This patch formalizes a trinary-domain semantics (Real, Imag, Couple) as an audit- layer wrapper over the already sealed CDIP Route-B branch: OPA (BER gate)→ (BER = 0)→ G-τ .4 (heat-semigroup evidence). Couple is defined only as a discrete, non-executable event record (WICK_ROTATION_EVENT) binding existing leaf hashes and digital-τ commitments; it introduces no new control surface, state machine, thresholds, or re-ordering of gates. A gate-by-gate earliest-failure discipline is specified, together with a minimal Merkle leaf schema suitable for inclusion in CDCT-style terminal certificates. A non-binding appendix allows narrative interpretation (e.g. “Wick rotation” symbol t 7→ −iτ ) while prohibiting non-auditable claim-level semantics.