The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c72
The day passed busily. They met with Philip to pick up the new typeface, had a delicious meal at a nearby fancy restaurant, and enjoyed dessert at a tea shop with good reviews.
Then, upon receiving news from the messenger that the agent had contacted them, they rushed back home and got to hear about the writer.
“The writer is very much looking forward to meeting you both. However, they humbly ask if it would be alright to meet next month as it is currently difficult to make time due to issues with writing the sequel.”
“Next month?”
That means in 2 weeks. They need to research and experiment with the typeface more anyway, and there needs to be time to improve the compressor and bring it to the royal capital, so it should be fine.
However, the disappointment of having the long-awaited meeting with the writer delayed was inevitable. Ryan’s shoulders slumped a little in disappointment, and that’s when a question came from beside him.
“To make the prince wait for personal creative work. I’m quite curious as to what kind of person they are.”
Ryan swiftly turned to Hendrick. For some reason, he was slightly frowning and looking displeased.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I meant to ask for your understanding. Please let me know whenever you would like to set the date!”
The agent hurriedly apologized, tensing up. Not only that, he bowed his head deeply and trembled.
Ryan was just as startled. He had never seen Hendrick express his dissatisfaction so blatantly.
“Ryan, what do you want to do?”
Then, when asked while turning to him, Ryan realized that Hendrick had deliberately shown such an attitude to the agent.
‘There’s no need to go that far.’
Hendrick seemed to have done that to clearly inform the agent that the initiative for this meeting was with Ryan, not himself.
Anyhow, he shakes people’s hearts in strange places.
“What happened to showcasing the new printing method with the writer’s work?”
Ryan glanced at Hendrick and changed the subject for now.
“You don’t have to worry about that! The writer said they will support it anytime, as much as you want if you wish.”
“Support it?”
This time, Hendrick interjected abruptly again. His words still had an unpleasant tone mixed in.
“No. They said they’ll give it all to you! Where else would we find such an honor!”
The agent was no ordinary person. They immediately changed their stance. I guess you have to be at that level to represent a faceless writer.
Having said that, their expression betrays all their emotions, so it’s still a problem.
‘As expected, Hendrick is amazing. He doesn’t waver in any situation.’
The fact that he can act like that when needed while usually not revealing his emotions at all.
Without realizing that he was comparing others to Hendrick and evaluating him higher, Ryan opened his mouth.
“Then I guess the meeting with the writer can be postponed a bit more. Moreover, they’re busy working on the sequel, so we can wait longer. Then will there be a chance to see the sequel first?”
He deliberately tried to lighten the tense atmosphere and asked the last part with a mix of expectation and jest. Then the agent, who had been watching Hendrick’s reaction intently, promptly answered.
“Of course. The writer also said that once the transcriber finishes working on the sequel and it is released to bookstores, you can print it as much as you want.”
“Is that so?”
Ryan’s expression brightened even more at the better-than-expected news. Now that one button has been fastened, the rest can be progressed step by step.
“That’s great.”
“Yeah. Right.”
After that, they exchanged a few words with the agent about how to receive the book and parted ways. Before they knew it, evening was approaching, so they naturally ended up having dinner together.
Moreover, that dinner included not only his mother, Catherine, and Catherine’s husband, but also Count Fitzroy and Edgar who had returned from the palace, but no one found this fact strange.
Rather, while conversing about this and that, they tried to send the tired Ryan up to his room first.
“You must be tired, so go rest quickly. I heard it’s best to eat well and sleep soundly in early pregnancy no matter what.”
“What, Hendrick. When are you going to go?”
Ryan looked at Hendrick, rubbing his heavy eyelids. Maybe it was because he had been busy all day or because he was full, but he kept yawning and drowsiness washed over him.
“The conversation isn’t over yet. I have to stay a bit longer.”
When was that? Even in his hazy consciousness, he had a strange feeling. Somehow, it seemed like he wouldn’t go back today either.
The intuition was not wrong, as expected. The next morning. Ryan found Hendrick standing at the entrance of his room and made a dumbfounded expression.
