"Congratulations, Sir Delacroix! It's indeed a baby boy, just as Nurse Achia predicted."
Midwife Selene said in a jovial mood, holding the newborn in her arms.
Knight Edmund and his wife looked very happy as they stood close together.
"Please, bring him here, Selene. I wish to see my son."
"Yes, of course."
At Luminaire's request, Selene gently placed the little baby boy beside the mother.
The couple immediately saw their son's lovely wide eyes, looking at them with innocent curiosity.
Egon (John) also got see his new parents for the first time.
Edmund had striking long black hair, seemingly of common origin; while his mother Luminaire had shiny silver hair, that hinted to a more profound lineage.
Just then, Selene noticed something odd. Her old face tightened with anxiety.
"Sir, Madam, something is wrong. The baby isn't crying for some reason."
"Oh, right... Why is he not crying?" Edmund found it odd too.
The baby was too calm, which raised suspicion and worry in his heart.
'Oh, Lord Have Mercy. As a 30-year-old man, I have to cry too...'
Noticing their intense stares, Elias had no choice but to cry.
"Waa, waa, wahhh!"
Despite how awkward the cry sounded, the parents accepted it with immediate relief.
"He's crying, he's alright..." Lumina whispered, her eyes shining with tears.
Then, without any further delay, she brought her son closer to her chest for breastfeeding.
The explicit scene immediately made John close his eyes. But he didn't refuse the milk; as a newborn, he knew a mother's milk was the most nutritious source of sustenance.
"Sir Edmund, have you decided on a name yet?" Midwife Selene asked, her curiosity piqued now that the immediate danger had passed.
Edmund, standing beside the bed and gripping his wife's hand, smiled proudly. He glanced at the tiny, sucking bundle and replied,
"Indeed, Selene, we have. We considered a few options, but we kept coming back to one. A good, strong name that sounds fitting for a Knight's son." He paused for dramatic effect, though only his wife and the midwife were there to appreciate it.
"His name will be Egon; Egonir Noiré Delacroix," Lumina finished softly, stroking the boy's soft, downy head.
'Egonir Noiré Delacroix,'
John's mind repeated, already trying to roll the foreign syllables into something familiar form his novel.
'It sounds grand. A hero's name, perhaps. But there's no notable figure with such a name. Maybe I am not in my novel after all..'
The thought brought him relief, but there's some disappointment as well.
"Egonir Noiré Delacroix," Selene repeated, nodding approvingly. "A beautiful name. It means 'liberator' or 'one who is set free from Darkness' in the Old Tongue. May the gods bless little Egonir Noir Delacroix." She smiled, folding the blankets around the relieved mother.
"Well, my work here is done. Lady Delacroix, you rest now. Sir Edmund, you have a son. You should celebrate!"
"Haha..." Edmund laughed, a deep, happy sound, and gave the midwife a generous bag of silver coins. "Thank you, Selene. I truly appreciate your care."
As the midwife left the room, the parents settled into a comfortable silence, just looking at their new son.
"He's so small, Edmund," Lumina murmured. "Just like Lucia was."
"He is perfect, my dear," Edmund replied, bending down to kiss her forehead. "And now I have a son to teach the sword to. The Delacroix name will continue to stand strong."
Lumina's expression, however, turned thoughtful. "I hope he doesn't only follow you, Edmund. I hope he finds his own path. Maybe... maybe a scholar, or even... if possible.. " She trailed off, glancing down at her baby.
Edmund chuckled lightly. "Don't get ahead of yourself, my dear. Let's just focus on keeping him well-fed and healthy for now. Come, try to rest."
Johnathan, now Egon, listened, the warmth of his mother's body and the rich taste of milk slowly lulling him toward sleep.
However, just a moment later, Lucia entered inside and darted around her father's legs.
The five-year-old stood on her tiptoes, peering over the side of the bed, her eyes wide with wonder.
John finally got see her elder sister. She had short Silver hair, just like Luminaire.
"Mommy, Daddy! Is that him? My little brother?" she whispered.
"Yes, honey," Luminaire confirmed. "Say hello to your little brother, Egon."
Lucia leaned in and spoke in a sweet, clear voice right next to Egon's ear. "He's so tiny, mommy! And so loud! Don't worry, little brother. Lucia is going to protect you! You're safe now."
The couple laughed warmly, while little Egon ignored her, too busy drinking his mother's milk.
The days passed like this.
The small family of four lived cozily.
Egon got to see more of this world whenever Lumina brought him into the yard to bask the newborn in the warm sun.
She would often sing songs that resonated through the small, two-story house. Their family was neither too poor nor rich. With Edmund's modest salary, they lived just fine.
Egon tried to learn more about the world by reading books, but never got the chance. Unfortunately, none of his family members were interested in reading.
One was a Knight who only knew how to fight, and the other was just a simple housewife.
Egon couldn't complain since they were already doing their best to provide him.
Still, he needed to know more about this world. He urgently needed to confirm if he was in the same world as his novel or not.
If he had somehow been swept into his own novel, he knew these days of peace wouldn't last long. The plots he had written were too cruel, too dark. An ordinary family wouldn't survive for long when the arcs began.
And eventually, the time arrived when he could finally express his learning curiosity.
This was when he gained the ability to speak, just six months after his birth.
"Momma..."
That was the first word he spoke to his mother, pretending to be naive and utterly cute.
"Ah, my baby son spoke! My cotton candy called me Mommy..."
His mother lifted him up in joy, excitement running through her veins. Usually, it took 12–18 months for an ordinary child to speak, but her dear son had spoken within just six months.
This made her think: My son must be very talented.
But the next word from her son made her freeze.
"Defasarious Hellacrest?!!"