Chapter 4: Life of a Baby in the Middle Ages

"Prince William, where are you?" 

"Come out prince, it's time for your first Nameday celebrations."

A couple of maids were searching for Lady Rhea's son. They encountered the head maid, whilst searching for him. The head maid asked them," Have you found Prince William yet?"

Seeing their heads shaking, she asked," Did you check his usual locations? The library, the training area, Princess Alyssa's room, or even lord Yorbert's study."

"I've checked everywhere my lady, but we can't find him."

"Lady Rhea will not be happy with your findings. Continue searching for him." The head maid ordered them. 

After they left, a toddler opened the lid of the large vase he hid inside. He carefully jumped out, without toppling the vase, and closed the lid.

"Phew, they didn't catch me. Then again, who would expect a toddler to hide inside a vase." said the baby to himself. He had a rather unusual appearance, with black hair on the base and a single clump of silver hair that refused to stay down, standing above everything else like a flagpole.

"Can't believe that I get Artoria Pendragon's abilities, but I still am stuck with her bed hair."

After being reincarnated, Baelon noticed the fantasy setting of the world he was reincarnated in, the biggest proof being the dragon egg belonging to his twin sister Alyssa. He also noticed that he had more resistance to the heat and cold. 

Another huge difference he found was that he could see a status window hovering over everyone. In this status window, he saw the person's name, age, five status properties, and nine aptitudes. The five status properties shown were Leadership, Bravery, Strategy, Politics, and Ambition. The nine aptitudes are namely infantry, cavalry, archery, magic, construction, weaponry, air combat, naval combat, and speech. While the five status properties were represented numerically, the aptitudes were based on letters, from F to S.

Baelon sadly found that he could not look at his own status, but the main reason why he was sure that he had Arotria's abilities was because in his mind, he could access a grand treasury containing many weapons, shield, and other things. The most recognizable being excalibur, the sword. Then again, being able to access them and use them properly were two separate things.

Baelon knew that the world of Game of Thrones was dangerous, but he didn't remember why, so he was cautious. When he could crawl, he spent time in the library. He also pointed at the maids until they told him stories outside the castle. He spent his time learning about other noble houses to the best of his abilities as well.

Baelon was interrupted from his thoughts by his instincts warning him urgently. He lept forward falling on the floor, just barely avoiding the arms of the man trying to scoop him up.

"How did you avoid that?" a pleased voice came from above. Baelon looked up at his new father, Daemon Targeryan. When he first saw Daemon, he thought that he was an older brother. It shocked him that Daemon was a father when he looked barely eighteen. Then again, medieval people married at younger ages.

"Hello father. Did you come to apologize for missing our second name day." said Baelon.

"Do you want an apology from me, or would you rather have a gift." said Daemon.

"I don't really care, but Alyssa felt sad since you didn't come last year." said Baelon.

"I have gifts for the both of you to make up for it. And why haven't you bathed yet? Alyssa is already ready. " said Daemon.

"I wanna go like this," said Baelon.

"No," Daemon called the head maid and gave him to her. Ignoring the struggling Baelon, he headed to his wife's room.

Outside Rhea's room stood a couple of guards. When Daemon came, they stepped aside and let him enter the room. Opening the door, he was greeted with the sight of Rhea adorning a yellow-colored dress and emerald studded earrings. 

"Did you find Baelom?" asked Rhea. 

"I gave him to your maids. They'll get him ready for the party." replied Daemon.

Rhea sighed," Why can't that boy be more calm. I feel my life draining whenever he's not in his room."

"He takes after me. I remember my mother saying that I was active when I was a child." said Daemon," Compared to other kids his age, Baelon is special."

"Special is underestimating his talent his talent." said Rhea," When he was born, my breast milk was not enough to satiate him. He may not have wings, but his stomach may even be larger than a dragons."

"It's surprising that a child could grow well in this hostile environment." 

"Vale is hostile to its invaders, and loving to its inhabitants," said Rhea.

"Forget it, let's go celebrate their third name-day then." Daemon told Rhea. Rhea got up from her chair and with Daemon, she went to the rooms where Alyssa and Baelon were being bathed.

