Monarchs of Rahsia

My bonds

A knock at the door broke apart our moment of peace. Mom and Dad took their seats. I straightened my back- fixed my shoulders the way I was taught to and raised my chin. Alistar walked in quietly- handed us the papers from the past few years and headed toward the door.

"I will be a call away if you need anything." he said quickly and he made out the door. We looked at the pile of papers and shared the same thoughts. This is going to be a long day.

********
The sun has started to go down and we made decent progress studying the papers.

"How hasn't anyone in this room caughten ear of this by now!" Father sat in his seat from exhaustion and anger. "We can barely last two years with this money!" he threw the paper on the table and rubbed his headache. Mother comforted him with a pat on his shoulder. I looked at all the papers and bit my lip. It started at least, maybe ten years ago. None of us are sure because we ordered more earlier papers and even then there is still evidence of embezzlement, some are in accounts of the dead, others are even fake! I rested my head in my hands. I started to choke up.

"What do we do?" My mother asked my father, while avoiding me- which I appreciate. I collected myself.

I took a few breaths.

"What about our emergency funds? They should be enough for a while." My parents looked at each other then down in shame, mother bit her lip. I scowled at their reaction and spoke through my teeth. "What was the biggest you spent in the last 10 years...?"

"We spent the most- possibly too much,....on a cousin." she clenched her fist. I gasped in pure anger and clenched my teeth. She looked at me in desperation. "The place he was going to was too dangerous to go without money already in hand. For him to even step foot in there safely we had to get him a new identity, which is already pricey enough and-" I held up my hand. She looked hurt. I looked at my father.

"Did you know about this?" I seethed through my teeth. Father didn't look me in the eye and shook his head.

"I gave her the permission to do this." He looked at his feet. He looked like a child. I slammed my palms on the table and it shook by the force.

"Those are emergency funds! For this kingdom, might I remind you. Not for people who had the choice to stay! Do you really not think?!" I shouted at both of them.

"How were we supposed to know that we will ever need them? We gave them to him because we had enough money and our companies could always produce more. I don't think you should be this angry." she explained desperately. I looked at her in shock.

"That is not an excuse. The entire point of those funds are for events you never expected. Today is one of those events and because of your idiotic and ignorant decision we are now suffering for it."

"But-"

"Honey, stop," father addressed my mother tenderly; looking at me with certainty. "She's right. It doesn't matter what we were feeling at the time. Those funds were for the kingdom and we used them for our personal lives. They are not for us, my love."

Mother looked at father. She nodded to herself and took her seat. "I'm sorry." She looked at me, "you are right, we used the funds incorrectly and now we are paying for it." She fidgeted with her hands. I pursued my lips.

"Mom, it's fine. You were just thinking about family, of course you still should have been more careful. But I know your intentions were pure." I gave her the sweetest smile I could manage in this situation. We all sat in silence, thinking of ideas.

**********

I snapped my fingers in excitement.

"I have a plan- it has something to do with that cousin of yours as well."
They looked at me confused.