The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - C114

Although they had talked about going on a honeymoon, it was ultimately postponed. Ryan said they should go after the baby was born and had grown a bit.

Another reason was that the first commercial launch of the ambitiously prepared movable type printed books was approaching.

“Tomorrow it finally debuts in bookstores?”

After spending such a busy month, Ryan couldn’t help but smile at his spouse who seemed even more excited than himself.

“Somehow you seem happier about it than me?”

“Of course. It’s the result of how much effort was put in.”

“Well, it’s thanks to you fighting with the nobles.”

Ryan looked at his alpha with narrowed eyes. Then came a shameless reply from him.

“I like both.”

I guess so. Honestly, since he wasn’t without excitement himself, he decided to let it go quietly. There were other things that concerned him more anyway.

“But what is all this? It’s still far too early to use these things!”

Recently, the couple’s daily routine included visiting the baby’s room set up in Ryan’s palace. In fact, they were still staying in Hendrick’s palace.

As it’s likely to remain that way in the future, that space is intended to be used when the child grows up. Using that as an excuse, they were decorating a room for the child.

Anyway, what caught Ryan’s eye were the items Hendrick was carrying in his arms.

Among the visible items were economics books difficult even for adults to read and strategy board games with rules hard to understand at once.

“What are you talking about? It’s your and my child. They’ll surely be born with at least dominant traits, so their intellectual level and physical abilities will be outstanding. This much is necessary.”

“That should be done in moderation too. Is that even appropriate for a newborn who can’t even turn their head properly or speak yet?”

His spouse’s face showed he couldn’t agree. This is why overzealous parents are problematic.

“To play with those kinds of books and toys, they need to be at least three or four years old! You should bring fairy tales or children’s picture books instead.”

Ryan sighed deeply and continued.

“Besides, the interior decoration and furniture arrangement aren’t even finished yet. Where are you planning to put these?”

Hendrick seemed to realize now that he had gotten ahead of himself. With a regretful face, he handed over the items prepared for the baby to the servant following behind.

“Store these carefully in my palace. The child will use them soon, so manage them well.”

Repeating the word ‘well’ twice, the servant made a solemn expression as if receiving extremely important items.

Ryan watched this incredulously and just shook his head.

“Picture books… If it’s something like that, Ryan, how about you prepare them?”

“Me?”

“Yes. The drawings I saw before were cute and pretty.”

“Ah, that…”

At the sudden change of topic, Ryan rubbed his neck with an embarrassed expression. That was something the court physician had recommended for prenatal care.

Saying it would be good for bonding between Ryan and the baby and providing mental stability, he suggested trying reading, drawing, listening to music, playing instruments, and so on.

“To be honest, Ryan. If you’re okay with it, I was thinking we could make printed versions of the pictures you’re drawing now.”

“It’s not that good.”

The tips of his ears turned red as he waved his hands dismissively. In his previous life he may have been someone who drew every day, but not here.

Even now, isn’t he drawing like practice sketches because he’s too embarrassed to show them off?

‘These days he’s really acting like a doting husband.’

While chatting, the two had already arrived at Ryan’s palace. Naturally, they headed to the baby’s room.

The space with good sunlight still had a messy atmosphere, as if tidying had just finished.

“Ah, Ryan. How about drawing there?”

“Huh?”

“The picture from before. The one you drew saying it was heaven. I think it would be pretty if you drew it on the wall or ceiling.”

“What are you saying? How could I…”

Usually, isn’t that kind of thing entrusted to famous painters? However, Ryan eventually gave in to Hendrick’s repeated persuasion. But if he had known it would lead to this result, he would have thought about it more carefully.

* * *

A few days later, Ryan brought shocking news to Hendrick.

“What? The court painter will do it?”

“Yes.”

“Not you doing it?”

“What are you saying? You can’t do such strenuous work while pregnant.”

“No.”

Well, that’s true. Ryan just opened his mouth without being able to say anything more in response.

“You just need to provide the drawing for the ceiling. The court painter will take care of transferring the rest. Won’t that result in a more complete work?”

Hendrick seems to understand his concerns really well. Looking at how he’s gently coaxing. In fact, Ryan’s mind was just complexly wondering if the court painter could make his embarrassing work look even better.

“Is that okay?”

“They’ll probably say it’s even better.”

“Okay then.”

