February, Sea Circle Calendar 1469
Totto Land – Cake Island
Cake Island had changed.
What had once been a bizarre novelty of sugary terrain was now a fortified stronghold—an architectural miracle raised in mere months, thanks to overwhelming manpower and the kind of strength only this world could produce.
On Earth, such a feat would take years. But here?Where pirates could raze a fortress in an afternoon and rebuild it by week's end—time bowed to muscle, will, and gold.
At the very heart of the island, rising from the mountainous layers of sponge and cream, stood a magnificent castle—equal parts monument and citadel. This was Argus's personal domain, his throne, his sanctuary.Shared only with Serena, his first wife and queen in all but title.
As for Newgate?
He couldn't care less.
The old man chose a modest cake-castle nestled to the side—rough around the edges, but cozy. He'd appear at mealtimes, throw impromptu feasts, and vanish for raids when the itch struck. He always came back with treasure, a story, and the occasional black eye.
But make no mistake.This was a different Newgate.
He had a brother.He had a home.He had a family.And that grounded him more than any anchor.
Still, Argus wasn't the kind to leave things to fate. Knowing what kind of toll Newgate's body had taken in the canon timeline, he insisted on daily medical checks. Newgate grumbled, but he didn't resist. Not anymore.
But all of that—the castles, the battles, the inspections—faded into insignificance now.
Because Serena was in labor.
"Doctor! Doctor—this way!"
The castle erupted in chaos. Maids dashed through corridors. Midwives shouted over one another. Physicians scrambled for sterilized tools and hot water. Orders overlapped with prayers.
The air buzzed with nervous energy.
In a nearby chamber, the other concubines—Sharon, Mina, Rose, Wendy, Donna, Sandy—waited in tense silence. All of them were visibly pregnant, ranging from five to eight months along.
Even Sally and the Snake Princess were near term—perhaps only a few weeks behind Serena.
Yet none of them rested.They stood quietly, eyes fixed on the closed door to the birthing room.
At the center of it all stood Argus.
On the surface, calm. Controlled.Hands clasped behind his back. Posture firm. Gaze unwavering.
But beneath the mask?
Turbulence.His foot tapped unconsciously against the floor. His breathing was too even. Too forced.
Despite having lived two lifetimes, this was uncharted territory.
He was about to become a father.
Will Serena be safe?Will the baby be healthy?What if something goes wrong?
Footsteps echoed sharply in the marble hallway.
"Argus!"
Newgate appeared, his usual thunderous voice barely above a whisper. The moment he caught sight of the birthing chamber's door, his steps slowed.
He came to his brother's side and asked quietly, "Everything alright?"
Argus nodded, tight-lipped. "Doctor says the delivery's progressing smoothly. No complications yet. The full team's already inside."
Newgate exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Good… That's good…"
But his clenched jaw said otherwise.
The legendary pirate who once tore through fleets now looked like a nervous wreck—anxious, unguarded. Just a man. An uncle.
He and Argus had only found each other at age twenty. Now, at twenty-one, a new life bearing the Edward bloodline was about to arrive.
This wasn't just a child.
This was legacy.
Argus glanced sideways.
The concubines stood silently, some with hands resting protectively on their bellies. Tension hung thick in the air.
Newgate scowled. "Shouldn't Sally and the Snake Princess be lying down? They're damn near ready themselves."
Argus shook his head. "They refused to leave. Said they wanted to be here for Serena."
Newgate grunted, nodding.
Then he noticed Argus's twitching fingers and the vein pulsing at his temple.
He smirked.
"Come on. Step outside. I brought cigarettes."
Argus blinked. "I don't smoke."
"Neither do I," Newgate said, pulling a cigar from his coat. "But today's different."
The brothers stood outside beneath a pale moon, smoke curling skyward into the night.
A silence settled between them. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.
"Huuuh…"Newgate let out a breath, savoring the moment.
"Better?" he asked, half-lidded eyes watching the stars.
Argus took a slow drag. The harsh burn of tobacco grounded him.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I know she'll be fine. But still... Becoming a father for the first time... it's overwhelming."
Newgate chuckled—low, deep, and far softer than usual.
"Of course it is. That's natural. This child... they're not just yours. They're ours. The first true heir of the Edward family. Not a brother found through drink or battle—but a child born of blood. Of legacy."
Argus said nothing.
But his eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
A man who had wandered through two lives now stood on the edge of something new—something real.
A future he never dared to imagine.
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