The girl paused. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at him as if she was trying to confirm if she had heard it right.
Mike nodded and already took out the coins from the side drawer. He passed her ten gold coins showing off them again and again like a kid was shown the pacifier or rattle drum.
The woman finally nodded and stood properly as a maid should do. Finally feeling a bit better, he took a breath of relief when the door knocked.
Before he could refuse, the door opened and Lia walked in.
"Mike, I was thinking…" Lia paused. Her sharp eyes stared at him and then at the maid while zooming at the gold coins in her hands.
"Lia.. did you need something?" wiping the sweat off his face, he ran to hold her in his arms but she pushed him away.
Her hand was on his chest and her sharp eyes did not leave the girl.
"Why did she have so many coins in her hands?" her eyes did not leave the maid even for a second.
The monthly salary of the maid was fifty silver coins. But that is also given by the treasurer. Owners do tip to the maid sometimes but it was mostly limited to silver coins with rare gold coins if it was something to celebrate.
But the girl was holding ten gold coins!?
"I.. it is not for her." He spoke hastily when she frowned.
"You... Why do you have so much gold with you?" the woman panicked instantly, coins fell from her hands and clinked on the floor.
One coin rolled toward Lia's feet and fell in front of her.
"That... I was crying so the lord gifted them to me." Lia raised a brow, his face looked wicked with just a simple act that the maid took a step back unconsciously and hiccuped.
"You got the money because you cried? Interesting." Mike cursed in her heart at the foolish woman while forcing the same smile on Lia.
"She meant she was crying that maids could not enjoy the feast of our marriage party. Haha! She is such a foolish woman to not explain properly."He forced the laughter but his face had lost all its colors and looked pale, "so, I gave her coins to arrange a feast for all the staff. I did not want them to be left out.
After all, they have worked hard for our marriage." he held her hand and kissed it again and again. "I know that you wanted to do something too but you were busy. That was why I took the initiative. I hope you did not mind it." he kissed her again, trying his best to appease her when she finally nodded.
But before he could take a breath of relief,
"That is a nice idea. But it would be better to ask the butler to arrange it." the smile spreading on his lips froze instantly "You collect the money and put it back on the table. I will ask Ben to organize a party for all of you."
The maid paused. She stared at Lia and then at Mike with an aggrieved face when panic started to fill his face again.
She was a dumb woman. Who would know what she would utter with her filthy mouth if he did not handle the situation?
"Did you not hear her?" Mike frowned at the maid, "Leave this instant. I will handle the matter myself." he signaled her with his eyes to leave this moment and come back later but the maid did not understand.
She pressed her lips between her teeth and small sons started to release from her mouth again.
"She is a brazen woman. Who hired her?" Lia's eyes depend. Three deep lines formed on her forehead when Mike paused.
Was she going to fire the maid? Yes, that would be perfect.
Then he would handle her out of the palace. It would be easier.
But the usual dumb maid who did not understand a word, was quick to her feet this time.
"My lord, why did you not tell the lady the reason for my grievance? She is misunderstanding me and accusing me of everything while I am a victim here." her voice was full of pain and suffering as if she was robbed.
Lia, who was going to call the butler, paused and stared at Mike in confusion.
Like a few ants left on the burning stove. He panicked and thought hard. This foolish woman!? He cursed the girl in his heart while forcing a smile toward Lia.
"She has taken my room in the palace. She must have arranged her things to decorate the room but I was looking for something and accidentally ruined her clothes. She was crying but I was too embarrassed to explain this to you. That is why... I offered to buy her a new dress. Right?" he raised a brow, fuming at the maid while finally nodding.
"That is it?" Lia nodded, "but the amount is still too much. You can take one gold coin." Mike took a few steps back and stood behind Lia.
He joined his hand and pleaded to the maid who looked at him and then at Lia. She finally bowed her head and left with one gold coin.
Finally, Mike took a breath of relief. But he had never been this embarrassed in his life. And this could happen again?
"Mike, you should not be this kind to maids. I know that you are new to nobility and want to leave a good impression but they will think that you are naive." his cheeks flushed. He was thoroughly embarrassed by her words but did not have a single word to refuse her.
After all, who pays so much to maids? It was only because of that foolish woman.
He gritted his teeth but nodded when she shook her head and left the room.
"I have to get rid of her."