So it was decided that Ryan’s drawing would become the ceiling painting in the space where their child would stay.

And the next day, the two left the palace to visit the bookstore.

“The number of people looks large, it’s not my imagination, right?”

The crowd that started growing one by one as they approached their destination had now transformed into a sea of people.

“It seems so.”

“Gasp… I guess revealing that Lord Julian is the author had an effect.”

Julian decided to reveal his identity while reprinting the Maritime South series in movable type in collaboration with Ryan. The venue was none other than the bookstore where Ryan’s printed books were being sold for the first time.

Until now, books were expensive and in short supply, so if they sold out, it took a long time to reserve and receive them. However, this time Ryan’s printed books were a bit cheaper and had ample supply.

Moreover, they radically held a meet-and-greet with the author and a book signing event, which seemed to have attracted an enormous crowd.

“That’s right. Ryan, your brilliant suggestion worked again.”

“Well, that’s just basic marketing…”

“Marketing?”

“Ah, I mean promotion.”

It seems his old speech habit came out again without realizing. He glanced at Hendrick, but this time too, he passed over it nonchalantly as if saying “there you go again.”

“Anyway, what should we do? It’ll be hard to even park the carriage at this rate.”

They wanted to see from as close to the bookstore as possible, but it didn’t look easy.

“Just a moment.”

Hendrick called Peter, who was sitting in the coachman’s seat.

“Contact the security forces and have them clear the surroundings.”

“Huh? No, there’s no need to go that far…”

Ryan tried to dissuade him, wondering if it was because of him.

“It’s because there might be safety issues if too many people gather. Look over there, they’re already pushing and shoving. We can’t have injuries happening.”

“Ah…”

Ryan nodded as he looked in the direction Hendrick pointed. As he said, there were definitely small disturbances occurring.

“It was a problem that the security forces weren’t on standby in advance for safety reasons.”

“We didn’t know this many people would gather either.”

“That’s true. So they should come and do it now.”

Not long after Hendrick’s order was given, uniformed individuals appeared in droves and began to organize the area around the bookstore.

The carriage, which had been waiting for the right moment, slowly approached the bookstore. Soon the entrance came into view.

“Ah, there…!”

Julian could be seen signing books for people in order. Ryan, spotting a familiar face, unconsciously leaned his head out the window.

“Ryan, it’s dangerous.”

But before he could even cross the windowsill, a long arm crossed his chest and pulled his body back.

“Don’t look out too much. You could get hurt by a passing carriage. It would be troublesome if you meet someone you know, too.”

Well, getting hurt by a carriage could happen, but who would recognize him?

“It’s not like I’m a celebrity or anything.”

Although he chuckled, Ryan obediently followed Hendrick’s words. It wasn’t so bad being in his alpha’s arms, who was holding him out of concern.

“Will it sell well?”

“Looking at the line of people wanting the author’s signature, it seems everything prepared will sell out.”

“I hope so.”

Ryan watched the place for a while with a satisfied expression, then turned to look at Hendrick.

“Don’t we need to go in?”

“No. We might actually be a hindrance.”

If it were in the past it might have been different, but now he’s the prince consort. He was satisfied just seeing that things were going well.

* * *

Life in the palace flowed more quietly and peacefully than expected. Originally, there was no one to order around the prince consort whose belly was now visibly swollen, and Hendrick had blocked such situations from the start.

Thanks to this, Ryan spent most of his time with Hendrick, focusing on prenatal care. Of course, he did greet the wet nurses and maids who would take care of the baby in the future, but that was for a very short time.

‘It’s not that I dislike it, but…’

As Ryan put down the colorfully painted picture and sighed, Hendrick immediately reacted.

“Are you bored? Shall we go for a walk together?”

“Do you think I’m a cat? I’m fine! I need to finish this too.”

“Is the work going well?”

“Yes. I’m trying hard to finish it on time.”

Although he said that, in truth his confidence had fallen. Comparing his drawings to the ceiling painting that was being completed day by day, he wondered if it was really okay to show this picture book.

“Don’t feel pressured, Ryan. Whatever it is, the child will love everything you do for them.”

Once again, Hendrick soothed Ryan’s worries in an instant.

“I guess so?”

“Of course.”

It was then, as Ryan was nodding reassuringly, that he suddenly let out a groan while holding his large belly.

“Ah…!”

It was a signal that their child was sending to come out into the world.