Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

“I’d prefer you drop the farce and tell us why you summoned us.”

Felix snapped, directing his words at the High Priest, who greeted them with a pleasant smile. Regardless of how hated Felix might be by the Emperor, the fact remained that he was a war hero and held the title of Grand Duke. That authority hadn’t vanished. Yet the Temple continued to treat him with thinly veiled contempt just for being a mage who used dark attributes. Naturally, there was no way Felix could feel at ease in this place.
Fifty years ago, a dark-attribute mage supposedly used forbidden black magic and wiped out an entire province. Since then, treatment of dark mages has worsened—but if even the Grand Duke is being treated like this, they must be downright superstitious.
Lowell glanced at Felix out of the corner of his eye.

Guess having me here only makes it worse for him.
Felix had been glaring holes through him ever since they sat down. Lowell deliberately avoided his stare and slipped a forkful of salad into his mouth. The fragrant aroma of greens spread across his tongue, and the creamy dressing sharpened his appetite.
The food’s not at fault.

He busied himself with his fork and silently observed the war of nerves unfolding between the two men. He was just as curious as Felix to know why the High Priest had summoned them both.
“Oh my, I was hoping we could talk leisurely after your meal. Was it rude to trouble the Grand Duke while you’re still weary from travel?”
“I don’t care for talking in circles.”

Anyone else would’ve been crushed by Felix’s oppressive presence, but the High Priest wasn’t so easily cowed. As though waiting for this moment, he calmly began what he’d clearly prepared in advance. Lowell was just reaching for the quail meat when the words came.
“There has been a divine oracle.”
“And what would that oh-so-noble oracle have to do with me?”

Felix sneered, placing heavy emphasis on noble. Every syllable was steeped in deep-rooted disgust. Frankly, it was a miracle he hadn’t outright cursed the oracle as useless blasphemy. Lowell, on the other hand, felt a sudden and inexplicable sense of unease.
There wasn’t supposed to be any oracle around this time in the story.
If the oracle involved a major figure like Felix, there was no way Lowell wouldn’t remember it.

“I heard the two of you spent a sacred night together a few days ago.”
Even Lowell, whose skin was thicker than most, choked and coughed at the High Priest’s bold words. Felix’s expression twisted in open outrage.
“So you dragged me here to insult me with some gutter gossip?”

He looked ready to leap from his seat and draw his sword at any moment. The High Priest, who had been so composed until now, flinched and recoiled, visibly alarmed. Lowell caught Felix casting a sidelong glance at him.
“P-please, hear me out. I meant no offense, Your Grace. Why would I ever insult you? I only relay the will of the divine.”
“Go ahead. Let’s hear what else your forked tongue has to say.”
Felix’s patience was visibly wearing thin.

This isn’t looking good.
Lowell rubbed his chin. The Halo Empire wasn’t exactly ruled by the Temple, but if Felix—already hated by the Emperor—ended up injuring the High Priest, he’d likely be punished severely. And Felix, being Felix, probably wouldn’t care even if he lost his entire estate over it.
But I’m not about to let that happen.

With that in mind, Lowell let out a heavy sigh.
“Grand Duke Felix, I’m sure the High Priest has a greater purpose in mind. Let’s at least hear him out.”
Felix’s gaze shifted to Lowell. Unlike the venom he’d directed at the High Priest, his expression softened slightly, though tension still lingered beneath the surface.

“So now you’re siding with him and giving me orders too?”
His retort was sharp as a blade. Lowell nearly smiled—Felix reminded him of a bristling black cat, all fur and fangs.
Well, there goes the pleasant meal.

Suppressing a sigh for the poor chef, Lowell stepped closer to Felix. He gently placed a hand on the man’s forearm—tense and ready to draw a blade—and looked up at him. That alone was enough to slightly diffuse the ominous pressure in the air. Felix didn’t pull away, bothered by the contact but unable to retreat.
“I was summoned here too, wasn’t I? That means I have the right to hear what this is about.”
Lowell gave a discreet signal to the High Priest, silently urging him to speak while he had the chance. To his credit, the man had some sense of timing.

