I was a noble’s child. My father was of noble birth.

  However, he often played with women. He had numerous illegal children. The precise number is unknown to me.

  I am one such child.

  My mother is of low birth, a mere commoner.

  My early years included all the hardships of a lowborn.

  By luck of fate, I was one of the chosen to protect a high noble girl without her knowledge.

  As a reward for my service, my family rose from commoners into a small barony and I was granted the rank of a baron. I would receive it upon reaching the age of majority. In the meantime, my mother would be representing me.

  Not that a Baron had much power to begin with.

  My family’s standard was neither good nor bad after that day.

  We began to live better than the common folks, forgetting the hardships of the masses in no time. However, I couldn’t say everything was perfect.

  Without the backing behind us that picked me as a secret guard, the school I enrolled in would have been above our pay grade.

  After enrolling, due to my low birth origin, most either ignored my existence, discarding me as unimportant or bullied me to pass the time.

  My mother enjoyed the privileges, but with time, she started craving for more.

  I was six years of age when I began my service. I wasn’t ready. How could a child at my age be prepared for anything like that?

  The one I was supposed to protect was unknown to me until a few school years passed.

  She was always there, but with my low status in the class, I rarely got the chance to talk with her.

  Instead, I focused on studies until I knew what I had to do. It was my way to prove my worth and to show the rest of the class that my lower status doesn’t mean I was inferior.

  The only classmate I could call a friend was Leonard – we have been together ever since.

  Back then, he was terrible at studies, scraping through the years. I often had to help him.

  He excelled in sports and physical activities overall, unlike me.

  His situation was similar to mine: he lived with his mother, his father was unknown and his family acquired the rank of a barony a few years ago.

  I didn’t think much about it. I thought it was another thing fate arranged to happen.

  Around the time my fifth grade began, my service to the country started.

  The person whom I needed to protect was Mariana Gareth, the most beautiful girl in the class and one with a way higher noble rank than I would ever own.

  Due to her family matters, she wasn't very sociable, showing fake smiles and preferring to be alone. I didn’t know why, but when I realised the reasons, I couldn’t blame her.

  One time, I told my mother about her. After hearing her noble status and that it was a girl, she immediately told me to become close to her. If possible, marry her.

  My mother had two older children. Unlike me, they were from one father.

  My elder brother hated me.

  He accused me of being the reason why his father left them. Our mother always protected me.

  Our status was thanks to me, whereas he contributed little to the household, she told him. That infuriated him even more.

  When he got old enough to leave us, he did without second thought. I haven’t seen him since then and I don’t want to.

  On the other hand, my elder sister was gentler.

  She didn’t resent me. She missed her father, but knew I had no fault. It was our mother’s decisions that were to blame. She was often dissatisfied with our mother’s actions.

  She showed me great love and care, often purer than the love our mother gave me. To her, I was her little brother, while for my mother, I was the prosperous future fate had gifted her.

  She was married off to a baron and we haven’t seen each other much afterwards.

  I miss her.

  One day, our mother informed us that she had found a spouse for my sister. Both of them fought that day, but ultimately, my sister had to come to terms with our mother’s decision.

  It was a blessing that my sister had the opportunity to marry someone of noble blood and, for a commoner like her, it was a great achievement that would secure her life and offspring, according to our mother.

  Neither my sister nor I thought the same, but there wasn’t much we could do at the time.

  Leo was an only child, but he wanted siblings, whether younger or older ones.

  Following my mother’s order, I tried my best to win Lady Mariana’s heart.

  I attempted to befriend her, to look reliable and so on. Nothing was working.

  I could feel that it backfired, but Mary didn’t say anything. She didn’t care.

  She was yet to get over her loss.

  My best friend once told me that he had feelings for someone. The same one whom I was told to marry in the future, if possible.

  “I intend to marry her,” I told him after realising we shared similar goals.

  “I intend to make her happy and protect her smile. Either way, you will be my best friend,” he replied.

  He was having such feelings towards her after we saw her true smile. When Mary smiled, her beauty became unrivalled. Many boys fell for her, but no one admitted it.

  My “love” and Leo’s were worlds apart. While I was “ordered” to love her, he had genuine feelings towards the Lady.

  “Let’s make a promise. Let’s both of us do our utmost to win her heart over. If either of us succeeds, the other shouldn’t interfere,” I proposed.

  “I agree with you. As long as you can make her happy, I will be content. But if you make her cry… I’ll beat you up until you open your eyes!” he told me and stretched his hand for a handshake.

  I accepted without delay.

  He was easy-going and absent-minded when people were around, but he showed true worth when it was required.

  For the next few years, we did all we could to get her attention. Most of our actions were dumb and we got into a lot of trouble, but we eventually befriended her.

  Some even mocked us. We were addressed as “the dumb duo”. I was the “brain” and Leo the “muscles”.

  It was all possible to make moves on her as nothing endangered her life in the slightest. In fact, I felt more like a decoration than a necessity.

  The worst thing that happened to her was falling and hurting her leg during PE.

