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Son

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Jade was reading a classic Malkuth war novel in the bedroom when Natalia came to lay down beside him. He found a little slip of paper to use as a bookmark and set the book aside. "Hello, Natalia," he said.

"Jade," said Natalia, "can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Well..." Natalia seemed a little embarrassed.

Jade adjusted his glasses and folded his arms across his chest. "Natalia," he sighed, "You want something, don't you? What is it? Sex?" He smiled.

"No. Well, not exactly," Natalia sat up. "When are we going to have children, Jade?"

Jade raised his eyebrows. He certainly hadn't been expecting that question. He answered truthfully, though. "Well, I'm not exactly fond of children," he told her, "but I'm sure we'll have some eventually."

"Oh, I see," said Natalia, feeling a little let down. "Well, Mieu is here. He's kind of like our little son!"

The colonel picked up his book again. "Mieu is not my son," he said, flipping through to find his page.

"Aww, why not?" Natalia asked. "He's just so adorable, and I think he likes you!"

"I have no problem with Mieu," Jade said, his eyes never leaving the page, "but he is not my son. My son...will be a powerful military leader."

Natalia blinked. "But...my son is supposed to be a great Kimlascan king!" she cried.

"No," Jade argued, "my son will be in the Malkuth military."

"But I'm the princess of Kimlasca!" Natalia protested. "My son is supposed to take over when I'm no longer the queen!"

Jade sighed and looked up from his book. "You know what?" he said. "Let's just have a daughter instead."