Dirty Business with the Crown

The young shopkeeper was the fifth son of his family, and the youngest. All his 3 elder brothers had gone to serve in the palace, as desired by their father, and the shopkeeper's 2 elder sisters had been married off to other wealthier families. 

The call for the shopkeeper came last week: a recommendation letter from one of his brothers to work as a caterer in the palace. A caterer! The very thought of waking up in the morning everyday to work under someone so horrible revolted him to the core. And it wasn't like he could pursue any other career other than the palace job or the family business because he only studied in the local school until 13 years old. 

After that, he kind of just… stopped going. So he chose the less revolting option in front of him: continue the family pawn shop business. But till this day, he waits for an opportunity that shows him an open path to somewhere better, somewhere nice. So far, there has been none.