Dani leaned toward me.
“Do we tell them about rule ten?”
“No.”
“What is rule ten?” Blake asked.
“Not for you,” I said.
Blake made a note. I suspected it read RULE TEN — INVESTIGATE. They folded both hands on the desk.
“The competition rules require romantic partners at application and a materially accurate relationship history. You were not romantic partners when you certified either statement.”
“No,” I said.
“The relationship becoming real later does not retroactively fix eligibility.”
“No.”
“The origin story was false, and the certification was false.”
“Yes.”
“That requires sponsor conduct review.”
Dani’s hand tightened around mine. I felt the certification prize move farther away.
“We understand if we are disqualified,” she said.
The statement cost her something. She did not make it a joke. Blake noticed.
“So do I,” I added.
They studied us for several seconds.
“Your points and finalist eligibility remain provisional while the sponsors review the application,” Blake said. “Section nine allows you to participate, but I cannot clear you unilaterally—especially when removing the most popular couple creates commercial pressure.”
“Love wins,” Dani said faintly.
“Engagement wins. Do not confuse them.”
Her smile disappeared. Blake continued.
“No additional fabricated stories. No staged private moments. No relationship disclosures without mutual consent.”
“We already have those rules,” I said.
“Good. Now I have them too.” Blake set down the tablet. “And for the record, I approved a former-trainer/client couple after seeing completed transfer paperwork, then let engagement numbers substitute for an independent conflict review. That management decision is being reviewed separately. It does not erase your false certification, but the institutional failure is not yours alone.”
Dani’s hand tightened around mine.
“Thank you for stating that,” I said.
“It should have been stated before the launch.”
They picked up the whistle. The meeting was over. At the door, Blake called our names. We turned.
“For what it’s worth,” they said, “you look less exhausting now that you’ve admitted it.”
