Adrian had always believed that numbers were honest.
People weren’t.
Numbers could be manipulated, hidden, or presented in misleading ways, but if you knew what to look for, they usually left a trail.
That was why he spent most of the morning surrounded by ledgers.
Tax records.
Trade records.
Provincial reports.
Warehouse inventories.
Everything concerning the western provinces had been brought into his study.
The table was barely visible beneath the paperwork.
Adrian stared at the mess.
“I miss engineering.”
Marcus stood nearby.
“You’ve been king for less than a month.”
“I know.”
“And you’re already complaining.”
“I’ve earned the right.”
Marcus almost smiled.
Almost.
Adrian picked up another document.
“The western province reported forty thousand sacks of grain collected as tax.”
“Yes.”
“The treasury received thirty-one thousand.”
“Yes.”
“Where did the other nine thousand go?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Storage losses?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Nine thousand?”
“Perhaps.”
“That’s almost a quarter.”
Marcus said nothing.
Adrian put the document down.
“How much grain can a warehouse realistically lose?”
“That depends on the conditions.”
“Fine.
Find out.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Adrian picked up another report.
The numbers were strange.
Some months showed unusually high losses.
Others showed almost none.
There was no obvious pattern.
That bothered him.
If someone was stealing, they were being careful.
Or the records were simply terrible.
Either way, Adrian needed someone who understood the system better than he did.
“Bring me the Minister of Finance.”
Lord Cedric Marrow arrived an hour later.
He was a well-dressed man in his fifties with silver hair and a calm expression.
He bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
“Lord Marrow.”
Adrian gestured toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Cedric did so.
Adrian pushed several documents across the table.
“Explain these.”
Cedric looked at them.
His expression barely changed.
“Provincial tax records.”
“I know what they are.”
Adrian pointed at the numbers.
“Why don’t they match the treasury records?”
Cedric glanced through them.
“Because the provincial records are preliminary.”
“Then why were they submitted as official figures?”
“They weren’t.”
Adrian paused.
“Explain.”
Cedric folded his hands.
“The numbers you have are from the provincial administration.
They represent the amount assessed and collected locally.
The treasury figure represents what was actually transferred to the crown after local expenses, storage, transportation, and regional administration.”
Adrian looked at the document again.
That made more sense.
“Why isn’t that clearly explained?”
Cedric sighed.
“Because the system has been used for decades.”
Adrian leaned back.
“So some of the difference is legitimate.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
Cedric gave him a figure.
Adrian compared it with the records.
There was still a gap.
A smaller one.
But it remained.
“And this?”
Cedric studied the number.
“That requires investigation.”
“Why wasn’t it investigated?”
Cedric looked at him.
“Your Majesty, investigations cost money and time.”
Adrian stared at him.
“So does theft.”
The minister’s expression changed slightly.
“Of course.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“Lord Marrow, I’m not accusing you or anyone else.”
Cedric remained silent.
“But I don’t like unexplained numbers.”
“Neither do I.”
“Good.”
Adrian gathered the papers.
“I want an audit.”
Cedric’s eyebrows rose.
“Of the western province?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Adrian thought for a moment.
“Not someone from your ministry.”
Cedric was silent.
Adrian continued.
“Select three accountants from different departments.
I want them to compare the provincial records, treasury records, warehouse inventories, and transportation records.”
Cedric nodded.
“That will take time.”
“Take the time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cedric stood.
Before leaving, he turned.
“May I say something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Your father rarely involved himself in provincial accounting.”
Adrian looked at him.
“I know.”
“You’re starting with something most kings never bother with.”
“Someone has to.”
Cedric nodded.
“Perhaps.”
He left.
Adrian watched the door close.
He wasn’t sure what to make of Lord Marrow.
He seemed competent.
But competence didn’t equal honesty.
For now, Adrian would keep watching.
That afternoon, Adrian left the palace.
It was the first time he’d done so since becoming king.
He wore simple clothes instead of royal robes.
Only a small group of guards accompanied him.
Elena had wanted to come.
Adrian refused.
She came anyway.
“You said you were going to the city.”
“I am.”
“So I’m coming.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m curious.”
“You’re a princess.”
“I know.”
“People will recognize you.”
“Not if I wear this.”
She pointed at her cloak.
Adrian looked at her.
It wasn’t exactly a disguise.
But arguing seemed pointless.
“Fine.”
They entered Valoria.
