Chapter 122: Injustice
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
"Hundred copper coins per month." Susan's lips parted as she stared at the admirable woman in front of her in shock.
However, Aylin misunderstood her shock to something else and frowned lightly. "Is it less? Do you need...."
"No, no, no, Commander." Susan stopped her before the misconception grew.
"Then?" Aylin tilted her head not knowing why Susan was this shocked. She was utterly confused and lost.
"Hundred copper coins," Susan exclaimed and clasped her hands together. "I have never seen such a huge amount all at once. I...I was...."
"What do you mean, Susan? Did you not get paid well at the palace?" Aylin stopped her before she could continue.
"I...I...." Susan stuttered again and her reaction planted a seed of suspicion in Aylin's mind.
"Susan, tell me the truth. How much are the palace maids and servants being paid?" Aylin held her by her shoulders and looked at the girl seriously and Susan gulped in fear on seeing her cold and solemn face. She did not hide anything from her lest she should be discharged from her duties even before she started her work.
"Commander, I was only paid seventy copper coins every month."
Now, it was Aylin's turn to be shocked and her eyes widened immediately. She was rendered speechless for a long time.
"Just seventy coins?"
Susan nodded at her, her eyes turned red at the rim. She lowered her gaze and bit her lip, feeling aggrieved about her previous work for the first time. Getting a job as the palace maid had eased her worries and she had accepted the job right away without thinking. Since her father had died of illness long ago, it had fallen upon her and her mother to cater to their needs.
However, her brother was too young and her mother could not work for long hours. So, it was her who her family depended on. But the pay she was received when she first joined the palace was merely fifty coins. And since she had no experience with the world, she had accepted it without fighting.
But even after working at the palace for a long time, her pay had only risen to seventy coins while their daily necessities cost more than she could even afford. Only she and her mother knew how they had survived all these years.
Now that her Commander had promised pay of hundred coins, she was more than grateful. With hundred copper coins, she could have adequate money for their monthly expenses and also save a part of it for their future. She was happy with the arrangement and her eyes were filled with gratitude towards the woman who had previously saved her and was now even helping her and her family again.
Hundred coins? With hundred coins, she could make sure her brother and her mother lived a good life without any worries.
"How long have you been working at the palace?" Aylin's frown deepened and her eyes blazed in anger.
"Commander, just less than three years," Susan answered honestly.
"By now, your payment must have increased by forty coins since you have been working there for almost three years. But...but...." Aylin could not decipher what was happening. Something was definitely not right and she had an inkling that all the servants at the palace were facing the same injustice.
Susan could not understand what the woman was trying to convey and she just blinked at her in confusion. 'What forty coins? What does she mean by it? Why will I get forty coins?' She wondered and kept thinking for a long until Aylin's voice startled her.
"Susan, do you know how much the senior servants of the palace get every month? Would you mind telling me?"
Susan parted her lips not knowing what was happening. Nevertheless, she still nodded at her. "I do not know about other servants. But I did overhear that one of the servants who had worked at the palace for seven years was being a hundred and twenty coins."
After hearing her, Aylin lost it completely and she clenched her fist while her left hand held onto the scabbard tight. She was now livid. This was blatant deception. She had seen how much the maids and servants were paid when she had made an entry in the financial ledger a few months. To think that it was all fake and the servants were being paid less than they were promised, Aylin could not help seethe in anger.
Again, without any evidence needed, she more or less had an inkling who was behind this matter. Who else could it be other than the royal family? With them controlling the finances from behind, why will the minister dare to create such a mess when he knew that it was easy to get caught if word got out.
Susan could not understand why Aylin was this furious. Her face had turned dark suddenly and she instinctively took a step back in fear. She had never witnessed this face of hers and she was more than perplexed.
"Commander, what is wrong? What is happening?" She queried gently and Aylin who had seething mad, stared at her, directing her infuriated gaze at her and Susan took a few steps away from her again.
Her scared actions broke Aylin's thoughts and she came out of her stupor. "Please forgive me. I lost my composure for a moment."
"That is fine, Commander. But why were you furious before? What is wrong?"
Aylin did not hesitate to reveal the truth to her. Since she had suffered under the royal family, it was her right that she received justice and also what the royal family owed her. "You have been, Susan. You as well as all the other servants in the palace."
