Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

Lowell knew Felix had left without waking him as a gesture of consideration. Still, he couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed as he brushed his hand across the blanket on the empty side of the bed. The fabric was cold to the touch, and that chill made the emptiness feel more real. Before the feeling could take hold of him, Lowell sat up abruptly. He needed to shake off the creeping loneliness that threatened to drag him down.
A week without seeing each other—what’s the big deal? It’s not like I’ve ever lived closely with other people. I’ve spent way more time alone. Getting all sentimental now is just ridiculous.

To Lowell, loneliness was like an old scar—painful when it first formed, but over time, it just became part of the body. When life got busy, he’d even forget it existed. But once in a while, when he happened to glance at it, he’d simply think, Ah, this is where that loneliness used to be. And he didn’t mind that. If anything, it made him feel stronger—like proof that he’d survived.
Maybe I’ve gotten soft because everyone’s been treating me so kindly. Or maybe it’s this younger body making my emotions childish too.
Lowell quickly steadied himself. He deliberately moved his body around, shaking off the gloom and bringing back some energy.

“You’re awake?”
Xenia had been waiting outside and only approached with the washbasin once the knights had finished their quick inspection.
“Good morning, Xenia. I feel like I’ve been sleeping in too much lately. I’m getting lazy.”

“Lazy? Not at all! You’ve got the baby to think of. Rest is important right now.”
The way she called it “the baby” felt awkward, and Lowell reached up to touch his head. He had grown somewhat used to the class system and was behaving accordingly, but in moments like this, a faint sense of rejection still stirred.
“Thank you. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

He turned down her offer to help him change and took a simple set of indoor clothes. The knights kept their eyes forward even while he changed, which made Lowell scramble to dress as fast as possible, like it was a timed competition. He didn’t mind around men, but he wasn’t keen on showing his bare body in front of women.
“When did His Grace leave?”
Lowell asked while catching his breath. Tia answered first.

“His Highness departed just before sunrise. Officially, he’s gone on a monster extermination mission, but in truth, he will split off midway. He said he would contact you tonight through the sphere.”
“Thank you for letting me know.”
After a light meal in the tower, Lowell bundled himself up to head to the main castle. He thought he might overheat dressed like this, but remembering how Felix always wrapped him up in layers, he couldn’t bring himself to go lightly. As the knights scanned him from head to toe, he felt his choice was validated.

I wonder if reports are being made on what I eat and wear too.
With that wary thought, Lowell wrapped the muffler around his neck and finally stepped out of the tower.
“It snowed again overnight, so be careful with your footing.”

Just as Karisse said, the snow was piled even higher than yesterday—so much that it looked like a sea of white. The clearing efforts had started at the main castle, but the path to the tower wasn’t finished yet, so they had no choice but to trudge through.
“I will. Thank you.”
Even with boots on, the snow came up to his ankles and chilled his whole body. His feet kept sinking like he was walking through sand, draining his energy.
Maybe I should’ve waited until the path was cleared before heading out.

He wasn’t even halfway to the main building yet, and he was already sweating. In the past, he would walk with Felix, and by the time they arrived, he’d practically be in his arms. Maybe trying to go alone in this unshoveled snow had been overconfidence. Just as he began to regret it—
“Would it be all right to stop by the greenhouse?”
He’d said it just thinking it would be a good place to rest—but once he said it out loud, he realized he genuinely wanted to go.

“Of course.”
Two knights opened the door and checked inside before guiding him in.
Isn’t this a bit much?

Lowell understood they were just doing their job, but even so, the excessive caution here at the Grand Duke’s estate felt a bit absurd. Feeling slightly awkward, he entered the greenhouse—and was struck by how clean and beautiful it was compared to before. Amid the vibrant flowers, the especially vivid blue and yellow blooms stood out. It looked more like a lavish botanical garden than a place for growing herbs.
Even the herbs look ornamental now.
“Welcome, young master.”

