The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c103
The time spent conversing with Julian about publishing and printing was quite rewarding and enjoyable. Especially when discussing the sequel to the Southern Seas series, Ryan’s eyes sparkled so much that Julian joked about it several times.
At that moment, a knock was heard from outside the door.
“Peter? What is it?”
When told to come in, it was Peter, who had recently become the official head servant.
“I apologize for interrupting your conversation, Ryan. But I received a message that the head servant of the central palace will be arriving soon.”
“Oh… Is it already that time?”
Ryan was startled and checked the clock on the wall. Seeing this, Julian quickly apologized.
“I must have kept you too long when you’re busy. I’m sorry, Ryan.”
“No, not at all, Julian. I should have scheduled more flexibly, but I didn’t expect it to be so tight.”
The conversation was so enjoyable that it was rather Ryan who had forgotten about the next schedule.
“Ah, right. Julian, please take this with you.”
As Julian was getting ready to leave, saying they would meet again, Ryan held out an item he had prepared in advance.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the completed printed copy I mentioned earlier.”
“So this is that book.”
Julian received it with an interested face and opened it to take a look.
“It came out very clean and clear.”
“Right?”
Ryan smiled proudly and came out to the palace entrance to see Julian off.
“Well then, Ryan, take good care of your health, and I’ll see you again soon.”
“Yes, Julian, let’s have a meal together next time.”
“A meal sounds good too. I’ll look forward to it. I’ll be on my way now.”
Julian was about to turn his body after finishing the greetings. At that moment, a person was seen in the distance.
At first, they thought it was the head servant, but surprisingly, it was an unexpected person.
“Ryan.”
Approaching with a cold face and facing Ryan was Viscount Garigan, known as the prince’s tutor.
“Hello, Viscount Garigan. What brings you here?”
“I came because I have something to briefly discuss. But I see you were meeting with Viscount Dilane.”
Before Ryan could say anything, Viscount Garigan frowned and threw a glance at Julian.
“I see you frequently at the palace these days, Viscount Dilane.”
“Greetings, Viscount Garigan. I was just meeting with Ryan today due to a prior appointment and was on my way back.”
“I wasn’t aware you had a close relationship with the Fitzroy family.”
Feeling offended by the demeaning attitude, Ryan intervened in the conversation.
“Viscount Garigan, what is the matter you came to see me for?”
At that, Viscount Garigan also turned his attention to Ryan, whom he had originally intended to see.
“Ryan, as the prince’s tutor, I have a duty to ensure that he leads the country properly, serves as a role model for everyone, and can be respected.”
What was he trying to say by starting with such a lengthy introduction? The reason was soon revealed.
“Do you know how much His Highness damaged his own reputation by bringing up such an absurd topic at today’s state affairs meeting? Movable type printing!”
Hendrick had told Ryan during breakfast that he would bring up printed copies as an agenda item when attending the state affairs meeting.
It seemed Viscount Garigan was displeased with that.
“Well, the Hendrick I know is more princely and has greater pride than anyone else. And I don’t think anything he does will undermine his reputation.”
It didn’t seem like a matter for you to interfere with what the prince does, did it? Viscount Garigan, easily reading the meaning behind Ryan’s words, frowned.
“Even now, there are enough scribes writing books in beautiful calligraphy. What could be more inefficient than stamping each character individually with metal?”
Viscount Garigan revealed a look of disdain.
“I heard it was because of you, Ryan, that His Highness ended up talking about such an ignorant task. No matter how lacking you are in awareness as the crown princess, how can you be so reckless…”
“An ignorant task, you say?”
“What else would you call it when illiterate people clumsily make books just by looking at the shapes, if not an ignorant task?”
“Is that so? Then we can just teach them to read and write.”
When those words came out as if it were not difficult at all, Viscount Garigan was about to refute, saying it wasn’t such an easy task.
“What is going on here?”
At the sudden low and powerful voice, Viscount Garigan’s mouth shut tight. Ryan immediately turned his head.
“Your Highness.”
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Viscount Garigan bowed his head, and Julian also promptly paid his respects. Hendrick strode over and stood next to Ryan. More precisely, he embraced Ryan’s shoulders as if protecting his fiancé from Viscount Garigan.
