Aeris’ POV

I cradled my baby close, gently rocking him in my arms. His tiny hands reached out, grabbing at my fingers, his little lips parting as he made soft baby noises. My heart melted on the spot.

"Who's the good boy?" I cooed, nuzzling his cheek. "Who's Mommy's good boy?"

My baby blinked up at me with big, innocent eyes, his tiny fingers wrapping around mine. Then, as if responding to my words, he giggled sweetly, nuzzling into my chest.

"Awwww!" I squealed, hugging him tighter. "My precious baby! You love Mommy, don’t you?"

The baby let out another soft, adorable giggle and nuzzled me even more.

I turned to Zephirion, my eyes sparkling. “Look at him! Isn’t he just the cutest?!”

Silence.

Zephirion, Valerion, and Caelum were staring at the baby. Not with love. Not with adoration.

With sheer horror.

“What?” I blinked.

“That… that little brat…” Valerion muttered under his breath, pointing a trembling finger at the baby.

“He just…” Caelum paled. “He just smirked at us again.”

I gasped dramatically. “What are you saying?! My baby is an angel!”

The baby, hearing my words, gazed up at me with the most innocent expression ever. His tiny lips quivered as if he was on the verge of tears, and he clung to me tighter.

“Oh no, don’t cry, my love!” I kissed his forehead repeatedly. “Did these bad uncles say mean things to you?”

The baby let out a soft whimper and buried his face in my chest.

I whipped around to glare at the three dragons. "Look what you did! You made him sad!"

Zephirion looked like he was about to combust. “Aeris. You don’t understand. That baby—”

Before he could finish, the baby turned his head slightly. Just enough for the three dragons to see.

And smirked.

A slow, confident, smug smirk.

I gasped again. “AWWWWW, did you see that?! He smiled at you!”

Caelum looked like he was ready to faint. Valerion covered his face. Zephirion just stood there, staring at his son like he had created the most dangerous being in existence.

Meanwhile, I continued showering my adorable baby with love.

He was just a sweet little boy. Nothing weird at all.

Zephirion’s POV

I had faced wars. I had burned kingdoms to the ground. I had ruled over dragons and men with absolute power.

But nothing—nothing—could have prepared me for this.

Aeris sat on the bed, cradling our newborn son, cooing at him like he was the purest, most innocent being to ever exist.

"Who's the good boy?" she giggled, pressing kisses to his tiny hands. "Who's Mommy’s good boy?"

The baby, hearing her voice, blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. Then, as if on cue, he giggled sweetly, nuzzling against her chest.

I narrowed my eyes.

That little brat.

"Look at him, Zephirion!" Aeris beamed, turning to me. "Isn’t he just the cutest?!"

No. No, he was not.

I stared at my son, waiting—watching.

And right on time, the moment Aeris looked away…

He turned his head ever so slightly, just enough so that only I—and the two idiots standing beside me—could see.

And smirked.

A slow, arrogant, completely self-satisfied smirk.

Valerion stiffened. “That… that little brat…”

Caelum paled. “Did you see that? Did you see that?!”

My jaw clenched. “I saw.”

Aeris gasped, completely oblivious. “AWWWW! Did you see that?! He smiled at you three!”

No, woman. That was not a smile.

That was the smirk of a future tyrant. A manipulative little menace who knew exactly what he was doing.

But before I could say anything, the baby let out a soft whimper and clung to Aeris tighter, burying his face into her chest as if he had been deeply wronged.

Aeris gasped in horror. “Oh no, don’t cry, my love! Did these bad uncles say mean things to you?”

Caelum looked ready to faint. Valerion covered his face with his hands.

Meanwhile, I… I just stood there. Frozen.

My five-minute-old son had already mastered the art of manipulation.

He was too powerful.

I had created a monster.