“Why did you come back so early?”

“…Just because.”

Seeing Rael and Rubellan return earlier than expected, Esh scolded them, asking why they didn’t enjoy themselves longer.

“I’m not feeling well.”

“Ah…”

At Rael’s response, Esh glanced at Rubellan but quickly looked away.

“Why is your health deteriorating? Didn’t the doctor visit you?”

When Rubellan asked about the doctor, Esh’s body flinched while gathering her outer garments. Rael noticed but pretended not to as she spoke.

“It’s because of the change in environment. A cold, body aches… things like that.”

“Hmm.”

After hearing her answer, Rubellan walked to the window and drew the curtains.

“You should rest when you’re sick. Why don’t you lie down for a while?”

“That sounds good.”

Rael desperately wanted to be alone right now. She needed time to sort through her complicated thoughts.

“Then I’ll be going. I’ll prepare a light porridge for dinner.”

“Thank you.”

After Esh left, Rael slowly lay down on the bed. While considering whether to take a nap, she felt Rubellan’s gaze. As always, it was straight and intense.

Rubellan sat in a chair by the window. In the shadows next to the brightest spot where light entered.

“Rubellan.”

Though she had decided to be careful with her words until her thoughts were organized, she impulsively called his name.

“Yes.”

His voice was calm as always. Unlike her inner turmoil, he remained a gentle ripple today as well.

“Do you remember what you said when I first came here?”

“If it’s about you, I remember everything. Should I recite your hairstyle from when we first met?”

“Stop joking around.”

His light response irritated her. When she frowned, he finally gave a proper answer.

“It wasn’t that long ago. Surely you haven’t forgotten already.”

Rubellan rested both arms on the chair’s backrest, leaned forward, and propped his chin. He was quite curious about why his senior was bringing this up so seriously.

“You said the Magic Tower wanted your child.”

“Yes.”

“And that’s why they sent me here.”

“That’s right.”

It had happened as they wanted. A demon’s child had been conceived. So how did the Magic Tower plan to use this child?

Going straight to the Magic Tower would surely lead to trouble.

“What do you think about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you agree with it? Creating a child and handing it over to the Magic Tower?”

What should she do if he said they made a deal with the Magic Tower and must surrender the child?

It was painfully ironic that Rubellan might be her only lifeline now.

“Senior.”

“Yes.”

“Do I have any reason to listen to humans?”

“…Didn’t you make a promise?”

“Do I look like a demon who would keep promises with mere humans?”

Though his face wasn’t clearly visible in the darkness, his lips were probably curled into a smirk. Of course, Rubellan wouldn’t care about human mages. They weren’t even in a position to negotiate with him.

“Then what do you want from me? What will you do if a child is born?”

“Why complicate things? Just as I cherish you, I should cherish your child too.”

It almost sounded like parental affection, but the term “your child” rather than “our child” gave off a chilling feeling.

Do demons have affection for their children? What were his parents like?

“This doesn’t suit you at all.”

“If the child resembles you and is cute, nothing could be better.”

His occasional displays of affection crossed dangerous lines.

Especially now, pregnancy seemed to make her more emotional. Feelings like wanting to depend on someone.

“Fine. I heard you.”

“Why are you suddenly curious about this? Have you really decided to give birth to a cute child?”

“Think whatever you want. I don’t feel well. I need to sleep.”

“All right.”

Rael pulled up the blanket to cover herself. No more conversation passed between them, and Rael soon fell asleep. This too was an effect of pregnancy. She had always been a good sleeper, but since becoming aware of her pregnancy, sleep would overwhelm her as soon as she closed her eyes.

Perhaps she had developed an obsession with resting well.

Rubellan remained seated in the chair, watching the sleeping Rael for a long time without changing his position.

* * *

Rael slept deeply without waking once and only opened her eyes after dinner time had passed. She thought she could sleep longer, but remembered Esh’s promise to make porridge.

Despite her poor appetite over the past few days, she now felt hungry.

Rael got up from bed, gathering herself. Fortunately, Rubellan wasn’t in the room. Only the chair where he had sat remained.

She put on comfortable outer clothes and headed to the dining hall. The corridor was quiet. It was even getting dark as the sun had already set.

But since it was a familiar, short path, she had no trouble finding her way.

