Started with SALET today, which immediately locked in positions 2 and 4 (A and E) while revealing that L belonged somewhere else. The yellow L in position 3 was the key hint.

LAGER as the second guess confirmed the pattern LA_E_, putting L correctly in position 1 but eliminating G and R from the mix. LABEL didn’t pan out either — B was a dead end, and that second L wasn’t welcome in position 5.

LANCE brought the breakthrough: N showed up yellow in position 3, and E appeared yellow again in position 5, suggesting the word had multiple E’s or that E needed to be elsewhere. But wait — we already had E confirmed in position 4. The pattern was becoming clearer: LA_E_ with N somewhere and maybe another letter we hadn’t tried.

LADEN clicked instantly. L-A-D-E-N fit perfectly: L and A confirmed, D in the middle (finally!), E in position 4 as always, and N wrapping it up in position 5. Sometimes the simplest words hide in plain sight behind all the letter juggling.