Weeks had passed since the first kick.
The atmosphere across the kingdoms was growing tense, every envoy more cautious than the last. Spade's High Council sent daily messages requesting Yuno's return. Clover's Magic Parliament wanted to "catalog" the baby's mana signature — a thinly veiled excuse to test, measure, and possibly control it.
But none of that mattered tonight.
Because tonight… Asta and Yuno were naming their child.
In Their Room, Safe and Quiet
The fire crackled low. Yuno sat reclined on the bed, wrapped in a soft wool blanket, belly now noticeably full and round, magic pulsing from it in gentle waves.
Asta lay beside him, one hand always resting there — protective, reverent.
"We should pick a name soon," Asta said softly. "Before the kingdoms start trying to pick one for us."
Yuno scoffed. "They'd name it something awful. Like… Aristolus Windgrace III."
Asta made a mock gag. "Or Lord Highborn Hypergust."
Yuno snorted.
Then fell quiet.
"I've been thinking," he said, eyes on the ceiling. "There's a name in old Spadean. Caelum. It means 'sky'."
Asta raised a brow. "Sky?"
"It was my father's title," Yuno said. "Before the rebellion. But more than that… sky is what wind touches. What freedom is."
Asta leaned in, resting his chin on Yuno's belly. "Caelum…"
The baby responded. Another soft kick.
Yuno blinked, surprised.
Asta grinned. "Looks like someone likes it."
Yuno's smile softened. "Caelum it is."
Asta kissed the curve of his stomach. "Hi, Caelum. Your dads can't wait to meet you."
But Peace Never Lasts
Outside the hideout, cloaked figures gathered beneath the trees — nobles who had long since grown tired of talk.
At the center of the group stood Lady Elara Vaustaine, the noblewoman who had once tried to claim Yuno for marriage… and failed.
She watched the flickering lights of the Black Bulls HQ with hatred in her eyes.
"If words cannot tear them apart," she whispered, "then blades will."
She turned to her mercenaries — magically enhanced, all exiled from their knight squads for insubordination.
"Tonight, we take the prince. And we erase the bastard child before it poisons the bloodlines."
Back Inside
Yuno jolted awake with a start — magic spiking.
Asta was already on his feet, sword in hand.
"They're here," he said darkly. "I can feel it."
The wards flared red.
Yami burst into the room a second later. "We've got a breach. Elite-class."
Yuno sat up, hands on his belly. "They're after me."
Asta nodded once, cold fury in his eyes.
"Then they'll have to go through me."