History

Erastus Radclyffe III was a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated child. After many fruitless attempts, the future heir finally decided his parents had waited long enough. From the moment that tiny baby opened his eyes, one thing became abundantly clear — nobody told Erastus what to do. He refused to nurse on schedule and never slept when he was supposed to. The typical tantrums of a child served him well during his infancy, ensuring he got whatever he desired. But once he was able to form complete sentences, his father took charge.

The Viscount, a strict and uncompromising man, wasted no time teaching Erastus the ways of a gentleman of high status. Fencing, shooting, meeting the tenants, and learning the names of the maids and butlers — every aspect of estate life was introduced to him as part of his training for the role he would one day assume. Needless to say, the young boy obeyed — but only when his father was watching. Erastus had a special talent for getting his way. Always. If an order was inescapable, he would follow it to the letter, but more often than not, he found loopholes, double meanings, and creative interpretations that allowed him to do as he pleased. This, of course, drove his father mad. His mother, on the other hand, found his antics endlessly amusing.

The departure for Eton was a relief to everyone. His father’s nerves were frayed, and Erastus saw the move as a grand opportunity. Unlike many of his peers, Erastus never sought to please anyone but himself. He never viewed an imposition or an uncomfortable situation as a punishment, but as a chance to turn things to his advantage. His high spirits and natural charisma earned him many companions, while his intellect and athleticism secured him a strong reputation. To outsiders, it seemed everything came to him effortlessly, but they were unaware of the many hours of study and hard work he poured into his pursuits. Mathematics, however, required no such struggle — he had a natural love and aptitude for it.

His time at Eton eventually came to an end, and a new chapter began at Cambridge. There, his true nature blossomed. His spirits soared higher than ever, and he pursued his studies with renewed passion after choosing Natural Sciences as his degree. He gained mentors among his professors — some helpful, others a thorn in his side. His reputation as a scholar grew, but gossipers painted him as a rake, not because of his own behavior but due to the company he kept. Still, Erastus was easily adored. His devil-may-care smile and roguish charm got him out of most predicaments, and he always seemed to know the right thing to say — or when to quietly slip away.

That is, until he met someone who taught him a hard truth: one cannot always have what one desires. But of that, he speaks to no one. Not a soul.

Returning to London, Erastus found himself facing a most peculiar situation. A cousin — apparently a sinner, if not worse — was to live with them under the guise of "learning the appropriate ways of a man." The arrangement also included detoxification, a task that was met with whispers of scandal. Erastus, true to form, smiled at his fortune and resolved to make the most of it.