HB Chapter 1.1 – The Servant, Eti

As a child, Eti grew up as an orphan in a slum with nothing. He was born with a body that was slightly different from others. Because of that, the orphanage director nearly sold him into slavery when he was just fifteen.

Fortunately, a noble happened to be on an inspection at the time and Eti managed to escape. But the men from the trafficking ring chased after him. While fleeing, Eti jumped in front of a noble’s carriage to plead for help. 

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Desperate, he begged to be saved, promising he would do anything in return. The nobleman took him in. That nobleman was none other than Gawain Hon Redhill, the Duke of Redhill.

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After that, Eti became a servant in the duke’s household. He handled all sorts of difficult and menial tasks. He wasn’t particularly clever, but his dedication and hard work quickly earned the trust of the duke’s staff.

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Now, ten years had passed. He was better at his job than most servants. But one thought constantly weighed on his mind. He still hadn’t repaid the favor.

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He had vowed to devote himself to the duke who saved his life. He swore he would repay that kindness. But after more than a decade, he felt he hadn’t even come close.

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Of course, neither the Duke nor the other servants saw it that way. But Eti couldn’t let go of the thought. Then, as if the gods had answered his unspoken wish, he was given a task that only he could accomplish.

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＊ ＊ ＊

“Goodness, another failure? I just saw a carriage rush out through the back gate.”

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As Eti carried the freshly cleaned tableware to prepare for the evening banquet, he caught the voices of the steward and the head maid from a corner of the hallway.

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“What’s there to say? The lord’s mood is in complete turmoil because of this.”

“What can we do? The young master isn’t a child anymore.”

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Normally, Eti would have simply carried on with his work, but for some reason, their conversation lingered in his mind. Unlike his usual self, he held his breath and quietly listened in.

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“It couldn’t be helped. Ever since the Duchess tragically passed away giving birth to the young master, young ladies have been visiting the estate almost every day.”

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“That’s right. They went to great lengths, insisting they would become the young master’s stepmother. It didn’t stop until he turned five.”

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It was only natural that the duke’s only son grew to resent women over time. If the young duke married, his wife wouldn’t just gain wealth and status—she’d also elevate her family’s standing under the prestigious duchy’s name.

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On top of that, Gawain, the Duke of Redhill, was tall and well-built, making it hard to believe he was in his forties. Even now, he still receives marriage proposals from time to time, but back then, they were far more relentless.

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“But the young master can’t keep putting it off forever. Besides, his coming-of-age ceremony is just around the corner.”

“You’re right. There are less than three months until the ceremony.”

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The steward and head maid let out a long sigh in unison. Unlike commoners, noble society turned even the smallest matters into gossip. The more prestigious the family, the more ruthless the scheming—like hyenas lurking for an opening.

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To people like that, the Redhill ducal house was the ultimate prize—a fat goose laying golden eggs. Everyone was desperate to cut it open and take the golden egg for themselves. And now, they saw this as the perfect chance to bring down the Redhill ducal house and tarnish its name. 

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After sighing repeatedly, the head maid spoke quietly.

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“If the young master comes of age without ever being intimate with anyone, noble circles will be buzzing with rumors about whether he has physical issues.”

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The steward added a few words.

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“We brought in a discreet courtesan, but she was turned away so coldly before even stepping into the bedroom that rumors are bound to spread.”

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“This is a serious problem. Is there a quiet, virtuous woman who could help with the young master’s education?”

“Maybe we should reconsider whether it has to be a woman.”

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“…A male prostitute? Still… that’s a bit—.”

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Nobles were highly sensitive to even the slightest rumors, and in a society where courtesans were merely tolerated, male prostitutes were looked down upon even more. 

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Of course, rumors circulated that both young ladies and young masters occasionally sought male courtesans, but it was the responsibility of noble families to ensure such matters never became public.

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“Well, that’s a problem.”

“It is. What if we disguise the male courtesan to resemble the Young Master and sneak him into the bedroom?”

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To ensure the Young Master felt as little discomfort as possible about being with a woman.

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While the steward and head maid fretted over the unresolved issue, Eti quietly stepped away. He then called out to a servant who was busy at the far end of the hallway.

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“Yor!”

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“Yeah? What’s up?”

“I have something urgent to take care of. Can you move this for me?”

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“Huh? Wait—what? Hey, hey! Eti!”

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When Eti disappeared without looking back, Yor muttered with a troubled expression.

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“…I don’t even know where the dining room is. I’m in charge of the outside!” 

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