A rumor’s power
The whispered rumor that the necklace was cursed seemed, in that moment, all too real. He had believed it, believed that wielding its supposed dark origins could grant him leverage over us. In his eyes, the storied gem held the power to elevate him to our supposed level of prosperity and respect. He had sought to use this rumored curse not just as a weapon to secure the necklace, but to shatter the family’s unity and standing.