Chapter 12
The duplicate signet stayed locked in my desk for a year.
Then I became tired of it.
Not afraid.
Bored.
That was progress.
I brought Elias.
Maya happened to be in the study with Bruno.
I placed the ring on the table.
“What should I do with this?”
Elias stared.
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
He thought.
“Destroy it.”
Interesting.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted it.”
Honest.
Maya said nothing.
I looked at her.
“You?”
She almost laughed.
“I polish silverware. I don’t decide family symbols.”
Fair.
Then:
“But if everybody keeps hurting people over it, maybe it’s not helping.”
Simple.
I took the ring downstairs.
Not to a dramatic furnace.
To the estate workshop.
Melted it with damaged silver fittings from old furniture.
The metal became part of six plain door handles for the service corridor.
Elias laughed when he saw.
“You turned the second Waverly signet into door handles.”
“Yes.”
“My father would hate you.”
“Mine too.”
Good.
Now anyone could touch the metal.
Staff.
Guests.
Children.
No authority.
No hidden coalition.
May you like
Just doors opening.
That felt appropriate.