  No more progressions with Mary have happened since we became friends. She friend-zoned us and neither Leo nor I were courageous enough to confess our romantic feelings to her.

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  He was too embarrassed and feared what would happen with their relationship if she rejected him, while I was embarrassed by my lack of feelings towards her.

  I wanted her status, not her love.

  When we were old enough, she invited us and our families to accompany her to the well-known “exhibition”. In there, we saw girls with colourless lily tattoos on their backs.

  Mary had a dark expression almost the entire night.

  At one moment, she told us to go out to the garden. She said she’d come in a bit.

  We did as she told us. Soon, she came with one of the ‘Lilies’. We were speechless. What was she intending to do?

  She made us play childish games. I didn’t know her intentions, but neither Leo nor I objected to her wishes.

  I feared asking the reason why we did all that. I knew that her intentions were anything but pure. However, confronting her about it had no gain.

  The night ended and we never attended such an event again.

  At one point, I started doubting that Leo’s situation and mine were similar due to coincidence, but at that time, I couldn't do much about it.

  It all changed when we graduated.

  My mission was put on hold and as a reward for my service thus far, I was promoted to viscount. Leo also became one.

  This was when I realised something was truly off. There were too many “coincidences”.

  I talked with Leo, dug what I could and found the truth with my newly acquired position.

  The short version is that we have the same father and had the same mission – to protect her. The identity of our father was also discovered.

  Leo realised we were half-brothers. It was a shock for him, but he accepted it quickly. The way we interacted didn’t change one bit. We always were close. Maybe deep down, we always knew we were related.

  I had no desire to meet our father. He never looked for us and didn’t want to have anything to do with us. Leo wanted to meet him, but I discouraged him.

  I saw no reason to meet our father or his family, even for payback. His wife must know well enough that he was a regular adulterer.

  Instead, we prepared for the next time we would need to protect her from the shadows.

  I focused on studies and basic combat and firearms training. Leo did the same, but he opted to improve his physical abilities over his academics.

  A few years passed.

  We could rarely see her now.

  Many tried to marry her, but none succeeded.

  We occasionally meet with her.

  I even started to think that she was into girls, as she had a ‘Lily’ next to her day and night and was yet to pick a spouse. The same ‘Lily’ from that “exhibition”.

  As for my family, my mother was happy with her new status, but often lamented about it being less than desirable. She was already drunk from the high life.

  It became a routine for her to go to weekly noble gatherings and have sex with a different nobleman every time. She became a toy of her own will.

  My older sister became a mother and there was no news from my older brother.

  I once visited my sister. My niece just became a year old.

  My sister admitted that she initially wasn’t thrilled with the arranged marriage our mother forced her into, but she got used to it and was feeling content.

  I wanted to believe her, but I saw the bruises on her back. She tried to hide them well, but in a momentary error of hers, I saw them.

  I immediately asked her what the meaning of it was.

  She gave up and told me that her husband often beat her. Even during her pregnancy, there were a few times.

  I saw red in front of me and was ready to confront him. I was even prepared to challenge him to a duel, but my sister stopped me before I exited the room.

  She told me that if I did, it would get only worse. She didn’t want her children to be without a father. She begged me to let it go this time.

  I accepted her pleas, but told her that if it happened again the next time I visited her, I wouldn’t stop, no matter the consequences, and I would do everything in my power to protect her and my niece.

  I left, knowing I was too weak to defend her as of yet.

  Even with my status, there wasn’t much I could have done.

  Instead, I vowed to return when I had the power. If my sister’s situation hasn’t improved by then, I would have done everything in my power to protect her and my niece.

  For my preparation to protect the people I cared about, together with Leo, we became Mercenaries.

  Always together and with other random people, we began our gathering of experience and merits. We went all over the country, hunting and killing undead.

  It was a good start and we became more adept at fighting. However, we could barely get any merit there. Our deeds were noted, but meant little.

  With or without us, the problem would have been solved. We were just an extra hand.

  After the raids on nests, there was always a celebration. The participants enjoyed food and drinks. It was also a good way to have intercourse with women.

  Most young girls from low birth were more than happy to get laid, hoping to get the attention from one of us or sell their bodies for the right price.

  It was a practice neither I nor Leo liked. However, there were times when we were seduced.

  Once, we shared twins. Another time, we shared a woman.

  After the first time we accepted their offer, it became the highlight of the raids.

  Our fooling around ended when we got a letter from Mary.

  She needed our help for a mission abroad, one of extreme importance and danger.

  Leo was going to go simple for Mary’s sake. I, on the other hand, found the best way to get merit. The high life had intoxicated me already. I wanted more and more.

  We accepted her request and prepared for the mission.

  I promised myself that after our return, I would meet with my sister again. By then, I hope I will have become someone who can be her protector.

  We haven’t seen Mary in years by then. She became even more beautiful than I remembered.

  I had numerous lustful thoughts. That was when I realised I was no better than my parents, both of them – adulterers who knew no bounds.

  I decided to change my behaviour.

  During the time we spent together in the mission, I think I started to understand my feelings towards her better.

  When she flirted with that dangerous stranger, I felt bitter and jealous.

