in the dumps, to say the least.
- The Old Juliana is the old-school palace that's been abandoned; Cabbarus keeps creepy quarters there for himself. Cabby goes to meet with Augustine, who looks really sick; Auggie doesn't govern anymore and leaves the good stuff to Cabbarus—Augustine is too focused on finding someone who can raise the dead so he can chat with his daughter.
- Auggie has to figure out who's going to succeed him when he dies, and Cabbarus insists that Augustine and his wife, Queen Caroline, should adopt an heir—namely, Cabbarus himself. Cabbie portrays himself as a really nice, obedient son-to-be, but Augustine is creeped out that he wants to take the place of his dead daughter. Auggie collapses, and Cabbarus isn't mad that his king is sick—but that it happened before Auggie confirmed Cabbarus as his heir, which isn't ideal.
- Queen Caroline comes in—she's not a fan of Cabbarus, to say the least—followed by the king's doc, Dr. Torrens, who asks what happened. Cabbarus says the king was so excited about adopting an heir that he collapsed. The queen is upset at this idea, and the group addresses the king's illness. Torrens says that the king needs fresh air and regular treatment, not Cabbarus's meddling, then he tries to convince Caroline to get Cabbarus away from Augustine so the king can get some quality rest and relaxation. Naturally, Cabbarus starts huffing and puffing, and Torrens and the queen leave.