The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c28
Ryan seriously thought.
‘Am I a fool?’
No, I’m not. I think I’m rather smart. That’s why I can support my family and come up with good business ideas for myself.
‘Then is Hendrick a sly one?’
Yeah. That seems more fitting. If not, I wouldn’t be helplessly swayed by him like this.
“Ryan? What’s wrong? Haven’t picked yet?”
Due to Hendrick speaking from across the table, Ryan came to his senses with a start. He lowered his head and looked at the menu in his hand.
The two had moved to a restaurant.
At first, he vowed to only view the exhibition together. Since he had called Hendrick there on his own accord, he thought it was only polite to do that much.
Of course, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Hendrick’s argument influenced that.
Anyway, when he managed to resist the temptation to go see the painting in the bedroom and left the art gallery, this time Hendrick said he was hungry.
He tried to cut him off, saying he could just go back to the palace and eat, but Hendrick made another comment that pricked his conscience.
‘It’s way past lunchtime. But if Peter finds out that I returned home in the evening without being able to eat, I’m worried about how I’ll make excuses to him.’
What is he talking about? He can just say he missed the timing to eat because he was busy! But the problem was that he unintentionally made Hendrick skip a meal.
If that got back to Peter, it was obvious that he would receive stinging glares all over his body every time he went to the royal palace.
As a result, Ryan ended up coming here.
‘Hendrick is the problem after all.’
How can he win against someone who cunningly instigates people to achieve his goals?
“If you don’t like it, we can go to another restaurant. I heard there are delicious and fancy places nearby.”
“What? Ah, no. It’s not that.”
It seemed Hendrick misunderstood because he took too long. Ryan quickly scanned the menu with his eyes. The explanations of what ingredients were used to make each dish were kindly provided, helping with the selection.
But each and every one of them made his mouth water, so he hesitated to choose.
‘If we came with more people, we could order various things and share…’
If it was at least a meal with Catherine, Edgar, or Derek, he would have suggested it. But the one in front of him now was Prince Hendrick, whom Ryan had to be mindful of.
Of course, he didn’t really care about that in everyday life either.
“What will you have?”
Putting off his own choice for now, Ryan decided to figure out what Hendrick would pick first. He thought knowing what he would eat would help him decide too.
“Well… Everything here looks delicious, so it’s hard to decide.”
Hendrick, who said that, gestured to the waiter who had been watching them with a tense face.
“Yes, Prince. Are you ready to order?”
The waiter quickly approached the table and bowed.
“Can you bring all the dishes on the menu?”
“All of them?”
The waiter blinked. He didn’t understand what he just heard.
“Yes. However, since it’s for two people, it would be good to adjust the portions appropriately.”
With the nonchalant follow-up, the waiter realized it wasn’t the time for him to be flustered.
“Prince, please wait a moment. This isn’t something I can decide. I’ll bring the manager.”
When Hendrick generously replied to go ahead, the waiter began running off somewhere.
“What kind of jerk move is this?”
“Jerk move?”
“No, I mean, why are you ordering everything when you can’t even eat it all?”
“Isn’t it hard to choose what to eat?”
That may be true, but still, having them cook everything. This isn’t the royal palace.
No matter how much of a prince he is, how can he explain to that ignorant guy that he’ll be criticized if he does that?
Ryan didn’t know that he had thought similarly to Hendrick.
But it wasn’t something to worry about at all. The manager who came running at the call rather said it was an honor and actively accommodated Hendrick’s request.
Not only that, when the food came out, even the head chef appeared and personally explained each dish with a very moved face.
“This is the power of authority and money.”
An unchanging truth wherever you go. Ryan admired the food that filled the table. Since a lot was ordered, the head chef’s explanation was long, so he felt tired even before eating.
“You should enjoy whatever you can. And Ryan. You’re a noble too. Why are you being awkward about it?”
“No, that’s…”
If it was himself before regaining his memories, he would have acted similarly to Hendrick.
‘Even so, I was an ordinary citizen.’
