Zephirion’s POV

Enough was enough.

I wasn’t going to let a newborn take my wife’s attention away from me.

This was personal now.

With a perfectly calm expression, I reached forward to take my son from Aeris’s arms.

But instead of letting go, the little menace clung to her like a leech.

His tiny hands gripped her clothes as if his life depended on it, his face buried against her.

Aeris chuckled, rubbing his back. "Oh, Zephirion, look! He doesn’t want to leave me!"

Yes. I can see that.

My eye twitched as I tried to pry his tiny fingers off her.

"Come now," I said smoothly, though my patience was wearing thin, "I wish to bond with my son. Spend some quality time. Valerion and Caelum should also have the chance to play with him."

The baby shook his head.

He just refused me.

Valerion choked on his laughter, while Caelum raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious.

Aeris, bless her innocent heart, just smiled. "Oh! That’s so sweet of you! Of course, go ahead!"

She kissed our son’s forehead and tried to pass him to me, but he tightened his grip and refused to let go.

I sighed.

I was not going to lose to a baby.

So, I did what any rational father would do.

I pried him off by force.

He struggled, grabbed onto her sleeves, and even made a small growl—but I won.

I always win.

With him firmly in my arms, I turned on my heel and walked out, my two unfortunate brothers trailing behind.

As soon as we were out of the room, I glanced down at my son.

He was looking at me again.

And then—he smirked.

Arrogant little—

"I know you can understand me," I said coldly, my voice just above a whisper.

The baby blinked. Then, his tiny hand gave me a thumbs-up.

Valerion wheezed. Caelum looked pale.

"Zephirion," Caelum said slowly, "I am not hallucinating, am I?"

"No," I muttered, still staring at my son.

The baby grinned.

Grinned.

Like he knew something we didn’t.

I exhaled slowly. Of course, I already suspected my son was special.

I had read it in the scroll.

But this?

This was beyond anything I had imagined.

This child was born at seven months, already smarter than he should be, and worst of all—

He was an arrogant little brat.

I narrowed my eyes and leaned closer, lowering my voice.

"Listen here, you tiny menace—"

But before I could finish, the baby crossed his arms, raised a single eyebrow, and then—

He smirked.

As if saying, She’s mine now. You can get off.

I froze.

Valerion fell to the ground, laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe.

Caelum just covered his mouth in pure horror.

And me?

I just stared at my son.

This newborn, this seven-month-old baby, just challenged me.

Oh, it was war.

Fatherhood had just become a battlefield.

Aeris’s POV

Zephirion had taken our son outside to "play."

I smiled, happy that they were bonding.

He had been acting… strange lately. Maybe he was just overwhelmed with fatherhood? I wouldn’t blame him—our son was born two months early and was already unbelievably smart.

He could say "Bah" on the first day.

He gave thumbs-ups.

He smirked a lot.

But still… he was just a baby.

Right?

I stretched my arms and sighed. It was finally peaceful. I should take a nap while I had the chance.

And then—

"HAH?!?"

A loud yell shook the entire castle.

I sat up straight, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest.

That was Valerion.

Oh no.

The doors slammed open, and a red-faced Valerion stumbled in, clutching his stomach. His entire body shook as he wheezed with uncontrollable laughter.

Behind him, Caelum looked… disturbed.

No—pale. Like he had seen something that shattered his very understanding of life itself.

And Zephirion?

Zephirion stood in the doorway, completely frozen, our baby cradled in his arms. His face was blank.

Too blank.

Like he had just been personally betrayed.

I blinked. "Um… what happened?"

Valerion collapsed on the floor, still howling. Caelum just sat down in a chair, rubbing his temples.

Zephirion?

Zephirion stared into the void.

I looked at my son.

He looked so innocent in his father’s arms.

Big, round, adorable eyes.

A tiny, sweet smile.

So pure. So harmless.

I smiled. "Did you have fun with your father, my love?"

Our son giggled happily, reached out his tiny hands for me, and Zephirion—

Zephirion flinched.

I frowned. "What’s wrong?"

He opened his mouth. Then closed it.

Then, in a very dead voice, he said:

"He smirked at me."

…

I blinked. "What?"

Valerion screamed with laughter. Caelum sighed loudly and dragged a hand down his face.

Zephirion looked me straight in the eyes, his expression dark.

