* * *

Felix handed the letters over with reluctant care, watching as Lowell looked at them with a sunny expression that didn’t seem fazed in the least.

Whether it was remarkable acting or genuine lack of fear, Lowell appeared completely at ease—so much so that he even seemed to be enjoying himself.

The radiant smile on Lowell’s face lit up the parlor, making Felix feel oddly out of place.

Avoiding Lowell’s gaze, he turned his head slightly.

But Lowell persistently followed his gaze and spoke up.

“Of course, I’m perfectly sane. As the father of little Bean, you have every right to be informed, so I made sure to send updates daily.”

Felix’s confusion deepened as he stared at Lowell’s brazen and confident attitude.

“Is this really normal?”

Lowell, quick to notice the hesitation in Felix’s expression, didn’t miss his chance to push further.

“I’m simply fulfilling my duties. This is exactly what a pregnant person should be doing, after all.”

“Then why go into so much detail about your condition every day? Are you trying to guilt me into feeling responsible?”

Felix, feeling as though he was being dragged into Lowell’s pace, tried to change the subject in an attempt to regain control.

“In the early weeks of pregnancy, there’s a higher risk of miscarriage.”

At the mention of miscarriage, Felix visibly stiffened.

Lowell didn’t expect someone as inexperienced as Felix to know much about pregnancy, so he explained slowly, almost as though teaching a child.

“That’s why it’s important for the mother to take good care of her health and be cautious. Sharing my condition is essentially the same as providing updates about the baby.”

“Is miscarriage really that common?”

For the first time, Felix’s icy tone softened just a little, though he seemed unaware of it himself.

Lowell had to suppress a grin.

‘Is he regretting speaking harshly to me without knowing better? Not that it bothers me.’

Fondly amused, Lowell shook his head.

“I just wanted to make you aware of the possibility. If something were to happen, I didn’t want Your Grace to be too disappointed.”

“Who said I’d be disappointed?”

Although Felix responded as such, his sharp demeanor had completely dissipated.

Thanks to his large build and an elegance so imposing it bordered on overwhelming, he didn’t appear cowed, but the aggressive air around him had entirely vanished.

“They say miscarriages aren’t good for the mother’s health either.”

His follow-up comment was enough to soften the atmosphere in the drawing room significantly.

‘He’s already worrying about someone else?’

Lowell couldn’t help but cheer inwardly at Felix’s progress.

Whether this was the result of a newfound sense of responsibility as a father or an unearthing of hidden humanity, Lowell wasn’t certain, but either way, he saw it as a positive step.

“That’s why I’ve started exercising, to deliver the baby as healthily as possible.”

Felix frowned deeply, contemplating for a long while before speaking again.

“Are you really planning to go through with this?”

Lowell responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “Of course.” His casual answer only deepened the furrow between Felix’s brows.

‘If frowning made someone less attractive, he should be looking awful by now, but somehow even that’s picturesque.’

Oblivious to Felix’s inner turmoil, Lowell leisurely admired his face.

“If you’re thinking about health, it’s actually better not to have a child at all,” Felix murmured, reflecting bitterly on his past.

“Well, the baby’s already on the way, so it can’t be helped, right? That’s why we should focus on doing our best for our health now.”

Lowell noticed that Felix seemed poised to delve into the depths of his trauma, so he raised his voice cheerfully, determined to shut that door himself.

“If I’m carrying your child, shouldn’t you be blaming me instead?”

“Why?”

Lowell asked warmly, addressing the man who had firmly clamped his lips shut.

“It’s true we got caught up in something beyond our control. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to avoid responsibility. If I had decided not to have the baby, that would be a different story. But once I made the choice to keep it, blaming someone else isn’t the right thing to do. That’s my responsibility for my decision. Besides, Your Grace did your best in that situation, didn’t you?”

Even though Lowell’s words were entirely logical, Felix looked as though he had been struck by lightning.

Having lived a life where blame was constantly thrust upon him for things that weren’t his fault, Lowell’s words felt like a revelation that turned his world upside down.

“The baby to be born, Your Grace, and myself—we’re all blameless.”

“And do you think you’d still believe that while hovering between life and death during childbirth?”

The ghosts of the past clung to Felix, dragging him down.

A man who was the strongest on the battlefield now looked so small before Lowell.

“Are you that worried about me?”

Deciding he had to stop Felix from projecting his trauma so excessively, Lowell made a bold move.

With a mischievous smile, he lightly placed a hand on Felix’s thigh.

As Lowell expected, the unexpected touch startled Felix out of his spiraling thoughts, his face contorting in surprise.

Without giving Felix a chance to reply, Lowell carried on with what he wanted to say.

“Then just keep a close watch on me, Your Grace. Protect me so nothing bad happens.”

“No matter how noble or powerful one may be, when it’s time for a human to die, they die.”

“Still, it’s worth putting up a fight, isn’t it? Someone as strong as you could probably take down the Grim Reaper at least once.”

Lowell patted Felix’s thigh lightly.

He thought he felt something solid under his hand but ignored it, pulling out a prepared parchment from his waistband and handing it to Felix.

“So, here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

Felix looked at the rolled-up parchment with a face that seemed to say, “Another letter? Why not just say it outright?”

But as he unrolled it, he realized it was entirely different from the letters he’d received before.

“It’s a contract.”

As Felix stared blankly at the contract, Lowell encouraged him with a tone so natural it was almost nonchalant.

“Go ahead and sign it. Then you can protect me as you wish.”

Felix, caught off guard, alternated between looking at the contract and at Lowell.

He had come to warn him against foolishness, yet somehow found himself about to sign a contract instead.

“There’s still a week left until the Festival of Blessings.”

Felix, who had almost moved his hand to the quill, crossed his arms awkwardly instead, as if his reason had barely managed to restrain his instincts.

“There’s no need to overthink it. The more you stew over something late at night, the more unnecessary thoughts cloud your judgment, leading to bad decisions.”

Lowell spoke with the ease of someone accustomed to giving advice, only to pause briefly.

‘Wait, isn’t that something the youngest of a noble family shouldn’t be saying?’

Worried Felix might sense something off, Lowell lowered his gaze slightly, carefully observing his reaction.

But Felix was too engrossed in reviewing the contract to notice.

“What’s this clause about?”

Felix pointed to a section near the end of the contract, his dissatisfaction obvious. Lowell reread it slowly.

[1. If ‘Lowell de Clarke’ performs actions harmful to ‘Felix Halos Lucas, Grand Duke,’ or his domain, appropriate consequences will be imposed.
2. Details of ‘harmful actions’ will be defined through mutual agreement and documented separately.
3. If such actions are deemed life-threatening to ‘Felix Halos Lucas, Grand Duke,’ ‘Lowell de Clarke’ may be executed at the Grand Duke’s discretion.]

This clause had been written after much deliberation on Lowell’s part.

He wasn’t eager to gamble with his life, but to earn Felix’s trust, he felt this much was necessary.

* * *