Zephirion’s POV

Four months.

It had been four months since I found out I was going to be a father.

And in those four months, my kingdom—no, my entire life—had been turned upside down.

Aeris was now visibly pregnant, and it seemed like every single day brought a new challenge.

Mood swings, bizarre cravings, sleepless nights, and an endless amount of demands.

Not to mention her new favorite hobby—making my life hell.

"Overgrown lizard!"

I sighed. Here we go again.

I stepped into our chamber to see my wife sitting on the bed, her arms crossed, her violet eyes narrowed at me. She had grown even more beautiful these past months—her face glowing, her body softer, her presence stronger than ever. But with that beauty came something I never expected—absolute chaos.

"Yes, my love?" I asked cautiously.

She pointed at her belly, pouting. "You did this to me."

I blinked. "I am aware."

"And now I can’t sleep properly!" she whined. "Every time I try to roll over, this little troublemaker inside me decides it’s a perfect time to kick me!"

A small, proud smile tugged at my lips. "Our child is strong."

"Our child is a menace!" she corrected.

I chuckled, kneeling beside her. Gently, I placed my hand on her belly, feeling the warmth of her skin. "A menace, huh?"

As if on cue, a tiny kick pressed against my palm.

Aeris gasped, looking down. "You felt that too, right?"

I nodded, my heart swelling with an unfamiliar warmth. "Yes."

For a moment, we just stared at each other.

Then, she groaned and flopped back onto the bed dramatically. "Ugh! I swear, this baby is just like you! Stubborn and impossible!"

I smirked, resting my chin on her belly. "Then you must be talking about yourself, because I recall you being the stubborn one."

She gasped, offended. "Excuse me?! Who is the one forcing me to drink all these weird herbal tonics?!"

"That is for your health and the baby’s well-being," I said, trying to sound reasonable.

"You enjoy making me suffer!" she accused.

I chuckled. "Perhaps."

Before she could argue further, a loud voice interrupted.

"ZEHPHIRION!"

I turned toward the door just as it burst open.

Valerion and Caelum stood there, looking thrilled.

"We heard the news!" Valerion grinned. "Four months, huh?"

Aeris groaned, covering her face. "Oh no. Not them."

Caelum strode over, placing his hand on her belly without hesitation. "So, little one, have you decided whether you want to be as handsome as me or as stubborn as your father?"

Aeris swatted his hand away. "Excuse me! This is my belly!"

Valerion smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You do realize that means we’re even closer to becoming uncles, right?"

"Do not remind me," I muttered under my breath.

"We must start planning," Caelum said dramatically. "We need gifts. We need baby clothes. We need—"

"You need to leave before I throw both of you out," I warned.

Aeris groaned. "Please do."

Valerion chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But just know, little sister-in-law, that we’re going to be very involved in this baby’s life."

Caelum winked. "Get ready for the best uncles ever."

As the two left, Aeris groaned again. "I regret everything."

I smiled, lying beside her and pulling her into my arms.

"You love them," I reminded her.

She sighed. "Unfortunately, yes."

I placed a kiss on her forehead. "And they love you too. But no one loves you more than me."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You’re lucky I love you back."

I smirked. "I know."

As she finally dozed off in my arms, I placed a protective hand over her belly.

Four months down. Five more to go.

And I would be ready.

---

Part 49 – The Chaos of Pregnancy

Zephirion’s POV

I was not ready.

If I thought the first few months were chaotic, this was something else.

Aeris had become… an absolute menace.

At one moment, she would be sobbing into my chest because she missed the taste of a dessert she ate once in her past life.

The next moment, she would be angrily pointing a finger at me, blaming me for her swollen feet.

Then, she would suddenly be unreasonably affectionate, hugging me, kissing me, and telling me I was the best husband in the world.

And then—just minutes later—she would be yelling at me again for something as ridiculous as "breathing too loudly."

I had fought wars. Conquered kingdoms. Controlled fire, wind, and water.

And yet, I found myself helpless against a pregnant woman.

"Aeris," I said one evening as she sat on the couch, her arms crossed. "You need to rest."

"I can’t rest!" she snapped. "I have too much energy!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You were literally falling asleep five minutes ago."

"That was then. This is now."

I sighed. "Fine. What do you want to do?"

She grinned.

A dangerous grin.

Five minutes later, I was standing outside in the royal gardens with Valerion and Caelum, forced to participate in something she called "pregnancy entertainment."