  I never liked Raven, but I decided to ignore my dislike of him as of late.

  He is reliable, but keeps things hidden from us. I’m waiting for the moment when he’ll show his true colours and backstab us.

  No, I waited for the moment he’d backstab us… I fear it wouldn’t be possible now.

  At present, we are in a tight spot. We are surrounded by Stalkers.

  We barely fought the Princess, escaped the Tank and now we have to fight this number of undead.

  Due to the intense firing, our weapons started to overheat and jam.

  Luckily, we saw a way out and we were about to make a run for it.

  I had the intention to run until I saw Leo. His eyes were filled with determination.

  I had an idea of what he was about to do and knowing him, it wasn't anything well thought out.

  The moment the Captain threw the flashbang, our run began.

  Although he didn’t inform us beforehand, I managed to close my eyes and shut my ears, reducing the dizziness I would feel later.

  I followed closely behind them, ignoring the enraged but disoriented Stalkers.

  The moment I heard gunshots behind me, I turned around to see Leo standing his ground.

  When we were supposed to run, Leo stayed behind, becoming a decoy.

  I thought he would do something brave and stupid. Yet, it was noble. It was such a pure deed to sacrifice himself to let us escape.

  It showed me what a true noble should be.

  “I love you, Mary!” he screamed a while ago with all he had and resolved himself to stay and to let her escape.

  I wavered in my running. Ultimately, I stayed with him.

  We were always together. Always won together. We will live through this together.

  I went next to Leo. He looked at me with wide eyes, but he didn’t speak a single word.

  The two of us faced what was left of the enemy.

  While we were shooting and awaiting our end, we talked. We knew it might be our last one.

  “Why did you stay?” Leo asked me.

  “How can I let my best friend and brother deal with all this? I think Mary couldn’t hear your confession well. Try saying again after we get out of here and we reunite with her.”

  “Is there a reason to do so now? Someone is already dear to her. Seems like neither one of us could win her over.”

  “How can you be so sure? Let’s survive and tell her how we feel. Let’s tell her our feelings we kept in us for so many years!”

  “Haha… Yes, let’s do that.”

  I was saying all this, but I couldn’t believe it. This was going to be our end.

  We fought, but the two of us weren’t enough. Even when we backed up inside the smaller tunnels, the numbers overwhelmed us.

  The sole reason why we could fight them for so long was due to the earlier flashbang. It had such a devastating impact on the Stalker’s abilities.

  However, the longer we fought, the more they recovered. We started to lose.

  Leo took the brunt, getting wounded numerous times and ultimately, his right arm stopped listening to him. His legs also couldn’t hold him and he stumbled on the ground, unable to get up, but still breathing.

  I wasn't spared either. I had claw marks all over my body. One of those beasts even sank its teeth into my right shoulder. I dropped my gun on the ground and shot it with my pistol, freeing myself just in time.

  I barely got it off me, but it had already dealt more than enough damage.

  The pain in my shoulder made me rethink using the same arm, but I didn’t always have the choice.

  Leo and I were on our last legs, but didn’t stop struggling.

  Our assault rifles broke, mine even catching on fire.

  Even a second longer… If we continue to hold them off for even a second longer, we will have helped her greatly…

  That was why Leo and I used everything we could, even the last bullet from our pistols.

  The Stalkers rushed past us out of the sudden, ignoring us. We tried to get their attention, but we were too weakened to do anything.

  It was all over.

  The ground was shaking.

  I went next to Leo, my gait unstable and blood marked my steps.

  Despite the pain, my heavy breathing and sluggish movements, I moved next to my brother.

  He used the wall to lean on, breathing hard and blood all over him. His arm was limp and unmoving. He could barely hold his pistol with the other hand.

  “Give me… a hand…” Leo said quietly.

  “What?”

  “Help me… get to Mary… I want… to hear her reply…”

  I helped him with all I could, ignoring the pain. I could at least try. After all, this was my best friend and brother’s last wish.

  Both of us were bleeding and didn’t have much time. The last thing we could have done was die chasing the person we tried reaching our entire life.

  Mary, you were always leading us and we were always ready to follow you.

  We started walking, supporting one another. Every step felt as if it were the last one, but we endured and continued onwards.

  A rock hit Leo. He became unconscious from the impact.

  I was also hit. I was on the ground, unable to get up. I had no power nor the will to try.

  I tried to aim my gun at the undead that attacked us, but my shaky hand couldn’t hold the firearm and I dropped it.

  The large Tank walked towards us, making me feel dread I had never before felt.

  I was getting cold. My eyes were closing. I couldn’t see well.

  A massive arm was coming closer to me, intending to end me like it did Leo.

  I hope we gave you enough time to escape, our love.

  Bye, Mary. I wish I had told you how I fell towards you when I had the chance.

  Bye, my dear sister and adorable niece. I wish I were a better brother and uncle to both of you. I hope you are well.

  “Stop!” someone spoke and the Tank halted its movements.

  My eyes were already shut. I was about to die.

  I barely felt the teeth of an undead biting my neck.

  Soon, I stopped feeling anything…