The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c36
“Even though you also have an excellent group of knights led by Elena, it’s true that they are somewhat lacking when it comes to handling overall palace affairs.”
The king changed the subject as if concluding the discussion about Ryan.
“Edgar is exceptional with the sword. Plus, he’s quite capable in administrative work as well. So have your knights collaborate with him for the time being.”
It was well known that despite his muscular appearance, Edgar, one of the six captains under Count Fitzroy who leads the king’s royal guard, was good at clerical work.
“Understood.”
The king contentedly looked at his son who obediently followed orders without complaints.
“Also, tomorrow after the morning meeting, I’m scheduled to separately meet with the young nobles who came up from the Garrigon viscounty, so attend that as well.”
“Yes.”
At the answer that came back cleanly without any quibbling this time too, the king’s expression softened even more.
“You should take interest in who they are. They could become forces that will support you in the future.”
“We’ll see.”
Hendrick merely lifted the corners of his mouth slightly before lowering them again. It looked both confident and indifferent.
“They are all prominent rising nobles from the south. You would know of Viscount Dilane, right?”
Hendrick thought of the handsome face he had encountered just hours ago. Of course, what the king wanted to ask about wasn’t that man as an individual.
“Yes, I know. He runs various businesses.”
“Right. Especially the pearls produced there are premium goods. I heard they recently succeeded in farming them too, so he probably wants to see me regarding that.”
“Rather than tribute, he has intentions to expand his sales channels.”
The king made a satisfied expression again at the remark that immediately saw through his thoughts.
“Indeed.”
“The viscount wouldn’t have allowed such a major source of income.”
“He’s probably hoping my influence reaches that part too. Anyway, you should meet them as well.”
This time too, Hendrick only gave a short reply that he understood. After that, some trivial conversations that could be exchanged between family followed.
Then, when the chamberlain came to relay that not much time was left until the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was able to get away from the king.
The conversation about Ryan came to mind again the moment he entered the bedroom to sleep after finishing the day’s schedule.
“This painting was here.”
Hendrick thought of Ryan, whose eyes had widened in surprise at what he said at the art gallery while looking at the work hanging on the wall. The way his round eyes grew even rounder and his mouth fell open was so adorable.
Before he knew it, a gentle smile hung on Hendrick’s lips.
This had been offered to the king. But the king, who already had an overflowing collection of artworks in the central palace and private museum, passed it on to Hendrick saying it was to commemorate him becoming an adult.
‘While making excuses that it’s by a rising new artist and whatnot.’
For Hendrick, who wasn’t particularly interested in paintings unlike the king, it was perplexing where to put this. Then, upon hearing Peter’s advice to utilize the spacious area in the bedroom, this spot was decided.
“Should have put it in the study.”
Although the bookshelves were already densely packed with other things in the spaces the frame could fit. Still, as a place Ryan frequently visited, it would have caught his eye much earlier.
Then there would have been an opportunity to converse about it, just the two of them excluding Julian, even after going to the art museum.
Such thoughts briefly crossed his mind, but Hendrick had no awareness that he had imagined such a thing.
He merely gazed at the painting for a moment before deciding he would have to separately instruct Peter tomorrow.
The next morning, before leaving the palace to attend the meeting, Hendrick instructed Peter,
“Show Ryan the painting in the bedroom if he comes.”
“The bedroom?”
Peter widened his eyes in surprise. Then, as if thinking of something, he made a pleased expression.
“I will do so.”
“I’m not sure if I can return before lunch as there is a lot to take care of…”
“I will prepare snacks and a meal with things you like.”
The devoted attendant who knew what his prince wanted expressed that he would take care of it well. Hendrick nodded and left the palace.
It was already the fourth time observing the cabinet meeting. The nobles, always divided into two factions, emphasized their points, hoping the king would choose what they each judged to be right.
“I understand the count’s intention, but that has been the Camry viscount’s territory for generations. So naturally, the rights to the mine discovered there should also take priority with Viscount Camry.”
