"Let's put you on time out"

I took a sip of the tea that Ade brewed and gazed upon the wonderful rose garden that could be seen from my room. Although I see this garden every day, I still love to look at it from this angle.

The only time I get angry looking down at it is when the MCs randomly show up and do lovey-dovey couple things together.

I honestly want to throw water at them for ruining the beautiful view with their indecent behavior!

But it's okay, they don't do it every day. I'm sure they're more or less having private moments in their own room anyway.

I heaved a euphoric sigh of relief and stretched my arms.

"Now then! Let's get to work, Ade! Let's go!" I shouted enthusiastically.

"With pleasure, Zinnia. Let us surprise the accountant with our presence!" She gave an evil grin.

"That's what I like about you, Ade. We think alike!" I grinned as well.

Before this, Ade and I did a bit of investigation regarding the funds I've been receiving and what happens to the excess money. As we expected, there really was someone who had the audacity to steal from a Princess! And now we know for sure that the accountant planned it a long time ago, and is still doing it.

Well, it is true that the Princess from before couldn't speak up for herself, but I'm different. I will take what's mine with all my power, especially when money is involved!

Good thing I have knowledge of financial accounting from where I worked in my previous life. Although my boss was sh*ty, I'm still thankful I'll be able to use that knowledge!

We headed towards the accountant's office and abruptly opened the door. There, we saw the accountant sitting at his desk, and when he saw us, he quickly stood up and bowed down.

"Greetings, Princess Zinnia. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you today?"

"Greetings, Sir Lendin. I came here to check the ledger. Could you perhaps give it to me? I'd like to examine its contents," I smiled at him.

His eyes widened, and he started sweating.

No kidding, this guy doesn't want me to see the ledger. His actions are very suspicious.

"L-ledger, you say?" He stuttered.

"Yes, do you not hear me? Come on, chop chop," I demanded.

"B-but the Princess surely doesn't need to know the content of the-"

"What? Are you saying that I don't know how to look at ledgers?" I glared.

"I-it's not like that, Princess. It's just that-"

"Are you saying I'm stupid?" I grabbed his shoulder tightly and gave him a fiery look of anger.

"Do as you're told. I want the ledgers from the past five years up until now. Hurry!" I shouted.

"R-right away!" He said and scurried away to find it.

He was panic-stricken while looking for the ledgers I demanded. Ade and I looked at each other and smirked; we both found it satisfying to see him in such a state.

Minutes later, he placed the ledgers on his desk and stepped away. "These are all the ledgers for the past five years. P-please look to your heart's content," he bowed.

I scanned each paper back to back, and the sum of the amount given to me didn't add up to what I received.

The ledgers were a mess, with a lot of expenses marked as 'maintenance'.

Since I'm currently residing on the third floor, I was supposed to be responsible for making decisions for expenses around that floor. However, because the former Zinnia was incapable of doing so, it was up to the head maid and the accountant to make decisions on my behalf.

Prince Theo resides on the second floor, along with Zemislav, so they're responsible for the second floor. As for the first floor, it's a place where officials gather for meetings and extravagant parties like balls and other festivities. Zemislav was apparently assigned to manage that area because they believed he would do a fine job.

Since Princess Dahlia doesn't reside in the palace, she's not assigned any responsibilities related to it. She's already busy with her duties as a knight who leads the army, after all.

I glared at the accountant once again, and he flinched upon seeing me furious.

"W-what might be the problem, Princess?" he questioned, feigning innocence.

Does he really not know the problem here?

"Sir Lendin, can you tell me what happened with the thirty thousand gold?" I asked sternly.

"W-what ever do you mean, Princess?"

"This ledger is not accurately written. All of the costs only add up to seventy thousand gold, but the King gave one-hundred thousand gold, correct?"

"T-that's impossible, you must be mistaken, Princess!"

I raised my eyebrow, "Mistaken? Me, a Princess, is wrong, you say?"

"Y-you may be a Princess, but I am more knowledgeable than you when it comes to financial literacy!" he said, trying to act all dignified yet still stammering his words.

This guy, I honestly want to yeet him out of this room.

"Ho~ Since you're very knowledgeable, Sir Lendin, can you explain to me the expenses for this month's ledger?" I said, crossing my arms and handing him the ledger.

"G-gladly." He took the paper from my hand and stared at it intently.

It has been five minutes, yet he's still staring at the ledger, seemingly sweating and his hand shaking. Quite a delightful sight to see, it made me smirk.

"We don't have all day, Sir Lendin. Hurry on with your explanation; I've got somewhere else to be."

"J-just a second, Princess. I'm trying my best to come up with an explanation that even you could understand."

"Hmm, is that so? For a minute there, I thought you were trying to come up with an absolute lie. I was worried that you might be fabricating the ledgers so that you can steal some for yourself, but I must be mistaken." He flinched upon hearing me say that.

"Surely Sir Lendin is not that kind of person?" I continued to say.

"O-of course not, Your Highness! Who would do such a thing!" He defended himself.

"You're right. If anyone were to steal or deceive the royal family, they would surely be severely punished, right Adelaide?" I looked at Adelaide with a smile.

"You're correct, Princess Zinnia. For those who tell lies or have been fabricating documents, they would receive the death sentence. But if the King himself forgives them, their title would then be stripped off, and they would be forced to move to a different country, never to return here again," Ade sternly said.

"Right, right. People who do bad things, especially taking advantage of the King's grace, deserve that as punishment." I looked back at the accountant while he still stared at the paper he was holding. Although he did not talk, he was listening to every word we said.

"But you know, I'm not that merciless of a Princess. If someone ever does those things but then confesses their bad behavior, I would totally forgive them."

"That's very kind of you, Princess. I don't think other noblemen would do such a kind thing in that situation," said Ade.

"I think that everyone deserves a second chance, don't you think so?"

"As expected of my lady! Very well said." Ade clapped.

"Well, that is how a Princess should think in my opinion. But anyway, Sir Lendin, do you still need more time?"

He flinched and went on all fours, "I apologize, Princess Zinnia!"

"Hmm, what for?"

"I-it was never my plan! I was coaxed into doing this!"

"What might you be talking about, Sir Lendin?" I said feigning ignorance.

"T-t-the ledgers, the expenses, everything! It was all fabricated!" Lendin looked up, teary-eyed.

"P-please forgive me, Your Highness! I apologize!"

"Oh my! I would have never thought that you of all people would do such a thing!" I said, acting shocked.

I deserve an Oscar award. I think my acting was on point.

"I-i-it was never my intention to steal anything from you, Princess! I originally applied for this job with good intentions!" He pleaded.

"Who coerced you into doing so?"

"I-it was the Head Maid! She said no one would ever find out about this, and so I did what she told me to."

I looked at Ade, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Ade?" I questioned and tapped her shoulder.

"Oh yes?" She answered.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No, I was just shocked to hear him say that the Head Maid was a part of this."

"Is that so?" I glared at Lendin once again.

"Eek! P-please! I'm telling the truth!" He said, begging.

"Well, there's only one thing I can do here. I'll forgive you, Sir Lendin."

His eyes glimmered.

"But you will have to quit your job and tell the King that I will take over in your stead. You can rest easy; I will not tell anyone about this issue as long as you comply with my demand."

Although he was not at all happy with what I said, he heaved a sigh of relief and nodded. He again bowed down.

"Thank you for your graciousness, Your Highness."