The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c35
Hendrick
How could he leave with such a flawless face?
“The prince hasn’t even departed yet.”
I’ve always thought that as the youngest in the family, he seems to have been spoiled too much. Although, looking at his cute round appearance and cheeky personality, it’s not hard to understand why.
Even while speaking in a reproachful tone, a smile hung on his own lips, meaning he didn’t really care from the start.
Only after the carriage carrying Ryan completely disappeared did Hendrick also depart. The royal guards protecting the palace gates were on alert when an unfamiliar carriage stopped.
Then, upon confirming the person poking his face out the carriage window, they quickly saluted. Hendrick merely nodded in acknowledgment and indifferently drew the curtains.
After traveling through the expansive gardens, the carriage finally dropped Hendrick off at the inner palace gate connected to the main palace. As it was not a royal carriage, it could not enter any further.
“Your Highness, the carriage will be arriving shortly. Please wait a moment.”
The royal guard saluted with discipline.
“It’s fine. I’ll walk.”
Hendrick waved his hand to decline the carriage and passed through the gate. However, it didn’t take long to realize this was not a good choice.
“Hendrick? You seem to have gone out.”
It was because he happened to run into the king and Count Fitzroy at the same time. No, it was more because he discovered two pairs of eyes looking this way with interest.
“Were you on patrol?”
Hendrick immediately approached the direction the king was in and bowed.
“No, I was spending time taking a walk with the count. With such nice weather, isn’t it a waste to only work indoors?”
The king spoke jokingly and smiled brightly. The leader governing a stable and prosperous nation had a relaxed and gentle impression.
“By the way, I heard you’ve been going out quite often these days? You never used to leave the palace unless it was for something special, so this is a good situation. So, where are you returning from today?”
Before answering, Hendrick glanced at Count Fitzroy. Upon making eye contact, the count smiled sweetly.
‘Seems he heard from Edgar.’
Still, judging by how he wasn’t particularly saying anything, it seemed to mean Hendrick should handle it himself.
“I met with Ryan.”
“Ryan?”
The king made a surprised face then soon turned to Count Fitzroy standing beside him.
“Did the count know as well?”
“I heard from Edgar earlier.”
“Ho…”
Noticing the king’s gaze change, Hendrick clicked his tongue inwardly. He had tried to resolve things with Ryan first before the incident at the coming-of-age party became known, but it seemed to have gone wrong.
“Did you two hang out separately?”
“…I’ve recently been getting close with Ryan.”
That was all Hendrick could say, as he couldn’t bring himself to claim they were close before as well. Fortunately, the king did not inquire as to why they became close recently.
“Is that so? That’s good then. So what did you do together outside the palace?”
“Some of my paintings are on exhibit at the art museum so we briefly stopped by.”
“Just the museum? My, you should have gotten a meal too. Isn’t it already afternoon?”
He lightly scolded Hendrick, as if saying just looking at an exhibit and parting ways after meeting up separately was insufficient.
“Yes. We had a meal and were on our way back from a walk.”
The words the king threw in response to the added remark were highly suggestive.
“I’m glad your relationship is better than I was worried about. Then shall we continue the rest of the conversation after returning to the central palace?”
The tips of Hendrick’s eyebrows rose. His gaze was directed at Count Fitzroy who was quietly standing beside the king.
“I will take my leave now, Your Majesty.”
It’s not that he wanted them to tell him something. Still, for them to make it so obvious the two should talk…
“Shall we also move locations now?”
After exchanging a few words with Count Fitzroy, the king led Hendrick to the central palace. Since receiving work one by one after the coming-of-age party, the frequency of coming here had increased.
Among them, the places Hendrick frequented the most were the king’s office and the grand conference hall to observe morning meetings.
“Have a seat over here.”
However, the place they arrived at was the room the king used to rest.
As the king and prince sat down, the attendant immediately prepared tea for the two and left.
“I am always grateful that you do more than your duty. Even these days when you are given difficult tasks, you handle them diligently so I feel reassured.”
“I am merely doing what I must.”
“Yes. That is why we must be even more prudent in deciding the person who will stand by your side in the future.”