Which apparently involved me—the Dragon King—catching fireflies for her amusement.

Valerion doubled over with laughter. "Brother, this is humiliating."

Caelum whistled. "To think the mighty Zephirion would one day be reduced to a firefly catcher."

Aeris giggled as she sat on the garden bench. "Come on, my mighty husband! I want a jar full of fireflies!"

I sighed.

This is my life now.

And yet, despite the absolute chaos, the sleepless nights, and the never-ending insanity…

I wouldn’t change a thing.

I was not ready.

If I thought the first few months were chaotic, this was something else.

Aeris had become… an absolute menace.

At one moment, she would be sobbing into my chest because she missed the taste of a dessert she ate once in her past life.

The next moment, she would be angrily pointing a finger at me, blaming me for her swollen feet.

Then, she would suddenly be unreasonably affectionate, hugging me, kissing me, and telling me I was the best husband in the world.

And then—just minutes later—she would be yelling at me again for something as ridiculous as "breathing too loudly."

I had fought wars. Conquered kingdoms. Controlled fire, wind, and water.

And yet, I found myself helpless against a pregnant woman.

"Aeris," I said one evening as she sat on the couch, her arms crossed. "You need to rest."

"I can’t rest!" she snapped. "I have too much energy!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You were literally falling asleep five minutes ago."

"That was then. This is now."

I sighed. "Fine. What do you want to do?"

She grinned.

A dangerous grin.

Five minutes later, I was standing outside in the royal gardens with Valerion and Caelum, forced to participate in something she called "pregnancy entertainment."

Which apparently involved me—the Dragon King—catching fireflies for her amusement.

Valerion doubled over with laughter. "Brother, this is humiliating."

Caelum whistled. "To think the mighty Zephirion would one day be reduced to a firefly catcher."

Aeris giggled as she sat on the garden bench. "Come on, my mighty husband! I want a jar full of fireflies!"

I sighed.

This is my life now.

And yet, despite the absolute chaos, the sleepless nights, and the never-ending insanity…

I wouldn’t change a thing.

---

Four months had passed since Aeris became pregnant, and my brothers, Valerion and Caelum, had left for their respective kingdoms shortly after the news.

But now, they were back.

And they were worse than ever.

"Where is she?" Valerion’s voice echoed through the grand halls of my castle as he and Caelum stormed in.

The servants scurried away as Caelum grinned, tossing his cloak over his shoulder. "We were praying in the temple when we realized—four months have passed! We had to return!"

I stood at the top of the staircase, arms crossed. "And you think barging in like this is appropriate?"

Valerion smirked. "What? Did you think we would miss our sister-in-law’s mood swings?"

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "You do not understand."

Caelum’s grin widened. "Oh, but we do. Which is why we came prepared."

He snapped his fingers, and a group of servants entered, carrying boxes of gifts—silks, jewelry, exotic fruits, and strangely enough, a giant plush dragon.

I raised a brow. "What… is that?"

"A gift for Aeris," Valerion said proudly. "She’s going to need comfort since she’s carrying your child."

I sighed. "She does not need a ridiculous plush dragon."

"Yes, I do!"

We all turned to see Aeris standing in the hallway, her violet eyes lighting up at the sight of the plush.

With more energy than I had seen in days, she rushed forward—well, as much as she could with her four-month pregnant belly—and snatched the plush from the servant’s arms.

"Oh, I love it!" she cooed, hugging it tightly. "Thank you, Valerion!"

He smirked at me. "See? This is why I’m the favorite uncle."

Caelum crossed his arms. "We both are."

Aeris turned to them. "So, how was your time in the temple?"

Valerion sighed dramatically. "Long. Boring. Full of old priests who wouldn’t stop talking about fate and destiny."

Caelum smirked. "But we did receive a prophecy."

Aeris blinked. "A prophecy?"

I tensed. "What prophecy?"

Valerion and Caelum exchanged glances before looking at me.

Caelum grinned. "Oh, don’t worry, brother. It was very interesting."

I narrowed my eyes. "What did it say?"

Valerion shrugged. "Something about a child born of fire and shadows… and how they will change the fate of the world."

Silence fell over the room.

Aeris looked between us. "Well. That’s… dramatic."

I clenched my fists.

A child born of fire and shadows.

There was no doubt.

They were talking about our child.