The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c67
– Ryan
“Aaah… I’m saved…”
Ryan let out a long sigh, snuggled deep into the familiar warmth. Being in his own bed, his own pillow, his own space finally made him truly feel that he had returned home.
He lay flat with his arms spread wide and looked up at the ceiling. Then he turned his body half a circle and curled up like a shrimp, looking at the closed door.
“What are they talking about that they told me to go rest.”
He thought he would fall asleep as soon as he returned to his room, but he couldn’t. It was because of his mother, Catherine, and Hendrick who remained in the parlor after telling him to go up and rest first.
He was concerned about the combination of his father, Edgar, and Hendrick, but those three created an even more strange uneasiness.
Why his mother and sister of all people?
Ryan was a bit tense even when he saw Edgar waiting at the fortress. It was difficult to know why he was waiting when Ryan hadn’t informed him of his return.
‘I told you to contact them in advance.’
If Hendrick hadn’t said that, Ryan would have had all kinds of worries in his head until he met Edgar.
Come to think of it, Elena, who was close with both Edgar and Catherine, was by Hendrick’s side. She could have contacted them, so he could just let the greeting go.
“Ah, I really can’t do this.”
Ryan, who couldn’t stand the curiosity about the conversation in the parlor, finally sat up. Then he looked down at his belly in surprise.
“I forgot they told me to be careful.”
Of course, this much wouldn’t be a big problem. Still, feeling apologetic, he patted it a few times with his palm before getting off the bed.
He quietly opened the door. The corridor was silent. They probably left it empty with no one nearby so he could rest well.
Ryan walked on tiptoe, raising his heels so his footsteps wouldn’t be heard. He also carefully looked around while going down the stairs to check if anyone was coming.
When he got close to the parlor, he checked if anyone was guarding the front, but no one was seen.
“…so I’m thinking about being with him.”
“Thank you for saying that. But Your Highness, we want my child to be with us. As you know, in these cases, it’s better to stay in a place that provides stability.”
“I agree with Mother. I know we’re being a bit overprotective, but wouldn’t he inevitably feel discomfort living in an unfamiliar place?”
What are they talking about? Listening, it seemed like they were taking responsibility for someone. The subject wasn’t clear.
“First, more than anything, it will be important to hear from Ryan.”
No. Ryan’s shoulders trembled at his name that came out right away.
“I’m sorry, Countess. It seems I was too hasty.”
“No, Your Highness. I’m more grateful that you spoke of it first like this. Actually, I was a bit surprised, but it was something I had guessed.”
What’s sorry and what’s grateful? They’re talking about him, but the person involved couldn’t grasp the situation.
Unable to stay still any longer, Ryan grabbed the doorknob and pulled it.
“Ryan?”
At the same time, the gazes of all three turned to the door. But somehow, they didn’t look surprised.
“Dear, what’s the matter?”
Thanks to that, Ryan faltered at Catherine’s kind question.
“Come here. Sit down for now.”
Catherine got up and approached Ryan. She tried to pull out the chair next to her with a gentle touch and have him sit.
Then, seeing Hendrick, as if realizing something, she gently pushed Ryan next to him. Ryan, who ended up sitting next to Hendrick, also finally grasped the situation and blushed.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Yeah. I kept dozing off on the way… By the way, what’s going on? What were you talking about?”
Ryan answered obediently and looked at the three people one by one. Then Catherine and the Countess looked at each other simultaneously.
Their gazes silently exchanged opinions on who would speak first.
“The doctor came by.”
As soon as Catherine opened her mouth, Ryan’s fists clenched tight.
“You had an examination after leaving the palace. But he said he was worried if you’d be okay since you went on a trip right after even though your body wasn’t well.”
Ryan glanced at Hendrick sitting next to him. He calmly observed the situation and only sent a gentle gaze when their eyes met.
“My body is fine…”
No, he thought so, but as soon as Ryan opened his mouth, he dropped a bombshell.
“Fine my foot. You even went to see the doctor because I went overboard all night, didn’t you?”
Ryan’s face turned bright red as he grasped the meaning behind Hendrick’s unspoken words.
“Hey! You what…!”
He was so flustered that he didn’t even realize he had stood up and was pointing at Hendrick.
Rather, seeing that, Catherine was surprised and quickly lowered Ryan’s arm.
“Ryan? No matter how close you are, that’s too much. You mustn’t show such disrespect to His Highness.”
The Countess also admonished Ryan calmly, trying to hide her startled expression. Ryan, also embarrassed by what he had done, bit his lip and quickly sat down.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. As you can see, Ryan is still young, so I can’t even imagine sending him away separately.”
“Send me away? Me? Where? To whom?”
Ryan looked at the Countess with round eyes.
“Where else, the palace. That’s what everyone does before marriage. But the date hasn’t been set yet and they haven’t asked for your opinion, so His Highness was asking for advice on what would be best to do.”
“What did you say?”
What nonsense is this? Ryan’s head turned to Hendrick this time. There was no mention of this at all before coming to the capital.
But it was just confusing how he acted on his own.
“Hendrick, look at me for a moment.”
He should be polite to Hendrick too, since his mother and Catherine were in front, but Ryan didn’t have the mind for that right now.
He tried to grab Hendrick’s firm wrist at once and leave the parlor. He couldn’t do that because of his mother’s words that came with a sigh.
“Ryan, whatever it is. If you spent the night together, you need to be clear about what to do from now on.”
Ryan glared at the arm that was obediently grabbed as if he would pierce it immediately. Then he slowly raised his eyes and met Hendrick’s, who still looked unperturbed.
‘Don’t tell me you said everything?’
When he sent that message with his gaze, Hendrick’s head moved side to side. Fortunately, it seemed the pregnancy hadn’t been revealed to the family yet.
But was this something to be relieved about?
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like his nose was being led. He even suspected that Hendrick had calculated this situation since he obediently followed him to the mansion.
“Above all, you’re pregnant, aren’t you Ryan? Then we should hurry with the ceremony, shouldn’t we?”
However, even that thought was cut off by Catherine’s nonchalant words.
At the same time, the color completely drained from Ryan’s face.
Hendrick, who had been looking at him the whole time, also changed his expression for the first time. The gazes of the two headed towards Catherine sitting in the chair as if on cue.
She still opened her mouth with a calm attitude.
“How long are you going to pretend not to know, dear? Anyway, if you’re going to proceed with the wedding, you should sort it out quickly.”
“Ca-Catherine? What, what do you mean pretend not to know?”
Ryan tried to dodge for now, hoping that the words he expected wouldn’t come out. But Catherine was cold.
“What else? I just said it. I know you’re pregnant.”
“Ah…”
In an instant, his eyes trembled uncontrollably. Even though Hendrick said it was fine when he found out, Ryan didn’t think it would go as he wished.
It would have been difficult for the doctor who had long been in charge of the Fitzroy family to remain silent under the family’s interrogation.
Moreover, in a state where they knew he had even gone for an examination.
No matter what, they were so calm. Ryan felt his vision going white for a moment at the reaction of not only Catherine but also his mother, as if they already knew.
“Ry-Ryan!”
“Ryan, dear!”
Why was the world spinning so much? He felt his breath getting stuck in his throat and his body tilting forward.
He heard people calling around him. He wanted to answer, but his mouth wouldn’t open. Fortunately, before he completely collapsed on the floor, he was caught in someone’s arms.
As a familiar pheromone wafted, his stuffy breathing loosened a bit.
“I’m sorry, Ryan.”
At the same time as the painful apology was heard, his consciousness cut off.