The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

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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CH108

one in your father's circle

but I looked forward

so tired these past years. Traitors were everywhere. The thought made my blood boil, but I

nervousness had amused me, but now I needed

the spending differences and give me a report. I'm going to speak to

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

nearly dropped the quill

from his desk. "Where is

the records. I've found the trail," I said bluntly, dropping the ledgers onto his desk with a heavy thud. "The funds have been

now, yes, but she wasn't

ward..." He shook his

accounts?"

charge of giving

have never given her access. I didn't. I remember she- His eyes

"That... little..."

"What is it?"

"Sota had access to my seal. He and the king would have been the

access.

not even an

mouth and shut it

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CH108

your nephew guilt. I

nodded and sank into his seat. "How far

embezzlement began five years

to get the records straight and see that the money is restored.. What... what do you

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

over from the past five years. If you could, check what the amounts were