Pampered by the Villainous Tyrant King

Chapter 23

Annabeth clicked her tongue in annoyance. Was this steward saying that she was ignorant of market prices as a wealthy person?

"Bring the people in." She ordered.

Four men and women gathered inside, glancing at the stewards kneeling but making no comment.

"You there, tell me how much does a small cask of this tea cost?" Annabeth asked.

"Your Majesty, jasmine tea costs ten gold coins in a small cask. Judging by how Eldoris palace buys the tea in bulk, the price can even be bargained down to eight gold coins." A female merchant replied.

"And what should the stables be constructed out of? Sandalwood or oak wood?"

"Oak wood, Your Majesty."

Annabeth smiled, a devastatingly beautiful but deadly smile to the head steward who had replied that the tea was twenty gold coins.

"Tell me, good sir, are the people of Eldoris palace so horrible at their duties that they cannot properly pay the right prices? Are you so blind that you cannot see what color coins are? Or are you so incompetent that you have been scammed by the tea merchants or construction workers?"

At these damning words, the stewards could only bow their heads lower.

The head steward lifted his head up and scowled. "Your Majesty is of noble birth, and the coffers of Eldoris are overflowing. What do you know of the hardship of commoners?"

"Impudent!" One of the merchants brought in yelled at the head steward.

Annabeth smiled darkly. Hardship of commoners? The original Kiran princess was of half commoner birth and had suffered plenty at the hands of irresponsible royals. But that didn't mean she herself was an irresponsible person.

"Eldoris' coffers are overflowing? And so you feel you can help yourself to gold that could be used to better the lives of the people working here? What about using the leftover gold to repair the living quarters of the servants? I believe the request was put in two years ago yet I hardly see anything being done about it. Not to mention the quality of their clothing has gone down steadily."

Annabeth glanced over the clothes of the kneeling stewards. The quality of those embezzling stewards' clothing was remarkably richer than the others in the same position. In fact, their arrogance at not being caught stealing had led to their overconfidence and thus bragging about wearing clothes that nobles could wear while their peers suffered.

"Lucy, what is the punishment for stealing?" Annabeth asked.

"Your Majesty, twenty whiplashes." Lucy replied.

"Then, so shall it be. Throw them out afterwards. You four can replace them if you'd like." Annabeth said to the merchants who had given her the correct market prices.

"You can't do this! I've been here for years! My family has served the Eldoris family for generations!" The head steward yelled out, thrashing about as he was being dragged off. "The king will hear about this!"

"Ah, thank you for reminding me then. Go and check the rest of his family members who are working to see if they have sticky hands. If they do, give them the same punishment." Annabeth shook her head. "If your family had been working here for years, then where is the sense of loyalty?"

It wasn't as if the Eldoris staff were paid little. Working for the royal family was a position full of esteem and their pay reflected as much. Not to mention there were yearly bonuses. King Percy had been a generous king to his staff.

In a little while, the report of the queen beginning to sort out the palace staff reached the king's ears.

"Who's the one who disrespected the queen? Give him an extra ten whips. Ah, and don't have them be whipped in the dungeon. Have them be whipped in the public square where everyone can watch and learn from their mistakes." The Eldoris king ordered before turning his attention back to the documents. "Then lock them up to find out what they did with the extra money."