Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

"What is it?"
Lowell, now equally composed, asked the question while trying not to let his voice tremble.

"Step back and prepare to return."
The knights quickly picked up on the fact that Felix was politely asking them to vacate the room. They responded swiftly and withdrew. Once all presence had disappeared, Felix led Lowell to the bed and sat him down. Though he had burned with cold fury while reading the letter, he now reined in his emotions as he opened his mouth.
"It’s a letter from the Crown Prince’s side. It’s something that needs to be handled urgently, so I have to go back."

He clearly didn’t want to go into detail, but Lowell had no intention of letting it go at that.
"If it’s urgent enough that you’re leaving in haste, it must be serious. If you don’t explain it, I’ll only feel more anxious."
When Lowell showed no sign of backing down, Felix’s eyes wavered faintly. Realizing that he wouldn’t get an answer unless he pressed harder, Lowell began to push further.

"If we were strangers, I wouldn’t pry like this. But we’re married now. What concerns you concerns me too."
"No. Even if we’re married, that doesn’t mean you need to be involved in my affairs."
Felix didn’t want to place any burden on Lowell. He was afraid that Lowell—so fragile—might collapse under the weight of it all.

"No. There are no more affairs that belong to just one of us. We share everything now, and we share the responsibility, too. You would do the same for me, wouldn’t you?"
"Not all couples live like that."
"I’m talking about us. There’s no need to bring other people into it."

There was none of Lowell’s usual gentleness in his tone. He responded with an unyielding stance that refused to accept any rejection—something that clashed completely with Felix’s desire to protect Lowell like a flower in a greenhouse.
"Aren’t you too weak to share the burdens of a duke?"
Felix’s face twisted, as if just saying the words caused him pain.

"If you refuse to let me take responsibility just because my body is weak, then that’s the same as saying I’m not allowed any rights because of it."
It was the kind of comment that could have stung, but Lowell showed no trace of emotional turmoil.
"Please don’t make me resent being born weak. Caring for you is my responsibility—and my right."

When it came to crucial moments, it was always Lowell who stood firm. Felix was deeply aware that whenever it came to this kind of moment, he could never win against Lowell.
"You won’t regret it?"
Even though he already knew how Lowell would answer, Felix let out a sigh-like question.
"No."

He tapped the headboard of the bed with his fingers a few times before finally speaking.
"They’re planning to charge me with treason before the year is out and summon me to the capital. I don’t know what basis they’ll use, but they might even come search the Ducal Castle soon. If they find nothing, they might just torture some of the knights until they fabricate testimony."
It was something that had happened in the original timeline, so Lowell wasn’t so shocked that he couldn’t recover. Still, it was absurd that, despite all the changes he had made, the aristocratic faction was resorting to the same idea.

That only worked in the original because Felix had caused some trouble in the capital before. They must really be cornered now. Even if he’s acquitted for lack of evidence, they probably plan to summon him first and slap him with a magical restraint collar.
The noble faction must have been thinking that once Felix was disarmed, they could use him as a sacrifice in the ritual.
And then they’d just pin whatever happens afterward on Felix. Things aren’t going their way, so they’ve started thinking short-term.

The aristocratic faction had originally prepared meticulous plans in case things went wrong. But with the Crown Prince subtly interfering and Felix moving outside of expectations, their options had narrowed. And the things they’d set in motion had grown too large to clean up.
So they’re trying to force the plan through, no matter what. It’s obvious they’re rushing it so Felix doesn’t have time to respond.
Even just realizing that was a major gain. Lowell had been unsure how the Emperor’s faction would respond to the changing circumstances, but if they were choosing to stick to their original plan instead of adjusting course, that actually meant fewer variables to worry about.

"They probably don’t truly believe I’ve committed treason. They’re just trying to pressure me, thinking I’ve had some secret meeting with the Crown Prince."
Seeing Lowell deep in thought and silent, Felix assumed he couldn’t speak out of worry and added further explanation.
"I plan to thoroughly check the Ducal Castle for anything they might latch onto, and eliminate any excuse they might have to summon me to the capital."

It was clearly meant to reassure Lowell.
"They’re already acting irrationally. They probably think that just getting you to the capital means they’ve succeeded."
Felix slightly raised an eyebrow at Lowell’s cool-headed analysis. In truth, Felix didn’t believe this forced summons was just a ploy to stain the Duke’s name and weaken his power.

"That does sound more plausible. Is there anything they actually gain just by bringing me in?"
Felix didn’t yet know the specifics of the ritual or that they intended to use him as a sacrifice—so his judgment was naturally a beat behind Lowell’s.
"I heard that black magic comes with a severe backlash. It always exacts a price, doesn’t it?"

"Yes."
"Then… what if they plan to use you for that? At this point, there’s no real point in trying to weaken the Duchy without solid grounds."
"Use me...? Black magic and ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) dark magic do share similarities, but they’re also distinctly different. It’s hard to think of me as an equivalent price."

What had value wasn’t Felix’s magical affinity—it was his blood.
"There might be another reason entirely."
It wasn’t just that Lowell couldn’t share what he knew with Felix—he also didn’t want to.

What the Emperor wants is to resurrect Felix’s mother.
The Emperor’s obsessive attachment to his sister. That was the root of his hatred toward Felix.
He probably thought it was reason enough to hate Felix just for being born from someone other than himself. And then, when he saw that Felix didn’t resemble her at all, and believed she had died from the strain of childbirth—it only deepened the hatred.

It was revolting. Felix’s mother had never once regarded the Emperor as anything more than a brother.
If the stronger Crown Prince hadn’t died, that empty husk wouldn’t have even made it to the throne.
Cursing the Emperor inwardly, Lowell came to a conclusion.

"Instead of staying at the Ducal Castle, what if you went to Phoebos? Ask the Crown Prince to create a proper reason for it."
"Why? If I take the knights with me now, it’ll only give them more justification to call it treason."
Felix didn’t seem flustered or confused—he was just surprised that Lowell was calmly presenting alternatives. Still, he quickly composed himself.

"If you go with minimal personnel and get the Crown Prince’s approval first, it can be done. And we can attach as many excuses as we need. More importantly, now is the time to strike their flank. Since they’re focused on us, they’ll have left openings elsewhere."
Felix fell silent at Lowell’s persuasion. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
"If that had been an option, I’d have done it already. I know they’re planning a black magic ritual to control the Emperor, but I haven’t been able to pinpoint the location or get solid proof. If we make the wrong move, all we’ll do is reveal that we know their objective. The Crown Prince could get caught up in suspicion too."

Lowell didn’t want to lose the trust he’d built up, nor did he want to expose his secret. But for the safest path, some sacrifice was inevitable.
"I know."
"What?"

"I know where the ritual will be held."
Silence settled over the room. Felix was too stunned to even ask how Lowell knew.
"If you trust me, send word to the Crown Prince right now that you’ll head to the capital."

Lowell’s unwavering eyes pierced Felix.
"Seems like you’ll have a lot to explain on the way."
Felix didn’t bother hiding his fatigue as he rubbed his eyes. Lowell knew he was doing this to resolve the situation properly, but he still felt bitter about adding more weight to an already burdened man.

"Yes. But before I explain anything else, please understand this one thing—I’ve never once tried to harm you."
"Let’s make one thing clear. Lowell… I didn’t say I wanted an explanation because I doubted you."