The surviving princess {Liskook}

Chapter 15

From the morning, Lisa was in a rush. Her tasks were delayed after being pestered by the maids.

She made a mess on the table with soup she scooped with her hands, and chewed up the embroidery on a discarded man’s shirt until her teeth ached.

Satisfied that she had completed half of her daily goals, she crinkled her nose and let out a pleased laugh as she moved on. In the living room, Ji won was giving various instructions to the butler.

“Lalisa. Did you sleep well?”

Ji won’s demeanor was as usual. Lisa had worried that the man might have said something, but it seemed it was for nothing.

Just as always, she ignored Ji won’s greeting and plopped down on the floor. The butler, unperturbed by the princess’s presence, continued his report to Ji won.

“And regarding the repair of the garden fence, if we purchase Marjo wood, it will cost 2 Jeres per Caril. The total required amount is…”

As usual, Lisa listened to their conversation, mentally calculating everything. The material used for the palace garden fence costs 10 Jeres per Caril. Imported purple sandalwood from the southern islands, if she remembered correctly.

So imported materials that come by ship are too expensive for a house like this. Lisa glanced around the simple and tidy living room, finishing her mental calculations. Her knowledge was limited to the majestic white marble palace and the gray desolate Celia Palace, but it was enough.

“Labor costs 1 Jere per person per day, so in ten days…”

Lisa listened with closed eyes to Ji won’s questions to the butler. The monthly salary for a palace lady-in-waiting was 60 Jeres, for a palace maid it was 45 Jeres, and the salary of the youngest maid in the palace laundry was 32 Jeres…

Lisa quickly did the math. How many hours do laborers work if they are paid daily? Their earnings seemed lower than that of the youngest maid in the laundry.

“Oh, and the dairy farm from the Lögenten estate has recently started producing butter and cheese. The price is high, but they say the quality is excellent.”

At the butler’s gesture, a servant brought in a tray. Ji won elegantly sliced a piece of butter to taste and then called Lisa over. As Lisa crawled over and opened her mouth, a small piece was popped in.

“The butter costs 20 Pasls per Der.”

While her mouth worked, Lisa’s mind raced with numbers. A maid had once said a sack of flour costs 20 Pasls. So this small piece of butter, fitting in two hands, was worth as much as a sack of flour.

“Lalisa, is it tasty?”

It was tasty. The fresh butter’s rich aroma filled her mouth and the nutty flavor lingered at her nose. Lisa chewed and swallowed quickly, opening her mouth again. Ji won, pleased, patted her head.

“My goodness, you eat so well. This small amount costs 20 Pasls?”

“Yes, the butter we usually buy costs 4 Pasls.”

Wouldn’t it be better to buy flour instead? The man with black hair was worrying about the food supply for the people.

“Well… not everyone likes rich foods, so there’s no need to buy much. Order 5 Ders per week to bake cookies and bread for Lalisa.”

Everyone seemed to eat well enough. Still, 5 Ders of butter per week for Lisa meant 100 Pasls, or 1 Jere. The laborer’s daily wage would provide Lisa with buttery treats for a week, and it was only the nutty flavor added to them. Lalisa felt a lump in her throat and lay down quietly on the floor.