In the early hours in London, Marco works frantically in his overcrowded flat, surrounded by books, calculations, and a Herr Thiessen clock. The door flies open by itself and Celia enters, wearing a bloodstained gown. When Marco asks what happened, Celia breaks down: she tried and failed to fix what was broken, and she grieves that Herr Thiessen—her friend—could not be brought back.

As Marco comforts Celia, Celia identifies the trigger: Isobel’s charm over the circus, Marco, and Celia has stopped. Marco admits he finally told Isobel he loves Celia, and believes Isobel reacted by removing the charm. Celia also reveals she invited Alexander to the circus because she wanted a verdict and an end to the contest; both Celia and Marco describe the destabilizing sensation of the night and Marco’s attempt to shadow Chandresh to keep him from harm.

Celia examines Marco’s work and the leather volume he calls the safeguard that binds everyone in the circus. She notices names and a torn-out space near Lainie Burgess’s signature, and Marco regrets not having added Herr Thiessen for protection. Celia argues there is no way to protect everyone, and the two share tenderness over what they have given each other—Marco’s dreams and Celia’s tents—before the shattered ink bottle repairs itself.

Marco shows Celia an adjoining room filled with strings, models of circus tents, clockwork, mirrors, candles, and a small cauldron of white fire. Entering it feels like stepping into the circus, and Celia recognizes it as very old magic; Marco admits it is the only kind he knows, even if it was never meant for this use. Back in the main room, Celia sees the two of hearts on the mantel and refuses to discuss the “damned game,” while Marco finds himself unable to speak.

Exhausted by trying to control what cannot be controlled, Celia chooses Marco anyway, and they give in to their long-suppressed desire. Marco, still trapped in silence, expresses himself through touch as the room trembles but nothing breaks. By dawn, Marco wakes alone to find Celia gone, her engraved silver ring left on the two of hearts; only later does he realize the leather-bound safeguard volume has disappeared.