Startled by the sight, Lowell stood with his mouth slightly open until an elderly gardener, who’d been leading the crew, greeted him warmly. He should have looked annoyed by all the work, but his face was bright with energy.
“Hello. Looks like you’re very busy.”
“Yes. It feels good to work on the greenhouse again after so long.”

The gardener subtly emphasized the words after so long. When Lowell tilted his head with a curious expression—wondering, Didn’t they always grow herbs in here?—the gardener added with a chuckle:
“Oh, dear. I’ve been working in this castle for thirty years. The Grand Duchess cherished this greenhouse deeply. When I had to clear it out with my own hands, it felt like my heart was being torn apart.”
The Grand Duchess he referred to wasn’t Lowell, but Felix’s mother. It was something Lowell had never heard from Felix, and he glanced around the greenhouse with renewed interest.

Did Felix grow up looking at these blooming flowers too?
He wondered what Felix had been thinking when he agreed to Lowell’s request. But there was no one here to answer that question. Instead, he turned to the gardener, who might hold a clue.
“I’m rambling too much in my old age. Please forget what I said, young master.”

But even the gardener knew you couldn’t take back spoken words. Judging from his tone and body language, he didn’t look like he’d misspoken.
If anything, he looks like he wants to say more.
Lowell stared at the gardener, who was still hovering nearby while handing him a cup of tea. Finally, he spoke.

“What was the Grand Duchess like?”
“She was a very gentle woman. When she was alive, the castle was full of life. You remind me of her, in some ways.”
The gardener answered immediately, as though he’d been waiting for the question. His eyes sparkled like he was wandering through a cherished dream.

“Me?”
“Yes. Not in looks, but in character. The castle was never quiet while she was here.”
“She must’ve been a wonderful person.”

The gardener nodded with the kind of joy that came only from treasured memories.
“She was truly exceptional. And now, it feels like that energy is returning. Both as a gardener and as someone who’s served this place for a long time, I’m very happy.”
“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s as if we’ve gone back in time. It must be because someone good has come. His Highness has also become much more gentle.”
He didn’t just have experience—he clearly loved this castle deeply. That warmed Lowell’s heart, and for the first time that day, he smiled genuinely.
“His Grace was always gentle. People just ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ didn’t recognize it.”

Even the gardener, the knights, and servants all visibly flinched at that. Their faces seemed to say, Are you serious?, though they quickly masked it. The silence didn’t last long. The gardener let out an awkward laugh.
“Well, if you say so, young master, it must be true. Please take your time. This old man has work to do.”
Sitting there in a good mood, Lowell felt his energy return quickly. Surrounded by the scent of flowers tickling his nose, he naturally thought of Felix, who had once compared every bloom to something about Lowell. It happened without him meaning to, like a reflex.

They say the sense of smell has the best memory, don’t they?
Lowell’s eyes opened wide.
I’ve rested enough. Time to get to work.

Even a short rest stirred up thoughts of Felix, leaving Lowell unsettled. Finding traces of him in the smallest things made him feel immature.
“Shall we head to the castle?”
Just in time, the path to the greenhouse had been cleared. Lowell intended to observe how the castle staff’s attitudes were shifting—and, if possible, to gather intel about what was happening in the capital. Everything proceeded just as he planned. The only thing he hadn’t expected was how, between all these mundane moments, he kept feeling the traces of the one who wasn’t there.

“Today we’ve prepared duck glazed in honey.”
It was one of the few dishes Felix had managed to eat.
“Training is proceeding as usual.”

That referred to the sessions Felix personally oversaw at the center of the grounds.
“There are related books in the study.”
Even when he opened a book, he found Felix’s handwritten notes.

At first, he pretended not to notice the empty space that remained. But before long, he found himself seeking it out. Sitting down, he hugged his knees and tapped the jewel on the bracelet around his ankle. The faint trace of Felix’s pheromones brought comfort.
It was the beginning of a long wait.