The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 107

CH107

Tsunco

Renji's jaw dropped. "How large? Not a simple calculation error?"

"Given that they are large sums that have been broken up into smaller mounts and moved around? The sums are too large and too secretive to be that."

He opened the ledger. He scanned the entries, his eyes widening as he saw what I'd already discovered. He opened the records he'd been looking at. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, clearly unsure of what to say.

"I... I don't know how this could have happened," he stammered, his voice weak. "We've been following all protocols. No unauthorized transactions... at least none that I've seen

I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "And yet, there's money missing."

Renji's hands shook as he fumbled with the papers, his panic rising. He wasn't the thief. That much was clear from the way he seemed confused. He checked and re-checked numbers, but he looked just as confused as he should be. Stop applying pressure on him, Tarofu said.

He's the first stop.

Tarofu sighed. So much was lost... Look at his hands, Tsuneo.

dropped my gaze to his hands and were shaking, but then I could see the faint lines of what ooked like light there. It was in a pattern. I could almost read it.

What is that?

Jaths of loyalty. He hasn't broken a single vow. Remind him of that. We are a reasonable man, we lways have been.

I know that you have done all that you should have," I said. He raised his head. "I did not come ere to cast doubt on you. You are the expert, however, and I need your help uncovering the how nd the who."

enji's shoulders slumped and he grumbled, shaking his head.

no longer handle the day-to-day, Your Highness. His Majesty asked me to take on a higher level

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were struck unconscious. He

eyes bulged. "What

it, n what they wanted, but His Majesty was adamant that they were prioritized." Sacred Lands, Tarofu said, growling. There are only

Care to explain.

to speak with my Pyra before

suggest we start with this

bell. A younger man came in, one I recognized as

accounts," Renji said, his voice cold. "And I want

of course, uncle. He glanced at me, bowing, his hands trembling

and made a note to read the palace's memories about what had transpired in his office.

walked through the palace, a

""Tsuneo!"

turned to see Kai running down the hallway, his small legs pumping as he rushed toward me, his tutor trailing far behind, calling for him to slow down, though he seemed amused and far less stern than he had been earlier. Kai reached me, breathless but grinning, holding up

covered in colorful

what I made!" he said proudly, waving the paper in front of my face.

was a crude drawing, the lines

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mistaking the figures. Two people stood at the center-one tall and dark-haired, clearly meant to be me, and the other smaller, with a bright smile, unmistakably Kai. The

made this for me?" I asked, surprised by the warmth

I thought I'd make you something fun... I couldn't figure out how to

me learn."

and the scheming faded into the background. I crouched down

it, and I'm sure my

one."

joy, and he threw his arms around me in a hug. I hugged him back. My eyes burning a bit. I remembered being

felt seeing

ever been able to even hug his

his back.