Page 51 of Maid for the Alien Prince

“It costs a lot to run this estate.”

“It does,” I said with a nod. “But what’s interesting is how the fees appear to have gone up ten times the usual amount when compared to the average over the past twenty years.”

Ges made a pop sound with his lips. “Adjustments require funds. The estate was poorly managed before. But don’t worry, we’ll get it running right. Is that all?”

“Some of the farmers have been tossed out and now their families are homeless. What do you say about that?”

“They couldn’t afford the rent. What? Are we supposed to let people stay here for free?” He snorted and shook his head derisively. “They should be making plenty of money. And if they can’t afford to pay the rent, then they’ll have to cut back on their living expenses.”

“The farmers are already poor and struggling to survive as it is.”

“Then they should reorder their priorities.”

“Food and water aren’t priorities?”

“Before a roof over your head? No. These farmers always have money. They just pretend they don’t.”

I fixed him with a glare. “You forget I once worked on a farm. I know how little money they have.”

For the first time since he came into the room, Ges looked unsure. “I’ll… make sure to look into it,” he said. “Have no fear. The poor farmers won’t struggle any longer. Now can I leave—”

I rounded the desk, keeping my body tense and ready to react in case he attacked me. I wanted to peer into his eyes and see for myself if I could identify his lies.

“There’s one more thing we need to discuss,” I said. “I’ve noticed things going missing around the palace. Portraits, priceless heirlooms, things of that nature. Have you been taking them?”

“Of course not!” he growled. “Whoever is filling your head with these things is lying! If Emma said that, she’s wrong! I fucked her so senseless she wouldn’t even know what day of the week it was, never mind notice what was in my room!”

I remained calm. “So you’re telling me that if I were to send guardsmen to your room right now, they would not find priceless heirlooms?”

Ges shifted his feet, seeming to notice my own offensive stance. “They might. But they’re still in the palace. I decided to add a few to my room to… to make the decorations a little nicer. You know I like nice things.”

I’m sure you do, I thought. Nice things, paid for by me.

I was amazed that Ges denied everything, despite all the evidence to the contrary, and had an excuse for every accusation. I wondered if he actually believed his own lies. Clearly, I had, for the longest time.

But no more.

“Have you always lied to me?” I asked softly. “Or has it only been since I inherited my titles and the palace?”

He blinked in rapid succession, shocked that I had accused him directly. “I’m not lying to you! Everything I have said to you has been the truth.”

I snorted and shook my head. “The books tell a different story. There’s no way you could spend all that money on running the estate, not unless you are pocketing the difference.”

“I swear to you, it’s not me!” he said, jabbing a finger accusingly at the file. “It’s the accountant! If he’s been stealing money from us, we should take action right away—”

“It’s not the accountant,” I said. “He’s been working for the family for the past thirty years. Why would he start stealing funds now? And why is it always in your name?”

Ges licked his lips, the lies coming harder now. “Well, he must not like me. Jealousy is a terrible thing. He knew a new Prince was coming and saw an opportunity—”

I raised a hand, causing him to glower at me as I had cut him off. What came next was the part of the meeting that I was looking forward to the least. I braced myself, prepared in case he lashed out at me.

“If any one of these things turns out to be true, and there’s no doubt in my mind that most of them are, then we no longer have need of your services.”

Ges just stared at me for a moment, as if I had spoken in a foreign language that he didn’t understand. “Come again?”

“I said, we no longer need your services.”

Then I looked him in the eye. “I don’t need you anymore.”

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