As Signet unexpectedly appears at the Masquerade, Imani privately questions Carl about why Signet is there at all, since Signet cannot help their larger plan if she is trapped inside the room with them. Carl explains that he had feared this outcome as soon as the queen said Apito personally creates the guest list. Carl concludes that Apito, or the force acting through the ritual, is testing Imogen by placing one of Imogen’s greatest enemies directly in the party.

Imani worries that their entire operation is slipping out of control and that hostile forces have stayed ahead of them at every step. Carl tries to steady Imani by reframing the problem as a tactical advantage: if anyone breaks the seal protecting the party, Signet will likely become Imogen’s first target, buying Carl’s group a few extra seconds to escape.

Carl then openly greets Signet, who remarks that she had not expected a true Butcher’s Masquerade. Signet says Apito herself brought her and that she is almost relieved, because she is tired of running from her sister. When guards, including the queen’s black-clad soldiers, appear and then retreat, Signet enjoys the irony that they cannot touch her without violating the seal, leaving Imogen temporarily vulnerable to her presence.

Carl questions Signet about the boon Imogen hopes to gain from Apito. Signet says even Imogen does not know for certain, though rumors claim it is a form of immortality. Signet adds that such ceremonies never end well: before the night is over, the Nothing is fed, the cleric is ruined or killed, and Apito grants nothing.

When Signet notices the three judges and senses that their auras are unnatural, Carl seizes the opportunity. After an ethereal hand serves Empress D’Nadia a drink, Carl points out that the judges are not truly part of this world and are instead off-world beings controlling events for entertainment. Intrigued, Signet decides to approach them while she waits for Imogen, prompting Zev’s frustrated reaction and Carl’s laughter, since Carl has successfully redirected a dangerous wildcard toward the outside observers.