The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c39
Ryan
After passing by the servant and walking along the corridor for a bit, a courtyard with an open center appeared. Water constantly spouted from a fountain made of white marble, and people were chatting in groups of three or five around it.
Ryan approached and searched for the voices he heard a moment ago.
“I heard the prince is also coming today?”
“Yeah. Liam said the attendant delivered the message to him earlier. That’s why he’s all smiles.”
And before long, Ryan found them. But their faces were not unfamiliar.
‘They are…’
At 14, he had a bit of a dense side. More precisely, he was indifferent to things outside his interests, so he often failed to notice what was happening around him.
At that time, Ryan was solely focused on Hendrick, so the peers hanging around him were existences he may or may not have been aware of.
So it was natural that Hendrick’s followers were displeased with Ryan, who seemed to ignore them.
That incident broke out amidst such circumstances.
“Ryan.”
Beneath a short tree in the garden Hendrick frequented. Today as well, while crouching down waiting for his prince to appear, a voice calling Ryan was heard.
However, Ryan blankly stared at one spot without turning around.
“Hey, Ryan Fitzroy.”
Only when the angry voice penetrated his ears again did he frown and glance sideways. A boy about a hand span shorter than him was glaring with his arms crossed.
Liam Seiden.
He was a year older than Ryan, but he joined as the prince’s playmate half a year later than him. In fact, there was a gap with everyone else except Ryan, but Liam in particular was very discontent about that.
“Pretending not to hear again.”
“Be quiet.”
“Huh?”
At the reproach without even looking back, Liam’s face stiffened then quickly loosened.
“I was going to specially include you in the game today, but I guess not.”
Then he said such things in an implicit tone. Of course, it failed to draw Ryan’s interest. He merely wished the disturbance would quickly disappear.
Hendrick would be coming soon. Ryan looked forward to this time of the day the most. The sight of his prince finishing morning training and returning to the palace was somehow disheveled yet brimming with health, making it impossible to take his eyes off.
Especially if he saw him walking while roughly fixing his sweat-soaked shirt and hair…
“You’ll regret it? We’re planning to do a treasure hunt with Hendrick’s used items today.”
Gulp gulp. Ryan’s head, immersed in imagination while swallowing saliva, swiftly turned to Liam.
“He sorted out some unused items yesterday. Wouldn’t it be a waste to just dispose of them? When I gave my opinion, he said to take them if I need them.”
The corners of Liam’s mouth rose.
“Well, he said to give them to people around who need them, but it’s no fun to just distribute them, right?”
So he decided to play a treasure hunt game. Ryan was conflicted at those words.
“The other guys also agreed to participate, not just you. They all seem quite eager. What about you? Wanna come?”
The way he spoke while twitching his nose showed he wasn’t keen on Ryan’s participation, but he would still check his intention.
In the end, Ryan readily took that bait.
“Yeah. I’ll go.”
The corners of Liam’s mouth rose again. It was a more sinister smile than before, but Ryan, who had turned his gaze to Hendrick who appeared just then, failed to notice.
“Then let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“Uh…”
Today as well, Hendrick was overflowing with charm. The slightly loose shirt fluttered in the wind, and even his slightly damp-looking hair swayed alluringly. Unlike someone who finished a hard training, his face was glowing.
“If you’re not going, forget it.”
For a moment, Ryan was conflicted. Hendrick’s fresh and refreshing beauty stood out more than usual today, so he wanted to enjoy the exciting moment a bit longer.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
But he also didn’t want to miss the chance to have Hendrick’s items. Moreover, judging from what Liam said, there were many competitors aiming for them.
With a regretful heart, Ryan eventually got up and dusted himself off. But Hendrick had already approached and was standing in front of Ryan.
‘Since his legs are long, he walks over quickly.’
When Ryan made such a silly yet honest observation.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Liam ran up to Hendrick and bowed. But Ryan just stood there blankly, his eyes fixed on Hendrick.
