* * *
Turning his back, Felix approached Lowell again, trying to rid himself of any hope.
The relaxed curve of Lowell’s lips and his tightly shut eyes made him look so at peace that it only deepened Felix’s sorrow.
“Are you really that comfortable without me, Lowell?”
He knew it was a childish thought, but Felix couldn’t stop his emotions from spilling over.
Even so, the Crown Prince didn’t leave his side.
“I’ve already brought one. If you’re willing, have him examine the patient now.”
The room fell into a tense silence.
Felix, still looking down at Lowell, didn’t even glance at the Crown Prince.
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
Knowing the Crown Prince moved only for his own benefit, Felix didn’t bother to hide his suspicion.
He even toyed with the dagger Lowell had once carried—a clear warning that he wouldn’t tolerate any hidden agenda.
Amused by Felix’s sharp demeanor, the Crown Prince curled his lips slightly.
“First, I’m recognizing Duke Felix’s contributions. Second, I have no desire to make you my enemy.”
He fingered his sword as he continued, a beat late.
“If Lowell Clarke were to die, you wouldn’t forgive anyone—including me.”
Felix raised an eyebrow.
That a selfish man like him could read and predict Felix’s emotions was rather surprising.
“Not that it matters.”
But that thought didn’t last.
Right now, Felix had no intention of giving even a sliver of his attention to anything other than Lowell.
“Let him in.”
As soon as Felix spoke, the door opened, and a priest who had been waiting outside entered.
Unlike the usual white-robed priests, this one wore black and kept his face covered.
“I greet the Crown Prince of the Empire. I am Morris of the Temple of Hypnos.”
“No need for lengthy greetings. Come and see the patient.”
Morris offered a formal bow to the Crown Prince and then turned to Felix—but was stopped.
“Yes, sir.”
Unfazed by Felix’s coldness, Morris walked gracefully to Lowell’s bedside.
“May I place my hand on the young master?”
He asked permission from Felix, who was holding Lowell in his arms.
“If you try anything, you’ll lose a hand.”
“Understood.”
Morris placed a hand on Lowell’s forehead.
A faint light soon emerged, sinking gently into Lowell.
With closed eyes, Morris seemed to assess something.
Then, tilting his head slightly, he removed his hand.
Even under Felix’s scrutinizing gaze, he showed no fear.
“May I examine his abdomen as well?”
“Is it necessary for treatment?”
“Not for treatment, but for confirmation.”
Felix gave a slight nod.
As a light wrapped around Lowell’s abdomen, Morris nodded in understanding.
“I heard the young master’s magic was sealed for a long time due to brainwashing. Is that correct?”
“So I’ve been told.”
Felix recalled the reports from his knights.
When he first heard it, he had wondered—if he’d met Lowell as a child, could he have sensed the difference in his energy?
Could he have known Lowell was under a dark spell?
“It’s too late for such thoughts now.”
Shaking off the creeping regrets, Felix stared at Morris, prompting him to elaborate.
After clearing his throat, Morris lifted his hand from Lowell’s abdomen.
“Brainwashing loses its effect once it’s consciously recognized. But isn’t it odd that no magic is returning even now?”
“Sometimes, it returns slowly after a long period of brainwashing.”
“Yes. But the young master’s case is different.”
Felix furrowed his brow again—a habit he’d been trying to fix thanks to Lowell, but now had returned with a vengeance.
“Be clear. What does his lack of magic have to do with him not waking?”
Even under the sharp rebuke, Morris remained steady.
“The brainwashing is already undone. However, it appears the fetus in his abdomen is consuming all his magic. It’s growing at an extraordinary rate, so a quick delivery is essential. Otherwise, if it’s born overly developed, it could pose a serious risk to the young master’s health.”
“…What?”
Felix’s eyes moved to Lowell’s belly.
Those frosty, blade-like eyes looked ready to eliminate whatever was inside if it posed even the slightest threat to Lowell.
“But that doesn’t mean you can give birth right now. The fetus is what’s keeping this body alive.”
“And how are you so certain?”
“Because the young master’s soul is not here. He has traveled elsewhere through the path in his dream.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
Felix had to suppress the urge to draw his sword and slash Morris’ neck at the nonsense about souls and dreams.
What stung even more was the mention of Lowell’s soul having gone somewhere else—as if he’d abandoned Felix.
It felt like an insult.
“Even if you don’t believe it, it’s still the truth. I have no way of changing that. However, the path hasn’t closed yet. That means he clearly intends to return.”
“Go on. Keep talking.”
“Yes. Normally, a body abandoned by its soul due to a dream would not be able to endure. But in the young master’s case, the fetus has grown abnormally and is sustaining the body. I believe it’s an instinctive response to keep the mother alive.”
Despite the oppressive pheromones in the room, Morris stood tall and firm, calmly stating his position.
The knights standing at a distance were clearly worried about him.
“So?”
“The moment the young master returns through the dream, the birth must begin immediately. Labor will likely start at once, so you should be prepared.”
Morris answered with confidence.
The knights and the crown prince watched Felix’s hands nervously, worried he might draw his sword.
Killing a priest would create serious conflict with the temple, which would only worsen the already unstable situation in the capital.
“You’re certain of this?”
Surprisingly, Felix calmed his anger.
The change was so abrupt, it felt as if his earlier rage had merely been a test for Morris.
“Yes. And if I’m wrong, you may take my head.”
Felix gave a slight nod.
“Make the preparations so that the birth can proceed as safely as possible. Also… Morris, was it?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you know when Lowell will return through the dream?”
“Yes. I can tell.”
“Then you’ll remain in this room.”
While chaos unfolded in the guest room, Lowell found himself facing a completely unexpected person.
“Hi, Lowell!”
It was… Lowell, in the form of Eunoh, cheerfully waving with a bright, innocent smile.
‘What is going on?’
Lowell’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
Even though the face was technically his own, something about it felt off.
“I’ve called out to you several times, but you never heard me.”
It didn’t take long for Lowell to realize it was the expression and tone that made it feel so unfamiliar.
“Um… Are you really the real Lowell?”
“That’s a funny way to put it! So you’re the fake Lowell and I’m the fake Euno?”
Lowell—this Eunoh version—was just as cheerful as his expression.
There wasn’t a hint of seriousness in him.
It was the kind of personality Lowell found hard to deal with.
“But I like the name Eunoh better, so please call me that.”
“Alright, Eunoh. Can you explain what’s going on right now? Do you… maybe want your body back?”
Lowell finally asked the question that had been weighing on him.
If he didn’t ask now, he felt like it would continue to bother him even if he kept living as Lowell.
Eunoh looked briefly startled—then burst into laughter.
* * *
