The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c73
In the blink of an eye, time flowed steadily, and it had already been well over ten days since Hendrick stayed at Count Fitzroy’s house.
During that time, Ryan met with the transcriber accompanied by Hendrick, found and renovated the desired site and building a few days ago, and had safely brought the compressor over.
‘On top of that, I also officially signed a contract with the writer through the agent.’
This was a very encouraging development. It was different from just verbally asking for consent. The contract was completed with a professional legal expert that Hendrick specially brought along.
Apart from the productive use of time, unwelcome guests also began to visit the Earl’s house.
The king’s envoys came frequently, and Peter visited several times a day as if it were his own house. Every time he came, he delivered a message asking about the prince’s whereabouts, and occasionally showed a rare embarrassed expression.
“Hey, go now.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why. There are many people looking for you. Don’t you have to go meet them?”
“It’s not important right now, so it’s fine.”
Fortunately, the nobles still don’t know the fact that Hendrick is here. But who knows how long this can be kept a secret.
Above all, what Ryan was most concerned about was something else.
“You also have to take successor lessons. What about sword training?”
Every time he went to the palace, Hendrick was taking successor lessons. That meant the king was slowly preparing for the next steps.
If he suddenly doesn’t return and stays outside in the midst of that, what would he think?
“I’ve been consistently practicing swordsmanship here, and I’ve already discussed delaying the successor lessons with His Majesty as much as possible, so it’s fine.”
Contrary to Ryan’s worries, Hendrick had an attitude that there would be no problem at all. In other words, he was sparring with Edgar who comes after work every day, and the successor lessons were also delayed as much as possible.
“I’m not okay with it! What if His Majesty misunderstands that it’s because of me!”
Ryan glared at him, but Hendrick was still nonchalant.
“That won’t happen.”
Yet his words were firm. He even showed the will to handle everything himself even if such a thing happens.
It was reassuring, but.
‘Do you think it’ll go your way? Do you know how some queens and concubines who received the king’s affection meet their end?’
It’s because they did wrong, but there are also cases where their reputation around them deteriorated. Even though they themselves only received the king’s love.
‘No, I’m absolutely not thinking anything like that!’
I don’t know why strange thoughts keep coming to mind since before. Ryan shook his head vigorously to shake off the delusions.
“That’s what you think. If you insist, at least go in the morning or afternoon.”
Ryan offered a compromise to Hendrick, who seemed to have no intention of listening to him no matter how much he urged.
“…And if I don’t?”
“I’ll chase you out.”
While staying here, Hendrick gained the respect and trust of not only the family but also the employees. It would not be easy to send him away so readily. But for now, he tried to act tough.
“If you tell me to, I guess I should. Well, I happen to have someone to meet tomorrow anyway.”
Fortunately, this time he achieved what he wanted, but the last part was very irksome.
“Meet someone? Who?”
“There is. I’ll let you know later.”
He’s doing that because he’s being forced. Ryan snorted, saying he wasn’t curious at all.
And the next day, Ryan finally got some time alone for a change. It was an opportunity that came after sending Hendrick, who lingered and didn’t want to leave even after lunch, to the palace.
“Yes! Let’s go!”
He cheerfully finished preparing to go out and got on the carriage. Today, while Hendrick was absent, the plan was to take Philip and do printing tests on the compressor.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Ryan, who had just gotten off the carriage in front of Philip’s house, and the person coming down the stairs ran into each other. They both made the same sound at the unexpected encounter.
“Mr. Julian?”
“Hello, Mr. Ryan. Long time no see!”
“Right. This is the first time since we met at the gallery last time, right? But what brings you here?”
As he asked, Ryan realized it himself.
“You must be on your way back from seeing Philip.”
“That’s right. I have a request to make soon.”
“I see.”
“I heard you’ve been meeting Philip often these days too?”
“Yes. I also have a separate request for him.”
Ryan had still told Philip to keep quiet about that matter, so Julian didn’t know.
“That’s what I heard. Philip was quite excited. He said it’s fun and rewarding, and he’s looking forward to seeing how it turns out.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He couldn’t tell me because it’s still a secret, but he assured me that when I find out later, I’ll really faint from shock.”