Perhaps that attitude was seen as impudent. Liam quickly came and tapped Ryan’s foot. It meant for him to show courtesy too.
“What exercise did you do today?”
But Ryan only blurted out an absurd question. Liam made a dumbfounded expression, and Hendrick also slightly raised his eyebrows. Only Elena behind them laughed as if finding it amusing.
“Basic swordsmanship training.”
“Oh… Cool.”
With a dazed face not knowing what that was, Ryan nodded. While scrutinizing Hendrick’s face and shoulders.
The reason his body odor was particularly strong was probably because he had been moving intensely.
His heart was pounding. Saliva automatically gulp went down and his face seemed to redden a bit.
“But what were you two doing here?”
“Ah, that’s because today Liam…”
The moment Ryan was about to answer Hendrick’s question.
“I came to greet Ryan as he was sitting alone.”
Liam cut in as if interrupting. Ryan blinked then nodded at Hendrick’s gaze asking if that was so.
Well, it wasn’t a complete lie.
Hendrick glanced at Liam who was carefully reading the mood, then turned to Ryan who still hadn’t taken his eyes off him. And after quietly looking at the pale and small face, he suddenly spoke.
“Your face is red. If you’re unwell, go home.”
The indifferent tone didn’t sound like he was worrying. Rather, it felt like he was telling Ryan not to needlessly concern him and disappear.
“I’m not.”
Ryan pursed his lips and touched his cheek. It was a bit warm because he had been directly under the sun until Hendrick came.
The summer sun approaching noon was quite hot.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will take good care of him.”
This time too, Liam interjected between the two. Hendrick’s gaze lingered on the two alternately once more.
Then he soon nodded as if telling them to do so and started walking.
“Ryan.”
Ryan, who was about to naturally follow behind as if it was a given, abruptly stopped at the voice calling him. At the same time, Hendrick also slightly moved his chin then soon fixed it forward and stepped on.
Ryan watched the reliable back moving away without waiting with eyes full of lingering attachment, but urged by Liam, he had no choice but to accompany him.
“How far are we going?”
30 minutes from then. Ryan, who rarely walked for a long time, tapped his aching calves and asked disgruntledly.
“We’re almost there.”
“You said that earlier too.”
With a sullen face, he looked around. The place they entered after walking in for a while past the west palace where Hendrick stayed gave off a somewhat unmanaged feeling.
“But isn’t this the way to the closed palace?”
“You know that too?”
Ryan stopped at the surprised face.
“We shouldn’t go there.”
Even if Ryan had no interest in anything besides Hendrick, he knew what he should know. Especially regarding things not to do and places not to go in the palace, his family had nagged him until his ears hurt.
One of them was about the forbidden areas within the palace.
“Don’t worry. No one has guarded there for a long time. I checked everything in advance. And we’ll just play for a bit and maybe someone prepared a reliable attendant to keep watch in case someone comes, so there’s no problem.”
Liam crossed his arms.
“If you’re still unsure, you can go back.”
Indeed. Would Liam, who was so mindful of Hendrick, do such a dangerous thing? Ryan quickly abandoned his suspicion.
“I won’t.”
He couldn’t return empty-handed after coming all the way here.
‘It should be fine if I just grab one of Hendrick’s items and come out right away.’
With greed preceding anxiety, Ryan pointed his chin forward, telling Liam to quickly lead the way. And he moved again, following Liam who turned around and walked without a word.
After walking a few more minutes like that, they arrived at a slightly messy park that was not tidied up. Children of similar ages were huddled together chatting there. A total of 5.
There was a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces, but Ryan paid no attention. They also seemed to have no intention of acknowledging him as no one came to greet him.
“You’re all here? Then shall we start right away?”
Liam brightly smiled and clapped his hands. Then he cheerfully shouted.
“Start!”
The heavy feeling in his legs from a moment ago was instantly forgotten. Ryan entered the park with shining eyes, burning with the will to find Hendrick’s items.