* * *

Lowell wanted to reassure her that it was fine, but the sharp pain in his arm stole his focus.

That much was manageable.

The next pain, however, was far more ominous.

‘Ugh.’

It was his abdomen.

The maid’s elbow had struck him there during the fall.

Lowell gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand despite the pain.

He wanted to console the panicking maid, but the discomfort was relentless.

‘It’ll pass, right?’

But his optimism betrayed him.

Time dragged on in silence, and to make matters worse, Lowell felt something trickling down his thigh.

‘Damn it.’

His pants were faintly tinged with red.

‘Is this… hemorrhaging?’

His mind went blank.

For a fleeting moment, Lowell had forgotten he wasn’t alone in his body.

His instincts had driven him to protect someone in danger, disregarding his condition entirely.

And frankly, he hadn’t been cautious enough all along.

Though he had promised Felix they would safely deliver their child, years of living as a robust adult male had left him prone to acting on reflex rather than reason.

‘I thought I’d adjusted, but I guess not. I’m not the person who used to bench three plates anymore.’

Lowell was starkly reminded that he was no longer a healthy adult male but an omega carrying a child.

The image of the jaguar cub snuggling into his lap flashed through his mind.

‘I should’ve been more careful.’

He didn’t regret catching the maid—her fall could’ve been fatal—but he wished he had at least protected his abdomen better.

“What’s going on?!”

Hearing the commotion, Tony, who had been overseeing the banquet hall, dashed into the study.

The silence of those inside only heightened his unease, and he hurried to Lowell’s side.

“Are you alright?”

Taking in the situation at a glance, Tony paled and began assessing Lowell’s condition.

“Call a priest. Preferably one experienced with pregnant patients.”

Lowell, speaking seriously for the first time, made the request with difficulty.

Tony, unusually brisk, responded immediately.

“We have a resident priest on the estate, but I’ll summon another as well, just in case.”

Lowell bit his lip anxiously.

Resident priests, often free agents unaffiliated with temples, were typically highly skilled.

Given that this was Duke Felix’s estate, the priest was likely competent, which was a small comfort.

“Excuse me.”

Tony carefully lifted Lowell and began heading to the infirmary, deeming it quicker than summoning help to the study.

True to his training as a knight, Tony’s movements were smooth and steady even while running.

“Tacey, we have an injured party.”

An older priest named Tacey alternated between looking at Tony and Lowell before sighing deeply.

Hamilton, who had trailed behind, quietly shut the door.

“Lay him here.”

Light emanated from Tacey’s hands as he examined Lowell’s abdomen and arm, nodding to himself.

“You’re currently pregnant, correct? The bleeding is from the shock your abdomen took.”

“Yes.”

Lowell lowered his head, feeling utterly at a loss for words.

“First, to put your mind at ease: the child is fine. The pain you felt was your abdomen reacting to the shock. Your arm is actually in worse shape.”

“Even with the bleeding?”

“The bleeding isn’t severe. It’s common for older blood to occasionally discharge. I’ve confirmed with divine power that the child is unharmed, so there’s no need for excessive worry.”

Lowell’s tense body relaxed as relief washed over him.

Tacey, sensing the moment, raised his voice slightly.

“Your body is in a weakened state, so you’ll need to be more cautious moving forward. This time, you were lucky, but there’s no guarantee for the next.”

The words were obvious, and Lowell nodded silently.

He suddenly felt guilty for demanding responsibility from Felix while failing to adequately care for their child himself.

‘I thought I understood everything. But maybe I’ve been rationalizing to cope with this overwhelming new reality.’

Once negativity crept in, it spread like wildfire.

Lowell fought to maintain objectivity, pushing away self-blame.

“I’ll be more careful.”

“Many late-presenting omegas make this mistake. Don’t burden yourself with guilt—it won’t help. Focus on staying positive.”

Despite his stern appearance, Tacey spoke kindly, offering advice that he reserved exclusively for expectant parents.

“Treating your arm comes first. It’s bleeding, and while you might think the pain in your abdomen is worse, it’s likely just a minor bruise from the pressure.”

Tacey’s hand moved to Lowell’s arm, and in an instant, the pain subsided, leaving Lowell astonished.