"He smirked at me, Aeris. He smirked and basically said she’s mine now, get off."

I stared at him.

I stared at my son.

My son, who was now snuggling into my chest with a soft, sweet little yawn.

I sighed.

"Zephirion," I said gently, "he’s just a baby."

"He is NOT JUST A BABY."

I jumped at Zephirion’s sharp tone.

Caelum groaned. "He’s spiraling."

"He crossed his arms at me," Zephirion continued, voice eerily calm. "He raised a single eyebrow at me. And then he smirked."

"He’s a baby," I repeated slowly.

"HE GAVE ME A THUMBS-UP."

Valerion fell over, cackling.

I rubbed my temples.

"He’s just… advanced for his age," I said patiently.

Zephirion narrowed his eyes. "Advanced? He’s acting like a fully grown arrogant man! Do you not see it?!?"

I looked down at our son.

He blinked up at me, all soft and innocent, and let out a tiny, adorable, completely normal giggle.

I smiled. "I don’t see anything strange."

Zephirion looked personally offended.

"He’s fooling you," he hissed under his breath.

I rolled my eyes. "I think fatherhood is making you paranoid."

He scowled. "I think motherhood is making you blind."

Before I could argue, our son snuggled deeper into my embrace, hugging me tightly.

My heart melted.

Zephirion’s eye twitched.

Valerion laughed even harder. Caelum sighed in pure exhaustion.

And our son?

He peeked over my shoulder at the three dragons.

And—

And—

He smirked.

Just for a second.

Just long enough for Zephirion to see it.

Zephirion pointed wildly. "SEE?!? SEE THAT?!?"

I turned my head. "See what?"

Our son blinked up at me sweetly, cooing like a perfect angel.

Zephirion looked betrayed.

Caelum groaned. "I need a drink."

Valerion wiped his tears. "I have never been this entertained in my entire life."

Zephirion’s tail lashed in frustration.

And our son?

Our son, who was just a baby, looked over at his father…

And gave him a thumbs-up.

Again.

Zephirion nearly lost his mind.

I stared at Zephirion as he stood frozen, his tail flicking in frustration, his jaw clenched.

Meanwhile, our son—the tiny, innocent little baby in my arms—giggled sweetly, nuzzling against my chest as if he hadn’t just committed a crime against his father’s pride.

I sighed.

Zephirion had been acting weird ever since he took our son outside. Maybe he was just tired? I mean, being a parent is hard.

I smiled at my baby, brushing a soft hand over his tiny cheek. "Oh, my love, look how intelligent you are. You’re going to be so smart when you grow up."

Zephirion made a choked noise.

I glanced at him. "What?"

His eye twitched.

Caelum buried his face in his hands.

Valerion?

Valerion was on the floor, dying of laughter.

"Intelligent," Zephirion repeated blankly, his voice hollow. "You think he's… intelligent."

I beamed proudly at our son. "Of course! He’s just a baby, but he already understands so much! Isn’t he amazing?"

Zephirion’s wings flared slightly.

Valerion wheezed. "Oh, he’s something, alright—"

Caelum kicked him.

I huffed. "You’re all acting strange. He’s just a baby."

Zephirion looked at me like I had just personally betrayed him.

And then—

Our son lifted his head, turned towards his father, and with that same smug look…

He smirked.

Again.

Zephirion snapped.

"HE DID IT AGAIN!"

I turned sharply, but by the time I looked, our son was staring up at me with big, round, innocent eyes.

I blinked.

…Was Zephirion okay?

Valerion laughed so hard he nearly passed out. Caelum looked like he was contemplating his life choices.

Zephirion looked at me wildly, pointing at the baby.

"HE'S TOYING WITH ME!"

I frowned.

I looked at my son.

He blinked up at me, cooed softly, and nuzzled against me again.

Perfect. Innocent. Pure.

I sighed. "Zephirion, I really think you need some rest—"

"REST?!? REST?!? THIS—THIS MENACE HAS DECLARED WAR ON ME!"

Valerion was howling with laughter. Caelum rubbed his temples.

I rolled my eyes and kissed my son’s forehead. "Don’t listen to your father, my love. He’s just tired."

Zephirion looked personally attacked.

Our son giggled again, wrapping his tiny fingers around my hair.

And as I smiled down at him—

I missed the way he smirked at Zephirion one last time.