Chapter 46 - The budget

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

" 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.

" 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 .

" 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 .

" What do you mean Aria ? " asked madam Margrethe .

" 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.

" And ?! " asked Bekora .

" 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 .

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

' 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 .

" 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 .

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

" 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 .

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

" 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 .

" 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 .

" How annoying you are just for a shirt ?! " said Helios .

" I liked that shirt a lot ! " said Aria with an annoyed tone .

" It's impossible to talk with you ! " said Helios and then he sat next to his grandma .

" You !!! Same here ! " said Aria .

" 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 .

" Aria , was what Helios said true ? " asked madam Margrethe .

" Yes ! " said Aria then looked at Helios with annoyance.

" 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 .

" Good , I will inform her ! " said madam Margrethe with a smile .

The 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 .

' She is really smart ! ' thought madam Margrethe .

" 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 .

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

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

" What is it Aria ? " asked madam Margrethe in a warm tone .

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

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

" 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 .

" 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 .

" 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 .

" Oh I get it ! Thank for explaining it to me madam Margrethe . " said Aria with a smile .

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

" 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 .

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

" So you're still a mama's girl ?! Aren't you a bit too big for that ?! " asked Helios with a laugh .

" None of your business ! " said Aria . Bekora was in the middle of them when the three of them were walking .

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

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

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

" We are heading there now ! " said Bekora .

Now 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 .

" What happened to Mana ? " whispered Helios to Bekora .

" 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 .

" What ?! Is it true ? " asked Helios surprised .

" 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 .