"I'm sorry, there's nothing else to talk about," Elara muttered as she stepped away from the chair. "I have to go."
She turned and started walking toward the path, but after a few steps, she stopped. Her gaze dropped to her wrist and it stayed there for some seconds. Then she turned back.
Slowly, she reached for the bracelet, unclasped it, and placed it gently on the table between them.
Mrs. Vale's eyes widened, her voice trailing off in surprise. "Elara… what are you doing?"
Elara looked at the jewelry for a moment before lifting her gaze again, her expression calm. "When you first gave this to me, I didn't understand its worth," she said quietly. "But now I do."
Her fingers pulled back from it and returned to her sides. "It belongs to the Vales. And I don't want to carry anything that I haven't earned myself."
Elara didn't wait for a response. She gave a small nod in farewell, then turned and walked away, leaving the bracelet resting on the table behind her.
–
