The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c61
Following the wine farm, Ryan arrived at the mine and moved very enthusiastically. He was bustling around so busily that Hendrick, unable to bear watching, ordered servants to bring food that Ryan could eat comfortably, without even noticing.
“Ah… hey, Ryan.”
He didn’t even realize that Hendrick followed him around with a basket full of bite-sized sandwiches, cookies, fruit, etc. tucked under his arm, feeding them into Ryan’s mouth one by one.
“You two have such a great relationship.”
Only after hearing the words of a young nobleman who had been watching them all along did a question rise on Ryan’s face.
“Huh?”
“I had no idea the prince was such an affectionate person. It must be because you have a special bond, right?”
What is this about? Even hearing it again, Ryan had no clue what it meant, so he turned to look at Hendrick. As soon as he did, his eyes noticeably wavered.
“Wow, Prince? What’s that?”
Ryan’s words came out all strange, despite saying he would maintain formalities in front of others and call Hendrick “prince” if he wanted to be polite.
He was so flustered that he wasn’t even aware of it. Why on earth was there a large picnic basket hanging from Hendrick’s side?
Moreover, in a state that anyone could see was empty from having been eaten!
“Hm? Did it not suit your taste? I told them to make things you like in a way that’s easy to eat.”
“Did I really eat all of that?”
Ryan asked again in disbelief, but Hendrick only smiled brightly. That answer alone was enough. Ryan’s cheeks instantly reddened. He felt heat rush up the back of his neck.
‘He must be crazy.’
No matter what, how could he not notice something like this? His gaze unintentionally turned to the young nobleman standing beside them.
The young nobleman, who had introduced himself as the heir of a branch family in charge of the mine and was guiding them, had an intrigued look in his eyes.
‘Aaaah!’
Ryan let out a silent scream, feeling like tearing his hair out.
“Shall we head back now that you’ve looked around?”
Unaware of his feelings, Hendrick spoke in a nonchalant tone. Ryan’s resentment naturally turned toward him. At the glaring gaze, Hendrick put on an innocent expression.
“Do you have more to see?”
“…No. Nothing. Let’s go.”
He’s doing this on purpose. Ryan could bet his entire current fortune on that possibility.
Because the request Ryan made to Hendrick when coming here was reason enough for that.
‘We can’t hide the fact that you’re a prince. So let’s just show others that we have a master-servant relationship or an appropriately polite one.’
‘Why should we do that? There’s probably no one who doesn’t know how close you and I are.’
‘St-still! It’s a bit much for me to be speaking informally to you, the heir to the throne. How strange will other people find it!’
As soon as he finished saying that, the way Hendrick stared at him made his heart pound even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.
‘If that’s what you want.’
When he finally heard the answer he wanted, rather than relief, he felt apologetic because of the gaze still fixed on him.
It resembled the expression Hendrick showed when Ryan said the child wasn’t his. At the time, Ryan thought it was simply out of concern.
To think he would take revenge like this.
“Why are you doing this?”
But Hendrick’s odd behavior didn’t end there. The moment Ryan was about to take a step, Hendrick approached from the side and held out his arm.
That was also unexpected, so Ryan asked again in an awkward tone.
“Hold onto my arm as you go down. The slope is quite steep here, so you might fall if you’re not careful.”
The mine was located in a high area, and the path was bumpy, but couldn’t they just go carefully?
When Ryan kept looking around without taking his arm, Hendrick silently waited without saying anything more.
“Ryan, let’s head down now.”
However, the young nobleman intervened, breaking the subtle atmosphere flowing between the two. Fortunately, he had been talking to the miners, so he hadn’t noticed the conversation Ryan and Hendrick had just now.
“Yeah.”
Using that as an opportunity, Ryan quickly passed by Hendrick. Keeping his gaze fixed on the ground was partly out of caution not to step on gravel, but also because he couldn’t bear to face the face looking at him.
