The king organizes a royal ball to find a good match for his daughter, the heir to the throne. Lucien also receives an invitation by mail, even though he is aware that he received this invitation solely out of politeness. The king would never marry his daughter to him. He thinks long and hard about whether he should appear at the ball, because he knows what looks will await him. But he still decides to be part of the ball, mostly out of curiosity. Then the day of the royal Ball comes. Lucien gets in his carriage and it drives off through the cold winter air.