The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c56
Stiff, hardened eyes stare at the other person. However, the gaze that meets them is equally unyielding.
“You heard from the doctor. He said it’s best not to overexert yourself for the time being. So I’m saying let’s go back for now and travel later.”
“If you want to go, you go. I’m telling you I’ll visit all the places I need to and then return.”
“Haa… Ryan.”
Hendrick sighs and calls his name as if frustrated. But Ryan had no intention of backing down at all.
The escape failed. The pregnancy was also revealed. Even if he managed to hide the biological father’s identity through improvisation, who knows how long that can stay hidden.
‘I can’t return without gaining anything after coming all the way here.’
On the off chance that it really becomes known the life in his belly is related to Hendrick, Ryan needs to have something to show for it too.
At least a way to save his family.
“Okay. Fine. Where are you thinking of going?”
Hendrick showed an attitude of stepping back for now, as if he would hear him out first.
‘No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem to have any intention of leaving me here and going back alone.’
This is troublesome. He hasn’t created anything worth showing Hendrick yet, so should he really reveal his hand in this state?
“You’re really stubborn.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Hendrick immediately retorted the words Ryan uttered as if he had a headache. The two glared at each other again for a while.
“Hey, you’re the prince, you know. Is it okay for a prince to be away from the capital for this long?”
“What does it matter when His Majesty is there? And I already sent a letter. Saying I’ll be traveling with you for a while along with a provincial inspection.”
“What, why did you send that on your own! Why would I travel with you!”
With neither side showing any sign of backing down, the standoff dragged on and on. Elena, standing not far from the two, was starting to look bored.
‘They’re the same, really.’
What anyone could see, the people involved failed to notice as the conversation continued.
“Tell me. I need to know so I can prepare.”
“What preparation are you talking about now?”
“We need to inform them when we’ll arrive too. You’re not thinking of moving without any notice, are you?”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed again at Hendrick’s attitude, treating him like a thoughtless child.
Then immediately understanding why he was saying that, he had to swallow the retort he was about to make.
“I feel like I’m burdening you by saying this repeatedly, but Ryan. You need to be careful in your condition. Let’s contact them in advance wherever we go for the time being.”
As expected, Hendrick explained the situation in a soft tone. Yes, he knew it. Ryan sighed deeply inwardly.
‘What do I do?’
It seems Hendrick intends to keep accompanying him after all. Then he really needs to decide. Whether to resolve himself to reveal everything and travel together, or put it off until next time.
‘But will there even be a next time?’
Judging by Hendrick’s current state, it feels like he’ll stick to him like glue after returning to the capital. Honestly, he was skeptical if secretly touring the mines and vineyards would even be possible in that situation.
‘No matter how I look at it, things already seem messed up.’
Ryan’s gaze went to Elena guarding the room’s door. She was the prince’s escort knight and his brother Edgar’s colleague, as well as a close friend of his sister Catherine.
That meant his family had probably already been informed of what happened here.
‘Moreover, since Hendrick found out, there’s a high chance the doctor also told Father or Mother.’
Did it really end there? If that fact really reaches the palace, it will truly be the worst situation unfolding.
‘Huh? Come to think of it…’
At the end of his thoughts, a question brushed past Ryan’s mind.
“Let me ask one thing.”
Ryan immediately asked at Hendrick’s gaze that seemed to say ‘ask as much as you want’.
“Did you directly ask the doctor about my pregnancy?”
“Of course. Who else would I entrust such an important matter to?”
Isn’t that how all royalty and nobles usually are? Ryan also knew this side well, having lived for 20 years.
All the necessary tasks for daily life are handled by servants or palace staff, and if they need anything, they just have to request it from them.
Isn’t it taken for granted that they don’t directly act even to meet someone?
‘Of course, if it’s an important matter or needs to be kept secret, they wouldn’t have someone else do it. Then at least one thing is a relief.’
At the very least, it seemed the fact that he was pregnant wouldn’t immediately be made known to the king or queen.
Feeling relieved, a new sense of discomfort washed over him again.
