Posted: 2025 10 27

AU: There are 9 chapters in total from Bradley’s point of view. Please enjoy~~

– – 

Bradley had been born in a brothel. 

His mother was a prostitute, and his father was unknown.

The cheap brothels in the slums had scummy clientele, so his father must have been another worthless man amongst them.

Bradley thought this because of his headstrong personality. His mother was a weak woman, so he probably inherited this trait from his father.

His weak mother still loved him, even though she didn’t know who his father was. These traits only made her more of a fool.

Bradley had matured young, realizing that if he didn’t become strong, he wouldn’t be able to protect his mother or himself.

Even now at eleven, he had the same mindset. 

The brothel children would sleep in crammed dingy dens. While young, they worked as silent servants. Once they grew up and lost all their baby fat, they were forced to take on customers. If a woman became pregnant with a child, the cycle would just continue.

My teacher at the academy said “it’s a perpetual motion machine.” Hearing this made me realize the situation my mother was in.

There were no old women here.

After a certain time, they would die from illness, miscarriages, or other childbirth complications. Even if children were born, they could not replace everyone.

But it kept the purchases of other women at a minimum.

Male prostitutes didn’t have it any better.

They were purposely starved to be small and delicate in order to be more attractive to men.

At the end of the day, they were still men once they grew up. Unless they were extremely beautiful, they were sold as labour slaves once they could no longer sell their bodies.

Bradley refused to become a male prostitute. 

It was disgusting to moan while being fucked by a dirty old man. 

As early as five, he told the brothel owner that he would rather do anything else.

That had earned him a beating, but growing up in the brothel may have given him some leeway and his wishes were accepted.

In order to build up his strength, he was given more food than the other children. He was allowed to study at the academy and was taught swordsmanship from a skilled teacher. However, it was difficult to build up poison tolerance. He was forced to take in weak poison on a regular basis.

This was all to train Bradley as a weapon for hire. The brothel owner had such crooked thoughts– that if Bradley was strong he could earn more than a prostitute. 

Many picked fights with Bradley, complaining about favouritism. 

But he would hit back every time. He got good at dodging punches and learning people’s fighting habits. 

His mother would talk in her sleep about how “fighting was wrong.” Sometimes customers would get violent, but they were conditioned by the treatment.

It frustrated Bradley. If you don't punch back, they’ll keep punching you. You couldn’t survive unless you do.

–

The brothel owner made a rare visit to their cramped living quarters. Grimacing at the smell, he called Bradley out. 

"Bradley, go take a bath and clean yourself up. We're heading to Count Wolf's mansion."

"Huh? Count? I told you I won’t work as a male prostitute."

"Not as a male prostitute. For now, just get changed."

He was given clothes that were fancier than he could have dreamed of. Suspicious, Bradley cleaned up and changed into the new outfit.

There was an old carriage outside, Bradley and the brothel owner both got inside. It was Bradley’s first time riding a carriage. 

As the car rolled over the uneven ground, the brothel owner explained a little about what was going on.

The illegitimate child of Count Albert Wolf– that was Bradley.

His mother had been the daughter of a lower-ranking noble family and a servant at the mansion of Count Wolf. His mother was seduced by the Count and became pregnant, then fell victim to the jealousy of the Countess and was reduced to becoming a prostitute in the slums.

The wife had passed away six months ago, leaving behind no heirs.

The brothel owner had known his origin, and planned to sell Bradley back to the Wolf family.

Apparently, Bradley’s mother was forced to take customers just to earn her keep and Bradley was given better treatment than the other children.

His mother was the only one who could prove his Wolf blood, and that was infinitely more valuable than treating them like normal prostitutes.

Now, the brothel owner handed him over to the Count, his “father”.

Count Wolf was seated on a couch in the guest room, surrounded by many servants. Bradley could feel the cold glares as he walked in.

He certainly resembled his father. But he wasn’t welcomed by the servants. Just because he was the only Count’s child, he was taken in like a stray dog.

Their resemblance was striking. The servants could tell in a glance that they were related by blood, with no room for contest.

The brothel owner must still be counting his coins right now, Bradley would have been sold for a high price.

Bradley stood in front of the Count, stopped a little ways away.

“From today onwards, I will be your father.” The Count’s voice was commanding.

A normal child would have been easily intimidated, but Bradley didn’t shy away. The only person he acknowledged as his family was not here, and the Count definitely knew about it.

“What about my mother? Is she to be left at the brothel?”

“She has been bought and can live her life as a commoner.”

“Isn’t she going to live here with me?”

The Count only laughed sarcastically at his question.

“Why should a loose pig from the pigpen be brought to my mansion?”

“...”

Bradley was speechless. The servants openly chuckled at the insult to his mother.

He almost hit the Count in his anger, but was worried it would impact his mother. The man in front of him had her life in his hands.

“Then tell me where my mother is.”

“What good will that do? There is nothing a child like you can do.”

“...”

He was right. After all, Bradley was only eleven. He had no power even though he gained new status as the only son of a Count. Bradley gritted his teeth in frustration.

“...Here’s what I will do. I’ll tell you since you’re such a filial son.”

Bradley’s head perked up at the Count’s words.

“--On one condition.”

“Condition?”

“As a noble, you will be enrolled in the Edelbard Royal Academy when you turn fourteen. Graduate from the knight department with the highest honours.” 

Highest honours meant the best student, his current academy had a similar system. 

Edelbard Royal Academy was a boarding school only for children of nobles. Teachers at his academy said it was the best teaching job you could get.

If you want to know where your mother is, graduate as the best.

But Bradley had just lived in the slums yesterday.

“Count…”

“You were bought because I heard you were at least clean. Starting tomorrow, you will get a tutor to teach you etiquette and how to be a proper human being.

With that, the Count stood up and walked out, Bradley glaring daggers at his back.

What a nasty man. I guess I inherited my ugly traits from this guy.

Bradley was worried about his mother. She was a naive woman who could maintain a pure heart even working at a brothel, compared to a pigsty.

How many years would it take to graduate from Edelbard Royal Academy? Would she even be able to survive alone in the commoner district area until? Bradley was anxious not knowing where she was. 

He clenched his fists in determination.

– – – 

TN: It’s hard to translate but the Count does not really refer to Bradley as on his level. He uses ‘O-mae wa’ which I would translate as ‘you lowly thing’. 

[Insert Omae wa mo– shindeiru]