Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

“No, couldn’t it be that the servants were dismissed for doing something wrong? Is there any actual proof His Grace used black magic?”
While Felix, who remained indifferent to rumors about himself, stayed silent, Lowell sprang to his feet in agitation and demanded an answer. Startled by how Lowell flared up as if it were his own business, the innkeeper leaned back slightly before whispering,
“They all say the same thing—that His Grace flew into a fury unlike anything they’d seen before. And that cold, rational man isn’t someone who would act that way. That’s why people are suspecting it might be a symptom. They say those who use forbidden black magic gradually become more violent. Supposedly, His Grace fell in love at first sight and brought you here to bear his child.”

Lowell nearly burst from frustration ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) at the absurd rumor. He understood well enough that people loved this kind of sensational gossip—especially when it involved the high and mighty.
Still, this is too much. Is this how they’re venting their resentment over being dismissed?
The subject of the slander, who seemed nauseated by the food smells, merely kept trying to lean closer to catch Lowell’s pheromone scent. He clearly had no intention of defending himself, which made Lowell even more exasperated—he felt like pounding his chest.

“Rick—you’re a mage too, right? Is it possible to control someone’s mind with dark magic?”
Felix flinched, as if still unused to the title they’d agreed upon in the carriage, then answered seriously.
“People often confuse dark magic and black magic. They’re similar in origin, as both stem from the element of darkness, but they’re not the same. And no, you can’t control someone’s mind with dark magic. But with black magic, it’s possible.”

Although he gave a sincere explanation, it was far from what Lowell wanted to hear.
You could’ve just said no. Why say something like ‘black magic can do that’?
Now someone could just twist those words into a whole new rumor.

“But what possible reason would His Grace have to use such black magic, hmm? Right?”
Lowell looked between Felix and the innkeeper as he asked, locking eyes with each of them in turn. The innkeeper, catching the burning intensity in the traveler’s eyes, couldn’t help but chuckle. He probably thought Lowell was just another outsider deeply moved by Felix’s wartime exploits.
“R-Right. It’s just… I was surprised to hear someone he’d only just met would travel all the way from the capital. No one really believes it seriously—it’s just a rumor, that’s all.”

Realizing he’d said something unnecessary, the innkeeper quickly tried to backtrack. But once Lowell got worked up, he didn’t calm down easily.
“Isn’t it possible that the so-called fiancée was the one who fell for His Grace at first sight?!”
Felix, who had been sniffing around Lowell, froze completely at those words. Then, with his black eyes, he stared at his mate with the look of someone who was just about to ask, Was that really true? Realizing what he’d just said, Lowell’s face flushed red.

“Yes. That’s certainly possible. I did catch a glimpse of His Grace from afar at a deployment ceremony years ago, and his looks and presence were beyond words. I thought it was just exaggeration, but clearly not.”
The innkeeper smoothly redirected the conversation by piling on compliments about Felix.
“Yes, well, I only said what I did because I didn’t want a fine innkeeper like yourself getting caught up in baseless rumors.”
Admitting to himself that he had overreacted, Lowell sat back down and bowed his head. Just moments ago, he’d felt happy thinking Felix was beloved in his own territory. But before that joy could settle, he heard something unpleasant, and that made the disappointment hit harder.

“Indeed. The only reason we live in such comfort here is because of His Grace.”
Felix didn’t pay any attention to what the innkeeper was saying. His eyes remained fixed solely on Lowell. Since he hadn’t been upset to begin with, the only one whose mood was soothed by the innkeeper’s flattery was Lowell.
“Here’s your food. Still not having any alcohol?”

“No, thank you. But… are there any other rumors?”
Though the long-awaited food had finally arrived, Lowell picked at it absentmindedly, lost in thought. Felix didn’t touch his plate at all. What followed from the innkeeper’s lips was the same kind of empty, sensational gossip as before. After signaling to two knights to stay behind with a glance, Felix stepped outside and immediately turned to Lowell.
“Is it true?”

