The Old Inventor’s Secret

Imagine a story about a revered inventor who hides a dark secret behind his most laudable creation.

What could this secret be and how does it affect the inventor, his creation, and those around him? How would the revelation of this secret change the inventor’s status in society? This prompt pushes writers to pull layers apart, provoking them to consider universal themes like ethics, reputation, and the essence of moral duality, layered within a steampunk setting.