The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c77
Hendrick
In his twenty years of life, Hendrick had never experienced such tension, surprise, joy, worry and concern from day to day as he did these days.
“You said you’re going to the palace today. Shall we leave now?”
All of that was because of the person in front of him who was pouting with a cookie stuck to his lips. Of course, that fact alone was enough to make him happy.
“Okay. Let me just finish eating this and we’ll go.”
The two were having a rare meal alone on the terrace where the morning sunlight was shining. To be precise, it was more accurate to say that Ryan, who had already devoured the hearty meal, was also diligently emptying the dessert.
The reason why Ryan kept urging him to leave was because they had to go to the palace, which Hendrick had been hesitating to go to due to his eating schedule.
“I can eat well without you, you know.”
“I know. Still, though.”
“Sigh…”
It was really cute how he was wary and on guard with other people, raising his hackles, but was endlessly generous only to him while pretending not to be.
The narrowed eyes glaring at him, the lips that kept moving busily even in the midst, the pale, slender fingers and plump cheeks.
It was almost frustrating to think why he hadn’t noticed it all this time.
“Is there anything you want? I’ll pick it up for you on the way back.”
When he wiped the cookie crumbs off Ryan’s lips with his thumb, the mumbling mouth paused for a moment.
“What are you doing?”
The round eyes were spinning around in surprise, and the eyelids were blinking rapidly. Hendrick smiled and waved his thumb at that.
“This. You had something on your lips.”
“Tell me that with words next time.”
Was it his imagination that the tips of Ryan’s ears looked slightly red as he grumbled? No, it wasn’t.
Hendrick tried hard to keep the corners of his mouth from going up. It seemed Ryan still didn’t know that even such an appearance resembled his pet cat that he was raising.
“Ah, come to think of it. Who’s going to take care of Meow if you keep staying here?”
Then, as if reading his thoughts, a question popped out that made Hendrick rarely falter and examine the other person. The innocent eyes didn’t seem to catch any other intentions.
“The palace staff will probably take care of him…”
“They might neglect him since you’re not there, don’t you think?”
“If you’re worried, do you want to go to the palace together today?”
He asked with a subtle expectation, but unfortunately, Ryan’s small head moved from side to side.
“No. Next time. Check if he’s doing well.”
“Then I’ll bring him here.”
“It’s fine. Cats are territorial animals. They get stressed if their environment suddenly changes.”
What was stress again? Recently, Ryan often used words that Hendrick didn’t know. He thought he should ask later where Ryan learned them and nodded.
“Then I’ll check how he’s doing and let you know.”
“Okay.”
As he was looking at Ryan who was answering obediently, he suddenly felt a subtle spread of pheromones. He looked at Ryan’s face just in case, but it seemed like he hadn’t noticed yet.
Then, as if calmed by the extremely weak pheromones that Hendrick was releasing as an ultra-dominant alpha, it quickly dissipated into the air.
“Ryan.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not feeling uncomfortable or anything anywhere, are you?”
“Not at all. They said morning sickness might come around this time, but I don’t have any signs of that. Rather, my appetite is too good, that’s the problem.”
Hendrick could see Ryan still gently rubbing his flat belly. Even he sometimes found it hard to believe that there was a child in there. However, he had no doubt that it was a precious existence to both him and Ryan.
‘Although Ryan hasn’t acknowledged it yet.’
Hendrick tried hard to suppress the bitter smile that was trying to spread.
The incident from ten days ago suddenly came to mind.
* * *
After returning to the capital with Ryan and meeting Edgar, as they headed to the Fitzroy estate, he made a secret resolution.
He would somehow gain the trust of the Count and Countess and stay by Ryan’s side. Unexpectedly, the plan proceeded smoothly.
‘I unexpectedly gained favor with the Countess.’
Of course, it was thrilling when Count Fitzroy almost grabbed the back of his neck and fell over, but still, it was fortunate that no one strongly opposed the talk of the ceremony.
“So I think we should set the preparation period to roughly two months, what do you think, Your Highness?”
Moreover, Ryan’s family members unexpectedly showed an active attitude.
“That much should be fine.”
Two months was actually a short time to prepare for a royal event. Moreover, if it becomes known that it’s his own wedding, it will cause a huge ripple effect, but what does it matter.
