Jimmy arrived late to the ‘meeting of the siblings’ as his siblings had taken to calling it. Of course not fashionably late as Jezebela was no doubt, or late to be considered early as his Military regimental sibling. No just late, not that he expected any of his siblings to be there when he arrived. Regi, who would normally be early, and Jacob, who would be on time as exacting as clockwork were both going to be late due to business. Jezebela was just going to be late, but she would provide an appropriate excuse. So Jimmy was going to be arriving first despite himself.

Jimmy arrived at the mansion they were going to be hosting the small gathering at. It was a small place but it was just this type of thing that would be comfortable. This was in spite of it going to be a very uncomfortable gathering. Noble families weren’t known for their comforting coziness.

Jimmy arrived to find Regi already there. In spite of himself stating that he wasn’t going to make it on time. Jimmy noticed that Regi looked travel worn, as well as his attendants. There was some hired help around the mansion they were renting since they didn’t really care what was spoken about to the little people like [Baron]s.

Jimmy figured that Regi, like normal, shot for a time that was considerably early and ended up only mostly on time. This meant that Jimmy at least did not have to be alone sitting at a table drinking. He was a somber drunk when he was drinking alone. None of the [Noble] edicate he was supposed to have. But that was what it was like for the ‘make up’ child. Jimmy was his parents last attempt at ‘making up’ to one another. A symbolic peace treaty. It didn’t go well. And now the rest of the family except his jealous paternal half-siblings treated him like a pity case. In a way Jimmy almost wished the rest of the family treated him like that. Not really though.

“Hello Regi.” Jimmy said as he flopped into his chair. Regi was currently reading a scroll on military tactics. Nothing to worrisome if it got out but it would still be a pain to explain. Luckily none of the hired help were [Citizens] and thus couldn’t read. And who said bigamy was always a bad thing? Of course, there was the issue with the entire scroll being stolen. But the only consequence would be a large number of lesser [Nobility] having suddenly takin an interest in that particular scroll and wished to discuss the finer points of it. Likely the exact reason Regi was reading it. He was not new to the act of subterfuge. He probably thought it was a hilarious waste of time and resources for the scroll to exist. So he would then get a good laugh at the idiots that took a sudden enlightened interest in it.

Regi was cool like that. Plus, the ones to punish the servant that had taken the scroll wouldn’t even be Regi. This would even foster false loyalty to Regi himself, as opposed to their actual master. Regi was also smart like that. Jimmy was not so good at the finer points of nobility.

“Ahh, back so soon? I thought you quite enjoyed the commoner life?” Said Regi.

“I don’t think I can go back now, he knows who I am. And you know what that means.” Said Jimmy.

“Yes, yes, the family can enter into politics. I have already read the report. You’ve broken ties with him to leave him out of it. You know leaving him like that is a useless weakness, right? Why not make him a servant? Or a Vassal? That would protect you both best.” Said Regi.

“I just want it to be as it was, a sweet childhood memory of the kids I played with and the life I never really had. I can’t believe the first time I actually thought I was outside our parent's influence. Hiding from the [Knight]s I ‘saw’ until I was lost and alone. They played me so well. But I met him so I guess it evens out.” Jimmy said.

“What was the story again? You were crying alone and that snot nosed kid punched you?” Regi said.

“So I would have something to really cry about, ya! Haha. Good times. You know it worked though. He didn’t really punch me hard, just enough to hurt. Stopped my tears right up.” Jimmy said.

“And then you proceeded to beat the ever living shit out of each other.” Said Regi.

“Oh yes, it was a good tussle. One for the history books. Then he took me to his place for that watery stuff they call stew… one of the best meals I ever had.” Jimmy said.

“Wait till your half starved and have been consisting on travel rations for a month before having anything that might be called a decent meal. If there is a heaven it’s because it is just outside of the gates of hell showing how good it is to be here and not there.” Regi said.

“Don’t let a [Priest] here you say that” Jimmy said as the two shared a chuckle.

