The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c29
Ryan blinked his eyes a few times.
‘What did he just say?’
Then Hendrick asked again as if he heard that.
“Tell me. Don’t worry, I’m not getting angry.”
From his soothing tone, Ryan realized he didn’t mishear.
“What are you talking about? That I made the two of them meet? Me?”
While insisting, he quickly racked his brain. No matter how much he thought about it, no actions or words that could have tipped off Hendrick about his plan came to mind.
“That it was a coincidence?”
It seemed he wasn’t completely sure after all. Seeing him ask again while being suspicious.
“Of course! In the first place, the one I was supposed to meet first today wasn’t you, it was Sir Julian.”
“If not, then fine.”
Hendrick finally backed down. Then this time, Ryan’s momentum grew.
“It was your side that came to meet as you pleased from the beginning! I was just going to get some fresh air, that’s all. But I thought I shouldn’t just send you away, so I was being considerate telling you to come to the art gallery!”
“Okay. I’m sorry. I misunderstood.”
How does that look like an apologetic expression! The corners of his mouth are curved up, looking very smart.
Like an upset cat, Ryan lashed out at Hendrick several times. However, the smile wouldn’t disappear from Hendrick’s face, whose heart had already softened.
“Shall we get up if you’re done eating?”
“Hmph!”
With a face that said he was going to do that even if Hendrick didn’t say it, Ryan abruptly rose from his seat and tried to leave. But before he could take a single step, he discovered the manager and head chef approaching with a startled look and faltered.
“Ryan, you have to pay before leaving.”
An amused voice was heard from behind. Instantly, heat rushed to his face. He wanted to retort sharply.
However, he couldn’t do that due to the stares around him. All Ryan could do was sit back down in the chair, pretending to be nonchalant.
“Was the meal to your liking?”
The manager, who had approached the table at some point, asked in a polite tone.
“Thanks to you, we ate well. It was a picky order, but thank you for willingly accommodating it.”
Hendrick alternately looked at the manager and head chef.
“Not at all, Your Highness! Please come anytime and just say the word. We will serve you with pleasure.”
“Okay. I’ll drop by often.”
The chef bowed his head with a moved expression, and the manager also had a bright complexion. There was no better publicity effect than Hendrick praising them and promising to visit again.
“Give me the bill.”
“Just you coming is more than enough.”
The manager shook his head quickly with a flustered face. This part had already been settled with the restaurant owner.
Even now, the owner was observing this side while disguised as a guest on the other side of the restaurant. The manager’s gaze momentarily turned in that direction then back to Hendrick.
“I have to pay for what I ate.”
Hendrick demanded the bill in a gentle yet firm tone. In this aspect, he was definitely prince-like, Ryan thought amidst this.
‘Originally he was a bit rude, but he had common sense.’
Although he had the arrogance that royalty fundamentally possessed. In Ryan’s view, Hendrick was definitely better than some nobles who always acted self-important as if they should be treated well.
“Ryan, you say a word too.”
Anyway, while waiting for the payment to finish, the arrow suddenly pierced him. Ryan’s eyes widened.
“Huh? Me?”
Four pairs of bright eyes were fixed on him. Especially in the case of the head chef, he had a very tense expression for some reason.
“What else. About the food.”
“Ah, oh…”
You should have done it. Why me! Ryan was convinced Hendrick did that on purpose to mess with him.
But since he couldn’t just leave abruptly, he ended up opening his mouth.
“Um, that… The steak was excellent. The doneness was good, it was fresh, and the sauce was delicious too. The salad was fresh too. The shrimp was firm and plump… It was just all delicious.”
As he added words stammering one by one, the chef’s expression gradually brightened. Thanks to that, Ryan had to keep praising with an awkward face, not knowing what to do.
“And the dessert was good too.”
As Ryan, who barely finished speaking, let out a long sigh, Hendrick concluded the situation with an even more generous face. The payment had just finished too.
“Then shall we get going?”
Hendrick naturally stood up and put his long arm around the thin and small shoulders. Ryan, who exhausted his energy squeezing out compliments, couldn’t pay attention to that.
Thanks to that, he didn’t realize that eyes with various meanings were focused on them until they left the restaurant.
