Darth Walrus posted:

I don't think it's just keeping up appearances - he is the king, and Singeface is a senior officer, just one with major leverage. That whole thing about the red dragon also felt like a test - if he'd said anything other than to kill Nina on sight, he would have landed himself in some seriously deep trouble.

In fact, I wonder if him 'showing Nina his plans' will involve betraying Singeface and teaming up with the (very surprised) heroes - that would explain that menacing smirk when he leaves the cave, as he psyches himself up to deliver some long-delayed justice. Of course, he could just be betraying Nina, with that necklace serving as a tracking device, but seducing the heroine with an apparently heartfelt love confession and then arranging her death with a smirk on your face seems like 'total irredeemable evil' territory, and way too much of the show has been signalling that we're supposed to be rooting for Nina to redeem him. They'd have to get themselves a whole new ED, for a start.