The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c57
As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, Ryan quickly scanned his surroundings.
“Wow…”
A vast expanse of green stretched out before his eyes.
“This is my first time seeing so many grapes and olives.”
He turned to the side and spoke with an excited heart. Then Hendrick, with a faint smile, immediately met his gaze.
Noticing the warm eyes like the gentle sunlight, Ryan unknowingly placed a hand on his chest.
‘Why is he smiling like that?’
Making the onlooker’s heart flutter. The problem with good-looking people is that they sometimes don’t know what results their expressions and actions bring about.
‘That’s why they act so obliviously.’
While grumbling inwardly, Ryan kept sneaking glances at Hendrick.
“Welcome! Prince, Young Master Ryan.”
However, that ended quickly too as an elderly woman with a plump body greeted them. Behind her, six people with visibly tense faces hurriedly paid their respects.
“I’m Benny. I’m in charge of managing the vineyard and farm overall. And this is Luke, the compression technician.”
“I see.”
Hendrick nodded appropriately at the vineyard manager’s words and looked to the side. Ryan immediately understood the meaning – that he would just follow him around, so do as he wished.
“I’m not sure if our sudden visit is disrupting your work.”
“Not at all, Young Master Ryan. On the contrary, we’re just happy that you came all the way to this distant place.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“Let’s go inside first.”
The manager’s face was full of pride as she said she had prepared good wine and to savor it while dining. Ryan could understand her very well.
He also knew how delicious and flavorful the wine served at the Earl’s table every day was.
“No. I can’t take up too much time from busy people. I want to see the farm where the wine is produced right away.”
But he declined the meal. Since Hendrick said he could handle it anyway, he wanted to resolve what he was most curious about first, now that it had come to this.
He had already informed them before coming here that he would tour the factory, so he judged that there would be no problem going immediately.
“I see. Understood. Then please follow me this way.”
The manager guided Ryan and Hendrick to another location without further ado. While doing so, she sent several curious glances their way.
Even though he knew she couldn’t speak to the nobles first and was waiting for him to initiate, Ryan didn’t respond to her curiosity.
More accurately, he was too preoccupied with taking in the scenery of the vast vineyard filling the plains.
“It’s more impressive than I thought, and on a larger scale. It makes me regret not having tried the wine produced by the Fitzroy family.”
It was Hendrick who broke the silence. Right before they were about to enter the factory. The gray building with a gable roof was quite large, contrary to expectations, and the entrance was tightly blocked by two thick iron doors.
Wondering how to go inside, he noticed a small side door slightly open at the bottom of the iron doors. A fragrant and pungent scent wafted from there.
It seemed Hendrick had also mentioned it after smelling this.
“The wine aroma is quite nice.”
Ryan, who had been sniffing and wondering what the smell was, nodded at those words. This was something he was familiar with and had often smelled at home too.
“I know my father often took it with him, saying he would drink it with His Majesty. You never tried it?”
“His Majesty cherishes the precious liquor, hiding it carefully and only savoring it on special occasions.”
“Oh my… He didn’t even share a glass with his beloved prince?”
Ryan remembered the sight of his father frequently going to the palace with a cheerful face, carrying the wine. So he thought Hendrick would have had it too, but it was unexpected.
“As I said, His Majesty treasures it so much.”
“I should gift you a bottle then.”
“It would be even better if you drink it with me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Why would I drink with you? Are you trying to cause another incident? Ryan’s brows furrowed. He had only drunk alcohol twice recently.
But both times, embarrassing things happened with Hendrick, so it was an unavoidable reaction.
“But drinking during pregnancy is… Mmph!”
Hendrick had to involuntarily shut his mouth midway.
“Ahhh!”
It was because Ryan let out a scream-like sound and covered his lips with his palm. His eyes were filled with unspoken curses.
He couldn’t even bring himself to look back. He could imagine what kind of expression the manager guiding them to the factory would be making without having to see it. Ryan brought his lips close to Hendrick’s ear and whispered.
