The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c86
“Ryan Fitzroy presents himself before Your Majesty. Did you have a peaceful night?”
When Ryan bowed in greeting, the king nodded.
“Yes, Ryan. Thanks to you, I rested well. How about you?”
Though his tone was neither cold nor warm, Ryan felt a bit reassured by his neutral attitude, different from the people who acted hostile towards him as soon as he entered.
“I also rested comfortably.”
But as soon as that answer came out, Liam sneered as if he had been waiting, loud enough for his father Count Seiden to hear.
“Look at that, Father. He slept soundly, not even knowing what wrong he has done!”
Count Seiden also stroked his chin and snorted derisively.
“How absurd… I don’t know how Count Fitzroy educates his omega child. If he can’t even properly take care of his family, it’s doubtful he can fulfill the duty of protecting the royal family.”
Those words agitated Ryan as well. He was fine with being insulted himself. But he hated his family becoming the target of attack for something they didn’t even do.
Especially by someone openly coveting his father’s position.
When Ryan glared, Liam pointed a finger this way as if telling him to look.
“What’s with that murderous look again! Doesn’t he look like he’ll commit murder at any moment?”
“He’s truly a wicked one. To think the prince is being deceived by such an omega and acting like he’ll give him his heart and soul. Has there ever been such a lamentable thing!”
As other nobles joined in on the conversation between the father and son, the hall became even noisier.
“Everyone, be silent!”
This time, the queen stepped forward and quelled the commotion. Then after briefly glancing at the king, she opened her mouth.
“Ryan, the king and I were happy to see you and Hendrick getting along well. After all, we thought there was no one more suitable for that child than you.”
Ryan’s complexion darkened. He couldn’t miss the meaning contained in the sentence composed only of past tense.
“Still, Ryan. I don’t want Hendrick to forcibly keep by his side someone who has another person in his heart.”
“Pardon?”
Ryan, who had been quietly listening to the queen, made a dumbfounded face.
“Another person?”
What is this about? And what does she mean she doesn’t want Hendrick to forcibly keep me by his side? The queen, observing Ryan who didn’t understand her words, turned her gaze to the king again.
“Ryan. Answer carefully. What is your relationship with Julian Delain?”
“Pardon?”
This time, the end of “Pardon?” rose even higher than a moment ago. That’s how startled he was.
“I’ll ask again. Are you having an affair with that man?”
At the following question, Ryan was so flustered he couldn’t even answer properly. Then, not missing the timing, all sorts of criticism and speculation began to burst out among the nobles again.
That he was promiscuous, cunning, and bold beyond compare for deceiving royalty.
“I heard you frequently met with Viscount Julian Delain. And that it seemed to be a relationship more intimate than friends.”
The king spoke, sorting out the clamorous atmosphere with a single gesture. Then, mentioning that he had heard some stories, he brought up not only the department store and art gallery where Ryan had met Julian, but even the restaurant where they recently encountered each other.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve only met Sir Julian a few times!”
“Then why did you meet him alone, and what did you talk about?”
“That’s…”
When the king asked again, Ryan was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t possibly tell them he met to try to set up Hendrick and Julian.
“We just happened to become a bit closer after he helped me at the department store, that’s all.”
The excuses that came out ended up just repeating what the king had said. Then Liam interjected again as if he had been waiting.
“Your Majesty! It’s a lie. I saw it myself. A few days ago, I witnessed Ryan behaving very intimately with that man at a restaurant.”
The king tapped the armrest with his index finger as if pondering something. To Ryan, it seemed like he believed Liam more than himself.
‘What should I do?’
He needed to explain his relationship with Julian somehow. But Ryan was conflicted about how much of the truth he should reveal.
Then suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
“If anything, I think it’s Hendrick who has feelings for Sir Julian…”
Though he brought it up boldly, the latter part of his words faded a bit. Because even though they came out of his own mouth, for some reason it felt like his ribs ached inside.
But on the contrary, Ryan heard something unbelievable from the king.
“Hendrick? That can’t be… That child has been especially attentive to you for a long time. Back then, he wasn’t even aware of his own feelings, but now he’s making it very obvious, isn’t he?”
