Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

After several days of deliberation, the child was finally named Edwin. Perhaps thinking that this was the most important task taken care of, Felix began stepping away from the room more frequently. Though he usually returned within the hour, the number of people seeking him seemed to grow, and so did the frequency of his absence.
Still, Felix disliked leaving Lowell alone, and he didn’t hide his irritation when summoned. Just yesterday, he’d been called out five times, and his responses had grown colder with each call. By the end, he had even closed the door on a guest and refused to open it. Only after Lowell had kissed him several times to soothe him did he finally, though begrudgingly, step out.
“Take care.”

“I will.”
Still, perhaps this was an obligation he truly couldn’t avoid—this time, he rose from his seat without hesitation.
“I’ll be back soon. Just stay in the room. If you’re feeling restless, tell the knight outside and have them call for me.”

Felix gave this same warning every time he got up from the bed. At first, Lowell had answered enthusiastically, but now he was too tired to keep up the act and simply responded with a tone that said, “Fine, just please go already.”
“Come back quickly.”
Once she confirmed he was gone, Lowell got out of bed. She needed to walk a little for her body to recover quickly, but Felix was so overprotective that she rarely got the chance.

He acted like something terrible would happen if she even took a single step out of bed. Normally, he didn’t last five minutes before making up some excuse to get her lying down again. Just yesterday, she had walked for only three minutes before he said, “Lowell, your feet look swollen. I think they’re tired.” An absurd claim.
“I told you, I’m almost fully recovered.”
Lowell couldn’t even remember how many priests had visited over the past few days.

“At least three or four came each day.”
She sighed and approached Edwin’s cradle. The temporary nanny stepped aside. The baby gave off a cozy scent of milk and warmth.
“Would you like to hold Master Edwin?”

Lowell nodded. They say the earliest days after birth are the most difficult, but with so many people helping to care for the baby, Lowell didn’t have much to do. Mostly, she just held him and walked around the room from time to time.
“Yes, thank you.”
“If you feel tired, be sure to put him down.”

Tia, who had fully recovered and returned to duty, nagged beside her. Felix had repeated that line so often it had practically etched itself into everyone’s ears, so even in his absence, those around Lowell stopped her.
“I really am okay now.”
Lowell actually felt better than before.
Is it because the black magic has completely dissipated?

According to the explanation, Edwin had absorbed all the stagnant, sealed magical energy inside her due to his brainwashing. Thanks to that, new magic now had space to settle, and even Lowell gained a faint trace of magical power. There was hopeful speculation that her health would continue to improve, and so she decided to believe it.
“Tia, how is Tony doing?”
“As I reported before. He regained consciousness even before you, my lord. However, his injuries were deep, so he still has lingering pain in his body. He’s undergoing rehabilitation through light training.”

“He could rest longer and return slowly.”
“Tony is eager to return as soon as possible.”
Lowell nodded with a heavy sense of guilt. At that movement, a strand of her hair brushed against Edwin’s face. His eyes suddenly fluttered open, and when he realized it was Lowell holding him, he gently tapped her cheek with his hand.

The gentle child always seemed fascinated by the one who had given birth to him. He constantly wanted to touch her face, and when he did, his expression softened with joy. Even now, it turned faintly pink. Lowell, who had been looking somewhat dispirited, smiled faintly.
“Master Edwin says you don’t need to worry either.”
Tia liked that about Lowell—that even though he was the one in danger, he worried about the knights instead of blaming them. He had an overly kind nature, but that was fine; Felix would be there, baring his fangs, to protect him.
“We’re the ones who should be sorry for putting you in danger. Tony said he wanted to repay the grace you showed him, and he feels guilty for not doing better.”

“Please tell him there’s no need to feel that way.”
“Yes, but I doubt they’ll be able to let go of the guilt.”
Lowell sensed that no matter how much they talked, this difference in mindset wouldn’t be resolved. The loyalty of these knights was not something easily bent.

“Are you going to keep calling me ‘my lord’? We haven’t even had a wedding yet.”
It felt easier to bring up the thing that had been bothering him.
“You’ve already become legally married. While you were asleep, His Highness affixed his seal to the marriage certificate, and it was officially announced in the capital.”

