Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

The mountain was steeper than expected. If Lowell had tried to climb it alone, he wouldn’t have made it—he’d likely have collapsed halfway up. But thanks to Felix thoroughly supporting him as promised, they made it safely. In fact, from a distance, it would be more accurate to say Felix had simply carried him most of the way.
Is the night view really that impressive? I remember this place being mentioned briefly in a travelogue, but no one ever said it was a must-see. Unless there’s a special reason, Felix wouldn’t normally bring me somewhere like this.

Felix was so overprotective that he rarely took Lowell anywhere even slightly strenuous or dangerous. He’d even worried every time Lowell traveled between the tower and the main castle, so it was only natural that Lowell found this strange.
“We’re almost there.”
Felix, who had been completely silent until now, finally spoke. His arms, holding Lowell, trembled ever so slightly—not from strain, but from nerves. Feeling it firsthand, Lowell’s curiosity deepened.

“Is it here?”
Another ten minutes passed before Felix gently set Lowell down and looked around.
This seems familiar.

Something about the area sparked recognition. When Lowell lowered his gaze, the night view below came into sight—rows of lights stretching far below the mountain, like a river of stars. Lowell stared blankly at the sight as Felix extended his arm protectively beside him.
“It’s beautiful.”
Lowell smiled brightly, and Felix nodded. When Lowell looked at him expectantly, as if saying, Go on, say what you wanted to say, Felix finally spoke with difficulty.

“Doesn’t it remind you of anything?”
“It does feel familiar…”
Lowell realized the déjà vu wasn’t just his imagination and looked around more carefully. And then, belatedly, he understood why it all felt so familiar.

It’s a lot like Swain Hill.
It was higher, but the scenery was so similar that one could believe it was the same place. If it hadn’t been so dark, Lowell would’ve recognized it right away. Once he realized it, he understood why Felix had brought him here.
Swain Hill was the place where Lowell had first pushed back against the circumstances—not swept along, but of his own will. It must have been the same for Felix. On that rainy day, he’d ridden at full speed because he couldn’t leave Lowell alone. It was a place full of meaning for them both.

“When I saw a drawing of this place, I thought I’d like to bring you here before leaving for Phoebus.”
Lowell chuckled at the surprisingly sweet gesture Felix had prepared. He had wanted to enjoy the trip, but deep down, a thorn of unease had been pricking him. It seemed Felix had sensed it too.
“It feels like such a long time ago.”

It hadn’t even been a year, but it felt like ages. Just the fact that the Felix who once didn’t trust anyone was now standing here so firmly made it feel that way.
“Does it? To me, it still feels like yesterday.”
Seated on the grass, looking at the night view, Lowell lifted his head and looked at Felix. His face was stiff with tension, and his usually sharp gaze wandered around Lowell, avoiding direct eye contact.
“Do you have something to say? You look very nervous.”

Unable to bear it [N O V E L I G H T] anymore, Lowell teased with a smile. He was perceptive, and it was obvious what a man would want to say under these circumstances. Especially when that same man—who always acted like he didn’t even know what pockets were for—kept fiddling with the one at his side.
“I was going to wait until everything was perfectly in place.”
That explained why Felix had grown increasingly anxious every time something went off-plan. He usually didn’t hesitate over anything, but whenever it came to Lowell, he grew timid.

“Then let me go first.”
Still smiling mischievously, Lowell extended a hand toward Felix and declared boldly:
“Would you officially marry me?”

Felix, who had been struggling to speak, was completely blindsided. His mouth opened and closed wordlessly. Lowell waved his hand again, like, Well?
“You knew?”
“I wouldn’t say I knew—more like I caught on.”

Felix’s expression crumpled, a deeply wronged look overtaking his face. It was the first time Lowell had ever seen that kind of expression, and it only made the moment more fun.
Ah, I really shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am.
But Felix’s reaction was just too cute to stop teasing him. And this time, the look on Felix’s face didn’t soften so easily—he truly looked defeated.