…

"Baelon," Alyssa ran to hug her older brother. The maids tried to stop her, but the dragon running besides her roared, stopping them in their tracks. Almost two years ago, the egg brought back by Daemon had hatched, producing a beautiful silver-colored male dragon. Daemon wanted to name the dragon Rhaegar, but Baelon chose the name Vortigren, after the famed white dragon of Britan.

Initially, Vortigren was no bigger than a small puppy, but he grew fast. He was now as big as a pony and just as loyal to Alyssa. In fact, Vortigren followed Alyssa wherever she went. Before Vortigren hatched, the king had sent a dragon-keeper elder and a younger dragon trainer to take care of the dragon. They wanted to separate Alyssa and Vortigren so that he could be tamed, but seeing how close both of them were, they decided to let them stay together. 

"Lykiri Vortigren demas" (Obey Vortigren, sit) Alyssa commanded the dragon. Vortigren stopped his roar.

"Amazing, Princess Alyssa. You and your dragon have a bond unlike anything we have ever seen before." the elder dragon keeper noted.

He was also shocked by how easily Vortigren allowed Baelon to pet him. Once a dragon was bonded, they were hostile to everyone else. At least that was the case until now.

Baelon hugged his twin sister. She wore a purple dress, which complemented her silver hair and amethyst eyes. 

"Brother, where were you?" asked Alyssa.

"I was in the corridor where grandfather bought some new tapestries." said Baelon.

"Baelon, let's go to the party." Alyssa reached for Baelon's hand, but Baelon stepped aside. "I have to bathe Alyssa, give me some time."

"I'll wait for you here, brother." said Alyssa. 

Baelon let himself be taken to the bathing area by the maids, and sat limply as they scrubbed him clean. Afterwards, a red and black suit, similar to the one worn by his father was prepared. Baelon put the dress on with distaste, not really liking the color combination. 

The doors opened, showing Daemon, Rhea, and a pouting Alyssa. Daemon said," I see you've found my gift to you. How do you like it?"

"It looks nice father," replied Baelon. When Daemon was not looking he looked at his mother and made a gagging motion. His mother smiled at his reaction, and put a finger over his lips. 

"Father, where is Vortigren?" asked Baelon.

"Him? I told the Elder Dragon Keeper to take him away." said Daemon.

"That explains why Alyssa is pouting." said Baelon.

"I'll be fine. Alyssa likes me the most, don't you my dear daughter." Daemon picked up Alyssa by her arms to which Alyssa squealed with delight. 

Rhea looked at this with annoyance. Normally, she thought that sons took after fathers and daughters took after their mothers, but it was the opposite in this case. Alyssa had silver hair and amethyst eyes like her father. At least Baelon was a mother's boy, listening to her every word. 

"Come then, lets go to the party hall." Rhea led them to where the celebrations were happening. On the way, she explained," Alyssa, Baelon, remember that your grandfathers ministers, knights, and the vassals of Runestone are attending. This will be different from your second name-day party. You must be on your best behavior."

"Yes mother," replied Baelon.

"I already know that mother. Baelon will tell me what to do anyway." said Alyssa.

"I will always look out for her, mother." promised Baelon.

For some reason, Daemon smirked, but Rhea lost her smile. Baelon wondered why, but he was soon interested in the sight before him. In the grand hall of the castle, many ministers and vassals were gathered. Jesters, musicians, and bards sang in joy and the ladies formed circles, talking to each other. The armored guards kept a close look at the proceedings, doing their best to stand proud and be noticed. He saw his grandfather Yorbert talking to his ministers in joy. Geold and his wife were mingling with the other nobles. 

A quick look at the status windows showed that most people had small ambitions, about 10-25. Some ministers and nobles had greater ambitions of 30-40. His uncle Geold had high ambitions, with 61. He was talking to other knights, with high ambitions and abilities.

Ambition was a measure of how easy it would be to get someone to betray him. It was not a good sight. At that moment, he knew that life was not going to be easy. He needed to speed up, and learn how to use the available noble phantasms quickly, or else, the castle he was meant to inherit would become his prison for sure.