The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c81
Ryan, who had seen off Hendrick who didn’t want to go to the palace until the entrance of the mansion, spent the morning busily as he had told him.
To be precise, he had no choice but to become busy because of unexpected news that he had never thought of.
“There’s a problem with the mine?”
Ryan looked at the young nobleman standing in front of him with a very apologetic face. He was the young nobleman who had been in charge of guiding them when they went on a field trip to the mine some time ago.
“There were constant complaints about the noise coming from the nearby areas, and this time, even a person of influence barged in… But the problem is that it’s not under our jurisdiction…”
“Aha.”
If it had been a problem that occurred in the same territory, the branch family could have handled it on their own. But since the area they governed was not theirs, it seemed that they had come all the way up to the capital.
“Then I’ll have to go directly and check how the situation is.”
In fact, this matter should have been reported to Count Fitzroy. However, the Count was currently at the palace, and while the Countess was also away for a moment, it was Ryan who greeted him.
It was natural for Ryan to step up when a problem occurred at the copper mine he was putting effort into.
“I’m sorry, young master.”
The young nobleman bowed his head even more, not knowing what to do.
“I understand for now. I’ll discuss it with my father and handle it, so you may leave now. If they come looking for us again, tell them that we will deal with them directly. But if it’s the area next to the mine, could it be the Seiden family’s territory?”
“That’s right.”
How coincidental.
‘So this was it. The part where information related to the mine gets to Hendrick in the original story.’
Ryan gently rubbed his belly with his palm. It was a new habit he had recently developed whenever he was thinking about something or had time.
‘But if it turns out like this, won’t the future development also change?’
In the original story, a dispute arises due to the noise problem at the mine, and this gets conveyed to Hendrick.
But now, Ryan had already twisted the original content, and Hendrick already knew about the existence of the mine and had even intervened splendidly, so it was impossible to predict how the situation would change in the future.
“Hasn’t the Seiden family said anything special yet?”
“It seemed they hadn’t contacted the lord yet.”
“It seems the influential person on their side doesn’t want the matter to get bigger either. Then they must have had some demands, right?”
Then the young nobleman hesitated instead of answering right away. Ryan, who intuitively realized that there was something, spoke again.
“What is it?”
“Actually, they said they wanted us to hire workers from their area in addition to compensation.”
“What? They asked for jobs on top of compensation?”
Are they trying to eat for free? Ryan let out a dismayed laugh and slumped.
No wonder the branch family couldn’t resolve it on their own with these demands. It seemed that someone from the heavenly Fitzroy family would have to step in.
And the person to do that job would be none other than himself.
“I understand. For now, wait in the annex. When my father comes, I’ll tell him so that we can leave right away tomorrow…”
Such problems needed to be dealt with promptly. So, while he was about to speak, thinking that he should tell his father and go to the mine early tomorrow with the young nobleman,
“Where are you going?”
Hendrick strode in through the open door and intervened in the conversation.
“Huh? Hendrick? Why are you here so early?”
Ryan’s gaze landed on him and then immediately turned to the clock on the wall. It wasn’t even lunchtime yet. Wasn’t he back too early?
“I finished everything I had to do and came back, so don’t worry. More importantly, tell me, Ryan. Where are you going?”
“Didn’t you do it half-heartedly and come back?”
“No, I told you.”
Ryan looked up at him suspiciously, but Hendrick met his gaze confidently. Moreover, he naturally came over and took the seat next to him.
“So what were you talking about?”
He tried to somehow change the subject, but it didn’t work. After being asked three times in a row, Ryan clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Remember the mine we went to see together before? There’s a problem there. But it happens to be a dispute with another territory, so I think I’ll have to check it out myself.”
Having said that much, he added a bit more.
“That’s the place I’m actively developing, so it’s my responsibility, right?”
“You can’t go all the way there.”
“Why?”
Even if it’s far, it’s a three-day distance by carriage. It seemed like there would be no problem if he took appropriate breaks along the way, so why? But somehow Hendrick was giving him a look that said why he didn’t know. On top of that, he even sighed, making Ryan’s face frown.
“Why do you think? Ryan, you’re pre…”
“Ahhh!”
