Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

The trip went wrong from the very first step. The reins of the carriage—inspected only yesterday—had a problem, delaying their departure. Still, it was the sort of thing that could happen, so both Lowell and Felix simply thought, So be it.
Better than something going wrong after we’ve already left.

But when the reins were fixed and the teleportation mages still hadn’t arrived, a sense of unease began to creep in. That was when things started to feel... off.
“Ah, our deepest apologies. The path we usually take was blocked, so we had to make a detour, which caused the delay.”
When the mages finally arrived much later, they were drenched in sweat and repeatedly bowed, apologizing. Since it wasn’t a route Felix or the knights typically used, and the delay came from delayed coordination, there was no harsh scolding. Felix simply instructed some idle knights to help clean up and left it at that.

“Then let’s depart immediately to make up for lost time.”
Because the carriage and accompanying knights also needed to be transported, quite a few mages had to participate. Lowell had experienced teleportation once before, when coming to Nyx, but it still felt surreal. Sitting in the carriage, their knees lightly bumping as they waited to depart, Felix chuckled.
“We’ve gotten off to a late start.”

“It’s fine. They said we’ll still make it before sunset.”
Lowell grinned as he watched the landscape outside the window change rapidly.
Surely nothing else will go wrong now, right?

They both pushed down the nagging feeling in their chests and turned their attention back to their hopeful conversation about the trip.
Lowell suggested that once they arrived, they move up the schedule and go straight to the boat ride after dropping off their things. Felix responded that if that’s what he wanted, then that’s what they’d do. With each exchange, Felix’s only answer was “whatever you want,” which might have made it seem like he wasn’t really paying attention—but in truth, that wasn’t the case at all.
He couldn’t take his eyes off Lowell’s lips, and his hand was busy gently playing with Lowell’s fingers. Even as he did so, he caught and responded to every small word Lowell spoke. In those subtle gestures, it was clear that Felix’s entire attention was focused solely on him.

“Is there anywhere you want to go, Felix? I feel like I’ve been the only one making suggestions since yesterday.”
Lowell asked without much expectation. Felix hadn’t actively proposed anything so far.
“Tonight, I was thinking we could go out for a bit.”

So when Felix made a suggestion, Lowell couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Where to?”
“There’s supposed to be a beautiful spot near the inn at night. We’ll have to walk a little, but if it’s too much for you, I can carry you.”

Lowell knew better than anyone that Felix didn’t say things like that lightly. Even on flat ground, if Lowell’s breathing grew even the slightest bit rough, Felix would immediately scoop him up.
Being carried still makes me a bit uncomfortable, though.
Felix always held him gently, without letting him jostle, but having his feet off the ground still made him feel unstable. Still, since Felix was the one who’d suggested it, Lowell had no intention of turning him down.
“I’d love that. They say there are lots of mana stones, so the night view must be amazing.”

When Lowell accepted, Felix’s face visibly relaxed with relief.
“Your Grace, once we complete the next teleport, you’ll need to travel by carriage again.”
Just then, one of the mages knocked and informed them.

“Understood.”
“That was fast.”
“Yes. It’s not that far for magical travel. But once we switch to the carriage, it’ll take about three hours.”

Felix gave the mage a curt reply, then turned back to Lowell and explained more gently. The contrast in tone was so extreme that Lowell found it both absurd and amusingly childish.
“So it’s carriage travel next.”
The background shifted one last time, and the coachman gave the signal to depart. Compared to teleportation, there was definitely some vibration now—but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“It’s a forest. The forests in Nyx are all covered in snow, so it’s all white… it’s nice seeing greenery again.”
Lowell made the comment unconsciously, then immediately winced. Felix, who often worried whether Nyx seemed dull compared to Phoebus, might misunderstand what he meant.
“Ah, I don’t mean I dislike Nyx’s scenery or anything. I just meant it’s refreshing to see something different for the first time in a while, so please don’t worry.”

