The King and The Deliverer

Chapter 3

Laxus had just returned from a long day overseeing the pharaoh's men when he caught sight of his wife and child approaching him. His gaze fell first on his son, Natsu—his pride and joy, the brightest star in his life. Natsu was not just his heir; he was the embodiment of Laxus's hopes for the future, destined to carry the family name to great honor and riches. To many men of this era, nothing was as precious as a firstborn son.

As Laxus's gaze shifted from Natsu to Mirajane, he felt a swell of satisfaction. What was it about her at that moment that filled him with such happiness? It was the radiant joy illuminating her face. In that instant, he feared he might never again witness such pure delight reflected in Mirajane's features.

"You seem to be in a good mood this afternoon," Laxus remarked. "What has finally lifted you from your seemingly endless grief?"

Before responding, Mirajane sent Natsu to his chambers and dismissed the servants who were present.

"Oh, my beloved," she finally replied, her voice filled with warmth. "A great miracle has occurred. The God of the Nile has restored what we lost and so desperately yearned to reclaim."

"What do you mean?" Laxus asked, confusion etched on his face.

"He has blessed us with a second child."

"Mirajane, what in the name of Ra are you talking about? We have no second child. Any hope of a second born was taken from us before we could even welcome them into this world."

"Yes, but it seems that the great God of the Nile has taken pity on us and returned what was wrongfully taken."

With that, she gently presented the bundle cradled in her arms to her husband, pulling back a portion of the shawl that enveloped the baby.

"What is this?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Natsu and I found him adrift in a basket among the reeds, sent to us by the river god. He is our new son."

"This is no son of ours. You did not give birth to him."

"Nevertheless, I believe the gods have chosen us to be the mother and father of this beautiful boy."

"Are you mad? We cannot possibly claim this child as our own."

"Why ever not?"

"Mirajane, look at him. Look at his eyes, his hair. He is not Egyptian; he is Hebrew."

"So?"

"An Egyptian taking a Hebrew child as his own is no different than claiming an ox's calf as your own."

"Oh really, Laxus," Mirajane scoffed at the absurdity of his analogy. "Can you not see what a great blessing this boy is?"

"All I see is shame and disgrace. It would be best to rid ourselves of him."

"No. I intend to keep him and love him just as I love the son I carried and birthed. I've already given him the perfect name: Gray." She tickled the baby, eliciting a giggle and coo from him. "It suits him divinely, doesn't it, dear?"

"Mirajane, you know I've never been able to deny you anything, but I must put my foot down this time. I'm sorry, but you can't keep him."

"Him," she corrected gently. "He is a him, not an it, and I don't care what you say. I am his mother now, and I will take care of him."

"But Mirajane, think of the scandal. What will people say?"

"The opinions of others have never mattered to me."

"Well, they matter to me. Especially the opinions of the Pharaoh. He will not stand for an Egyptian adopting a Hebrew child."

"He need not know that Gray is Hebrew or that he is adopted. The people have known for some time that I was with child a second time, and word has not spread far about our second child's premature death. They'll just assume Gray is biologically ours."