"I do not understand, Commander. How were we deceived?" Susan gave her a perplexed look, while Aylin smiled at her in appreciation. Even though she no longer worked at the palace, she was still worried about the other maids and servants and this fact made Aylin see the girl in a new light.
"The pay you received is far less than what is marked in the finance record, Susan. You were supposed to receive more than what you told me just now. Somewhere something has gone wrong and if my intuitions are right...." Aylin stopped suddenly and looked at Susan who was staring at her curiously.
This matter was serious and without any evidence, she would not blame the royal family. That would only alert the enemy if the word got out. Moreover, it would also be considered treason if she were to blame them without any proof.
"Anyway, what I wanted to tell you is that you were paid very less than you were promised."
Susan was now utterly stunned and she had no words to speak for a long time. 'What? I was supposed to be paid more but I was now....How? How is it possible? Why did I not know about it? Most importantly, why did I not know about it?' She wondered, her eyes dilating in shock.
'Is it the royal family behind this? Did they reduce my pay? But why?' A lot of questions entered her mind and Susan was having a hard time comprehending what was happening. She just gazed at the woman beside her in bewilderment.
"Until the matter is proven, do not speak a word about it with anyone. I will try to find out what is happening and why is behind this matter." Aylin patted her shoulder and Susan nodded at her weakly in a daze. "We do not want to alert our enemy. Do we? Otherwise, we will not be able to find any evidence to support our claims." Aylin explained her stance and this time, Susan understood her clearly.
"Yes, Commander. You are right. I will not speak a word until you say so." Susan added and Aylin smiled at her in return.
"Good. It is already late. Take a day off tomorrow. You can start working at my manor from the day after."
"But..."
"Susan." Aylin stared at her sternly and Susan shut her mouth immediately.
"Yes, Commander."
"Good night."
Aylin then mounted her horse and left the street and Susan waited until she could not see Aylin anymore before she entered her house.
Meanwhile, the entire time from the moment she had left Susan's house until she reached her manor, Aylin's mind was filled with what she had found out from Susan. The injustice the servants of the palace were suffering made her miserable and she could not calm her anxious heart whatsoever. Her hands were itching to help them while her mind was thinking of ways to tackle the mess she had found out only now.
She had no idea when she reached the manor. When she finally came out of her reverie, her horse had already entered her manor gates. However, Aylin was in no mood to return home. Instead, her mind was focused on the finance ledger. her heart was completely unsettled and making a decision immediately, she turned her horse around and galloped towards the palace right away.
The guards were stunned to see her here. Yet, they did not question her about it and just bowed at her in greeting. Without even glancing at them, she alighted from her horse and entered the palace premises. However, instead of taking the path that led the arena, she took a detour instead and entered the garden. She followed the familiar path before she finally arrived at the back of the palace.
'Aylin, it is time to find out what is happening. I cannot allow the poor to suffer anymore.. Myron, you just wait.'
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
"Hundred copper coins per month." Susan's lips parted as she stared at the admirable woman in front of her in shock.
However, Aylin misunderstood her shock to something else and frowned lightly. "Is it less? Do you need...."
"No, no, no, Commander." Susan stopped her before the misconception grew.
"Then?" Aylin tilted her head not knowing why Susan was this shocked. She was utterly confused and lost.
"Hundred copper coins," Susan exclaimed and clasped her hands together. "I have never seen such a huge amount all at once. I...I was...."
"What do you mean, Susan? Did you not get paid well at the palace?" Aylin stopped her before she could continue.
"I...I...." Susan stuttered again and her reaction planted a seed of suspicion in Aylin's mind.
"Susan, tell me the truth. How much are the palace maids and servants being paid?" Aylin held her by her shoulders and looked at the girl seriously and Susan gulped in fear on seeing her cold and solemn face. She did not hide anything from her lest she should be discharged from her duties even before she started her work.
"Commander, I was only paid seventy copper coins every month."
Now, it was Aylin's turn to be shocked and her eyes widened immediately. She was rendered speechless for a long time.
"Just seventy coins?"
Susan nodded at her, her eyes turned red at the rim. She lowered her gaze and bit her lip, feeling aggrieved about her previous work for the first time. Getting a job as the palace maid had eased her worries and she had accepted the job right away without thinking. Since her father had died of illness long ago, it had fallen upon her and her mother to cater to their needs.
