Isekai dump

I'm a noble now!; Cillian. Ch 1.

It's at the end of a long hall that I'm staring at the late Queen's portrait. The Dukedoms household shouldn't have one nor any other Noble households, the exception being the King's.

But it is Mother's wish for it to be here and the king adores his little sister. My eyebrows are slightly furrowed as I observe the details of the late queen's portrait, she looks nothing like Mother. The woman in the portrait postures seriously but even the portrait can capture the youth and mischievousness in the women's eyes. She does not wear the typical garments of noble women or queens. It is embellished and mixed with pieces of armor. Her hair is long and straight over her shoulder, an opaque icy blue and her eyes are the same shade.

The portrait has been sitting here long since I have been born yet it still is taken care of gently every day. This whole hallway is decorated with well-placed paintings. Sometimes I come here and stare at her, I'm captivated by her. I doubt that I would be able to hold myself in her presence though, I've been told the late Queen participated in the early war. It's ironic that I don't base my brother's hair on genetics and instead base it on some meta-knowledge. I huff humorlessly, this second life is artificially lonely. The culture is stigmatizing for me having to constantly keep up appearances and niceties. Whenever I look at her, I'm reminded of the constant looming possibility of war and the disease and famine that comes with it. I'm sure others can relate solely based on the fact that they were a part of her generation but that is few and far.

Father has declared the baby's name but not to the outside world; after the king's birthday, I assume he will though. Alister Verchile, how typical. There doesn't seem to be any health problems with Alister but we'll see. I slowly turn away from one of the many reminders for survival and walk away, my steps are quiet and padded by the carpeted floor. As I'm leaving, I see something that I didn't notice before, an empty portrait frame, my heart beats a little before calming down. It looks like we'll be doing a new family portrait soon. I don't notice the special sheen the sword gains in the late Queen portrait as the hallway becomes vacant once more.

I haven't seen Mother in weeks nor my older brother but the latter part has been normal for years as he's taken an apprenticeship under Father as heir. So, it comes to me as a surprise when I get summoned to the nursery and Mother is nowhere to be seen or anyone of authority above me. There is just Alister who I pointedly ignore for the Mahagony crib. The family crest is embedded in both ends of the crib with birds centered around it and his name is artfully carved in.

"Cillian, I see you have arrived before me," The familiar voice startles me a little from my observations. I turn around before the conversation can go any farther, my face becoming a little sheepish in the presence of my older brother.

"Big brother Adonis, I thought Mother is the one who summoned me," I prompt.

"What, you don't want to see me? It's been," he makes a show of thinking before finishing the sentence "three months."

"Um... no," I murmur not as quite sure of myself anymore. Has it really been three months? Since the baby was born? What the hell has Mother been up to then?

"Anyway," he claps completely ignoring what just happened.

"I had some free time but Mother had asked me to relay some things to you and considering the message, I thought why not do it here since I too wanted to see the baby,"

I get a foreboding feeling.

"Mother said that you will be watching the baby from now on, you'll get a list and more information for when from Alister's nursemaid," Adonis says all this finishing it with a tilt of his head.

He completely ignores me and my slight quick inhale through my nose before gracefully walking to the side of the crib and staring at the baby. I don't know how to react to this information so I just stand by Adonis and watch both of them.

"Uncle is going to be so surprised," Adonis says while caressing Alister's cheek, I hum in agreement. I don't overthink the possible double meanings Adonis talks in.

"The King's birthday is in April, so it will be long-awaited," I say the obvious.

"How long will you be here before you will have to go back to your duties?" I look at Adonis he's still staring at the baby, his side profile reminds me of how young he is even with the significant age gap between his other siblings.

"Seven days," he says softly,like it needs to be said so gently.

He hardly gets to spend time with his family. I grab onto the railings of the crib feeling the details pressed into my palms and stare at Alister too.

"When I come back you will tell me of Alister's progression, right?" he moves his head to stare at me, taking his hands away from Alister. I turn to stare at him too.

"Of course," I nod, I can't outright deny him. He smiles at me but not one of the ones he wears for etiquette. His golden hair in a ponytail shifts as he stands straighter.

"Thank you Cillian, I'll be looking forward to it, I best be going," he thanks me like I'd done something meaningful.

"Of course brother, See you in the future," even if we live in the same house, prior experience tells me it will be a while longer before I see him again. As soon as he leaves I hear a knock on the door.

"You may enter," my voice travels through the room. This baby is a heavy sleeper.

Who I assume is Alister's nursemaid enters and bows, the proper etiquette that is expected of her. In her hand is a clipboard.

"Young Master Cillian, I've gathered a schedule per Duchess Verchile's request," she promptly says. She looks young and homely, her black hair is tied back neatly and her complexion is fair. She passes the clipboard to me with both hands and doesn't make direct eye contact with me throughout the whole interaction. I don't dismiss her as I'm the one that wants to leave. I was wondering where all the servants were but it would do no good for anyone if the room was crowded while Alister was sleeping. Most of the servants here come from lower nobility houses, it's really confusing for me to tell any of their ages since they all look so youthful. Don't even get me started on the age of marriageability.

"Your name?" I prompt.

"It's Amelia, Young Master Cillian," she makes a slight gesture with her chin, deferentially.

I want to sigh, I don't want to have to trust teens with a baby. I walk out of the room, passing the newly-appointed nursemaid, Amelia. Of course, I doubt I would do any better, I'm eight, what is Mother thinking?