The formal restoration of House Valecrest took three weeks to complete and involved considerably less ceremony than I had expected, which was appropriate.
Eli handled the administrative paperwork with the focused precision he brought to everything that required precision. The duchy's property records needed to be updated to reflect the formal restoration of the house's standing, the debt clearances from the original Damien Kaelan's financial situation needed to be officially closed rather than simply settled, and the house's staff who had stayed through the debt years needed to be formally reinstated with their correct titles and compensation structures.
It took three weeks. On the twenty-second day, Eli placed a completed file on my desk and said: "House Valecrest is formally restored. And all documentation is in order."
"Thank you," I said.
He started to rise.
"Eli," I said.
He paused.