As soon as the word “pre” came out, Ryan, who instantly figured out what Hendrick was going to say, quickly covered his mouth.
And he glanced at the young nobleman out of the corner of his eye. Fortunately, it seemed like he hadn’t noticed what was about to be said.
“Th-that much is fine, you know.”
To be fair, he could feel the lips moving inside his palm. Feeling ticklish, Ryan quickly removed his hand.
“No. You still need to be careful and extra careful.”
“Then what should I do? I can’t tell my father to go either, right? Edgar won’t be of any help either.”
Honestly, when it came to the mine, Ryan wanted to handle it himself. As if understanding his feelings, Hendrick hesitated for a moment.
“First, we need to hear the details.”
At Hendrick’s request, the young nobleman explained in detail what he had told Ryan again. But his eyes were busy going back and forth between the two.
Somehow, their relationship seemed to have gotten even closer than the last time he saw them. No, there was something even more surprising.
‘Why is the prince at the Count’s house? And he’s acting as if he’s returned home.’
That’s what it sounded like from the conversation they were having. Wasn’t there a nuance that the prince wasn’t at the palace and was commuting to work?
“So you’re saying anyone with the authority to solve that problem will do?”
Having finally heard the whole story, Hendrick asked as if confirming.
“Y-yes, that’s right…”
“Then there’s no other way.”
For a moment, the young nobleman had a blank expression. It was because on the prince’s face, which had been calm the whole time, a faint smile that looked pleased appeared.
Ryan saw that expression too. However, he showed a completely different suspicious look.
“What’s up with you? Why are you smiling so suspiciously?”
“Suspicious?”
“Yeah, very. It looks like you’re plotting something.”
Hendrick tilted his head. That appearance also looked somewhat similar to Ryan, but the people involved didn’t notice.
“Hurry up and tell me. What is it? What were you thinking?”
“It’s nothing. I just thought it would be fine if I went instead of you.”
“Huh?”
“I’m saying I’ll go to the mine. I can take care of other business while I’m at it.”
“Other business?”
“Yeah. The thing you got from the doctor and gave me before.”
“Ah, that!”
Ryan, who thought of the Hydrian extract, realized that Hendrick had deliberately said he would go.
His eyes naturally narrowed. He had a suspicion that he had some other ulterior motive.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hendrick asked in the tone Ryan often used with him. This time, Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
“It’s not nothing. Why?”
When he asked with a smile, Ryan raised the corners of his eyes sharply again, as if he knew he was joking.
“You’re cracking jokes at a time like this?”
“I didn’t.”
“You did. The corners of your mouth went up like this.”
“Hm?”
At the brazen face that seemed to have no idea, Ryan got really annoyed. Without realizing it, he stretched out both hands and put them on the corners of Hendrick’s lips.
For a moment, a strange silence flowed between the two. The two eyes that met blinked, looking at each other.
“I-I’ll just, um, take my, uh, lea…”
What broke the silence was the voice of the young nobleman stuttering.
“Ah!”
Ryan came to his senses with a start and withdrew his hands behind his back.
‘I must be crazy.’
What was he doing recklessly putting his hands on the prince’s face in front of others?
“You’re staying in the annex?”
“Y-yes, yes. Your Highness.”
Unlike Ryan, who was so flustered that he didn’t know what to do, Hendrick calmly spoke to the young nobleman.
“That’s good. Then let’s depart together at the break of dawn tomorrow.”
“Pardon?”
“Come out and wait at the entrance.”
No matter how you listened to it, didn’t that mean the prince was also staying there? The young nobleman had an unbelieving expression, but he couldn’t clear his doubts.
It was because Ryan was glaring at him to hurry up and leave. As he left the room with a dumbfounded look, he heard whispers.
“Why did you come back so early?”
“I told you I had nothing to do at the palace.”
“Don’t lie. Tomorrow, have lunch and then come back from work.”
“I said I’m going to the mine tomorrow.”
“Why are you going there?!”
“Then who else is more suitable than me?”
“Well, that’s…”
“See, there’s no one. So leave it to me.”
No matter how you listened to it, it sounded like a conversation between a commuting married couple.