That Hendrick thought of him as special? Seeing Ryan’s dumbfounded expression, the king clicked his tongue as if asking if he really didn’t know.
“My, did Hendrick not tell you?”
“Pardon? About what?”
“That he prepared a gift to give you, arbitrarily took fabric for ceremonial clothes, and on top of that, extorted a large sum from the treasurer.”
Just thinking about it, the king even shook his head as he continued.
“And while pretending nothing was happening, he kept his mouth firmly shut to us and apparently didn’t properly explain to you either. What an infuriating fellow.”
Ryan was equally uneasy whenever the topic of marriage came up. Because he was the one who desperately changed the subject when Hendrick suggested they should pay respects to both sets of parents together.
‘I had no choice. If Your Majesties found out, then it would truly become impossible to refuse.’
But looking at the situation now, it seemed the royal couple already knew the fact that Hendrick was preparing to marry Ryan.
Then that meant the reason he was summoned here was not because he tried to marry Hendrick.
This made it even more confusing. Why this situation was happening where nobles supporting Count Seiden were swarming and pressuring him.
“So tell me, Ryan. Then are you saying you have no relationship at all with Viscount Delain?”
If there was any consolation, it was that the royal couple weren’t siding with them and were treating Ryan fairly.
“Please believe me. We really just have a bit of acquaintance. He doesn’t even reside in the capital, and his nature is the same as mine.”
Suddenly while speaking, Ryan’s gaze turned to Liam. He suddenly remembered what Liam had said to him as soon as he arrived at the palace.
Sneering as if he knew everything Ryan had done.
‘Could it be…’
Some suspicion was creeping into his mind.
“The same nature? That can’t be…”
The king let slip a strange remark. But such doubts were swallowed up by the question that followed.
“Then who is the father of the child in your belly, Ryan?”
“Your Majesty.”
Ryan opened his mouth for now since he couldn’t remain silent while the king spoke. But he couldn’t rashly bring up any story.
This was a truth he truly could not carelessly divulge.
“Ryan, it couldn’t possibly be Viscount Delain, could it?”
This time it was the queen asking.
“Absolutely not. Never.”
Ryan shook his head firmly. Perhaps due to the prolonged tension, a throbbing pain rose from his stomach. He placed his hand there. It wouldn’t alleviate the pain, but it was to find even a bit of comfort.
“Then tell me, Ryan. Who is it?”
This time the king urged him.
“That’s…”
Feeling his mouth go completely dry, Ryan gulped.
“Your Majesty, there is evidence. Please allow it to be submitted.”
Liam, who had been watching, flashed his eyes and quickly stepped forward.
“What evidence are you speaking of?”
“Evidence that Ryan is carrying Julian Drain’s child.”
It’s Delain, not Drain. Ryan inwardly corrected Julian’s surname as he looked at Liam. Even before entering the central palace, he had boldly claimed such things.
That Ryan was carrying another man’s child while deceiving Hendrick that it was his.
“Liam, what on earth have you been saying since yesterday? That I’m pregnant, that I deceived the prince. Now you’re saying it’s someone else’s child?”
“Hmph! I knew you would try to make excuses like that.”
Liam snorted and took out something from his pocket. It was a folded piece of paper.
“Is that what you call evidence?”
Ryan asked, but instead of answering, Liam requested permission to deliver it to the king. The king’s gaze briefly turned to Ryan, then back to Liam.
“Bring it here.”
An attendant who heard the order approached Liam, received the paper, and delivered it to the king. The king’s eyebrows twitched after quickly checking the contents.
‘What on earth did he see to react like that?’
Ryan was growing tense at the reaction that seemed negative no matter how he thought about it. Just then, the king raised his head.
“Liam Seiden, is what’s written here true?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. There is also a witness present here who can prove it’s true.”
As Liam said that, he turned his head towards the nobles. Then, a pretty-looking omega noble slowly walked out.
‘Who is that?’
Ryan tilted his head. He could tell it was an elegantly featured omega. But it wasn’t a familiar face.
“Liam Seiden, who is that person?”
The king asked, gesturing at the man. Liam bowed and answered.
“Your Majesty, this is the very person who wrote that note and delivered it to Ryan Fitzroy!”