“Even so—why are you the one saying it?”
“Does it really matter who proposes? The important thing is that both of us want to become official spouses, right?”
Lowell offered the reasoning with a shameless grin. Felix, who had nearly fallen for it, snapped back to his senses. He really did feel like Lowell was playing him like a fiddle.

“You didn’t even let me say my lines.”
The knights hidden nearby cupped their mouths to stifle their laughter. While Lowell was unaware, Felix had been muttering and rehearsing his proposal lines so often that everyone at the ducal castle—except one—had guessed they’d return from this trip engaged. The knights closest to him had heard the lines so many times, they could recite them by heart. So this scene was equal parts pitiful and hilarious.
“Then say them after you return from the capital.”

Lowell whispered as he looked at the sulking Felix. If he were to hear the confession now, it would feel like he was sending Felix off to war.
Though promising marriage before sending someone off is kind of worrying too...
He briefly recalled the classic tragedies from mythology, then shook his head. Even if he’d fallen into a book, surely it wouldn’t go that far.

“You really don’t want to hear it now?”
“Nope. But my arm hurts, so hurry up and put the ring on.”
Felix flinched—he hadn’t realized that had been noticed. With a resigned sigh, he finally pulled a ring from his pocket. It was far more finely crafted than the one Lowell had given him, but the design was nearly identical.

“When I get back, I’ll do something so incredible you won’t believe it. Be ready.”
He made the promise with unusual bravado. The ring was set with a diamond that, in the dark, almost looked black. Lowell turned it this way and that so the shadows would cling to it.
“Do you like it?”

Felix, as if having given up on everything, muttered like he’d settle for the ring being liked, at least. There was no reason not to like it—Lowell nodded happily. Now, compared to the ring hanging from Felix’s neck, it was even more satisfying.
“I’ll put yours on for you.”
Still wearing that gruff expression, Felix obediently lowered himself and handed over his own ring.

“Just the fact that you planned all this makes me happy.”
Lowell’s cheeks were tinged red as he spoke. He’d brushed it off with a smile, but his happiness was real. Felix, restraining the overwhelming urge to kiss him then and there, waited patiently for Lowell to slip the ring onto his finger.
It was identical in design to Lowell’s, save for the size—and it fit Felix’s hand perfectly. What had been just a small ornament now became a bond carrying meaning between them. Even after they’d exchanged rings, neither of them lowered their hands.

“We’ll hold the wedding after the baby’s born.”
Felix offered the plan as if he’d been waiting for the chance. Lowell, who didn’t have the energy to plan a ceremony while pregnant, almost nodded—but then gave a subtle smile.
“But isn’t there something else we should be doing right now?”

“Like what?”
Felix lifted his eyebrows, confused. Wasn’t it only natural to start talking about the wedding after proposing? But before he could follow that thought, Lowell grabbed him lightly by the collar and pulled him close. At first, Felix reflexively raised his hand to stop him—but the moment their eyes met, he lowered it and let himself be pulled in by that gentle strength.
“There’s something else people are supposed to do on the day of a successful proposal.”

Lowell’s voice had turned playful and sly in an instant—and Felix blushed along with him. Even without spelling it out, the meaning was clear.
“Are you sure?”
Instead of answering, Lowell kissed him. The moment their lips touched, any hesitation vanished—Felix plunged in, not hiding his desire, pushing his tongue deep into Lowell’s mouth. Lowell, eyes tightly shut, didn't resist the heat but welcomed it, gently teasing Felix’s tongue with his own.

Felix’s arms tensed. His desire to protect clashed violently with the urge to take everything. Driven by a need to devour Lowell’s very breath, he finally pulled back—panting—only to find that same raw hunger mirrored in Lowell’s eyes.
Now that they had both confirmed each other’s longing, there was no reason to hold back any longer.