Chapter 9: Stolen From My Husband

One day had passed-

Aurora had spent her first day meeting all the staff and touring the mansion which seemed to take all day.

It was finally the second day when she got the chance to check the mansion's papers and check her dowry to bring in Zellia with her mother as she had promised.

She was sitting in her husband's office whose style was the same style as his bedroom including the red couches and a dark brown desk with red curtains.

Some fox's heads, some raccoons, and some others hunted animals around the walls.

For some reason, her black-with-dark fuchsia pink dress had seemed to fit very well with this office.

"Wenly, can you please hand me my dowry document." (Aurora, said)

"Here you go madam" (Wenly, said)

Wenly gave Aurora her dowry document.

"..." (Aurora)

'He gave me thirteen million in gold...who would have thought he would give me anything at all.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'Plop'

She put the document down and grabbed a blank piece of paper.

'Scribble'

Write

'Scribble'

Write

'Plop'

She put the pen down and looked at Wenly.

"Wenly, I have an order" (Aurora, said)

"Yes madam?" (Wenly, asked)

"Please send one knight to this address and bring an elder lady by name of Serana" (Aurora, said)

Aurora handed him the address.

"Then send another knight to bring Zellia who works in madam Renata's dress shop here as well." (Aurora, said)

Aurora took another paper and gave it to Wenly.

"Madam what is this?" (Wenly, asked)

"This is a check of five million gold. Give this to madam Renata to end her contract with Zellia. If she refuses tell her to come and see me. At any cost, you have to bring Zellia and her mother here understood?" (Aurora, asked)

She gave him a strict look, a look where she cannot be disobeyed.

'Knowing that woman she wouldn't let her go. It will end her career.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'I promised to break off her contract and give her and her mother a better life.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

"Yes, madam" (Wenly, said)

Wenly quickly obeyed. He knew if there were anything that dissatisfy her his master would slice his thought without a hint of regret.

'Even she admits my master's auora' (Wenly's inner thoughts)

He knew she too was not a person to mess with.

She continued to speak with a strict face.

"Finally, can you give me the mansion's financial affair documents." (Aurora, said)

It may have seemed like a question but it was more of a command for him to follow again without refusing.

"Of course." (Wenly, said)

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking.

Wenly walked out to do what he was ordered.

'Everything seems to be financially well, I wondered how he got this wealth I heard the emperor gave him the title and a rusty mansion.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

Her eyes looked around the office, at the brown-colored pictured frames, his decorative swords, and his many fur rugs.

'Remodeling this mansion should have cost a lot of money.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

While Aurora sat there looking around the office a couple of minutes had passed.

'Knock'

A Knock at the door.

"Come in" (Aurora, said)

'Creak'

Door opening.

'Step, Step, Step'

Walking.

'Halt'

Wenly had come in with a folder of papers.

"Madam I have informed the knights and they have already headed out." (Wenly, said)

'I'm surprised he hasn't asked any questions nor treated me with any hostility knowing who I am.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

Wenly handed out the document to Aurora.

Aurora took them and opened them.

In the Lepiliondel family, she was required to take many classes. The economy class was one of the classes she beautifully excelled in, so even skimming throughout the documents was a piece of cake for her.

"!" (Aurora)

'Plop'

Aurora put the documents down on the desk.

She looked at Wenly with a displeased look as her fuchsia pink brows frowned.

"Wenly, who is in charge of the financial documents here?" (Aurora, asked)

'Why is she making such a face, have I missed bringing her a document? But I asked him for all the documents...' (Wenly's inner thoughts)

"Ah that would be baron Ricardo, the financial aid" (Wenly, said)

Her expression still remained the same intimidating Wenly.

"Then Wenly, have you ever taken a look at these documents?" (Aurora, asked)

'The truth is that baron Ricardo was assigned by the master so I was in charged of managing the servants in this mansion.' (Wenly's inner thoughts)

"No, madam I have never taken a look at them. The only one allowed to touch the documents is baron Ricadro and today I brought them as you ordered." (Wenly, said)

'It doesn't sound like he's lying' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

Aurora's face relaxed her face.

"I see... then bring baron Ricardo to the office this moment." (Aurora, said)

"Yes, I will do so right away." (Wenly, said)

Wenly hurriedly nervously out of the office.

Aurora put her elbows on the desk and clasped her arms to interlock them.

'Unbelievable' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'They didn't take out a lot of money but each time it was withdrawn over the three years that the prince hasn't been here it has already accumulated around ninety million.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'He's there fighting for this country and his own people are stealing from him.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'I was fooled to think that at least his own employees wouldn't treat him like every person treats him but I was wrong...I'm upset and disappointed.'

Aurora looked down at the paper again.

'Even though it would not affect him in any way. This man is flooded with money. I knew he had money just by looking around here but if I say...he's probably almost as rich as the emperor' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'I'm going to have to ask him how he got that money when he comes back...this is a crazy amount of money that not even the Lepiliondel family has.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'I personally have helped marquess Elex in his four businesses and this money is probably what we made from working for five years. He makes this in a week...this man' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'And the worst is that some are unentered financial documents.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'That's where these funds are stolen because these weren't reported while the emperor is clueless about how wealthy his legitimate son really is...' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'Knock'

She raised her head up and looked in the direction of the door.