However, her brother was too young and her mother could not work for long hours. So, it was her who her family depended on. But the pay she was received when she first joined the palace was merely fifty coins. And since she had no experience with the world, she had accepted it without fighting.
But even after working at the palace for a long time, her pay had only risen to seventy coins while their daily necessities cost more than she could even afford. Only she and her mother knew how they had survived all these years.
Now that her Commander had promised pay of hundred coins, she was more than grateful. With hundred copper coins, she could have adequate money for their monthly expenses and also save a part of it for their future. She was happy with the arrangement and her eyes were filled with gratitude towards the woman who had previously saved her and was now even helping her and her family again.
Hundred coins? With hundred coins, she could make sure her brother and her mother lived a good life without any worries.
"How long have you been working at the palace?" Aylin's frown deepened and her eyes blazed in anger.
"Commander, just less than three years," Susan answered honestly.
"By now, your payment must have increased by forty coins since you have been working there for almost three years. But...but...." Aylin could not decipher what was happening. Something was definitely not right and she had an inkling that all the servants at the palace were facing the same injustice.
Susan could not understand what the woman was trying to convey and she just blinked at her in confusion. 'What forty coins? What does she mean by it? Why will I get forty coins?' She wondered and kept thinking for a long until Aylin's voice startled her.
"Susan, do you know how much the senior servants of the palace get every month? Would you mind telling me?"
Susan parted her lips not knowing what was happening. Nevertheless, she still nodded at her. "I do not know about other servants. But I did overhear that one of the servants who had worked at the palace for seven years was being a hundred and twenty coins."
After hearing her, Aylin lost it completely and she clenched her fist while her left hand held onto the scabbard tight. She was now livid. This was blatant deception. She had seen how much the maids and servants were paid when she had made an entry in the financial ledger a few months. To think that it was all fake and the servants were being paid less than they were promised, Aylin could not help seethe in anger.
Again, without any evidence needed, she more or less had an inkling who was behind this matter. Who else could it be other than the royal family? With them controlling the finances from behind, why will the minister dare to create such a mess when he knew that it was easy to get caught if word got out.
Susan could not understand why Aylin was this furious. Her face had turned dark suddenly and she instinctively took a step back in fear. She had never witnessed this face of hers and she was more than perplexed.
"Commander, what is wrong? What is happening?" She queried gently and Aylin who had seething mad, stared at her, directing her infuriated gaze at her and Susan took a few steps away from her again.
Her scared actions broke Aylin's thoughts and she came out of her stupor. "Please forgive me. I lost my composure for a moment."
"That is fine, Commander. But why were you furious before? What is wrong?"
Aylin did not hesitate to reveal the truth to her. Since she had suffered under the royal family, it was her right that she received justice and also what the royal family owed her. "You have been, Susan. You as well as all the other servants in the palace."
"I do not understand, Commander. How were we deceived?" Susan gave her a perplexed look, while Aylin smiled at her in appreciation. Even though she no longer worked at the palace, she was still worried about the other maids and servants and this fact made Aylin see the girl in a new light.
"The pay you received is far less than what is marked in the finance record, Susan. You were supposed to receive more than what you told me just now. Somewhere something has gone wrong and if my intuitions are right...." Aylin stopped suddenly and looked at Susan who was staring at her curiously.
This matter was serious and without any evidence, she would not blame the royal family. That would only alert the enemy if the word got out. Moreover, it would also be considered treason if she were to blame them without any proof.
"Anyway, what I wanted to tell you is that you were paid very less than you were promised."
Susan was now utterly stunned and she had no words to speak for a long time. 'What? I was supposed to be paid more but I was now....How? How is it possible? Why did I not know about it? Most importantly, why did I not know about it?' She wondered, her eyes dilating in shock.
'Is it the royal family behind this? Did they reduce my pay? But why?' A lot of questions entered her mind and Susan was having a hard time comprehending what was happening. She just gazed at the woman beside her in bewilderment.
"Until the matter is proven, do not speak a word about it with anyone. I will try to find out what is happening and why is behind this matter." Aylin patted her shoulder and Susan nodded at her weakly in a daze. "We do not want to alert our enemy. Do we? Otherwise, we will not be able to find any evidence to support our claims." Aylin explained her stance and this time, Susan understood her clearly.