As she approached the dining hall, delicious food smells permeated the corridor.

“So…”

When she reached the dining hall, voices could be heard. It was Esh’s voice.

“Does that make any sense?”

“What doesn’t make sense? Anyway, it’s an emergency now.”

“A human carrying the Demon King’s child.”

Rael’s hand stopped as she was about to open the dining hall door. Esh, Chapir, and Yuswen were talking about her.

“Anyway, both of you keep your mouths shut.”

“Are you really not going to report this?”

“I can’t bring myself to say it! I have no idea how he’ll react!”

She felt conflicted. Should she remove her hand from the door and turn back? Her hand was losing strength.

“She’ll die.”

At Yuswen’s single sentence, strength returned to Rael’s hand.

Die? Who?

“The Demon King will kill Rael?”

“He’ll kill the child.”

“Hmm, I suppose he would.”

When Esh readily agreed, Rael felt like she’d been struck hard on the back of her head. Why would Rubellan want to kill the child? Wasn’t the pregnancy what he wanted?

“How did Lord Rubellan become immortal? If he has a child, he must give up immortality, so he’ll probably prevent that.”

“Right. The previous Demon King perished because of his child. And who killed the previous Demon King? Lord Rubellan himself.”

“I’d get rid of it too if I were him.”

Her heart pounded. Rubellan killed his own father? Come to think of it, Rael didn’t know how demons with immortal bodies died.

“Sharing power is terrible enough, but having to give up immortality too? If Lord Rubellan had lived thousands of years, maybe, but it’s too early.”

Child… Having a child means sharing power and losing immortality?

Suddenly she felt dizzy. But feeling she shouldn’t be discovered, Rael turned away. She steadied her staggering steps and left.

“Huh? What was that?”

Esh, who had been conversing, suddenly moved toward the door. Yuswen, who had been sitting on a chair tossing an orange, looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Esh opened the door and looked around the corridor several times.

“Hmm… no, I thought I smelled a familiar scent. This strong food smell is confusing me!”

“Why blame me?”

“Well, never mind. There’s nobody there.”

Esh closed the door.

Bang.

Rael, who had turned the corner of the corridor and was climbing the stairs, looked back toward the dining hall at the sound.

Darkness. Deep shadows were cast everywhere.

* * *

Even after returning to her room, her heart wouldn’t calm down for a long time.

Having a child means losing immortality? What on earth did this mean?

Suddenly she remembered her academy days. When Rubellan was searching for Herman’s vault key to obtain immortality.

He clearly wanted immortality. That’s why he infiltrated the academy pretending to be human, and ultimately got what he wanted.

Then shouldn’t he have refused when the Magic Tower said they wanted his child? Why did he ask for her to be brought here?

Did he simply think pregnancy wouldn’t happen?

“…No.”

He was too persistent for that. When they were intimate or in his passing remarks, didn’t he seem to genuinely want a child?

“…Ha.”

This is deception. Clearly deception.

“Rubellan.”

Rubellan had deceived her.

Whatever his intentions in creating this situation, even if he truly wanted a child, the baby inside her was now endangered by his slightest change of heart.

Like all living beings, he would eventually value his own life more.

Moreover, Rael couldn’t forget that moment when Rubellan referred to the baby as “your child” rather than “our child.”

“He… can’t be trusted.”

Even if Rubellan wanted the child, she could no longer trust him.

Stupid human.

It was foolish to have considered, even for a moment, trusting Rubellan more than the humans at the Magic Tower who had handed her over to a demon.

“Ugh.”

She felt like vomiting. This child would be unwelcome everywhere. What a pitiful fate.

Rael covered her lower abdomen with one hand.

She felt like she was going mad. Having to suspect everyone around her, the emotional roller coaster, this entire situation that seemed to go in circles. It was all driving Rael to the brink of insanity. She even suspected that both Rubellan and the Magic Tower wanted her to break down.

“Damn it.”

Yes. This situation couldn’t be resolved without going a little crazy. Since things had come to this, she might as well embrace the madness.

Rael’s cloudy eyes sharpened with resolve.

One thing was certain: at the end of this disgusting affair, no one—absolutely no one—would get what they wanted.

Not the Magic Tower, not the demons, not even herself.