The door to the nursery opened to allow a tall figure to slip in and closed silently. Careful not to make a sound, the figure made its way to the cradle in the center of the room, just beyond the reach of the moonlight streaming in from the windows.
Rajak looks down on his baby brother, curled up in his nest of pillows and sleeping peacefully. Despite knowing him for only a few months, he can't imagine life without the little one anymore. His father had entrusted him with Rael and he would do his best to make his father proud. He treated the task like he would with any other mission and, slowly, became attached. He had overheard conversations concerning whether or not he would become jealous of his little brother and, to him, the notion seemed silly.
Rael was small and cute, with pink cheeks, soft hair, and wide eyes that are steadily gaining in focus. Rajak can already define traits that prove he was a Kertia, in his precise movements when grabbing for a toy or someone's hair and quiet ways. He wasn't sure if he had ever been a crier when younger (and was too embarrassed by the irrelevance of the question to ask) but his brother was not. Rael rarely cried but, when he did, it wouldn't let up until the issue is solved.
Rumors had it that his father was planning on bringing Rael up the same way he was, as an heir. He couldn't find any fault in that; after all, Rael is a pureblood noble and it is his right to become a family leader. He knew that there may be conflict between him and Rael over the position but quickly pushed it out of his mind. It was an issue set aside for the far future and, as of right now, is perfectly willing to give Rael the soul weapon and title.
It frightens him a little, how he grew so attached in only a few, short months, nothing more than a blink compared to a noble's lifespan. He's willing to do anything to keep his little brother smiling and wonders if this is what Karius meant by the protective instincts of an older brother instead of those of a family leader caring for his clanmates.
There was no one watching over Rael while he sleeps in the nursery. Of course, their parents were sleeping in the neighboring room and his was also across the hall but it still makes him feel better looking after his brother himself. It was relaxing doing something as mundane as watching a sleeping baby but nobles celebrate arrival of new family members with far more gratefulness than humans do for new life. For all their supposed immortality, few nobles have more than one child and Rajak believes that Rael is a blessing to him.
He leant down to kiss the sleeping baby on his forehead. "I will always watch over you."