“The God Kael is watching over you both. There is a path He has ordained—please do not resist His call.”
Kael was one of the Halo Empire’s deities, primarily associated with love and marriage. Narrowing his eyes, Lowell examined the priest for any hint of deceit.
“Spare us the riddles and say what you mean.”

Felix’s voice was tight with barely restrained fury, the veins standing out on his neck.
“You’re telling me to marry this man?”
He barked, still unable to shake Lowell off, though his voice was livid. The High Priest regarded them with a strange expression. The Felix he knew would have thrown Lowell off without a second thought—and wouldn’t have spared him even a glance if he’d landed on the floor. But here he was, enduring even a gentle restraining touch.

“How could I possibly presume to comment on Your Grace’s marriage? I merely convey the will of the gods.”
“What a joke. I don’t care how many you’ve manipulated in the name of divine will—I won’t play along.”
Feeling increasingly disillusioned with the situation, Felix pushed Lowell away by the shoulder. He had tried to hold back, but Lowell’s frail body stumbled several steps backward. Felix flinched at the sight and turned his back, as if nothing had happened.

“Don’t ever summon me again for this nonsense.”
“Your Grace, the blessing has already been given. One day, you’ll understand—there are forces in this world that cannot be refused.”
“A warrior’s duty is to fight even against the irresistible.”

Lowell watched Felix’s broad back. Beneath those clothes would be countless scars—wounds he’d earned growing up on blood-soaked battlefields. Felix paused mid-step but didn’t look back, then strode purposefully out of the temple. Lowell rushed after him.
“Your Grace!”
Lowell’s delicate body couldn’t manage even a short ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) sprint without gasping for air. He’d tried exercising the past few days, but his stamina hadn’t improved.

So pretty and yet so useless, this body.
Fortunately, Felix stopped at his voice and waited.
All bark, but he listens surprisingly well.

Lowell had always thought Felix was a villain with plenty of room for rehabilitation. But now, he was beginning to believe something even more sentimental: He’s not bad—he’s just a good kid who went astray because of a bad environment.
“So, are you really buying into that ridiculous oracle? Or is that why you approached me in the first place?”
Felix still wouldn’t look at him.

Can’t bring himself to say harsh things to someone’s face, huh? Acting prickly because he’s afraid of getting hurt after letting himself hope—that’s what it looks like to me.
Treating Felix like a wary wild animal, Lowell approached slowly, keeping a measured distance.
“I don’t plan to let some divine message dictate my future either.”

“…Well, that’s a relief.”
The reply came a bit late. Felix lowered his gaze slightly, and to Lowell, he looked like a sulking child. Lowell cursed his own weakness for lonely people—and found himself wanting to see Felix smile.
“But I don’t think there’s any harm in meeting a few more times.”

A gentle breeze swept between them. Felix looked utterly bewildered.
“What did you say?”
“We could become good friends—regardless of any divine will.”

“Friends?”
“Yes. To me, you seem like a very kind and good person, Your Grace.”
Lowell’s voice was so soft and sweet that interpreting it with any suspicion felt almost profane. Felix’s ears slowly flushed red at the unexpected compliment.

“I refuse. If you’re looking for someone to share your nights with, find someone else, Lord Lowell.”
But that wasn’t the answer Lowell had hoped for. Felix resumed walking without another word—his ears still bright red.
He says no, but he remembered my name, didn’t he?

Lowell let out a quiet laugh. He would approach even more carefully, more delicately—and make sure Felix had no room to become a villain at all. He’d make him happy.
Of course, life never went according to plan.
***

“...You’re pregnant.”
“What?”
“The blessing of Kael has come upon you.”

The priest, visiting on rounds, made the announcement obliviously. For him, it was just part of his duty—but to Lowell, it hit like a bolt from the blue.
You Temple bastards could’ve said that’s what the blessing meant in the first place!
The world seemed to spin. The image of human-trauma incarnate, Felix, loomed in Lowell’s mind, making the future feel even more suffocating.

So much for careful and delicate.
Lowell could only lament the absurd, spiraling mess that was now his reality.