The older man’s skill seemed to match his years of experience.

Just as Tacey had said, the pain in his abdomen quickly faded.

Relief surged through Lowell, and he let out a deep breath.

Bang!

The door burst open with a loud crash, shattering the brief moment of calm.

The main character, Felix, strode in, radiating a cold aura.

Spotting Lowell, he rushed over, inspecting him from head to toe.

His disheveled hair hinted at the speed with which he had run to get there.

“Where are you hurt?” Felix demanded.

Lowell was stunned, wondering how Felix, who had been out, even knew to come.

In truth, Tony had contacted Felix while summoning another priest, but Lowell had no way of knowing that.

“I hurt my arm a little, but it can be healed with divine power. The baby is fine too.”

Despite starting with the most critical news, Felix remained visibly tense.

“Is it different from the shoulder you hurt last time?”

“Yes, it’s the opposite side.”

Felix, still unconvinced, scrutinized Lowell’s body thoroughly before turning to the priest with a sharp gaze.

“Tacey, are you sure he’s fine?”

“Yes, to the best of my knowledge. It might be wise to have a priest who specializes in obstetrics check again, but there is no issue with the baby’s vitality.”

“And what about Lowell? Is there a chance of any lasting effects?”

“I stake my career as a priest on it—there will be none.”

Though momentarily surprised by Felix’s agitated demeanor, Tacey quickly responded, masking his thoughts with years of experience.

Internally, he mused, ‘Even a Grand Duke can’t stand firm when it comes to his mate.’

“Fine.”

Felix unconsciously released his pheromones and gently stroked Lowell’s hand.

“With these slender arms, you tried to catch a servant falling from a ladder? What were you thinking?”

Yet his tone was anything but gentle, tinged with frost.

Felix, mistaking his fear for anger, had suppressed his emotions, which only made his words sound harsher.

“Do you really think you’re strong enough to protect others?”

“My body moved before I could think. I’m sorry.”

Lowell’s unusually subdued apology left Felix unable to scold him further.

Seeing Lowell so crestfallen, Felix found himself wishing instead for the smile he loved.

“Fire everyone who was there.”

There was a different matter Felix needed to address.

He had always kept a distance from the staff, disliking unnecessary interactions.

While he knew some were lazy or inattentive, it hadn’t concerned him—until now.

Change was overdue in the Grand Duke’s estate.

“Inform those who remain that if this happens again, they won’t just be fired; they’ll face far graver consequences.”

Hamilton, who had been silently observing, bowed deeply and replied, “Yes, Your Grace.”

It was a tense moment.

Replacing staff or retraining them was never an easy task, but something had to be done.

“From now on, anyone who disobeys Lowell will be dismissed on the spot. And Tony.”

Felix’s gaze shifted, turning icy as it landed on Tony.

Unlike the warmth he showed Lowell, Felix’s eyes were piercing.

Tony, as if already prepared, responded calmly.

“Yes.”

“Leave the estate.”

Tony didn’t argue, having already come to terms with the decision.

As the second son of a count, he hadn’t initially pledged loyalty to Felix.

But witnessing Felix’s feats on the battlefield and having his life saved by Felix’s magic had solidified his devotion.

Failing to protect Lowell felt like a personal failure.

Lowell, unaware of Tony’s internal turmoil, was surprised by his calm acceptance.

He had expected Tony to beg for another chance, even offering his life in return.

‘This isn’t good,’ Lowell thought.

It was true that Tony had shown some disrespect toward him in the past, but in the original story, Tony had stayed loyal to Felix until the end.

Even now, Lowell wanted to give him another chance. Loyalty was a rare and priceless quality.

Though Lowell knew he bore some blame, he couldn’t stay silent. After deliberating, he spoke up.

“Grand Duke Felix, Sir Tony wasn’t there because he was handling something I asked him to. Expelling him is too harsh…”

“Tony is my knight. My order to himwas to protect you, and he failed. That’s proof of his incompetence.”

Felix’s interruption was firm, his tone more resolute than Lowell anticipated.

For Felix, keeping his anger in check was already a significant concession.

* * *