“Is it because I ate too much? I feel bloated.”
As soon as they came outside, Hendrick frowned.
“Did you overeat?”
Ryan reflected on whether he thoughtlessly shoved too much food at Hendrick. At first, he started giving him food because he felt bad eating alone.
But later, due to a bit of competitiveness and playfulness mixed in, he realized he went overboard.
“No. Not to that extent. I think it will digest if I walk a bit.”
“Really? Then let’s do that.”
So this time, he readily agreed to Hendrick’s words.
“There’s a spacious park created behind the art gallery, let’s go there.”
He even actively suggested a place to take a walk. It was something he could say because the restaurant wasn’t far from the art gallery.
“What, why?”
I put thought into saying that, but why are you looking at me with that face again?
Ryan pouted his lips at Hendrick’s strange expression.
“Nothing. Let’s go then.”
Hendrick shook his head slowly and stepped forward. The arm still around the shoulders didn’t fall off. Naturally, Ryan also began walking in step with him.
“This seems nice.”
The park was bigger than expected, and the walking path was well made. Thanks to that, Ryan’s face became excited.
“It’s not bad.”
“What’s with that? Ah, right. It must feel a bit small in scale to Your Highness.”
“It’s no comparison to the royal garden. Still, the way it’s decorated is quite charming.”
Ryan moved his lips up and down again because the tone of readily admitting it without humility was annoying. Of course, the royal garden had to be excellent. Wasn’t it the place where the most skilled gardeners were pouring their heart and soul?
“But I think this place is quite nice too since I can walk with you like this.”
“Wha-what’s with you all of a sudden.”
Why are you suddenly attacking me like this again? Ryan was startled and tried to pull away, then realized anew.
That Hendrick’s arm was still on his shoulders.
“Hey, it’s heavy. Get off!”
But since when was he doing this? Why did I only notice this situation now? While feeling absurd, Ryan shook off Hendrick’s long arm like removing a lizard.
“Right.”
Hendrick looked at his arm that became light in an instant and spoke in a bland tone.
“Just because.”
Ryan only thought why is he being like this these days?
‘The thing Derek gave him, is it really not something strange? Why does it seem like he keeps doing nonsense and talking nonsense after that?’
He should definitely meet him again and clearly ask. At that time, he quietly backed off because it didn’t seem like it would be much gain for him to dig into what he fed him in detail.
‘But I don’t think so. That guy’s condition is getting worse.’
It seemed it wasn’t something to quietly bury after all. He should thoroughly question what the hell he gave him that day.
Having reached a conclusion, Ryan bid farewell to Hendrick. Then Hendrick tempted him, saying there was a delicious ice cream shop nearby. It was a dilemma, but he managed to ward that off too.
He didn’t know why Hendrick’s face looked full of regret as he got on the carriage.
‘Doesn’t he have friends to play with these days?’
Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen the few who always followed him around like followers recently.
‘Well, I guess they’re busy.’
How would I know? Ryan, who cut off his interest, headed to Watson Manor.
“Oh my, Sir Ryan. You’re here.”
The butler greeted him with a smile. But for some reason, there was a hint of awkwardness on his face.
“What’s the matter? Of course I came to see Derek. Isn’t he inside?”
While asking, Ryan anticipated the answer that would come back.
“I guess Young Master Derek left without telling you, Sir Ryan.”
“Left to where?”
When Ryan showed an expression of not knowing at all, the butler made an apologetic face.
“He went on a trip.”
“What? For how long?”
Even normally, Derek often left home. To go play or travel. But that shouldn’t have been now…!
“Well. Since he said he would stay in that region for the time being, wouldn’t it be at least a few months?”
The butler’s words trailed off after seeing Ryan’s surprised face.
“I’m sorry you came all the way here.”
And he apologized to Ryan for the wasted trip.
“No. I’m the one who came looking without knowing, what are you apologizing for.”
Ryan shook his head. The one who disappeared without a word was Derek, and also the one who visited without prior notice was him.
“I will contact you right away when Young Master Derek sends news.”
“Yeah, please do that. I’m counting on you.”
“Understood.”
After hearing the butler’s confirmation, Ryan turned around with a disappointed face.