Val Traum. If you ever mentioned his name to a noble, or to someone who was acquainted with them... They all would undoubtedly say one thing.
"He is the embodiment of misfortune and tragedy."
However, it wasn't like that before. Born in the house of a duke, he was supposed to have a good life.
His father was hailed as the hero, and was really kind. Val had inherited his skills and appearance. Thanks to that, everyone acknowledged his worth, even though he was a beastman.
Born from a wol-type beastwoman and a human male, he had inherited the beastmen's strength as well as humans'.
His mother was really beautiful. Well proportioned face, and shiny silver hair, everyone was charmed by her beauty. If not for two triangular ears on her head and her tail, anyone would have mistaken her for a human beauty.
And born from that woman, Val was also quite handsome, well, at least before the tragedy struck him.
Eight years ago, his father, the hero had died in the final battle against the Great Demon Lord, and Val, along with his mother, was driven out of their house.
Then... Tragedy struck him again, and now he was here.
"Aurora, thanks for coming." Val smiled at the girl standing inside the room.
"You don't have to say it every time I come here," Aurora chuckled.
"Mhm."
Aurora kept humming and approached the bed Val was lying on. She ducked and pulled out a rusty bucket from under the bed.
Then with a small 'heave ho', she pulled it up. There was an old cloth inside the bucket.
Still humming, she went outside and returned moments later with a bucket full of water from the well.
The girl's arms trembled as she carried the heavy bucket in, swaying unevenly as her feet wobbled, threatening to collapse under the weight in any second.
Somehow, she reached her goal without falling, and put the bucket in front of the bed. Then she gently pulled up Val in a sitting position. She unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled down his pants.
Those who had lewd thoughts in their minds would had taken it in a different way, but honestly, it wasn't anything like that.
Aurora dipped the cloth in the water, and using that, she gently wiped Val's back, shoulders and chest. She then moved below, and below, and below until she wiped the tip of his toes.
And yes, she wiped 'that' too.
If it was a normal boy, then he would probably have an erection. However. HOWEVER.
Sadly, Val wasn't a normal boy.
Wait, no. Readers who are reading this epic saga, rest assured, he does not swing 'that' way. But still. He didn't have an erection. Even though Val's mind was... dreaming things, his body didn't react. Yes. He had lost all ways of reacting. He didn't even feel pain.
Six years ago, when he was first paralyzed, Aurora started taking care of him. At first, he was quite embarrassed. Of course he was. He was not an exhibitionist in any possible way. Then, slowly he understood.
Aurora herself was embarrassed to do such a thing, even now. But for his sake, she was casting aside her bashfulness.
After wiping him off, she brought out a shirt and a pair of pants from her bag, along with a lunch box. She put the shirt on him, and then helped him wear the pants.
After that, she opened the lunch box and revealed some chicken. Chicken was Val's favourite food from childhood. His face lit up seeing the food.
Aurora smiled at his reaction, and then fed him with kindness. For Val, the moments he spent with Aurora during the day was salvation.
It showed him that even someone like him could hope.
However... Life wouldn't let him.
The curtains opened again, and three boys barged in. They lived in the neighborhood.
"Well, well. Just as I thought. The slut is here." the leader among the boys grinned. Val glared at the boy, but he didn't care.
"Why are you three here? Go away." Aurora snapped, standing up.
"Ohoho? Is that how you act towards your lover?" the leader stepped forward, and put a hand on her cheeks.
"As I said, you are not my lover!" Aurora pushed him, and he fell on his butt. He immediately stood up, seething.
"You bitch!" he stepped forward, and the other two boys followed him.
Aurora stepped back, but the three boys took another step forward. Aurora retreated, and soon she found herself at the corner of the hut, her back against the wall.
"You two, grab her." the leader grinned as the two boys grabbed Aurora's hands, restraining her. She resisted violently, but was too weak compared to the boys.
The leader took out a knife from his pocket. He held it up.
Aurora thought that he would strike her, but the next moment, her dress around the chest area was torn apart, exposing her underwear.
"I thought it would be fun to 'do' you in front of this guy~" the boy chirped as he closed in.
Val yelled at them to stop, but he couldn't do anything.
The leader took another step, and put his hand on her neck. It slowly slid downwards.
"S-stop..." She muttered fearfully.
"Hmm? Come on, I can give you more pleasure than that good for nothing dog..."
Suddenly the room felt cold. It was as if the temperature had suddenly dropped to a minus degree. Val could feel it.
This pressure was coming from Aurora.
"What did you say...?" She muttered, her eyes hollow. She looked scary to even Val. The boys freaked out.
Then suddenly...
"What are you three doing?" Another voice suddenly spoke up, and the leader looked over her shoulders.
At the door, or the curtain, stood a charming young man. His blonde hair and blue eyes gave him a noble appearance, and his attire was quite high-class too. He was wearing a dress only nobles would wear.
"Valkyrie Skill: [Bind Soul]" the young man muttered, and suddenly chains made of glowing white mana shot out from the ground. They coiled themselves around the boy's body.
The smell of burning flesh filled the room.
"Gah!" The boy fell down, screaming in pain. The young man muttered something again, and the chains disappeared. But burning marks were on the boy's skin. They looked quite severe too.
"Get lost."
Hearing those words, he stood up and ran. The two boys who were restraining Aurora let her go, and rushed behind their leader.
"Good grief, are you alright?" The young man asked while lending Aurora his mantle. She covered herself with it, and nodded.
"Thanks, Charles," Val said with a sigh of relief.
"Haah... What are you making a prince do..." Charles replied in mock exasperation.
"A prince wouldn't visit a slum. You are a fake one then." Val grinned.
Charles chuckled in reply. This young man in front of him was actually a prince, no matter what Val said.
He was Charles VII Zuan, the crown prince of the kingdom. At the same time, he was also Val's childhood friend, and former sparring partner.