Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

“I thought I was getting better, but I guess not.”

It was an obvious lie to anyone listening. Even so, Felix didn’t press the issue further. Instead, he sent the food away.
“Take this back and bring something else. Something with a milder scent—bring them out one at a time.”
The servants hurriedly cleared the table and returned with a new dish. Originally, a fish course had been planned, but under Felix’s orders, they brought out a salad instead—rare, crisp greens from a territory where it was winter year-round, lightly dressed with a delicate fruit vinaigrette. But even then, Lowell couldn’t stop his body from rejecting it.

The dining hall was already thick with Felix’s pheromones, aimed at protecting his Omega, so only Beta servants remained inside.
“Even with pheromones, you still can’t eat?”
“Mm… ugh. No.”

Lowell wanted to at least pretend to eat, but even that was impossible now. The barely seasoned meat that came next, the fruit salad, the grilled vegetables dusted with only a little pepper, and even the soup—all of it couldn’t make it past the edge of the table, much less into his mouth.
Felix, who was usually undemanding about food, kept rejecting dish after dish. It was such an unusual event that the head chef himself came out in a panic, sweating profusely.
“Shall I step out so you can eat first?”

Lowell had only said it because he was worried. Felix hadn’t touched his food out of solidarity, all because Lowell was suffering from morning sickness. But his words seemed to make Felix even more upset.
“You want me to eat alone while the person carrying my child can’t even swallow a bite because of nausea? I’m not a pig—I can’t do that.”
Lowell began to worry that Felix’s sense of responsibility was becoming a little too much. His voice was cold, but the soft scent of apples surrounding him told a different story. Lowell instinctively tried to breathe it in more deeply.

“Your Grace, the only thing left is dessert.”
“Bring that, then.”
Lowell wasn’t fond of desserts even on normal days, and just the thought of buttery aromas was enough to turn his stomach now. He had no hope of being able to eat it.

The head chef returned, looking as if he were bringing out a last meal before execution.
“I-It’s apple pie with cinnamon.”
Huh?

He had expected to gag—but to his surprise, Lowell’s mouth started watering. The scent, mingled ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) with Felix’s own apple pheromones, made it all the more appetizing. It was odd. He normally didn’t even like this kind of dessert, but now his empty stomach was screaming at him to get it inside.
“Do you think you can eat it?”
Lowell didn’t even bother answering—he just nodded enthusiastically. The relieved head chef served a slice of the pie to both Lowell and Felix. Lowell couldn’t wait. He stabbed his fork into the pastry, and the flaky crust gave way to thick apple chunks and glistening jam that oozed out. He didn’t hesitate to bring it to his mouth. Sweet apple filled his tongue, followed by a faintly bitter cinnamon finish.
It’s delicious.

It was the first real food he’d had in a long time. Lowell’s hands moved quickly. He devoured the first slice, then didn’t even hesitate to eat the second one Felix nudged toward him. The crisp apple bits were especially satisfying.
“Shall I bring you more?”
Lowell didn’t decline. After four slices, he finally started noticing his surroundings again. Only after stuffing himself did he realize he’d gotten jam on his lips. It was a little embarrassing to have eaten so eagerly—but he was satisfied.

“You like dessert?”
Felix hadn’t touched his own plate, too absorbed in watching Lowell eat.
“Uh… Not really. I’m not that into sweets. But maybe it’s because your pheromones smell a bit like the pie? I think the baby liked it.”

Lowell rambled to cover up his embarrassment over being the only one eating while his companion went hungry. Felix gazed at him for a moment before speaking, voice hesitant.
“You’re the second person to say that.”
“What?”

“My mother. She used to say my pheromones smelled like apple pie.”
It was the reason Felix, despite hating his pheromones, continued to eat apple pie—the only dessert he ever touched. Because that single moment of being loved had stayed with him, precious beyond measure. And now Lowell had casually handed him that same moment back, as if love were something he could give at any time.
“So I wasn’t the only one who thought that.”

Lowell had once again crossed a line Felix had drawn—without hesitation, and with disarming ease.
***
The following afternoon, Lowell still couldn’t eat anything except apple pie. But even that small bit of real food, compared to the flavorless fruits he’d been surviving on, had helped restore some of his strength.

“I’m going to inspect the territory.”
Felix had been impossibly busy since returning home. He had spent all of yesterday buried in paperwork, and today he was getting ready to go outside. With his cheeks puffed out from a mouthful of apple pie, Lowell simply nodded in response.
“Would you like to come with me?”

But that wasn’t what Felix had really wanted to say. It had clearly taken some courage for him to even ask. Part of Lowell wanted to accept—but he shook his head. He had more pressing matters.
“Please take me with you next time.”
“All right. You should rest and recover from the journey anyway.”

Felix finished putting on his coat, trying not to show how disappointed he was.
As if you get travel fatigue from a day of teleporting.
Contrary to what Felix assumed, Lowell had his own grand plans.

“You said yesterday I could do whatever I want with the castle, right?”
“What?”
Felix paused at the door, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic.

“You said I could decorate it as I please.”
“Wait… You’re not planning to start today, are you? You should at least rest for a day.”
But Lowell wanted this dark and gloomy castle changed as soon as possible. If he waited and got further along in the pregnancy, it would only get harder to move around.

“I feel perfectly fine. You can go out and look forward to seeing how the castle will change.”
Felix looked back even as he headed out the door, clearly more worried than reassured. He even turned around once more on horseback, glancing toward the castle with concern.
“Alright—let’s do this!”

Unaware of Felix’s anxiety, Lowell was bursting with enthusiasm.
“It won’t be easy.”
Tony, who had been assigned to guard Lowell under Felix’s orders, muttered from beside him. Lowell shot him a look.

“Even if it’s not easy, it has to be done. Now, call all the house staff!”
“Me? I’m supposed to be guarding you. I can’t leave your side.”
Tony’s jaw dropped at how naturally Lowell gave out orders. But Lowell just waved his hand dismissively.

“What could possibly happen to me inside this castle? Standing around doing nothing can’t be more productive than getting something done, right?”
“We have to be prepared for emergencies at all times.”
Because Felix had strictly ordered him not to leave Lowell’s side, Tony couldn’t move freely.

“Then just follow me.”
Lowell didn’t insist any further and walked out with determined steps. He was planning to find the head butler—an older man he had noticed yesterday who looked like he'd been in service a long time. Remembering where he had seen him, Lowell made him his first target.
“Hello.”

“Greetings. It’s an honor to serve you, young master. I am Hamilton, the head butler.”
Despite claiming it was an honor, Hamilton didn’t call him ‘Your Grace’ or even ‘the Grand Duchess.’ He still viewed Lowell more as someone from the Count’s house than as Felix’s partner.
That’ll change gradually through daily life.

Lowell was full of motivation. It had been a long time since he felt so energized and ready to take action.
“Yes, Butler Hamilton. I’m going to need a lot of your help starting today.”
“Pardon?”

Hamilton, who had seemed like a fortress of formality, quickly found himself swept up in Lowell’s energy after just a few words.
“Please gather all the household staff. We’re going to turn this place upside down.”
“Pardon?”

The butler repeated himself like a parrot. He’d heard the young master had boldly declared yesterday that the castle didn’t suit him and he would be changing it—but he hadn’t expected things to start this soon. He began to worry this was about indulgence and luxury, just like the rumors said.
“Hurry, please!”
But the beautiful and cheerful young man showed no trace of greed in his innocent tone as he urged the butler forward.

“Understood.”
Hamilton had no idea what Lowell had in mind, but he decided to at least hear him out.