He was worried Hendrick might say the same thing again, but this time too, contrary to his concern, Hendrick obediently followed behind.
And perhaps because he was extremely tense while coming down, unlike his worries, he was able to safely reach level ground.
During that time, Ryan had to feel burdened by the eyes carefully observing him, but he tried not to show it.
‘Ha… Anyone could see that our relationship is different from others.’
If this was going to happen, why did he even say that? Of course, for him, he wanted to insist that he and Hendrick had an appropriately close relationship, but.
‘Nothing is working out.’
It’s a problem that they’re together after all. It’s useless to regret it now. Contrary to Ryan’s complicated thoughts, the atmosphere was quite lively.
It was thanks to the young nobleman, who was excited to share a meal with a prince he might see once in a lifetime, constantly opening his mouth.
“So our family has determined that there is a tremendous amount of gold inside.”
Ryan listened to the young nobleman’s conversation with an anxious heart. The mine had only been discovered recently.
It was the family the young nobleman belonged to that found this place. They were very pleased that Ryan appeared and learned about the fact they hadn’t even reported to Count Fitzroy yet.
‘But should I tell them it’s not a gold mine?’
In fact, it would be revealed a bit later that it was a copper mine. Of course, it wasn’t that there were no gold veins at all. But in terms of ratio, if copper was 5/6, gold was about 1/6.
So they would say it had no value and stopped developing it.
The reason Ryan came here was to be the first to know when they finally figured out the true nature of the mine.
“When do you think the results will come out?”
“Ryan, you came at a very timely moment.”
When Ryan looked at him as if asking what he meant, the young nobleman continued with a confident face.
“We’ll get word by tomorrow or the day after. That’s what the miner in charge of excavation said.”
It seemed his luck was really good this time. Ryan decided to judge later whether this was positive or not.
And the next day, the complexion of the young nobleman who visited the mansion where Ryan and Hendrick were staying was dark.
‘Hmm, looks like the results are out.’
Ryan noticed the reason as soon as he saw him, but for now, he greeted him pretending not to know.
“Did you two rest peacefully?”
“Thanks to you. How about you?”
“I also had a very peaceful night.”
Even while exchanging light greetings, the young nobleman kept glancing at Hendrick. It was understandable. He had confidently declared to the prince that a large gold vein would emerge, but a massive amount of copper was discovered instead, so he must be worried.
“I was thinking of visiting the mine once more today, how’s your schedule?”
Ryan took the initiative to bring up the topic, thinking the conversation would keep skirting around the issue if he didn’t.
“Huk! Uh, well, th-that is… I mean…”
But the reaction that came back was far more intense than expected. Ryan’s eyes widened, and Hendrick also had a questioning look in his eyes.
“I apologize. I mean, that is…”
Already saying “I mean” three times, the young nobleman repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands. Anyone could see he was clearly indicating there was a problem with the mine.
“What’s wrong? Is there some issue with the mine?”
When Ryan asked, feigning ignorance, this time even his shoulders trembled. He seemed to have gotten even more nervous with Hendrick present.
“Tell me. We need to know what it is to either solve it or do something about it, right?”
Even at those words, he kept glancing at Hendrick while profusely sweating, and Ryan was pondering what to do.
“Since we’ve finished eating for the most part, I’ll take a short walk out front and come back.”
Hendrick said so and stood up from his seat.
“Huh? Prince? No, it’s fine.”
On the contrary, Ryan was startled by the sudden situation. This was a matter Hendrick needed to hear. But it seemed he felt differently.
“I’ll be right back. Keep talking.”
He gave Ryan a picturesque smile and immediately left the dining room. It was at that moment the not yet empty plates caught Ryan’s eye.
Displeased by that, Ryan’s eyes held a dissatisfied light as he looked at the young nobleman.
“So. Now tell me honestly. What? Did copper come out of the mine instead of gold?”
Even the tone of the question was filled with sullenness. However, the content contained within was by no means something to be taken lightly.