The capital was much busier than Adrian expected.
Merchants shouted from stalls.
Children ran between carts.
Blacksmiths worked outside their shops.
Mages sold enchanted items beside ordinary craftsmen.
There were even small clinics where healers treated injuries using magic.
Adrian watched everything.
This was the real kingdom.
Not the palace.
Not the reports.
This.
People.
He stopped beside a market stall.
A woman was selling bread.
Adrian bought two.
He handed one to Elena.
She looked surprised.
“You bought bread.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m hungry.”
She smiled.
“That’s surprisingly normal.”
They continued walking.
Adrian noticed something.
The bread was expensive.
He stopped.
“How much did you pay?”
Elena told him.
Adrian frowned.
“That’s more than yesterday.”
The merchant overheard him.
“Prices went up again.”
Adrian turned.
“Why?”
The merchant shrugged.
“Grain.”
“Bad harvest?”
“Partly.”
“Anything else?”
The merchant looked around before answering.
“Taxes.”
Adrian nodded.
“How much?”
The merchant gave him a number.
Adrian’s expression changed.
The tax was significant.
Too significant.
He thanked the man and walked away.
Elena noticed his expression.
“You’re thinking again.”
“Yes.”
“About the bread?”
“About everything.”
They continued toward the southern market.
Along the way, Adrian noticed something else.
The roads were crowded.
But the drainage channels were clogged.
Several streets had standing water.
Some buildings were poorly maintained.
It wasn’t a disaster.
But it was inefficient.
And inefficient cities became expensive cities.
Adrian stopped.
“Why hasn’t anyone fixed this?”
Elena looked at the street.
“Nobody wants to pay for it.”
Adrian nodded.
There it was again.
The same problem.
Everyone looked at immediate costs.
Nobody thought about long-term savings.
Better drainage meant fewer floods.
Better roads meant faster trade.
Cleaner streets meant fewer illnesses.
Better warehouses meant less food wasted.
Investing money now could save far more later.
The problem was convincing people to spend money today for benefits they wouldn’t see immediately.
Adrian knew that would be one of his biggest challenges.
On the way back to the palace, they passed a group of soldiers.
Adrian stopped.
They were off duty.
Their armor looked old.
One soldier’s shield had been repaired several times.
Adrian approached.
The men immediately straightened.
“Your Majesty.”
“Relax.”
They exchanged confused looks.
Adrian pointed at one soldier’s shield.
“How long have you had that?”
The soldier looked down.
“Four years.”
“Four years?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Does the army replace equipment regularly?”
The soldier hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
The soldier glanced at his commander.
Adrian understood.
“Who is your commanding officer?”
The soldier gave him the name.
Adrian nodded.
“Thank you.”
He walked away.
Elena caught up with him.
“You’re going to investigate the army now?”
“Eventually.”
“You can’t fix everything.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you trying?”
Adrian looked at the city around him.
“Because nobody else seems to be.”
Elena smiled.
“That’s a very dangerous answer.”
“I know.”
That night, Adrian returned to his study.
He wrote three words on a blank sheet of paper.
Food.
Money.
Infrastructure.
Those were his immediate priorities.
Not factories.
Not massive armies.
Not grand inventions.
The basics came first.
A kingdom couldn’t become powerful if its people couldn’t afford bread.
Adrian then added another word.
People.
That was the most important one.
He needed capable people.
He couldn’t personally inspect every farm.
He couldn’t manage every road.
He couldn’t supervise every mine.
He needed administrators who actually knew what they were doing.
And that meant finding them.
The next morning, Adrian called the Chancellor.
“I want a list.”
“Of what, Your Majesty?”
“Everyone in the kingdom currently working in government who has a reputation for being exceptionally competent.”
The Chancellor stared at him.
“Everyone?”
“Yes.”
“That could take months.”
“Then start with the ministries.”
The Chancellor nodded.
“And after that?”
“Provincial governments.”
“Understood.”
Adrian paused.
“And include commoners.”
The Chancellor stopped.
“Commoners?”
“Yes.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I don’t care where they were born.”
Adrian looked directly at him.
“If they’re capable, I want to know about them.”
The Chancellor slowly bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After he left, Adrian looked toward the window.
The old Adrian had inherited a kingdom.
Adrian intended to build something better from it.
But first, he needed to find the people who could help him.
And somewhere in Arvendale, he knew those people were already there.
He just had to find them.