His urgency made it clear how long he’d been holding back the question. But Lowell, who had been lost in entirely different thoughts, gave a puzzled look at the vague question with no subject or object.
“Pardon? You’ll have to tell me what exactly you’re asking about.”
“I’m asking… did you really fall for me at first sight?”

It was painfully obvious that this was the only thing on his mind.
How am I supposed to explain this?
Lowell had thought it would just be a passing embarrassment, but now it had become awkward. Saying yes might be nice to hear, but it would be a lie.

“I only said it to prevent any further misunderstandings. Rick, you’re attractive enough that it wouldn’t be strange for someone to fall for you at first sight. I was just speaking from a standpoint of possibility.”
Lowell, now flushed all the way to the nape of his neck, wondered if he’d gone too far trying to downplay things. But the one beside him seemed more affected by the heat than the words, as he fidgeted with his reddened ears and looked away.
“So what you’re saying is… that’s how I appeared to you?”

What Lowell failed to consider was that young men in the throes of first love tended to interpret things however suited them best. Even if Lowell said ten bad things and one good, Felix would amplify that one good thing a hundredfold.
“Yes, well. Because it’s true.”
Though it felt slightly distorted, it wasn’t a lie—so Lowell nodded. Felix’s steps grew noticeably lighter. Watching from hiding, the knights silently shook their heads. Though no one said it aloud, they were seriously wondering if maybe it wasn’t Felix using black magic—but Lowell.

“Night falls quickly in Nyx. Let’s make our way to the inn while looking around the alleys.”
Felix didn’t care what others said or thought. He moved forward confidently. Though he’d suggested walking through the alleys, he didn’t venture too deep—he wouldn’t take any risks with Lowell around. As the sun set, the townspeople either returned home or lit lanterns to continue working. The whole village looked nothing short of peaceful.
“Nyx is beautiful. And so peaceful.”

“You think so?”
“It must all be thanks to you, Rick.”
Lowell said it playfully, but it was a sincere compliment.

“Who knows. I only did what had to be done. There’s no being more pathetic than a king who can’t protect his own land.”
Felix’s calm tone conveyed that he meant what he said. Despite all he’d done to maintain peace in the territory, he treated it as no more than his duty. That noble attitude momentarily stole Lowell’s gaze. Someone he’d always thought of as cute now seemed like someone grand—so far beyond his reach.
Lowell had been so focused on Felix’s vulnerable sides that he’d missed his strength entirely. Even knowing people were multifaceted, it was an easy thing to overlook. It was a mistake born of knowing too much about Felix’s future.

“I see.”
The two walked in silence for a while. Their footprints overlapped and separated as they walked across the snow. Felix, not used to walking beside someone, would move slightly ahead and then stop. Lowell, hurrying to catch up, would end up stepping exactly where Felix had stepped.
As it happened again and again, Felix’s pace naturally slowed. The tangled footprints eventually found their rhythm and moved steadily in the same direction. Their awkward companionship might have been clumsy, but because they were headed the same way, neither of them felt alone.

“Let’s head to the inn.”
Felix spoke when he noticed Lowell’s nose had turned red. No one objected.
***

The inn wasn’t as luxurious as the one they’d stayed in back in the capital, but the facilities weren’t bad. It was the kind of place well-off merchants might use. Everything was going smoothly—
“Ah, it says here that the two of you are sharing a room.”
—until they were assigned to the same room. Since it was an inn, no matter how spacious the room was, there was no partitioned space. In other words, unlike before, there was no option to sleep in separate rooms.

“Then could we at least get one extra—”
The moment Lowell opened his mouth, Felix cut in.
“Just give us that room.”

At Lowell’s flustered expression, Felix spoke shamelessly.
“You were going to end up in my bed again anyway, weren’t you?”
He wasn’t wrong. Not once had Lowell failed to sleepwalk into Felix’s room at night.

Still, isn’t there a difference between waking up in the same bed and planning to sleep there from the start?
But in the end, Felix didn’t bother to get a second room.