He absolutely couldn’t do as he pleased. Wasn’t that only possible for the rich in the past too?
“Eat well, thinking of the effort they put into preparing it.”
Hendrick pushed the sliced steak, cooked vegetables, and fruit plate in front of Ryan to make it easy to eat.
“Okay. I’ll eat well.”
Since it came to this, not leaving leftovers and eating everything would be a courtesy to the head chef who provided amazing dishes and even sincerely explained them.
Above all, looking at the appetizing sight and smelling the delicious aroma, his appetite was gradually rising.
Ryan quickly brought the steak to his mouth. Whenever he emptied a plate, Hendrick’s hand movements also became busy.
Scooping salad, serving various types of pasta, filling the water glass, pouring drinks when empty.
It was like a mother bird bringing food to its baby bird.
“You should eat some too.”
By the time Ryan, with a fork in his mouth, noticed it, half the food was gone.
“Yeah. I’m eating.”
Ryan glanced at him with a smile and examined what was in front of him.
“What are you eating? You only drank alcohol.”
Only the wine in the glass was gone, and all he did was soak the white bread.
“Is it not to your taste?”
Even though he said his ideal type is someone who eats well. Is a regular restaurant not satisfactory for him who always ate food made with the highest quality ingredients by excellent royal chefs?
‘But it’s delicious.’
“No way.”
At Hendrick’s answer, Ryan stabbed the steak in front of him with a fork and pushed it forward.
“Then you should try some too. This is tasty.”
Hendrick looked at the food that was close enough to touch his lips.
“Ah, you don’t like this? Then wait a moment…”
Just as Ryan was about to put the fork in another dish, Hendrick snatched the steak with his mouth.
“…”
Ryan turned his head at the light weight and met eyes with Hendrick. He couldn’t take his eyes off until the fork was pulled out.
It was because of the intense gaze.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Ah, th-that’s right? See. I told you it’s tasty. But this isn’t as good when it’s cold. Just a sec.”
The flustered Ryan quickly averted his gaze. He randomly stabbed any food that caught his eye and gave it to Hendrick, who ate it without hesitation this time.
“Give me that too.”
Now Hendrick even pointed with his finger at what he wanted to eat. When Ryan glared, a gentle smile returned.
At this point, Ryan also became determined to see how much more brazen he could be.
A fierce confrontation unfolded between Ryan, who was glaring and snatching food to bring, and Hendrick, who was eating it delightedly.
“What. There’s none left.”
When the last plate was finally wiped clean, Ryan clicked his tongue and put down the fork. Then he realized the surroundings had become strangely quiet.
‘What’s with this weird atmosphere?’
The moment he thought that and was about to turn his head.
“Should I tell them to bring dessert since we finished eating?”
“Dessert?”
Ryan, who had a principle that the stomach for meals and the stomach for snacks are separate, blinked his eyes. The memory of eating plenty at the tea house had long disappeared.
“I heard the tart here is delicious. Let’s have that and sorbet for good digestion.”
“Should we?”
Hendrick, who gave a smile to Ryan who readily answered, called the waiter again. The waiter, who had been watching the sweet atmosphere flowing from the table with fascination, quickly approached and asked if they needed anything.
“Tart and sorbet, by type.”
“Yes, Prince. I’ll prepare it right away. Shall I also clear the table?”
When Hendrick allowed it, the waiter soon returned with a large tray and quickly began clearing the empty plates.
Even so, he glanced at Ryan and Hendrick from the corner of his eye.
“You said it’s delicious… Is it a restaurant you’ve been to before?”
“Yeah. It was recommended.”
“Recommended? By whom?”
“Are you curious?”
“I’m not curious!”
I don’t know why he’s asking with that weird look in his eyes again. Ryan gave Hendrick a sharp glare and rinsed his mouth with water.
“Ryan.”
Hendrick, who had been staring at him, suddenly called out to him. Ryan made a puzzled face at the serious tone that was different from a moment ago. When he looked at him as if asking why, Hendrick opened his mouth again.
“So what was the reason for having me meet that Viscount Julian?”