“You didn’t leave?”
Why is he there with such a shiny face? Not only that, but with the royal physician beside him and Catherine behind him.
“Ryan? What are you saying? Didn’t we decide that His Highness would stay here for the time being?”
But the more absurd words came from Catherine.
“What? Why is Hendrick?”
“You? Why are you acting like you’re hearing this for the first time?”
While both Ryan and Catherine were looking at each other in puzzlement, the royal physician approached to faithfully fulfill his duty.
“Then, Mr. Ryan, I will examine you briefly.”
“Oh, okay.”
Flustered, Ryan began to converse with the royal physician about this and that and receive an examination of his condition.
Meanwhile, he watched Hendrick and Catherine chatting casually without any sense of discomfort. Yesterday, it was his father, mother, and Edgar too. And today as well.
‘What the. Really. He’s acting just like a son-in-law…’
While having such thoughts, he was startled.
“No, what am I saying now!”
“Yes?”
Surprised by the word he had unintentionally thought of, Ryan inadvertently muttered to himself.
Son-in-law! Did I just think son-in-law!
“Uh? No, no. Keep going.”
Then, he quickly waved his hand at the royal physician who was looking at him in surprise.
‘This is embarrassing.’
No matter how hard he tried to calm his mind, thinking that it was because he had been so distracted lately, the thought that had once crossed his mind did not easily go away.
It couldn’t be helped. It was because Hendrick, who had unknowingly started staying at the Earl’s house, really treated Ryan’s parents and siblings like a son-in-law.
“My, how considerate of you. I can’t tell you how reassured I am to have Your Highness by Ryan’s side.”
“It’s natural to do it for Ryan and the child.”
“I feel truly relieved to hear you say that.”
On top of that, despite clearly stating that it was his child, he was nonchalantly acting as a father figure.
“I’m planning to go out for a bit with Ryan tomorrow, so tell me if there’s anything you need. I’ll bring it back.”
“Are you going on a date? Have a good time. We don’t need anything, so don’t worry about us!”
Catherine seemed to be happy just with Hendrick taking care of Ryan, smiling brightly the whole time. She originally had a high opinion of the prince, but these days, trust was literally dripping from her eyes.
“Aren’t you even going to ask where we’re going?”
When Ryan finally asked in disbelief, she made an expression as if asking why she should.
“His Highness will surely suggest a good place for you.”
How on earth did you wrap our family around your finger? Can you pass on the method to me? Respect even rose on Ryan’s face as he looked at Hendrick.
‘Is this also a skill of an extreme alpha?’
He just thought it was really amazing. Unlike Ryan’s complicated feelings, the matter of Hendrick settling into the Earl’s family proceeded smoothly.
It was going so well that even the palace did not urge him to return, asking why he wasn’t coming back.
“What did you even say to His Majesty?”
“I just said I would be staying here for a while because I have some business.”
“Hey, that’s not it! Then he’ll misunderstand!”
“What’s there to misunderstand? I only told him the truth.”
“No, I mean!”
Ryan clenched his fists in frustration. He wanted to pound his chest, but he couldn’t do that for fear of affecting the fetus, so he just sighed heavily instead.
“Why are you doing that, baby?”
“Ryan. What’s wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?”
“Where does it hurt?”
When Ryan’s expression darkened, not only did Catherine and Hendrick approach in surprise, but the royal physician also asked, highly tense.
“Hah… No. My stomach just feels a bit stuffy. I think I ate too much for breakfast. I need to take a short walk outside.”
Yeah, let’s get out of here for now. Getting some fresh air and warm breeze will help clear my mind and be good.
“I thought you ate a lot earlier. Take your time.”
“Okay.”
As Ryan got up from his seat to go outside, Hendrick naturally tried to follow him.
“What?”
“What is it?”
“Why are you trying to come along?”
I want to take a quiet walk alone for a bit.
“Oh my, His Highness is so considerate as well. Have a good time.”
However, before Ryan could even hear Hendrick’s answer, Catherine was waving her hand, beaming. Ryan couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had fallen into a huge pit of conspiracy.