“You said you followed me as soon as you saw me in front of our house. Then where did you find the time to meet the doctor?”
Interrogating the coachman could be done as soon as they arrived here. But if he returned to the capital after that, met the doctor, and came back here…
“Why wouldn’t I have time? There was plenty of time to move while you were resting.”
He didn’t answer directly, but it wasn’t difficult for Ryan to grasp the meaning behind it.
“That’s insane.”
So in other words, Hendrick followed him here, heard the details from the coachman, rushed back to the capital to discuss the circumstances with the doctor, and then came back here again.
“Then you’re saying you haven’t slept a wink?”
“I’ve been trained to do that much whenever I’m busy.”
“Is this a wartime situation right now!”
What kind of prince would act this way without proper rest just to find out about an omega he only spent two nights with?
‘Unless there’s really something wrong with his head.’
Ryan truly couldn’t understand Hendrick’s thinking at all. No. Let’s not try to think deeper.
He even felt a hint of fear that he might touch upon something he couldn’t handle. Then he heard another voice again.
“Well, it’s manageable if it’s to find out why you suddenly left me.”
He’s saying that so easily as if it’s no big deal. It’s really burdensome for the listener.
“Haaah…”
Ryan finally let out the heavy sigh he had been holding in. He knew for certain.
It was impossible to separate from Hendrick at this point. And it would be useless to attempt another clumsy escape.
“The first place we’re visiting is the vineyard operated by our earldom. To be exact, it’s a farm that produces wine.”
“How long will it take?”
“The coachman said it would take about two more days of travel, so we’ll need to find a place to stay midway.”
“Then we can find out the exact location through the coachman.”
Ryan blankly stared at Hendrick who was listening attentively to his words and making plans for the future. He really seemed unfazed.
“It’s not your child.”
As soon as he blurted that out, the upright gaze immediately returned.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Why is he answering that so resolutely again? Dumbfounded, Ryan stared blankly and a smile appeared on Hendrick’s lips.
“So you just think about your health.”
“Don’t tell me you’re under the delusion that I’m insisting it’s not yours even though it is…”
“It’s not like that. I just want you to be comfortable, that’s all.”
His face was still unwavering. As if it really wasn’t an issue at all. But could it go as he wished?
Strange. Why did he keep feeling petty in moments like this? Ryan didn’t understand it himself, but he kept opening his mouth.
“What if I say I’m choosing another alpha?”
It seemed Hendrick couldn’t answer easily this time. Judging by the slightly troubled look in his eyes.
“If that’s what you want…”
Even after finally speaking, he couldn’t continue for a long time.
“Nevermind.”
Feeling like he shouldn’t hear it for some reason, he hurriedly stopped him. He didn’t ask out of curiosity anyway, just blurted it out feeling peeved.
Not wanting to drag out the topic any longer, Ryan quickly changed the subject.
“After staying there for a few days and looking around, I’ll go to the mine operated by the earldom. I haven’t discussed yet how long it will take to get there.”
While sneaking a glance at Hendrick, their eyes met head-on. He must have been watching him this whole time.
“Then we’ll need to call the coachman and check the schedule.”
Hendrick immediately turned to Elena. Understanding it as an order to bring the coachman, she promptly left the room.
With only the two of them remaining, somehow the atmosphere felt even more awkward than before. Ryan fiddled with his shirt sleeve for no reason. Then he looked at his own belly hidden under the shirt.
‘What do I do about this too?’
Hendrick’s pursuit had disrupted all his plans. The biggest problem among them was concealing that it was his child.
“What other plans do you have?”
The kind voice that reached him again made him lift his head with a start. As if he had noticed what Ryan was thinking inwardly.
“Uh, um…”
He quickly wracked his brain. Now that the pregnancy was exposed too, he had to remove the plan to meet a doctor. The excuse that he was going to meet Derek was useless now too.
Then after visiting those two places, Ryan had nowhere else to go either.
“Nothing. That’s it.”
“Okay. Then we can discuss the schedule with the coachman.”
No sooner had Hendrick finished speaking than the sound of knocking on the door was heard and the extremely tense coachman appeared.