The king moistened his lips with tea and put the cup down.
“I heard an interesting rumor yesterday. Actually, I went on a walk with Count Fitzroy after a long time to confirm whether it was true or not.”
Listening to the long prelude, Hendrick easily guessed what would be said next.
“They say on the night of the coming-of-age party, you embraced Ryan and disappeared to the annex. And that you did not come out from there until morning?”
“Yes. Both Ryan and I got carried away by the atmosphere and drank too much alcohol, so we merely moved locations to rest.”
“And?”
At the king’s gaze prompting him to say more, Hendrick calmly replied,
“We each passed out drunk.”
“Nothing else happened?”
“No.”
“Hmm…”
The king stroked his smooth, shaven chin with his hand. A scrutinizing gaze quietly examined Hendrick’s expressionless face.
The prince who grew up as the only legitimate heir had become skilled at not revealing his emotions. It was partly his original personality to not have big mood swings, and partly his environment that made him that way.
Was it just his own thinking that the prince seemed to be particularly mindful of controlling his expression today?
“But why would such a rumor spread?”
“What are you referring to?”
“What else could possibly happen when an alpha and omega spend a night together in the same space?”
As expected. It was not surprising as he had guessed it from the moment the king suggested changing locations. The only regrettable thing was having to discuss this when things with Ryan were not resolved yet.
“Whether that is true or not. You know this is not a good situation for Ryan, more so than for you, right?”
“I intend to take clear responsibility.”
“Even though you said the rumors are different?”
Saying he would take responsibility after claiming nothing happened. The king tilted his head at the contradictory words.
Even so, his eyes shone with curiosity. No matter how one looked at it, didn’t those words mean there was something between the two of them?
“…Still, I am preparing as I have the intention of courting Ryan.”
“My goodness.”
The king let out a deflating laugh and picked up his teacup again. And he quietly examined the face of his son who still did not reveal any emotion.
From a young age, the prince was special. The king’s only heir, an ultra alpha. Possessing outstanding intelligence, physical ability, and appearance, he was immensely popular.
‘But he is utterly inept when it comes to his own emotions.’
Well, he only just became an adult. Having never had feelings for anyone, he may not know how to act.
“Are you saying you’ll date Ryan just because of the rumors?”
“That’s…”
Hendrick, who was about to say that’s not it, closed his mouth. He could not be completely honest. If he did, there was a risk of force being involved.
He wanted to resolve things with Ryan just between the two of them.
“Then what are your feelings?”
While he hesitated, the king asked again.
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking how you feel about Ryan.”
Ryan naturally came to Hendrick’s mind. His hair like the night sky and eyes shining like stars. His cute features and a smile that made onlookers smile too.
“Do my feelings or thoughts matter? I’ll have to meet someone anyway with marriage in mind now that I’m an adult. When I looked around me, I judged Ryan to be the most suitable.”
Even after smelling his pheromones, it wasn’t disgusting. After spending the night together, he felt Ryan was someone he wouldn’t mind keeping by his side.
Seeing his face made him feel good, and he just had a slight wish to spend more time together, that was all.
“I thought you were all grown up, but there was still something lacking.”
The king’s eyes had turned serious at some point.
“Are you saying you and Ryan are merely adults, and because something happened that needs to be taken responsibility for, you’re only viewing it as an obligation?”
“That’s part of it, but I also know that ultimately, what Ryan and I both need is marriage.”
“Yes. However, there is something that needs to be confirmed first before that.”
Confirmed? Hendrick looked at the king with eyes asking what that was. Then, feeling his mouth strangely dry even though he hadn’t said much, he picked up his teacup.
The tea aroma slowly filling his mouth was fragrant, and the taste was mild and clean. Normally he would have savored it more as he drank, but what captured Hendrick’s attention now were the king’s lips.
“Each other’s hearts.”
Hearts, he said. At the word that came up once again, Hendrick put the cup down without making a sound, but showed doubt.
“I understood well enough from your words how you think of Ryan. But Hendrick. Dating is different from that.”
The king finished speaking in a tone that seemed to carry a sigh.
“If you’re going to date Ryan, you’ll need to think more carefully.”