“What brings Viscount Garigan here?”
“Your Highness, that is…”
“Don’t tell me you came to confront Ryan after learning from the earlier meeting that the person who developed the printed copies was Ryan.”
Before Viscount Garigan could even answer, Hendrick intercepted what he was about to say. On top of that, he continued speaking coldly, to the extent that it didn’t feel like the attitude he should show to his tutor.
“Ryan is my partner and will be the crown princess who leads the country by my side in the future. So refrain from visiting like this without notice.”
When Hendrick displayed a look implying that Viscount Garigan wasn’t a proper nobleman if he didn’t even know that much, Viscount Garigan clenched his jaw. Thinking that his lips were tightly sealed, Ryan tapped Hendrick’s side.
‘Stop it.’
Ryan mouthed the words to Hendrick’s eyes that immediately turned to him. Viscount Garigan should remain as the prince’s tutor and a reliable subject in the future.
So clashing like this was not good in many ways. Fortunately, Hendrick seemed to understand and nodded.
“Yes, Ryan. You must have been startled too. This won’t happen again. Surely he won’t act carelessly knowing who you are.”
Ryan widened his eyes and looked at Hendrick.
‘What are you trying to do now! Who told you to say that?’
Even though Hendrick sometimes spoke or acted differently from what Ryan thought, this was the first time he had interpreted Ryan’s words so absurdly.
And he did it in a way that openly provoked Viscount Garigan. Ryan’s gaze slowly shifted to the side.
The already unpleasant-looking face had become even more rigid. Seeing him gritting his teeth, it seemed he was trying to suppress his anger somehow since he couldn’t direct it at the prince.
But his eyes were absolutely fierce.
‘Ugh.’
Ryan swallowed a groan inwardly at the sharp gaze piercing through him. It seemed he had properly touched a nerve with Viscount Garigan.
“Your Highness, I think there has been some misunderstanding. I merely came to greet Ryan since I heard he was still at the palace.”
Still, Viscount Garigan, who had been at the palace for a long time, tried to evade the situation with different words instead of revealing his discomfort. He didn’t forget to send a glance at Ryan, telling him to cooperate and not make things difficult for Hendrick any further.
‘Goodness.’
Of course, he was an elder and held a higher rank, so Ryan couldn’t look down on him. But even though Hendrick had just told him to treat Ryan properly, he was still acting like this. Ryan wondered what his intentions were.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Viscount Garigan came to greet me.”
As Ryan seemed to obediently follow Viscount Garigan’s wishes, Viscount Garigan also nodded. On the contrary, Hendrick only silently maintained eye contact.
It was a face that seemed to want to ask why Ryan was taking Viscount Garigan’s side, but he was contemplating whether he should do so.
‘Don’t worry, I’m not done talking yet either.’
Thinking to himself, Ryan opened his mouth again.
“And to tell me not to tarnish Your Highness’s reputation while he was at it.”
He didn’t forget to shrug his shoulders while speaking.
“What?”
Hendrick and Viscount Garigan exclaimed simultaneously. Ryan smiled brightly while looking at the two of them.
“Well, I’m quite a reckless person. So it seems he came because he was worried, but don’t mind it too much.”
Even if Ryan were to be at odds with Viscount Garigan, it wouldn’t be much of a problem for him. Wasn’t he already renowned as the iron-willed youngest son of the Fitzroy family?
So now that it had come to this, Ryan’s intention was to divert the anger directed at Hendrick towards himself.
It seemed to have had a definite effect. Seeing Viscount Garigan’s expression change completely confirmed it.
“Hehe.”
It was then that an inappropriate sound for the situation was heard. Julian was seen covering his mouth and laughing.
“I apologize. Ahem, ahem.”
As the gazes of the three converged on him, Julian quickly apologized with a fake cough. Still, everyone present knew he had done it on purpose.
“The count has a somewhat conservative disposition, so it’s difficult for him to accept new methods. I’m well aware of that too.”
As expected, Julian didn’t hesitate to say something that would touch a nerve with Viscount Garigan.
“But Count, as I’ve told you before, without change, there is no progress, only obsolescence. I think you’ll feel it too when you look at your son. Please don’t interfere with the ingenious method developed by Ryan.”