On the third floor of Viscount Maverik's mansion stood two towering figures, their height reaching an impressive 2.2 meters.
The mere sight of them was enough to make even the bravest of souls quiver in their boots. These were no ordinary men; they were often mistaken for members of the giant clan.
Nuu, one of the identical brothers, was growing impatient with their current situation. As he gazed out the window, his eyes wandered past the scantily clad maids in the orchid garden and settled on the Basto-Gate, a 4-meter golden gate that was supported by two pillars bearing the Coat of Arms of Viscount Maverik.
"Oga, say something? Why are you standing there like a dumbass?" Nuu's frustration was palpable. He was not one to waste time, especially when it came to earning Ducats.
Protecting the Viscount's lover was not what Nuu had envisioned when they first took the job 14 years ago. "If I knew we not only had to protect this wench but become voyeurs, continuing as a mountain bandit doesn't sound so bad," he grumbled.
To make matters worse, Nylah had made no arrangements for the Viscount's arrival, causing Nuu to curse her under his breath. "This dumb bitch, screwing with my Ducats," he muttered.
But Oga, ever the patient brother, reminded Nuu of their goal. "Be patient! We have six months left, and the contract ends. With the wealth we accumulated over the years, we can build our paradise on that land."
As they waited for the Viscount's arrival, Nuu's mind wandered to their past struggles. "Quit, have you forgotten when all we had was moldy bread and piss to drink? That old geezer expected us to survive in such a harsh environment."
But Oga remained steadfast in their duty. "Shush! and be still, keep looking out the window, and don't let the little bastard come up here and disturb Nylah's 'meal.' We need the Ducats," he chided his brother.
As they stood guard, the rumor of Nylah's promotion to Consort lingered in the air. But for Nuu and Oga, their ultimate goal was to break free from their current situation and build their own paradise.
They were often mistaken for giants, but these twin brothers were not content with living in the shadow of Viscount Maverik.
At the age of 12, their Baba passed away, leaving behind the deed to a thousand acres of land and a Meditation Technique. Baba spoke little of their mother, who had died during childbirth, so growing up without a mother became their norm.
The last thing the old geezer ever told them was, 'Life sucks, but at least I'll get to see my Tulu. Also, keep Nuu out of trouble, Oga.'
Without any living relatives, they joined a ragtag group and became bandits for a period. Oga and Nuu couldn't manage the land, as there was no income and the constant roaming of the Ferocious Beasts made it impossible to live there. So, they took to fighting and stealing for three years, the typical life of a bandit.
But now, with hard work and determination, they knew they could carve out their own destiny. The goal was simple: break free from the shackles of their current situation and build their own paradise. And with six months left on their contract, they were more determined than ever to make it happen.
As they grew weary of their wild ways, they ventured to the glorious Bervin City, nestled in the Khan Dynasty.
The head honcho of this magnificent city was none other than Viscount Maverik, a loyal subject of the Khan Dynasty.
Maverik's paramour, a woman of great charisma and intelligence, managed the city while keeping a watchful eye on the gambling den, winery, slave trade, and other businesses within the city walls.
Now, hold your horses, dear reader, for you did not mishear me. Maverik's lover was the one running the show.
As one climbs the social ladder, the weight of responsibilities bestowed upon them by the Imperial Court grows heavier, from protecting borders to subjugating tribes or managing key cities. As the noble saying goes, "the higher a nobleman climbs, the tighter the shackles become."
Maverik couldn't handle the management of two cities on his own, so he needed a trusted aide. The usual custom was to hand this position to the child of a Concubine upon reaching adulthood, but Nylah was the exception to the rule.
Maverik's daughter Myra was too inexperienced and immature to handle the job, and his trusted aide was already half-dead with a chronic back problem and poor vision, to boot.
Even his Madam couldn't handle the job, and his Concubines were too busy producing heirs. So, reluctantly, he caved into his lover's demand - 10% of the annual revenue of Bervin City.
To break it down, 30% belonged to Maverik, 60% went to the Imperial coffer, and the last 10% went to his beloved. This was the "normal distribution" of wealth between Vassals and Monarchs. And believe me, you wouldn't want to know what happens when a vassal fails to deliver.
You see, Planet Yargo follows the feudalism system and leans towards polygamy as a sign of status. Even the lowliest peasant has two women tending to his every need.
So how could a man of noble lineage settle for just one lady? The mere thought of it would drive him insane, and his virility would be questioned by all.
But don't let the polygamy fool you - there's a strict hierarchy within the household, determining who inherits the fortune in case of the House Master's death.
The Madam takes 60%, the Consorts take 30%, the Concubines get a meager remnant, and the lover gets the scraps.
Nylah had quite the sweet deal as one of the few lovers to get such a good deal. But the ultimate dream for all lovers was to rise up to the rank of a Concubine or even a Consort.
The latter, in particular, was the most coveted role - all the benefits and none of the responsibilities the Lady of the House had to adhere to.
There were a few ways to climb the ranks within the harem, such as pleasing the Madam with flattery and a chest full of ducats. But if you were feeling particularly daring, you could always try murder or spreading malicious rumors about your rivals.
The virtuous image of a Madam could easily be tarnished by slander, reducing her value to that of a Consort. And for those who were really determined, there was always the Way of the Bone Flute - a direct threat to the Consorts. But I'll leave that one to your imagination.
