"What's taking so long?" An old man in his early fifties paced back and forth outside the room. He was very handsome, with sharp features that once turned heads in his youth. But now, that charm was clouded by anxiety — and a few visible wrinkles.
"Giving birth takes time," a beautiful woman replied softly. "Stop walking around. You're making me nervous too."
"I'm worried about our daughter," the man muttered. "W-What if something happens to her… or the child? What should we do?"
"Nothing will happen." The woman glared at her husband. "Get a grip, will you?"
Finally calming down, the man sat beside his wife. The two held each other's hands tightly and prayed to the Gods to keep their daughter and her baby safe from harm.
Inside the delivery room…
"My lady, I can see the baby's head," the midwife said with excitement. "Just a little more. One last push!"
The beautiful young woman on the bed let out a grunt, her face flushed with pain. Her long blonde hair clung to her sweaty skin, and her ruby-red eyes were filled with exhaustion. She had been in labor for over four hours and was already growing weak.
But her will to see her child — to hold him — gave her strength.
And finally… the baby was born.
The midwife gently caught the newborn and checked his gender, preparing to congratulate her Lady on the birth of a boy. But then… something felt wrong.
The baby wasn't crying.
A frown crept onto the midwife's face. She quickly used magic to clean the newborn and checked his breathing and heartbeat.
For a terrifying moment, she feared the worst. She had seen it before — babies born without life.
But then, the baby's chest rose.
A small breath.
He was alive.
"What's wrong?" the exhausted mother asked weakly. "Is something wrong with my baby?"
The midwife blinked, then quickly handed the child to her.
"Congratulations, My Lady. It's a boy," she said, trying to hide her worry. "But… he hasn't cried yet."
The mother didn't care. She held her baby to her chest, and in that moment, all her pain and fear melted away. Her son was alive — and in her arms.
Outside the room, the elderly couple exchanged glances. Tears rolled down the woman's cheeks as she buried her face in her husband's chest.
She had tried to stay strong — but now, her heart ached with both joy and sorrow.
Joy… that her daughter and grandson had survived.Sorrow… because the child would have to be sent away, far from his mother, for his safety.
[Alex's POV]
My eyes were closed, but I was aware — aware that I was in the body of a newborn baby.
Something soft held me close. And when I finally opened my eyes… I saw her.
The most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.
She looked down at me and smiled — a smile so full of love and tenderness that it stole my breath away. She began kissing my tiny face again and again, whispering words I didn't understand.
I was lost in the moment — so much that I forgot I was supposed to cry.
That woman… was my mother. Eve Snow.
She gently whispered, "Aww, my sweet little child… you're so cute. I wish I could stay by your side forever…"
And then… she started crying.
I was confused. I tried to speak — and in doing so, my voice came out like a soft cry. That only made her cry more, but this time… they were tears of love.
After a few moments, the door opened and two people entered the room. They resembled my mother — especially the woman. She approached and wrapped her arms around my mother in a warm embrace.
"Eve," she said softly, "You don't have to be sad. You can write him letters. Someday, you'll reunite. But for now… for his safety, we must send him far away, where they can't find him."
Then she turned to me with a soft smile, picked me up in her arms, and gently bounced me.
"And what's this little monster's name?"
My mother thought for a moment and replied,
"He was born in the Hour of the Bull… and bulls and tigers are mortal enemies. His name will be… Gerald. Gerald the Destroyer."
The old woman — my grandmother — laughed. "As expected of my grandson. What a bold name."
The man beside her — my grandfather — nodded solemnly.
"We must send him away before they learn of his birth."
He looked at me with sadness in his eyes and whispered, "Forgive us. Forgive this old man for failing to protect you… for separating you from your mother."
He leaned down, kissed my forehead, then handed me back to my grandmother, who also kissed my cheeks.
Then they turned to my mother.
"Don't you have something to give him as a parting gift?"
My mother nodded and pulled out an ancient bracelet — a beautiful relic that shimmered faintly with enchantment. She gently slid it onto my wrist. It adjusted its size on its own, fitting perfectly.
"This belonged to your father," she said, her voice shaking. "And now… it's yours."
For the first — and maybe the last — time, she took me in her arms again.
With tears in her eyes, she unbuttoned her gown and gently guided my lips to her breast.
My eyes remained closed… but my instincts knew what to do. and that is feed my mother ,s milk