It has been 20 years ever since I came of age that I have served the Wyleven family. First I was a young apprentice footman then a full footman to the family. After years of service only then did I get promoted, first to under-butler and finally full butler after my predecessor retired. With the previous lord’s retirement did the master I serve become family head and I was given the coveted position of head butler. The family has a history unique amongst the other noble families of the Oletan kingdom as I learned as part of my duties. The founder of the family was named Arcturus, he was a mercenary with his own corp. He made a name for himself fighting against the wild beasts and bandits of the early history of the kingdom. He built up his mercenary corp slowly until it became one of the best and largest mercenary corps with the country offering nobility titles to him in exchange for loyalty. But later when the kingdom splintered under the pressure of foreign barbarian tribes human, demihuman, beastman, and feral monsters he gave his support to than Prince Korlen the rightful heir to the throne. He was bestowed the title of chevalier and many of his men knighted for his support and led his corp in holding the border of the prince’s holds against the invading tribes. While this title seemed small in comparison to service the many warhorses and upkeep provided by the prince were what truly led the founder to choose the prince. Thanks to this the prince could rally his forces and regroup the loyal nobles forging an army strong enough to destroy the feuding rebel nobles. For his services the newly enthroned king promoted him to baron with his given territories being the overrun territories on the border he had fought on along with pledged upkeep of a herd of warhorses. For some this would be a proper award but with the constant battles there, the land was long put to the torch across the majority of the barony.

But the people trusted in their new lord thanks to the battles to protect them that allowed most to survive. Even more so was the respect of the tribes, those that had once been enemies are now comrades in arms. With the land at peace and the wealth that the company had gathered before the war along with their families the rebirth of the newly christened Wyleeven barony could begin. Ah I am proud as always to serve and now with the birth of the third son Marcus we can rest easy. Unlike other wasteful houses we employ all the sons and daughters of the family in meaningful positions after strict training and the land prospers for it. With the eldest being a overall administrator, the second the commander of the territorial guard, and the various daughters are in judicial and administrative posts. Marcus the third son will be fulfilling the houses royal duty of serving the royal family as guardian knight.

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This practice started several generations after the founding when the land with it’s roots once again in the events of more civil strife, the family had faithfully served as a martial house in charge of a section of the country’s border during these events when the reigning king died of suspected poison. With this occurrence the crown princess fled to the Wyleeven barony for safety and requested the family help her regain the throne. In opposition to this were a group of old family nobility who wished for a reigning council made up of their own members to rule. They who should have been proud nobles having served the kingdom since its reforging fell into corruption, instigated by our jealous neighbors who believed that a female heir was unfit. Unfortunately even those who did not join them would not support the royal heir apparent, our family pledged its full support once more for the royal family. Once again the rebel nobles were crushed and those who had shamelessly stayed out of the fight suppressed. To accomplish this the family led its grand army and called upon many tribal allies in exchange for better trade deals and recognition in the barony.For its loyal service after the battles were over the house was ascended to palatine archcounty, absorbing the nearby rebel lands along with grants near and in the royal capital which continues to be family land even to this day.

Ah I am just so proud once more to serve this house, its proud history that can put others to shame, this inspires me even more to ensure the house continues its majesty and power. Ah that reminds me that I should check on the new guard recruits, it has been years since I fought a battle but duty calls. Ensuring the stable running of household affairs is more important than running around under the lord as head footman, but still my hand wishes to hold a weapon. The last monster surge is past and the next is still years away. Guess I should personally oversee the new recruits, no slacking off for them now shall they, my new baton needs a bit of breaking in. Ahhh my tail sways in anticipation of the time to come when I can help raise the new child though I have to finish the last of the current children’s training. The years ahead will not be boring indeed.

A.N:Next Chapter 3 is split in 4, it contains the bulk of the info and background I want so if you don’t want to read wait till chapter 5 comes out. Three chapters are story and explanation, the fourth is just a cheat sheet of terms so can be ignored if you are not interested. Eventually I also plan to release character cheat sheets as well every group of chapters to make things easy for everyone.