The Dragon King's Substitute Bride (Morgan and Tsuneo)
Chapter 108

CH108 Tsuneo

Renji's nephew, Sota, seemed to relax the longer we went on. I could tell based on the tension in his posture how close or how far I was away from the information I needed. I combed through the entries, marking each one that looked suspicious, whether he seeme more tense or not. Some i told him about, some I didn't bother to.

The trail of missing money stretched back to the year that the attack happened but specifically started the fiscal cycle right after my mother was declared dead and I was in a coma.

It couldn't be a coincidence.

I dug deeper into the records, following the money as it flowed into different accounts, each one more convoluted than the last. Most of it had been funneled into accounts associated with the palace harem, specifically the ones controlled by Ari and several of the more prominent concubines. It was subtle, hidden within routine transfers and expenses, but there was no mistaking the pattern.

Knowing now that Ari had been cavorting with Elia meant that at least a part of this money had gone toward paying his livelihood or his goals.

"Pull Lady Ari's account for the past five years."

He didn't seem bothered. Either he didn't know, or Ari had simply been taking money for her own, ends. Both of those options seemed likely. My lips curled slightly as I read her name again. She had been just as selfish as I always imagined. I wondered how long it would be before I found all the traces of her machinations.

"As well as all the ledges of my father's concubines. We'll start with Lady Maro."

He flinched, and I smirked. It made sense for her to be involved. She was the eldest concubine,

and she hated my mother. I wouldn't be surprised if she and Elia had a fling. Had Ari known? How long would it be before she found out about Elia and Ari?

Not long given Kai's revelation at lunch.

I could only bet she would be at dinner.

Maybe she'd hide. Maybe she'd come forward and confess her involvement with the coup. How many others of my father's harem had Elia sunk his claws into? Other men involved with Elia and is coup? The Elders?

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Is there no one in your father's circle trustworthy?

I had no idea, but I looked forward to replaceing out.

No wonder father was so tired these past years. Traitors were everywhere. The thought made my blood boil, but I forced myself to remain calm. Anger wouldn't help here. I needed to stay focused.

Sota's nervousness had amused me, but now I needed answers from him.

"Chart the spending differences and give me a report. I'm going to speak to your uncle for a moment."

I made my way back to the treasury office. I had half of my attention on Sota in my office, letting Tarofu watch him. The palace seemed quieter than usual, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air. When I reached Renji's office, I didn't bother knocking. I pushed the door open, startling

him. He nearly dropped the quill in his hand.

"Your Highness? Renji stammered, standing from his desk. "Where is Sota?"

"Combing through some of the records. I've found the trail," I said bluntly, dropping the ledgers onto his desk with a heavy thud. "The funds have been rerouted mostly to harem accounts, specifically those tied to Ari and several concubines." Renji groaned. "Ari? That girl... But she's-

"Human now, yes, but she wasn't when this started."

"I was going to say a ward..." He shook his head. "How could she have gotten access to the

accounts?"

I frowned. "Who was in charge of giving access back then?"

"I was, but I would have never given her access. I didn't. I remember she- His eyes went hard.

"That... little..."

"What is it?"

"I'll kill him myself, Your Highness. There's no need to both to exile him," he growled. "Sota had access to my seal. He and the king would have been the only people who could have given her

access.

"... not even an Elder?"

He opened his mouth and shut it with a loud click.

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"I am not absolving your nephew guilt. I simply want to catch everyone involved this time."

He nodded and sank into his seat. "How far back does it go?"

"The embezzlement began five years ago."

He groaned. "It will take weeks to get the records straight and see that the money is restored.. What... what do you want me to do? It is quite the undertaking before the Convening.

"I want you to launch a targeted investigation," I replied. "Start with the reclamation of any and all keys, including those from the Elders. No one gets a single coin, not even the staff for the shopping, without my say so. Start your reconciliation with what is physically in the vaults. Úse only people who have sworn oaths to do the counts, once those records are straight, allow for the preparations to continue but only grant financial management to sworn staff. Then, start with the harem accounts. Cross-reference every single transaction made and give me a tally of how much

they're each over from the past five years. If you could, check what the amounts were back when

my mother was running it all. Follow the money as much as you can-every coin, every transfer. I want to know where it's been going and who's been benefiting."

Renji nodded shakily, scribbling down notes as I spoke. "Of course. I'll begin immediately. But... it's clear that they had help from someone. Is there a chance that the trail of money leads out of the palace?"

"Very likely," I said, my voice cold. "But we'll deal with that as we narrow down who. There are ways to make them talk."

Renji swallowed hard, his pen scratching furiously against the paper. He nodded.

"I'll have everything ready for you as soon as possible... and keep an eye on Sota."

I paused. "You understand that if he is implicated..

"I understand, and I would expect nothing less."

I met his gaze, then nodded. I turned on my heel, already thinking of my next move. A gnawing suspicion settled in the back of my mind.

Elia had been benefitting from all of this for certain. He was likely behind the attack that had nearly succeeded in killing me and my mother, but he wasn't alone. He wouldn't have been able to enter the palace or the capital city. Elia had disappeared after the failed coupl born.

I was even

The thought of him made my blood simmer. Knowing that he was Kai's father only angered met

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further. My father was benevolent to a fault. He might have allowed Elia back if Elia had married

Ari or wanted to. He might have given his blessing, but they were no more in love than Ari had truly been in love with me.

Elia had been using her and whoever else he had contact with within the harem and the Elders to support himself and likely to fund his next move against me and my father.