"Yes, Commander. You are right. I will not speak a word until you say so." Susan added and Aylin smiled at her in return.
"Good. It is already late. Take a day off tomorrow. You can start working at my manor from the day after."
"But..."
"Susan." Aylin stared at her sternly and Susan shut her mouth immediately.
"Yes, Commander."
"Good night."
Aylin then mounted her horse and left the street and Susan waited until she could not see Aylin anymore before she entered her house.
Meanwhile, the entire time from the moment she had left Susan's house until she reached her manor, Aylin's mind was filled with what she had found out from Susan. The injustice the servants of the palace were suffering made her miserable and she could not calm her anxious heart whatsoever. Her hands were itching to help them while her mind was thinking of ways to tackle the mess she had found out only now.
She had no idea when she reached the manor. When she finally came out of her reverie, her horse had already entered her manor gates. However, Aylin was in no mood to return home. Instead, her mind was focused on the finance ledger. her heart was completely unsettled and making a decision immediately, she turned her horse around and galloped towards the palace right away.
The guards were stunned to see her here. Yet, they did not question her about it and just bowed at her in greeting. Without even glancing at them, she alighted from her horse and entered the palace premises. However, instead of taking the path that led the arena, she took a detour instead and entered the garden. She followed the familiar path before she finally arrived at the back of the palace.
'Aylin, it is time to find out what is happening. I cannot allow the poor to suffer anymore.. Myron, you just wait.'
"Hundred copper coins per month." Susan's lips parted as she stared at the admirable woman in front of her in shock. However, Aylin misunderstood her shock to something else and frowned lightly. "Is it less? Do you need....""No, no, no, Commander." Susan stopped her before the misconception grew. "Then?" Aylin tilted her head not knowing why Susan was this shocked. She was utterly confused and lost."Hundred copper coins," Susan exclaimed and clasped her hands together. "I have never seen such a huge amount all at once. I...I was....""What do you mean, Susan? Did you not get paid well at the palace?" Aylin stopped her before she could continue."I...I...." Susan stuttered again and her reaction planted a seed of suspicion in Aylin's mind."Susan, tell me the truth. How much are the palace maids and servants being paid?" Aylin held her by her shoulders and looked at the girl seriously and Susan gulped in fear on seeing her cold and solemn face. She did not hide anything from her lest she should be discharged from her duties even before she started her work."Commander, I was only paid seventy copper coins every month."Now, it was Aylin's turn to be shocked and her eyes widened immediately. She was rendered speechless for a long time."Just seventy coins?"Susan nodded at her, her eyes turned red at the rim. She lowered her gaze and bit her lip, feeling aggrieved about her previous work for the first time. Getting a job as the palace maid had eased her worries and she had accepted the job right away without thinking. Since her father had died of illness long ago, it had fallen upon her and her mother to cater to their needs. However, her brother was too young and her mother could not work for long hours. So, it was her who her family depended on. But the pay she was received when she first joined the palace was merely fifty coins. And since she had no experience with the world, she had accepted it without fighting. But even after working at the palace for a long time, her pay had only risen to seventy coins while their daily necessities cost more than she could even afford. Only she and her mother knew how they had survived all these years.Now that her Commander had promised pay of hundred coins, she was more than grateful. With hundred copper coins, she could have adequate money for their monthly expenses and also save a part of it for their future. She was happy with the arrangement and her eyes were filled with gratitude towards the woman who had previously saved her and was now even helping her and her family again.Hundred coins? With hundred coins, she could make sure her brother and her mother lived a good life without any worries."How long have you been working at the palace?" Aylin's frown deepened and her eyes blazed in anger."Commander, just less than three years," Susan answered honestly."By now, your payment must have increased by forty coins since you have been working there for almost three years. But...but...." Aylin could not decipher what was happening. Something was definitely not right and she had an inkling that all the servants at the palace were facing the same injustice.Susan could not understand what the woman was trying to convey and she just blinked at her in confusion. 