As Hendrick had told Ryan’s family, he didn’t care about anything as long as he could reveal who his omega was. Of course, that didn’t mean it should be sloppy, but he also had no intention of making the pregnant Ryan overdo it.
“Oh my, Ryan, are you asleep?”
At Catherine’s words, Hendrick also looked that way. At some point, Ryan had fallen asleep with his head precariously tilted to one side.
Hendrick, who had been listening to Catherine and Edgar bickering, got up from his seat.
“I’ll take him.”
He was his omega. No matter how much of a beta brother they were, he didn’t want to see him being held by someone else. He had to take Ryan to his room first and tell them what he had left to say.
“And there’s something I want to say, so wait a moment.”
Everyone seemed to tense up at the sound, but he deliberately just nodded and left the room as it was. Whenever he walked down the corridor and encountered the servants of the Count’s household, they would flinch upon discovering Ryan in the arms of the prince.
The surprise was momentary, and they soon bowed their heads in courtesy, but he could see them exchanging glances with each other without revealing it.
‘I’d rather the loose-lipped ones spread it.’
What kind of relationship the two of them had, and how precious he considered this lovely omega to be.
They’d have to nail it down so that they wouldn’t change their minds later.
The servant guarding the front of Ryan’s room swiftly opened the door. Hendrick strode inside and lowered the sleeping person onto the soft bed.
The hair on his forehead was disheveled from the move, which caught his eye. His touch was as light and careful as touching a soap bubble, lest he wake up.
Then, without realizing it, he lowered his hand and touched the soft, squishy cheek. That smooth and warm texture.
“Ah…”
At the exclamation he unknowingly let out, for a moment, the small face moved. Hendrick flinched and tried to withdraw his fingers. But Ryan wasn’t awake, he was sticking his cheek close as if wanting to be touched more.
“You like it when I stroke you, it feels good?”
Acting coy but wanting affectionate touches was similar to his pet cat, whom Ryan kept incorrectly calling Meow.
“Come to think of it, you were the one who first met him.”
Hendrick, who was still feeling the soft sensation rubbing against him, opened his mouth as if sighing.
“Ryan, I know why you can’t trust me. I must have hurt you by being thoughtless all this time.”
Ryan had been constantly hovering around him even before he was aware of his own feelings. Even though he knew Ryan was always close by, he didn’t even know what kind of feelings he himself had, and now he was being punished for turning a blind eye.
“So I understand that you’re trying to hide the truth.”
He put his hand back on the smooth forehead. He knew and understood, but still, there were times when he thought if he couldn’t be a little more honest.
Then he himself could apologize more deeply and dedicate everything to him. Even so, he didn’t want to force him. No, he shouldn’t.
“So it’s okay. You can do whatever you want, whatever you desire.”
As much as he had made it difficult for him. It could be even longer than that. He had the confidence to wait forever. Whether it was the printing work he was doing now or anything else.
“But Ryan, just remember one thing.”
Whatever you do, I hope I can continue to be by your side. Whether you’re angry, sad, depressed, or happy, I want to be with you in any moment.
But what he wanted him to know more than that was,
“That I really cherish you.”
No. This alone was not enough.
“No, that I love you.”
Once he heard his own voice in his ears, his heart began to tremble. Yes, his feelings for Ryan were more than just liking him.
“I love you, Ryan.”
Did he hear his confession? He could see Ryan’s eyelids trembling slightly. He waited quietly. For the eyes that had always been directed at him to be revealed.
To react in any way.
“Mmm…”
But Ryan wasn’t waking up. Hendrick finally exhaled the breath he had kept inside his mouth. He also belatedly realized that he had been completely focused on Ryan, even stopping his breathing.
“Okay. I’ll wait some more.”
It didn’t seem to be the right time yet. Hendrick drew a faint smile and slowly got up from his seat. Even then, he hesitated for a long time before heading outside.
While Ryan was asleep, he had to share a story with his family that he didn’t know about.
“Now, let’s continue the story we were having earlier.”
Hearing Hendrick’s words as he reappeared, the expressions on the faces of the family members became complex and subtle. And when the story was over, they looked at each other and exchanged opinions with their eyes.
“Your Highness, may I ask why you have to do that?”
It was the Countess who asked the question as a representative.
“Because Ryan needs time.”
So Hendrick was asking Ryan’s family to join the play for him.