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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 Iways 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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of management when you were struck unconscious. He needed more support with the war and all.
My eyes bulged. “What war?”
“After the attack on the palace, there was a wave of attacks on the borders. We found them to be bandits and mercenaries, but he never uncovered who was behind it, n what they wanted, but His Majesty was adamant that they were prioritized.”
Sacred Lands, Tarofu said, growling. There are only a few who would know where they were and have a reason to attack them.
Care to explain.
Later. We need to speak with my Pyra before that.
“Where do you suggest we start with this investigation?” I asked.
Renji went quiet, looked across his desk, and then rang a bell. A younger man came in, one I recognized as Renji’s nephew. He did not have oaths on his hands.
“I want a list of everyone who has access to the treasury accounts,” Renji said, his voice cold. “And I want it within the hour. Do not make me wait.”
He looked spooked. “Y–Yes, of course, uncle. He glanced at me, bowing, his hands trembling as he turned. “I’ll get it to you immediately.”
He knows something.
I watched him leave and made a note to read the palace’s memories about what had transpired in his office. Then, I left Renji’s office.
As I walked through the palace, a familiar voice called out from behind me.
“Tsuneo!”
I 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 a piece of
er covered in colorful drawings. paper
“Look what I made!” he said proudly, waving the paper in front of my face. “It’s for you!”
I glanced down at the paper. It was a crude drawing, the lines uneven and the colors bright and
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messy, but there was no 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 messy words were just recognizable enough.
Brothers Forever.
“You made this for me?” I asked, surprised by the warmth in my voice.
Kai nodded eagerly. “Yeah! You’re always so busy, so I thought I’d make you something fun… I couldn’t figure out how to draw Lady Morgan this time… or write sister… Master Neo is helping
me learn.”
For a moment, the tension from the ledger, the theft, and the scheming faded into the background. I crouched down to Kai’s level, taking the drawing from his small hands.
“Thank you, Kai,” I said smiling. I’ll keep it, and I’m sure my wife won’t mind being left out of this
one.”
His face lit up with joy, and he threw his arms around me in a hug. I hugged him back. My eyes burning a bit. I remembered being his age and knowing that only my parents would ever hug me until I found my phoenix.
I remembered how lonely that felt seeing my other siblings hug each other freely.
It had never seemed that Kai had ever been able to even hug his own mother and father. I rubbed
his back.
“Where you headed?”
“I’m learning history. We’re headed to the gallery.”
I chuckled. “Enjoy it. I look forward to hearing about what you’ve learned over dinner maybe?”
He nodded as Master Neo reached us.
“He was hopeful to run into you, Your Highness.”
“Kai has great luck. Though if he needs me, feel free to simply ask any of the staff where I am, though I am usually in my office around this time of day.”
Master Neo nodded. “I will certainly do so.”
Kai and Master Neo continued down the hall. I could hear him talking to Master Neo about all the tapestries and murals they passed with wonder. I stood there for a moment, the drawing still in
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my hand. A part of me marveled at the boy’s innocence, knowing that his mother was a snake and
his father was no better.
1 hoped he kept it..
Hours later, Renji delivered the list as promised. He looked furious, but his nephew looked like a man on the edge of a breakdown, buckling under the weight of the lar stack of books he had. Whether he was actively involved or not, I couldn’t tell just yet.
“I’ve also had him pull the ledges for the past five years as a starting place.”
He grunted and swayed, setting them on the edge of my father’s desk.
“I will leave my nephew to assist you going for the afternoon, as I have a few reports to review for the Convening preparations.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Renji. I’m sure he’ll come in handy.”
If only just to watch him either not do what I asked or get more nervous. He seemed to be the time to have obvious tells. The warm light from the lamps flickered faintly, casting long shadows. over the pages as I flipped through them, occasionally asking Renji’s nephew to cross–check amounts and entries. The discrepancies weren’t glaring at first glance; whoever had orchestrated this had been careful. But not careful enough.
