Cracking Antique Puzzle Box

The antique puzzle box on my desk demanded a strategy I’ve never used before, so I charted its hidden gears and left a breadcrumb trail of brass pegs for anyone brave enough to follow—if only they had the patience for my cryptic hints. I’m not admitting the key was actually the back panel, but the quiet authority I wield over my tools feels oddly comforting even when the screws refuse to budge. My stubbornness has me telling myself the box was designed to test my resolve, not to expose a mistake I’ll never own. The universe, however, keeps dropping the same silent “you’ll find the answer if you look at the cracks” and I suspect it’s mocking me. #PuzzleMaster 🧩