This was something Felix had never mentioned. When Lowell looked up at her in shock, Tia naturally continued the explanation.
“If a child isn’t born to an officially married couple, they’re considered illegitimate. Of course, marriage can resolve that, but the process becomes a bit complicated.”
Now Lowell understood why Felix had been in such a rush. He nodded.

“You should set the child down now.”
Tia said it firmly, without giving any leeway. Lowell couldn’t help but feel that Tia was turning into a second Felix as she laid Edwin down in the cradle. Though the baby fussed a little when Lowell stepped away, he soon quieted and fell back asleep after the nanny gave him some milk.
“Master Edwin really is gentle.”

Tia didn’t bother to hide her affection, perhaps because she was already used to black hair thanks to Felix, or perhaps because the baby himself was so pure and cheerful.
It’s not just Tia. Even the nannies asked if they could follow us to Nyx.
Lowell had worried that others might be afraid of Edwin’s black hair, but thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.

It’s not even jet-black like in the dream.
The black panther in her dream had been pure black, but perhaps because Edwin had absorbed her magic, his hair shimmered with a slight brown hue under the light. Felix thought that was fortunate, but Lowell found it oddly disappointing.
***

“I’m back, Lowell.”
Felix hadn’t fully composed himself yet—he still wore a grim expression. Even though he tried to smooth it out as he embraced Lowell, it was clear something troubling had happened outside. Lowell, who was sensitive to even the smallest changes in Felix, didn’t miss it.
“Is something bothering you?”

Leaning against his broad chest with one hand resting over it, Lowell asked gently. Felix let out a short chuckle. He knew why Lowell was acting differently than usual, when he would normally just wrap his arms around him.
“So now you’re using your beauty to sway me openly.”
“How is this seduction?”

Lowell didn’t really deny it—he’d been aiming for that, in a way. He just grinned mischievously.
“So you really won’t tell me?”
“I thought you said this wasn’t seduction?”

“Then fine, let’s call it seduction.”
Felix softly traced the red mark blooming on Lowell’s collarbone. Lowell tilted his head slightly to make it more visible. Felix began to lean down, but paused at the sound of Edwin whining faintly in his sleep.
His hot breath still tickled Lowell’s neck. It rose slowly, brushed over Lowell’s lips… and then Felix pulled back slightly. His hand holding Lowell’s arm radiated heat.

“It might not be your concern, but…”
Felix glanced at Edwin to make sure he was asleep. The child was breathing gently, clearly just having stirred in his sleep.
“We discussed what to do with the Clark family today.”

Lowell recalled the vile man who, until the end, hadn’t hesitated to try and kill his own child. As a fellow human, Lowell of course found him disgusting and hateful. But perhaps because he had found peace, he ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ didn’t feel such intense emotional upheaval.
“Shouldn’t he just be dealt with through the usual procedures?”
Felix’s forearm veins tensed. He muttered like cursing, teeth clenched.

“That won’t be enough. I want to tear him apart so thoroughly that not even a corpse remains.”
The rage he had tried to suppress burst out again. Lowell gently stroked Felix’s pain-twisted face.
“If that’s what you truly want, then do it. But you need to understand something.”

Lowell rose slightly on tiptoe and kissed Felix’s chin. He would have preferred his lips, but Felix—who would usually bend to meet him—didn’t move this time.
“I’m okay now. I’ll be okay from now on too. So there’s no need to stain yourself with filth just to execute someone who’s already as good as dead. You don’t even like the sight of blood.”
Lowell glanced toward Edwin.

“But if doing it your way will bring you peace… then go ahead.”
He didn’t try to impose his view. Just because he had no desire for revenge didn’t mean Felix felt the same. Felix’s feelings belonged to Felix.
The pain in Felix’s expression slowly softened. The iceberg of guilt that had remained finally began to melt.

“…Yeah. I’ll do it my way.”
Lowell decided not to think about what would happen to Count Clark. He would receive punishment worthy of his crimes—or worse. And regardless of that man’s fate, Lowell would be happy. That, to him, was the best kind of revenge.
He was tired of bloodstained endings.

“And let’s go home now. I’m curious how big the kittens have grown.”
Lowell missed the still, snow-covered mountains. Quiet… but warm.