Céleste admits she protected a hidden creditor, not because she is ashamed but because secrecy is power.

Céleste reveals that Heléne's mother had already been promised before Wassen collected, making Mireille part of a prior hidden debt.

Aurel offers Heléne a retreat: the paper marriage can still shield her immediately, even if the hidden name remains unknown.

Heléne refuses to retreat and explains the difference between crossing out a name and writing a new debit line.

Aurel connects the name to his grandfather, Leopold Wassen, and the implication cuts through him.

Aurel explains why Leopold's name changes everything: his father's last debt can now find its creditor, and sunrise is the limit.

Heléne demands a concrete solution. Aurel asks for a credit line in her ledger before sunrise.

Heléne opens the ledger again and counts what remains: fewer blank pages, only three safe crossings, and no way to credit herself.

Aurel makes his request without command or bargain, while Heléne insists on wording she can survive.

The chapter ends on Heléne poised to write Aurel's name into one of the ledger's last blank credit lines before sunrise.