Chapter 5: Sign Here

At three in the morning Nanami was still awake, staring at a purse that was not there.

A thousand crowns and the way home.

She thought of her flat in Itabashi, with the dying plant on the windowsill.

She thought of her mother's Sunday phone calls and the year-end file she had left half closed on her desk.

She wanted all of it so much that her chest hurt.

Then she picked up her pencil, and went to find the king.

He was in the counting room, where he always was, with a lamp and the wage slips.

"Collector Marn made me an offer," she said from the doorway.

He looked up.

"She put the figure at a thousand crowns."

She said it flatly, all in one go, so there would be no room to hide it.

The king set down his pen very carefully.

"You came to tell me that."

"You're my client. It's the engagement letter."

"Did you want to take it?"

"For about a minute," said Nanami. "At dinner."

He nodded slowly.

"Did I steal it?" he asked.

"No."

"Then sign what's true."

"If I do, I may not go home at all," she said. "I only have his word that the circle works."

"I know what that costs you." His voice was low. "I'd still ask you to sign what's true."

"You didn't ask. You said it."

"I'm asking." He took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I'm asking, Auditor."

"Then yes," said Nanami. "I'll sign what's true. I was always going to."

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