Ryan laughed at the words thrown out like a joke. Julian also smiled at his bright appearance.
“I also heard that you’ve been going around with the prince these days… Is this a secret too?”
“Ah…”
And at the topic he brought up, Ryan’s eyes wavered for a moment. Right. How could I forget? Come to think of it, the person in front of me is none other than the main lead of the original work.
‘I must be an idiot.’
Even if I’ve been a bit out of it lately because of Hendrick. My lips chewed nervously on their own.
“I think there’s some misunderstanding. I’m only accompanying Hendrick because of work.”
“Work?”
“Yes, similar to what I entrusted to Philip.”
“Aha…”
Why does he look like he doesn’t believe me even as he nods his head in understanding? Ryan fidgeted his hands, suddenly feeling anxious.
“It’s true. Rather, I heard you’ve been going to the palace often…”
“Not often, I just had a few opportunities to see His Majesty because of work, like you.”
“Then you must meet the prince sometimes too.”
Why am I asking about this? While thinking that inwardly, Ryan’s mouth moved diligently.
“So what I’m saying is, um, don’t you think the prince is quite intelligent and handsome too…”
Moreover, every word that comes out is absurd. On top of that, anyone could tell that he was showing a lot of interest in Hendrick.
Of course, the fact that he himself has not yet realized it is a different matter.
“I was just about to enter the palace now, and I’m scheduled to meet the prince separately.”
“With the prince?”
“Yes. He said he has something to discuss regarding the specialty products of the territory.”
What Hendrick said yesterday came to mind. That he had someone to meet and it worked out well. That someone seemed to be Julian.
Without realizing it, Ryan was already chewing on the inside of his cheek out of anxiety, but he himself didn’t even notice this feeling.
“Ah, look at the time. Mr. Ryan. I’d love to talk more, but as I mentioned, I have to go to the palace now, so I’ll take my leave first.”
Julian, who had thoroughly muddled Ryan’s mind, bid farewell with a smile on his face, unaware of anything.
“Yes, Mr. Julian. It was really nice to see you today.”
Ryan also had to greet him without being able to ask him why he was meeting.
“Likewise. If it’s alright with you, Mr. Ryan, I’d like to have tea together soon. I have something to tell you.”
“Anytime. Just contact me.”
Julian smiled once more and disappeared after greeting. A long sigh escaped from Ryan’s mouth, who had been standing like a stone statue for a while.
“What the heck.”
The person he said he was meeting was Julian? Is that why he didn’t tell me? He said he’d let me know later. What is it?
The time spent with Hendrick for ten days felt like a dream.
‘Whatever you do, you can do as you wish. I’ll wait for you forever.’
Suddenly, firm words that he didn’t know when he heard them flashed through his mind.
‘Huh? When did he say that?’
No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t remember. It also seemed like he heard something more after that, but that too.
‘Well, he must have said it sometime.’
More than that, what’s bothering me now is.
‘He went to meet Julian.’
His heart ached. His stomach also seemed to throb.
“No. Don’t think negatively.”
Ryan shook his head hard, trying to brush off the billowing disappointment. Fortunately, after that, he was able to bury the issue with Julian by taking Philip around here and there.
Of course, it kept trying to pop up whenever there was a gap, giving him a headache, but he somehow managed to suppress it inside.
“Hah…”
Maybe it’s because he forcibly contained it like that. As soon as he returned home, Ryan collapsed on the bed as if exhausted.
“Ugh, my stomach doesn’t feel good.”
Moreover, the problem seemed to be that he ate snacks that caught his eye on the way back until he was stuffed.
“Ugh… Why did I eat all that.”
These days he let his guard down thinking it’s okay to eat this much. Finally, indigestion came up and Ryan groaned in a shrimp-like curled up posture.
Of all days, today there was neither his mother nor Catherine at home. Hendrick, who had been with him every day, was also absent as he went to the palace.
‘I’m sick. And you’re probably flirting with Julian?’
I don’t know why such a petty thought suddenly surged up. Perhaps the thoughts he had forcibly contained spilled out through the gap of his sickness.
His eyes stung and soon got hot. Ryan quickly buried his face in the pillow.
A sniffle of tears squeezed out from the corner of his hidden eyes.
An unwarranted sadness washed over him.