“I see.”
Contrary to Lowell’s concern, Felix responded calmly. Lowell wondered if he’d overreacted, and absentmindedly fidgeted with his hair. Felix’s gaze followed the movement of Lowell’s fingers, and his lips softened into a gentle smile.
“Lowell, you said you liked Nyx. I don’t doubt you anymore. I believe you.”

It had taken a long time to hear those words: “I believe you.” There had been times when things felt slow or frustrating—but maybe that made moments like this all the more meaningful. That’s what Lowell thought.
“Yeah.”
His reply came out short and rough, in contrast to the emotion swelling inside him. He felt like no words in existence could fully express what he felt. For a while, the only sound inside the carriage was the pounding of their hearts.

The schedule had been pushed back a little, but the trip seemed to be settling back into place—at least until the moment they heard a deafening KWA-GANG.
The carriage screeched to a sudden halt and jolted violently. Lowell, who had been sitting on the sofa, nearly toppled over. Had Felix not immediately reached out to shield him, he might have collapsed onto the floor.
“What’s going on?”

As soon as he confirmed Lowell was safe, Felix called out to the coachman.
“Y-Your Grace. A monster has appeared nearby, and they’re dealing with it now. W-we’ll have to wait here for a while.”
The mages outside the window looked visibly tense. Since they specialized in teleportation magic, they were clearly unconfident in battle—hesitation written all over their faces.

“A monster, this far down?”
“It seems the local knights were driving the monster during a hunt and let one slip.”
Caris, who had dashed off at the first sign of trouble, returned quickly with a short explanation. Felix rubbed his forehead, his expression one of utter disbelief. That they had failed at something as basic as monster hunting—it was ridiculous.

“Is it a high-grade monster?”
In the end, he gently set Lowell back onto the seat and moved to open the carriage door. But when Lowell reflexively grabbed his sleeve, Felix froze in place.
“Ah… I didn’t mean to. I just… did it without thinking…”

Lowell quickly let go of the fabric, trailing off. Even though he knew Felix wouldn’t be hurt by something so minor, his body had moved on its own.
“Lowell. You have to trust me, too. I’ll take care of it and be right back. Don’t move—just sit and wait.”
Felix left the carriage, leaving Tia and Caris behind to watch over Lowell. Watching Felix’s back through the window, Lowell let out a long sigh.

“Maybe I should learn swordsmanship. I’m useless with magic anyway.”
He mumbled in frustration, well aware that his body had not a drop of magical power. No matter how much he tried to think of something useful, it was agonizing to realize he could do nothing in a moment like this.
“Just waiting here for His Grace is already a great help, my lord.”

Tia, having picked up on his mood, offered gentle comfort with a smile in her voice. Though he’d gotten better at waiting through repeated experience, it seemed he hadn’t completely overcome his worries yet.
“You’re right. Everyone has their role.”
Lowell nodded and turned his gaze back toward Felix. His figure, now no bigger than a fingertip, still lingered in the distance. Caris, seeing him stare, grinned.

“His Grace stepping in is the fastest and safest solution. I’m sure that’s why he went. He was really looking forward to this trip.”
If Caris had noticed, then likely everyone back at the Ducal Castle had, too. That thought lifted Lowell’s mood a little—but he still couldn’t tear his eyes away from the glass window. A dark light descended upon the forest.
It’s huge.

Normally, he would’ve been frightened or startled by such a phenomenon—but since he knew it was Felix’s magic, it felt almost… tender.
I guess it’s because I know he’s using it to protect me.
The booming sounds echoed again and again, but unlike the first time, they didn’t startle him.

“Looks like he really means to finish it in one strike.”
Caris murmured in awe. And just as she said, Felix quickly emerged from the forest. Seeing Lowell peering through the window, he quickened his pace—but stopped just short of the door, glancing down at his bloodstained clothes.
“I should change before getting in.”

He didn’t even wait for Lowell to say it was okay. Felix just stripped off his top outside the carriage and tossed it aside. As his muscular, sculpted torso was revealed, Lowell flushed deep red.
What the hell is he doing—stripping out there like that?