#Chapter 267: The Second Artifact

Olivia The delicate weight of the letter still lingered in my hands as I rushed downstairs, my feet barely grazing the rich rugs and polished wooden floors. My heart drummed wildly, racing with the urgency of my steps. The code written at the bottom of Aunt Gertrude’s letter had unlocked more than just memories; it had promised to reveal a puzzle piece that lay waiting, hidden behind layers of steel and security. As I reached the archive room, the faint glow from the overhead chandelier cast a muted light, making the safe’s keypad glisten eerily. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting, anticipating. I took a moment to steady myself, my fingers trembling as I began to punch in the numbers: 2-3-1-7-8-4. There was a soft click and a sigh from the mechanism, and then the door slowly creaked open. Inside, amidst a layer of velvety cushion, lay a small ornate box, its surface a dance of dark woods and ivory inlays. It was beautifully old-fash