“You, keep your mouth shut from now on.”
And he showed a gaze full of warning. After confirming Hendrick moved his head up and down once, he removed the hand that had been covering his mouth.
“Let’s go.”
Ryan turned around, pretending to be nonchalant. He deliberately threw a firm gaze at the manager. The manager’s complexion darkened slightly compared to a moment ago, as if the message was well conveyed that she should keep what she saw and heard to herself.
“Yes, young master. Please be careful of your step when entering inside. When going from a bright place to a dark one, your vision darkens momentarily, so you might accidentally step on something fallen on the floor and get hurt.”
Still, the manager was dedicated to her role. She didn’t forget to mention the safety precautions before going inside.
“It’s dark.”
Despite the manager’s warning, Ryan faltered a bit as soon as he entered. The surroundings were less visible than he had anticipated.
“It will get brighter again once we go further inside. This area is where the oak barrels are stored, that’s why. I apologize.”
The manager, now holding a faint candle in her hand, bowed her head with an extremely apologetic expression.
“Is that so? Earlier I mentioned there was a very nice smell even before entering, so it was because of this.”
“That’s right. All the wine sent to the Earl’s estate is taken from here. Would you like to have a glass… ah…”
The manager’s eyes wavered for a moment while offering him a drink. Seeing her head turn with a flustered look, Ryan bit his lip hard.
Even with just one candlelight, her expression was so clearly visible that there was no way to misunderstand what she was thinking!
Anyone could see she was obviously reacting to Hendrick’s words from earlier.
Ryan glared at Hendrick, his eyes naturally narrowing. However, the guilty party didn’t look the least bit sorry.
‘Ugh, if only he wasn’t a prince!’
Ryan furrowed his brows heavily, then hurriedly urged the manager, who was still at a loss and checking his reaction, to guide them.
“Go on. We’re in a hurry.”
“Yes, yes. Young master, this way!”
Following the manager who was walking hastily, Ryan ended up hitting Hendrick’s arm. It was his way of retaliating, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have much impact on the other party.
Pfft.
Judging by the small chuckle that rang out.
“What. Why are you laughing?”
As soon as he turned around and confronted him, Hendrick put on an indifferent face as if he had done no such thing.
“I was just thinking it’s an excellent place.”
No matter how he looked at it, it was an irrelevant answer, but he couldn’t argue further based on his expression alone. Ryan looked at Hendrick suspiciously then decided to let it slide.
“How many compressors are there in total?”
“We currently have 4 units, but one is prepared for immediate use.”
“And that man is the one operating it?”
Ryan pointed his chin at the man silently following them and approaching the compressor.
“That’s right. Actually, he’s my son, and he’s been in charge for already 20 years.”
“Quite a long time?”
“Of course. For me and my son, this place is our workplace and our life.”
Infinite affection and confidence were evident on the face illuminated by the candlelight. Ryan felt a bit of admiration and brought up various questions, and the manager answered in a more relaxed manner than before.
Hendrick quietly followed behind them.
While chatting like that, they arrived at the grape processing area. Then Ryan took out the typeface he had carefully brought and expressed his intention to conduct a printing experiment.
“You’re going to put this in and imprint it on paper?”
The manager blinked and examined the object in Ryan’s hand from various angles. Engraved on the metal were tiny letters.
“Yes. By applying ink here.”
“Hmm… It shouldn’t be difficult, but.”
A gaze wondering what the purpose of this was directed at Ryan.
“Then let’s try it right away.”
However, Ryan didn’t explain the reason. Because he knew it would be hard to understand right away even if he explained it.
‘They’ll understand what I’m trying to do once they see it.’
The reaction he was really curious about was from someone else. His head naturally turned towards Hendrick. But what he encountered was a handsome man with a subtle gaze.
But…
‘What. Why is he smiling like that?’
As if fondly watching a pet doing tricks.