THE ultimate Desire
501 Words
Life outside the palace was far from easy. Many people suffered, while the rich continued to accumulate wealth, stocking their storehouses with rice, silk, and gold.
In contrast, the poor struggled to obtain their daily meals. The disparity between the rich and the poor was stark, with the wealthy enjoying lives of luxury while the impoverished fought to survive.
In Hanyei, there were three distinct social classes. The first consisted of the rich, who were considered nobles and held significant power and influence.
They owned vast storehouses, numerous farms, and other valuable assets. As the wealthiest individuals after the king, they wielded considerable authority and were regarded as the kingmakers.
The monarch could only be chosen from among their clans, and only a select individual from a noble family could become queen. Even the court ladies and eunuchs who worked in the palace were selected exclusively from noble families.
The second social class comprised individuals who were not born into noble families. These ordinary people possessed minimal assets and often worked for the noble families on their farms, in their stores, or in their households in exchange for payment.
Those who were fortunate enough to have their employers establish a small trade for them were considered lucky and envied by their peers.
The third and lowest social class consisted of slaves. These individuals were typically those who owed debts to noble families and were unable to repay them.
In such cases, they might offer their children or spouses as slaves to settle their debts. Alternatively, individuals from impoverished families who were unable to pay taxes or rent might also be reduced to slaves.
It was in this class Shuan found herself. Trapped in the lowest rung of society - a slave. She was the second child and only daughter of her family. Ten years ago, her family had left their hometown in search of better opportunities in Hanyei.
Her parents worked for a noble family until two years ago, when the noble family was embroiled in a clash with another noble family. The head of the family was falsely accused of treason and executed, along with his entire family.
As a result, Shuan and her family were forced into s*****y, serving a cruel noble family. They were treated harshly, fed only once a day, and made to work long hours.
This noble family was also home to the future queen, Sar Ryu Jun, known simply as Jun. She was renowned for her breathtaking beauty, with skin as smooth as silk and as soft as a baby's.
As Shuan helped Jun dress, she couldn't help but think, "She's beautiful indeed." However, Jun's stunning appearance belied her cruel nature. She lacked manners and treated her subjects with disdain.
Shuan, who served Jun personally, had suffered greatly at her hands. For every mistake, Shuan was dragged out and flogged, leaving her body covered in bruises.
Shuan's heart ached with a single, desperate desire: "I just want to leave, I just want to be free."
- Writer
