Chapter 175: Keeping It Secret

Elara:

The next list was considerably more interesting. It contained the stores belonging to my aunt, and this time I leaned closer to the screen.

Apparently, there were strict rules surrounding members of the royal family engaging in outside business. Anyone holding a crown title - king, queen, crown prince, or crown princess - was forbidden from personally operating businesses outside their official royal duties. The rule was apparently designed to prevent members of the Crown from using their political influence to gain unfair advantages in the private sector.

I couldn’t exactly argue with the reasoning, but I also wasn’t about to let an inconvenient rule stop me from building financial independence. If I couldn’t personally establish businesses, there were other ways to make use of existing assets.

I carefully examined every store on the list, comparing their locations, current profitability, and apparent potential before finally circling two. Those were the only ones I intended to keep.

Once I had finished reviewing all three lists, I leaned back and looked at Magnus. "Sell everything except what I have circled."

His eyebrows lifted slightly, but he didn’t question me.

I pointed toward the property list. "I’m keeping the Argentis mansion near the academy since that place was built for me. I’m also keeping the mansion in New York. Everything else gets sold." My gaze shifted toward the vehicle list. "Every vehicle. I don’t want a single one." Then I pointed toward the stores. "And sell every store I didn’t circle."

Magnus immediately began writing down the instructions, his expression becoming increasingly focused as I continued.

"I want two separate accounts created for the proceeds," I added. "One in Starfall and one in the human world. Any money from the properties and vehicles that are being sold should be deposited into those accounts. Keep the records completely separate."

This was not going to be a small task. There were properties scattered across Starfall, an entire luxury vehicle collection, and multiple businesses that would need to be evaluated and sold without attracting unnecessary attention. Yet instead of looking overwhelmed, Magnus looked almost excited. There was a faint spark in his eyes that made me realize he genuinely enjoyed this kind of work.

I almost smiled. Perhaps hiring him had been one of the better decisions I had made since entering Starfall. "I know this is a lot," I told him. "But I trust you to handle it."

He simply nodded, looking more determined than ever.

I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out a bank card before sliding it across the polished surface toward him. Magnus’s gaze dropped to it, then slowly returned to mine.

"There’s five million in it," I told him. "Use it to purchase whatever equipment you need for your work. Set everything up at the Argentis mansion and at our cottage in the academy woods. Both locations need to be properly equipped for whatever investigation or work you intend to conduct."

Magnus picked up the card, studying it for a moment before looking back at me. I could already see that same quiet excitement returning to his eyes, and this time, I couldn’t stop the small smile that touched my lips.

"Consider it an investment," I said. "You are my left hand now, Magnus. I expect you to have everything you need to do the job properly."

Jasper’s eyes remained fixed on the bank card in Magnus’s hand for several seconds before slowly shifting toward me, and the look on his face told me he had just realized something I hadn’t bothered to explain.

"Wait," he said, his brows drawing together slightly. "You have been keeping your monthly allowance safe all this time?"

I shrugged, leaning back in my chair as though it was the most ordinary thing in the world. "Where exactly was I supposed to spend it?" I asked. Jasper stared at me, clearly expecting a better answer, but I simply continued. "I have bought clothes twice since coming to Moonveil. That’s practically it. My daily necessities aren’t expensive, and groceries certainly don’t require millions. Even the Christmas gifts I bought didn’t cost that much."

I glanced toward Magnus, who was still holding the card. "And unlike most girls at the academy, I have absolutely no interest in spending ridiculous amounts of money on luxury items simply because I can."

Jasper’s expression shifted into something between disbelief and amusement. "So you actually saved most of it?"

"Of course." I shrugged again. "I received two million every month. I barely used a fraction of it. Eventually, the balance started becoming rather large." I paused before adding, "And now I have a reason to use it."

The truth was, I had never considered the allowance mine in the same way someone might consider ordinary spending money. From the moment Ms. Noctis had explained my financial situation, she had made it clear that although I had inherited everything belonging to the Argentis royal family, the Regents didn’t believe I was ready to manage such a vast fortune independently. Until my coronation, they had placed a monthly spending limit on my access to the royal funds.

Two million was hardly a restrictive amount, especially when I wasn’t interested in living like a spoiled princess, so I had never bothered arguing with them. If anything, their decision had accidentally helped me. While they believed they were controlling my access to my inheritance, I had simply been accumulating the money they gave me. Now, for the first time, I intended to use that accumulated wealth for something that actually mattered - building my own resources and independence.

I looked at Magnus seriously. "There’s one more thing. I want all of this handled discreetly."

He immediately stopped examining the card and gave me his full attention.

"The Regents cannot know what I’m doing until everything is already sold." His eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and I continued before he could respond. "Don’t sell the properties one by one. Don’t start transferring vehicles individually either. Prepare everything first. Find buyers, arrange the paperwork, prepare the accounts, make certain every legal requirement is already handled, and then execute as much of it as possible together."

I knew asking him to conceal transactions involving the Argentis estate wouldn’t be easy. The royal family wasn’t exactly invisible, and most of these assets were significant enough that their sale would inevitably attract attention.

"I know the luxury cars will be the hardest to hide," I admitted. "They are sitting right here in the palace. The moment they start leaving, the staff will notice."

Jasper crossed his arms. "Then why bother trying to keep it secret?"

He wasn’t confused or curious as he knew exactly why these sales needed to be kept a secret. But he was curious to know if my reason matched with his.

I met his gaze calmly. "I know it won’t remain secret forever. I only need to stay ahead of them."

Magnus’s expression sharpened as he understood what I meant. "You want the money transferred before anyone has the opportunity to interfere."

"Exactly." I leaned forward slightly. "By the time the Regents hear about the sales and someone decides they should stop me, the transactions should already be completed and the money should already be sitting in my accounts."

A faint silence settled over the room. I could almost imagine the arguments that would come afterward. The Regents would probably say I was too inexperienced, that I was acting recklessly, that I didn’t understand the political consequences of liquidating private Argentis assets. Perhaps they would even attempt to claim that I needed permission. But none of that changed the most important fact.

"The money belongs to me," I said quietly. "They may control how much of my inheritance I can access right now, but they don’t own my private assets. Once everything is sold and the money is legally transferred into my accounts, there won’t be much they can do about it."

Magnus slowly smiled, and somehow that expression made me certain I had chosen the right man. "I’ll make sure everything is ready before the sale happens," he promised.

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction settle inside me.

For twenty years, I had lived without knowing I was a princess. Now that I finally knew who I was, I had no intention of letting anyone else decide what my future would look like.

* * *

Author’s Note:

Hello my lovely readers,

Sorry for just one Chapter. I spent the entire day today in ER and have a surgery scheduled for tomorrow.

I have written a few Chapters to keep the updates regular, but there won’t be 3 or 4 Chapters coming daily these next couple of days.

Once I’m discharged and back home, I’ll spoil you guys once again. Till then, please keep loving the story and shower it with your love and support.

Thank you so much for your understanding and all the support you all have been showing so far. I’m always grateful.

Wish me some luck too! :)