Chapter 46 - The Budget

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nWhile Aria was explaining her suspicions about the reports that she saw and pointed out two important suspects.

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" So , you're telling us that maybe the minister of the environment and minister of health have taken part of the budget into their accounts ?!

" asked Bekora a bit surprised.

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" The kingdom's finance budget is checked personally by the queen before it is approved . I find it hard to believe that the reports as to why they needed the budget , handed be these two ministers were fake . The queen would have noticed it .

" said madam Margrethe .

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" I am not saying that the queen has done wrong calculations . I just find the fact that these datas in the past eight months have something suspicious .

" said Aria and then opened at the page where the statistics of the third month were .

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" What do you mean Aria ?

" asked madam Margrethe .

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" Please look at this ! On April 13th the statistics of the infrastructure's problem were up to 19% damage for the which they needed more budget to fix it .

" said Aria and then opened the file at the six month's statistics.

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" And ?!

" asked Bekora .

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" Look at this page too , the sixth month's statistics where another application for more budget was presented to the queen . Only one day before the other day of the past month says that the damage remains the same 19% . Without even a two or one percent improvement . With that much budget and still no improvement at all ....don't you find it strange ?!

" asked Aria with a doubtful tone .

nMadam Margrethe and Bekora both started to look at it while reflecting on Aria's words .

n' I thought that it may be a coincidence that these dates were the same but now that I look at it . I really didn't notice it . ' thought madam Margrethe .

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" Let's say that your suspicions are true , still this isn't enough of an evidence to accuse a minister .

" said Bekora while looking at Aria .

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" Of course it isn't but still it is a fact that can't be ignored .

" said Aria .

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" Aria , if you believe that the minister of the environment and health have taken part of the budget from themselves then why did you say it out loud at the meeting ? Wouldn't that make them eliminate every trace ?

" asked madam Margrethe .

nBekora looked at Aria and was waiting to hear her answer . When Aria was about to talk Helios entered the room .

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" Exactly because they will try to destroy every evidence remaining . They will be forced to take action and when they do so it will be easy for us to capture them .

" said Helios with a smirk and looked at Aria but she glared at him with the eyes of a killer .

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" It seems like you understood what I was thinking , impressive for someone who can't hold a dipper of coffee straight !

" said Aria while remembering her expensive shirt who was now ruined .

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" How annoying you are just for a shirt ?!

" said Helios .

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" I liked that shirt a lot !

" said Aria with an annoyed tone .

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" It's impossible to talk with you !

" said Helios and then he sat next to his grandma .

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" You !!! Same here !

" said Aria .

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" Can you two not quarrel when we are trying to find a solution for this case , please ?

" said Bekora . He realized that they were about to fight again .

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" Aria , was what Helios said true ?

" asked madam Margrethe .

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" Yes !

" said Aria then looked at Helios with annoyance.

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" That's what I think . During this time the queen should appoint some spies near all the ministers, not only these two . It's good to be cautious !

" said Aria .

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" Good , I will inform her !

" said madam Margrethe with a smile .

nThe ministers had always been loyal and she never thought of the possibility that they may do something like this , leaving the people's needs unfulfilled to fill their own greediness .

n' She is really smart ! ' thought madam Margrethe .

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" Also I will need the reports of the expenses that the ministers who have requested a budget have handed over . We may find an evidence when looking through them .

" said Aria .

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" I will take care of that and send you the files .

" said madam Margrethe .

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" Madam Margrethe , I ...have a question .

" said Aria .

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" What is it Aria ?

" asked madam Margrethe in a warm tone .

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" What is an advisor ? I noticed that the ministers were looking at me with doubt during the whole meeting .

" asked Aria confused .

nHelios and Bekora started to laugh when hearing this . Bekora laughed a little while Helios didn't hold back at all .

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" I really wonder how is it possible that you have a high IQ when you don't even know what an advisor in a meeting of this kind is .

" said Helios when laughing .

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" I don't remember applying to study about this . I major in law and not in professions enciclopedia !

" said Aria with a non caring tone .

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" Leave those two ! An advisor is someone who is like a lawyer .

" said madam Margrethe with a warn tone to Aria then she glared at both Helios and Bekora .

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" Oh I get it ! Thank for explaining it to me madam Margrethe .

" said Aria with a smile .

nMadam Margrethe went ahead to the study room accompanied by the butler while Aria , Bekora and Helios were walking at the corridor .

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" Aria , your brother wrote a message to me since you weren't responding to his calls . He said that he will block the computers again if you don't call him and also that your mom will kill you .

" said Bekora and then handed his phone to Aria to show her the message .

nWhen Aria read it she felt a chill behind her back . Just the thought of how angry her mom was made her face pale .

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" So you're still a mama's girl ?! Aren't you a bit too big for that ?!

" asked Helios with a laugh .

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" None of your business !

" said Aria . Bekora was in the middle of them when the three of them were walking .

n' I really feel uncomfortable being between these two . It feels like a bomb will explode anytime ! ' said Bekora a bit tensioned .

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" Since you don't deny it then it is true !

" said Helios .

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" I won't waste time talking to you ! Bekora can you please take me to see Mana , I am really worried !

" said Aria .

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" We are heading there now !

" said Bekora .

nNow that the job had finished he wanted to go as fast as he could and check on Mana . When Aria told him he wanted to there immediately but he couldn't just leave grandma Margrethe alone to deal with those annoying ministers .

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" What happened to Mana ?

" whispered Helios to Bekora .

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" Aria told me that she was being kidnapped by two strange men who were about to take her away . She saw them and tried to stop them .

" said Bekora .

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" What ?! Is it true ?

" asked Helios surprised .

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" That's what Aria told me . We will learn more from Mana when we meet her .

" said Bekora and the three of them hurried to go to see Mana .

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