'What forty coins? What does she mean by it? Why will I get forty coins?' She wondered and kept thinking for a long until Aylin's voice startled her."Susan, do you know how much the senior servants of the palace get every month? Would you mind telling me?"Susan parted her lips not knowing what was happening. Nevertheless, she still nodded at her. "I do not know about other servants. But I did overhear that one of the servants who had worked at the palace for seven years was being a hundred and twenty coins."After hearing her, Aylin lost it completely and she clenched her fist while her left hand held onto the scabbard tight. She was now livid. This was blatant deception. She had seen how much the maids and servants were paid when she had made an entry in the financial ledger a few months. To think that it was all fake and the servants were being paid less than they were promised, Aylin could not help seethe in anger.Again, without any evidence needed, she more or less had an inkling who was behind this matter. Who else could it be other than the royal family? With them controlling the finances from behind, why will the minister dare to create such a mess when he knew that it was easy to get caught if word got out.Susan could not understand why Aylin was this furious. Her face had turned dark suddenly and she instinctively took a step back in fear. She had never witnessed this face of hers and she was more than perplexed."Commander, what is wrong? What is happening?" She queried gently and Aylin who had seething mad, stared at her, directing her infuriated gaze at her and Susan took a few steps away from her again.Her scared actions broke Aylin's thoughts and she came out of her stupor. "Please forgive me. I lost my composure for a moment.""That is fine, Commander. But why were you furious before? What is wrong?"Aylin did not hesitate to reveal the truth to her. Since she had suffered under the royal family, it was her right that she received justice and also what the royal family owed her. "You have been, Susan. You as well as all the other servants in the palace.""I do not understand, Commander. How were we deceived?" Susan gave her a perplexed look, while Aylin smiled at her in appreciation. Even though she no longer worked at the palace, she was still worried about the other maids and servants and this fact made Aylin see the girl in a new light."The pay you received is far less than what is marked in the finance record, Susan. You were supposed to receive more than what you told me just now. Somewhere something has gone wrong and if my intuitions are right...." Aylin stopped suddenly and looked at Susan who was staring at her curiously.This matter was serious and without any evidence, she would not blame the royal family. That would only alert the enemy if the word got out. Moreover, it would also be considered treason if she were to blame them without any proof."Anyway, what I wanted to tell you is that you were paid very less than you were promised."Susan was now utterly stunned and she had no words to speak for a long time. 'What? I was supposed to be paid more but I was now....How? How is it possible? Why did I not know about it? Most importantly, why did I not know about it?' She wondered, her eyes dilating in shock.'Is it the royal family behind this? Did they reduce my pay? But why?' A lot of questions entered her mind and Susan was having a hard time comprehending what was happening. She just gazed at the woman beside her in bewilderment."Until the matter is proven, do not speak a word about it with anyone. I will try to find out what is happening and why is behind this matter." Aylin patted her shoulder and Susan nodded at her weakly in a daze. "We do not want to alert our enemy. Do we? Otherwise, we will not be able to find any evidence to support our claims." Aylin explained her stance and this time, Susan understood her clearly."Yes, Commander. You are right. I will not speak a word until you say so." Susan added and Aylin smiled at her in return."Good. It is already late. Take a day off tomorrow. You can start working at my manor from the day after.""But...""Susan." Aylin stared at her sternly and Susan shut her mouth immediately."Yes, Commander.""Good night."Aylin then mounted her horse and left the street and Susan waited until she could not see Aylin anymore before she entered her house.Meanwhile, the entire time from the moment she had left Susan's house until she reached her manor, Aylin's mind was filled with what she had found out from Susan. The injustice the servants of the palace were suffering made her miserable and she could not calm her anxious heart whatsoever. Her hands were itching to help them while her mind was thinking of ways to tackle the mess she had found out only now.She had no idea when she reached the manor. When she finally came out of her reverie, her horse had already entered her manor gates. However, Aylin was in no mood to return home. Instead, her mind was focused on the finance ledger. her heart was completely unsettled and making a decision immediately, she turned her horse around and galloped towards the palace right away.The guards were stunned to see her here. Yet, they did not question her about it and just bowed at her in greeting. Without even glancing at them, she alighted from her horse and entered the palace premises. However, instead of taking the path that led the arena, she took a detour instead and entered the garden. She followed the familiar path before she finally arrived at the back of the palace.'Aylin, it is time to find out what is happening. I cannot allow the poor to suffer anymore.. Myron, you just wait.'