The fight over mining rights to the newly discovered mine had been dragging on boringly for days. It was largely because the two families happened to belong to different noble factions and refused to yield to each other.
The king only listened to their adamant claims without saying a word. In fact, the answer was a simple issue.
Everyone knew, but couldn’t decide as they were asserting their pride.
“Hendrick, what are your thoughts?”
The meeting ended after handling matters other than the dispute that wasn’t easily resolved. As soon as the king rose from his seat first and Hendrick followed him out of the conference room, a question immediately flew at him.
“How about giving the mining rights to Viscount Camry but sharing some of the mining supervision rights?”
“Oh, the supervision rights? But Count Camry wouldn’t be pleased with that.”
Hendrick, who had seen the noisy back-and-forth, knew that much too.
“Think more about how to persuade Viscount Camry.”
“Understood.”
The king quietly observed the prince who answered curtly this time too before stepping forward again. After leaving the conference room and taking a short break while having a cup of tea, the king’s next destination was the audience chamber.
“Greetings to His Majesty the King.”
“Your Majesty! Thank you for granting us an audience!”
The young nobles were already waiting there, and they unanimously showed courtesy when the king entered.
Hendrick immediately spotted Julian exchanging greetings among the nobles around his age. His attire was splendid as always today too.
“Rise.”
Upon hearing the command, the nobles straightened their bodies with tense expressions. The reason they requested an audience was just as the king had guessed.
As such, the content didn’t particularly pique Hendrick’s interest. Rather, what caught his attention was Julian, who seemed to be at the center of the nobles.
‘With that level of eloquence, he must have grilled Ryan.’
With good looks and a way with words, it was perhaps natural for naive Ryan to fall head over heels. On top of that, if it was the southern coastal city, it was the region that served as the setting for the book he was currently engrossed in.
“…am curious what you think.”
However, there was one thing that bothered Hendrick. Was the author’s purpose for building a rapport with Ryan purely innocent?
“Your Highness?”
This was a reasonable suspicion. Even though Ryan must have heard the news that he was going, he still went to meet the author.
When he went to the art museum to find Ryan, it was as if Ryan was waiting and introduced the author to him. After making such an introduction, he should have discreetly disappeared, but he even followed them to the tea shop and made his presence known.
‘I should probably have someone look into it.’
If he really approached with a different motive, it needed to be handled without Ryan’s knowledge.
“Hendrick?”
“Ah…”
Hendrick suddenly snapped out of his thoughts at the king’s call. And upon discovering the gazes looking at him quizzically, he quickly went over the situation.
It seemed someone had asked a question while he was lost in thought, but the problem was he didn’t know who it was or what he heard.
“What was that?”
At times like this, he had to ask brazenly with an expressionless face. As expected, the other person opened his mouth again.
“I asked what Your Highness thinks about gatherings with young nobles from the provinces.”
Hendrick stared intently at Julian who was waiting for his answer. The smile on his lips and calm gaze were certainly features that could easily win over Ryan’s favor.
“Well…”
If he flatly refused and said he had no intention yet in this setting, this fellow might run straight to Ryan and blab that he was rejected.
‘That would be troublesome.’
The king also said so. That if he wanted to date Ryan, he needed to be prudent. In such a situation, even if it was a disagreeable opponent, he couldn’t immediately distance himself.
“If you invite me while staying in the capital, I’d be willing to participate.”
This level of answer should suffice. He only expressed willingness and didn’t give a definite answer, so he could decide what to do when contacted.
The expressions of Julian and the other young nobles brightened, not knowing the meaning hidden in Hendrick’s response.
The king instructed Hendrick to see them out personally. Hendrick understood it meant to build connections with the leading figures of the future kingdom over tea.
However, he had no desire to get involved with them yet. Thus, the only part of the king’s order he carried out was accompanying them to the central palace.
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”
When Hendrick didn’t invite them for refreshments or a meal until the end, the young nobles had to turn away with regretful faces.
And even before they all disappeared, Hendrick immediately turned around and headed to his palace. What happened moments ago had already vanished from his mind.
All that remained was wondering whether Ryan was still there or not.