"Come in" (Aurora, said)

Soon Wenly came in along with a skinny man who seemed to be around forty-nine years old with black hair styled in a ponytail with dark brown eyes.

"I greet the duchess of the Rainers residence." (Ricardo, said)

Aurora did not bother to greet him.

"So your the financial aid?" (Aurora, asked)

"Yes, that's correct" (Ricardo)

"Good, then care to explain this document." (Aurora, said)

Aurora handed him the financial document with a serious face.

He grabbed it.

'Dam it! I recently came back from a vacation with my mistress and I didn't have time to fix it before I heard the news that the emperor had wedded the duke with a bride.' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

'Well...she's a woman. A woman is usually dumb so there's no way she will understand. I'll just lie to her, she won't know the difference.' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

Unfortunately, he was so concentrated on giving excuses that he outlooked the big picture, he had not yet recognized this woman.

"Ah that is the signature that it has been approved by me. The reason why there is an amount missing is the equivalent of the dining utensils here. They are always being replaced since-" (Ricardo, said)

Aurora interrupted.

"I'm well aware that is your signature. What I'm asking is why are you utilizing fake utensils and on top of that taking part of the share with the financial money that has not been entered." (Aurora, said)

She glared at him with a very very displeased face.

'No, impossible she's definitely bluffing. There's no way she knows.' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

That face made him quite nervous so he forgot one last detail.

"I'm the daughter of marquess Elex" (Aurora, said)

"!" (Ricardo)

'The daughter?! Dam it! Dam it! Why didn't I think that when I saw her hair!' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

She grabbed a golden cup that was near her right and placed it in front of her.

"I know what business he does and I personally know the quality." (Aurora, said)

'Ever since I saw these utensils I knew...' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

Aurora reached towards the jar and poured water with salt into the cup she had prepared for this moment.

Then reach for a handy chef.

"This here is fake gold, even the initials of the brands are a copyright of them." (Aurora, said)

"Gasp" (Ricardo)

Ricardo's eyes went wide when he realized he had underestimated her.

"I-" (Ricardo)

But Aurora continued to rub a big piece of it.

It turned silver.

"Are you aware that all this is a crime? Have you the slightest idea how many years you could serve in prison for buying a fabricated item from the original, then changing it each time you see the color changing so you could pay less of what the budget is for the original utensils and take the rest of the money?" (Aurora, said)

She continued to speak with her cold voice rising.

"Bad enough you left receipts to who you traded off with now. Do you have something to say?" (Aurora, asked)

He was caught now, there was no way for him to give more excuses since he was already exposed.

'I'm done! If I ask for mercy...' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

Ricardo kneeled down and placed his hands at the corner of the desk looking up at the sitting Aurora.

"P-Please forgive me I-" (Ricardo, said)

"Who else?" (Aurora, asked)

"What?" (Ricardo, asked)

He asked taken aback.

"Are there people in this place here who were your accomplice here?" (Aurora, asked)

'Even if he stole...the best would just be to put him in my husband's prison instead of giving him to the authorities, it's my husband who will decide what to do with him till he comes back.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

'Why was I so careless! Who would have thought this woman would know and worst of all she's the daughter of marquess Elex, if he didn't know before he will know now.' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

'She's that bad prophecy child but if I don't do what she wants she might even kill me.' (Aurora's inner thoughts)

"There is" (Ricardo, said)

He lowered his head as he spoke low.

'I don't owe anything to any of them, my life is more than Irna even if we sleep from time to time. I will not sacrifice myself for another of my side women's.' (Ricardo's inner thoughts)

Aurora looked at the shocked Wenly.

"Wenly please gather all the employees to the center hall. Don't miss any." (Aurora, said)

'Nod' (Wenly)

Twenty minutes later-

Aurora stood on the last bottom stairs.

Henry was off the stairs standing on her left while baron Ricardo was kneeling on the floor.

She faced countless confused servants.

"All of you must have met me yesterday, and if I missed anyone here. I am duchess Aurora Rainers your master as well." (Aurora, said)

"Everyone must be confused but I have come across a situation that requires everyone to be here."(Aurora, said)

Aurora looked down at baron Ricardo.

"Stand up" (Aurora, said)

He quickly stood up with a red face of embarrassment as everyone looked at him.

"Baron Ricardo do the honors" (Aurora, said)

"It was ---------" (Ricardo, said)

"------------, -----------, —---------,----------" (Ricardo, said)

"----------, —----------, —---------, —--------" (Ricardo, said)

When baron Ricardo finished naming the people with evidence the knights took them all away including him and head-maid Irna.

Aurora had finally turned her attention to the servants.

"From today forwards if I catch anyone acting on such schemes you too will face the consequences. I hope you will not disappoint me." (Aurora, said)

"This includes your wording. If I hear anyone talk bad about me or my husband you will not be spared. So please take care of me and I will take care of you." (Aurora, said)

With that, she ended the hall meeting.

**Next Chapter...she will find out about the jewels/relics (this chapter will become really important b/c it's part of a huge plot twist in the future) and about their story of them.