“What is this I hear about no [Priest]s?” Jezebela said.

“A story between men.” Regi said with a straight face.

“Ok then, I will pretend I didn’t hear you exchanging sob stories.” Jez said.

“If you heard everything then why pretend?” Said Regi.

“It’s called Fashion, But I wouldn’t expect a military nut like you to understand, right Jimmy?” Jez said.

“Leave me out of this family blood feud. Just settle who is the winner and gets the family title and leave me in exile in a lonely mansion filled to the brim with beautiful women.” Said Jimmy.

“I would think that likely cost more than our title is worth. At best we could only half fill the royal palace with beautiful women for you my dear Jimmy.” Said Jez, and the siblings laughed.

“It is good to see you all.” Regi said, shared nods around the table.

“Oh are we missing something?” Said a pair of siblings that you could feel the palpable sneer from. They were Jimmy’s half siblings, not technically uninvited, but usually disruptive.

“Enough of this, sit down, shut up, and drink yourself unconscious already. Let’s not bring our parents squabble into this.” said Jez.

“It was not father that took away his title that he tried to rightfully bestow upon us, dear sister.” Said Jessica.

“A title that was only secured because of mother’s dowry which father had no right to. It would not have been taken in the first place had it belonged to father. And the only reason she had taken it was because she wished it to be bestowed upon us, the rightful siblings between the two. No you know what, enough of this, none of this talk that is not for us to squabble over, this is for siblings only. If you don’t have a feud with the siblings here then don’t bring up the family business.” Jez said.

“You are right sister. It is just hard for us. Our mother had been pushing for so long. And father has been fighting so hard. Yet we end up with naught but the scraps of yourselves.” Said Jimmy’s half brother Jason.

“It wouldn’t have been a problem had your mother not overstepped her bounds. Mother herself has many a bastard she shuttles off to the clan and her own holdings. But your mother had wanted from mother’s clan as well. So she fought back, and won.” Said Regi.

“Winning is up for debate, but we understand that mother may have overstepped herself on the issue. It is just hard. Father was from a dying clan to begin with. He did not have much of his own to give away. So mother may have convinced him to reach a bit to far. Now we are left with less than what we started. It is hard, we may have to be used in political marriages ourselves just to keep a title that should be given to us.” Said Jason. He was not a strong male, and would likely just be a toy used in a political marriage. Many are not as friendly as mother and father’s was.

“Enough, no more talk about our parent’s. We were talking about Jimmy’s commoner toy and how it was all ruined when that [Baron] brat came around.” Jez said.

“We were not!” Jimmy said and stormed off, before he could become even more of the focus of attention. Little did he know it wouldn’t do any good and only he would lose out on valuable information. Even Harold, though late came into the huddle as he was quickly flagged over.

“You didn’t hear this from me but I heard that they even gave him a scholarship for the school little Jimmy is going to.” Jez said.

“And? That’s just the normal level of meddlesome, nothing new.” Said Jason. He too had a scholarship, nothing overly exciting.

“Oh but get this, they gave him two, one each. And they practically forced them on him with threats to curry favor with Jimmy.” Said Jez.

*Cough Cough* The half-siblings went to take a sip of water. “Two? That is costly. I don’t think a single one of us has gotten more than one ourselves. What the hell is he going to do with two?” Jason said.

Jez just shrugged and leaned back. This was all the information she gleaned.

“The real question is what are they going to do when their effort to one up each other has failed so spectacularly. They are too invested to let this end at that.” Said Harald, he was always one of the more astute of the siblings. Jez and the rest of the siblings leaned in to better discuss this new entertainment.

“No, the better question is what are we going to do about it?” Said Regi.

“Dibs on the villain!” Said the half-siblings at the same time. Then they glared at each other.

Jimmy just groaned in a corner. If they were divvying up hero and villain roles that could be nothing good. And it would most definitely be at his expense if he wasn’t involved.