Became Pregnant With the Demon King’s Child

Zephyros’s face darkened, overcome by helplessness.
“Still, wouldn’t it be better for you to escape while you can?”
“The moment my location changes, they’ll realize something’s wrong. If that happens, your betrayal will be exposed—it’s only a matter of time.”

Zephyros glanced anxiously toward the staircase, clearly on edge. He was watching for any sign that the guard shift had changed, or that a new soldier—or worse, a knight or the Earl himself—might appear at any moment.
“We can’t just sit here and wait. Earl Clarke will be reporting to His Majesty any minute now that he’s captured me. He asked for a lock of hair and a finger as proof. He said it was for threatening the Duke.”
“Threaten him?”

“Yes. He said that after seeing how obsessed the Duke was with you at the banquet, he realized he could use that in the worst-case scenario.”
Lowell bit back nausea, remembering how the Emperor had never taken his eyes off Felix while he bled out from the dagger wound.
“Then please release the knights who are tied up first. Can we manage even basic treatment? They’re all badly hurt.”

“Among the guards I brought, there’s one with weak divine power. I stationed him at the door—I’ll go fetch him.”
“Yes. And if you have pen and paper, I’d like that as well.”
Zephyros didn’t even ask why. He moved quickly, more comfortable following orders than thinking for himself.

“Here it is!”
“We’ll try to resist from within the prison as much as possible. Please deliver this letter to Felix.”
“But…”

Zephyros looked deeply troubled at the idea of leaving Lowell in a place like this. But he had no better alternative. Planning had never been his strong suit.
“Once I finish the letter, take it and go right away. You’ll need to deceive the Earl convincingly and avoid suspicion.”
“I-I’ve gotten better at lying lately, so I’ll do my best.”

Lowell wanted to say, This isn’t about trying—it must succeed, but he held his tongue.
He seems like the kind of person who collapses under pressure, so I shouldn’t push him.
Once he confirmed that treatment had begun in the adjacent room, Lowell brought the pen to paper. He knew exactly what to write, and that he had to write it quickly. But his hand refused to move.
[To my love, Felix]

The opening wasn’t much different from what he usually wrote—but perhaps because the emotions behind it were different, the pen felt impossibly heavy in his hand.
[I figured you’d be shocked to hear that I was captured by Earl Clarke, so I asked someone to deliver this letter to you in a hurry.]
The entire first paragraph was a lie. Even if it was necessary, part of him felt guilty.

I’m sorry for deceiving you. This will be the last time.
Lowell forced his trembling hand to move. He wanted to send not just words, but a piece of his honest heart.
[There was a time, when I was sick in bed, that you read me a fairy tale.]

The letter ended with a firm resolution from Lowell. For fear that Felix might still doubt it, he added a drawing. Small details that only the two of them would know—things that couldn’t be imitated or forged—so Felix would never question its authenticity.
“I’ve been rescued. But don’t let Felix know we’re still imprisoned until he finishes his mission.”
“Huh? Shouldn’t we get him here as fast as possible?”

Zephyros gaped, trying to dissuade him, but Lowell remained firm.
“If he rushes here before it’s over, it might only put us in greater danger. The Emperor and the summoning circle must be dealt with first.”
Though Zephyros fell silent at that, he still looked unconvinced.

“If he learns the truth too soon, he might lose control or fall into the Emperor’s trap. Think of it this way—our safety depends on you now.”
Fearing that a personal opinion might cause Zephyros to panic or misstep, Lowell added a calm explanation—one that would boost his confidence rather than pressure him.
“Y-yes! I’ll do my best to make sure everything goes according to plan!”

And just like that, it worked. Zephyros answered with newfound purpose and energy. When Lowell handed him the letter and their hands brushed, Zephyros flinched hard. Lowell ignored his blushing face, and Zephyros quickly fled the prison. After that, it was a suffocating wait.
“I’m sorry.”
The priest, clearly drained, staggered back, gasping. The knights, though their bodies were battered, rose to their feet with sheer willpower.

“Are you all right?”
Lowell regretted asking the moment the words left his mouth. Even with treatment, they couldn’t be all right. Among the most injured were Tia and Tony—unsurprising, since they were known as Felix’s closest aides and had likely been tortured the worst.
“Thanks to the healing, we can still move. We’re used to fighting while injured. Don’t worry about us.”

Lowell knew it was just something they said to ease his mind. But there was nothing he could do to help, so he simply nodded.
“Please wear this. It might let you survive even ten more seconds.”
Tony ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) helped Lowell into a knight’s uniform, wrapping his golden hair and face in cloth to hide his identity.

“Everyone, cover your heads and faces with whatever cloth you can find.”
Anyone paying close attention could still pick out Lowell—his build was noticeably different from the knights—but even that moment of hesitation could make all the difference.
“Could I have a dagger? If you have one.”

Lowell asked carefully—not because he wanted to fight, but because he didn’t want to be completely defenseless. A sword would be too heavy, but he thought he could manage a small blade.
“One moment.”
Caris searched the captured soldiers and let out a small cheer when she pulled out a short dagger.

“It’s a bit dull, but it should work. Just don’t swing it. If someone tries to grab you, aim for their stomach and stab them up close—that’s the easiest target.”
Tia, clearly uneasy about handing a weapon to someone like a child, explained how to use it. Lowell stood behind her, silently practicing the motion over and over.
“Tony and Celine will stay by Lowell’s side. I’ll take the others and hide in the cell nearest the staircase.”

Attacking near the stairs would allow them to trap enemies in the narrow corridor—but also gave the Earl an escape route. If he fled, Zephyros’s betrayal would be exposed.
As Tia said, it’s better to wait until the Earl comes into the cell before launching the attack. At least we won’t have to face all his men at once in such a tight space.
Not long after their preparations were complete, footsteps echoed down the stairs. Judging by the sound, at least twenty people were descending.

“Something smells off. Let’s check it out.”
“Where’s the soldier who was supposed to report back?”
Sensing something was wrong, the knights pushed forward first. Seeing the cells empty, they must’ve thought the prisoners had escaped, because they rushed in to investigate.

“What’s going on?”
The Earl entered the basement moments later, waiting by the stairs for a report. That was when Tia burst from the cell, moving fast enough that no one could stop her, and blocked his retreat.
“How…? We took all your weapons.”

For a moment, the Earl assumed the knights had broken free and launched an ambush. But he quickly recalculated.
“There’s a traitor. The priest? Or that idiot prince?”
He reached the right conclusion swiftly, his lips curling into a sneer. Lowell, listening from afar, felt his blood run cold.

“So much for brainwashing. I should’ve trusted His Majesty less when he said he’d make a good witness.”
His tone was openly disrespectful, referring to the Emperor with contempt. Whatever his outward loyalty, the Earl clearly held no respect for imperial authority.
“Capture them all! Bring Lowell to me on his knees!”

In an instant, the underground prison turned into a battlefield. The knights knew that the longer the fight dragged on, the more they’d be overwhelmed—so they targeted the head: the Earl. But the enemy was searching for Lowell too, so they couldn’t focus all their strength on offense.
“How long are you going to struggle against half-dead men?!”
The Earl roared in frustration, and the attackers doubled their efforts.

“Lowell Clarke is here!”
One of the enemy soldiers broke through the defensive line and shouted, having spotted Lowell. Though Tony quickly took him down, it was too late—their location was exposed, and the enemy now charged straight toward them.