In a world where beauty is power, being a skilled female can be a double-edged sword. Once a lady shows off her talent, her virtue is immediately put into question. It's almost like people can't believe that a woman can be both smart and chaste.
But let's talk about the real issue at hand: the harem. If a lady wants to make it in the harem game, she better hope that her future husband doesn't care about his image.
Otherwise, her path ends there. But if she does manage to become a Consort, her life is set. Sure, she may never become the Lady of the House, but her status is still pretty high up there.
The downside? No formal banquets for you, my dear. Why? Because as a Consort, you're known for your sensual figure. And we can't have you upstaging the Madam, can we? That's just asking for trouble.
So instead, a lover follows the Madam around like a servant. But don't worry, they too get a few glances thrown their way. Just not as many as the Consort.
Speaking of the Consort, it's hard to ignore her presence. Especially for those young masters with raging hormones. And let's face it, those hormones can cause some serious problems. A Consort can't exactly hide her assets in any article of clothing, so she's basically asking for trouble.
And the trouble is exactly what happened 2,000 years ago in the Khan Dynasty. A beautiful Consort became the target of unrequited love and was violated by a group of young masters.
The man who should have protected her could only watch with bated breath, too scared to show his anger. Can you blame him? Going against an established Count Household is no small feat.
To prevent such incidents from happening again, a tacit agreement was made: keep your Consort at home unless you want to join the Order of the Green Hats. But not everyone knows this, and the list of victims continues to grow.
But here's the kicker: being a Consort is worth the risk. Why? Because your child has the right to compete with the Madam's offspring for Master of the House. That's a pretty big deal.
But it only applies if the previous Lord was a high-ranking nobility. If you're of lower prestige, your children have to make a contribution to the Imperial Coffer to redeem the family Coat of Arms and prove themselves within a five-year period.
Failure to do so could lead to revocation of your nobility status, imprisonment, or even the gallows.
So, it's a pretty cutthroat world out there. But hey, at least you can purchase the services of an Acolyte or a Knight to protect yourself.
And let's face it, with all that jealousy and murder going around, it's probably a good idea. Just make sure you have enough Aether to pay for their services.
Oh, and don't even think about using Ducats. Those prestigious Academies will look down on you and call it mortal currency.
But if you do happen to have some Ducats lying around, you can always go to The Golden Gate to convert them to Aether. And if you need some potions, The Garden of Potions is the place to go.
In fact, that's where Nylah first met Oga and Nuu. She was passing by in her carriage when she saw the twins coming out of the shop. And now, 14 years later, they work for her as personal bodyguards.
They even make more money than the Elite guards. But when those guards found out, they didn't take it too kindly. Let's just say, they learned their lesson the
The moment Oga stepped into the grandiose foyer, he knew he was in for a wild ride. The ceilings were high enough to accommodate a small army of giraffes, and the plush carpet beneath his feet made him feel like he was walking on clouds.
But the real kicker? The remodeling that had taken place to accommodate the new hire, and their...ahem...stature.
Yes, they had raised the ceiling by a meter. Oga had to resist the urge to crane his neck and stare up at the new and improved height. He had to admit, though, that it was a pretty bold move. And it seemed to have done the trick because the new hire had signed a 15-year contract without a single complaint.
Of course, there had been talks between the two parties. Oga didn't want to be tied down to Lord Maverik's lover and bastard child, after all. But they had managed to come up with a deal that satisfied everyone.
The terms were...interesting, to say the least. Within the 15-year period of their service, they were expected to be close by for 12 hours. This clause could be modified depending on the situation.
In the case of an emergency, they were permitted to use deadly force while securing Lady Nylah and the young master's wellbeing. And their vacation was only 2 days out of the 365 days.
But hey, at least they got paid. Their annual salary was fixed, but extra services were rewarded handsomely depending on performance. And running errands was mandatory, as long as it was within the City of Bervin.
Anything beyond that would be considered overtime, with an extra charge of 5,000 ducats. And if the journey took more than 3 days, the amount would increase by 100 ducats for each day.
Oga sighed as he flicked the ducat between his fingers, guarding the mahogany double doors. "Look on the bright side, Nuu. With this extra ducat, we can feast on the 'Desolate Beast.' Don't you want to live longer?"
Nuu just shook his head. "We have too many things that need to be completed. Farmers, building materials, slaves to maintain land, artisans, aqueducts, eliminating those roaming Ferocious Beasts..."
Oga cut him off. "That's enough, Nuu. We're Nephilim, not human. It's eating you inside, isn't it?"
Nuu didn't say anything, but his face turned red as a monkey's ass. Oga just laughed, his voice echoing through the hallway. "You wish it was you in there ravaging such busty beauty. Ga Ga Ga!"
Nuu was speechless, his index finger rising and falling in frustration. Oga just grinned. "Hehe, little brat! This is my second chance at life. How can I not see through those lecherous gazes?"
As they stood there, guarding the doors, Oga couldn't help but think about their contract. These types of agreements were known as Servitude Bonds, and breaking them was severely punished by Ona the Vengeful, an ancient being that traversed planes in order to uphold justice.
If either of them reneged on the contract, a portion of their lifespan would be deducted by Ona.