The Villain's End Is Pregnancy - c98
‘The forbidden palace was Hendrick’s property?’
Ryan made a dumbfounded expression at this information he learned for the first time. As if noticing his agitation, Hendrick met his eyes and explained steadily.
“Not long after manifesting as an alpha, I was even diagnosed as ultra-dominant.”
He was only in his early teens. Although his manifestation was expected, they didn’t think he would be ultra-dominant, so while the royal family was pleased, they also showed concern.
It couldn’t be helped because after that, Hendrick developed several problems.
“I couldn’t properly control my pheromones and rampaged recklessly like a beast, even injuring people.”
Since that day, his personality had completely changed as well. He became more aggressive than usual, extremely disliked anyone approaching him, and sometimes even felt fear.
“In the midst of that, His Majesty took me to a place rarely visited by people.”
“So that was the place.”
“Yes. By royal decree, no one was allowed to approach it. So I could freely release my pheromones there, and it made me feel much more at ease.”
To think Hendrick had such a time. It was unexpected and at the same time made Ryan feel sorry for him. If he had been by his side then, he could have at least provided some comfort.
‘No. If it was the past Ryan, he might not have understood Hendrick’s prickly behavior and criticized him instead.’
Thinking about it again, the past Ryan was really like a rough stone in terms of personality. So as soon as a problem occurred, an enemy who wanted to bite and tear at him would have appeared right away.
“Then it seemed I needed a space to rest periodically, so I told His Majesty. I asked him to give that place to me.”
“Ah… So the reason I wasn’t punished then was.”
Because it was Hendrick’s property, he could carelessly set foot in it and no one was punished in the end. Did Liam know about this fact?
‘He probably didn’t know.’
That’s why he had committed such an act. Now that it was revealed like this, Ryan newly realized that the place had various connections to him and Hendrick.
‘It was a place that gave Hendrick freedom, and for me, it was where I experienced my first heat cycle. Moreover, considering I even had that dream.’
In Ryan’s mind, he naturally recalled the dream he unexpectedly had one day. The garden where his pregnant self had strolled and the palace that could be seen behind it.
Hendrick, who had approached him while kindly speaking. Wasn’t that place none other than the forbidden area?
Was that a prophetic dream?
“Alright then. Let’s make that place Ryan’s residence. However, renovating the palace will take quite some time. We can’t postpone the ceremony, so even if it’s inconvenient for the time being, would it be okay for you to stay in Hendrick’s palace?”
As the conversation seemed to be wrapping up appropriately, the queen turned to Ryan and asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do as you say.”
Ryan politely bowed his head. He hadn’t considered things like the wedding ceremony or what would happen afterward in the first place, so even now he had no idea what to do.
Still, he had to obediently follow the queen’s words.
“Then may we be excused first?”
Hendrick looked at the king, the queen, and the members of the Fitzroy family in turn.
“Yes, we shouldn’t disturb the couple’s intimate time together any longer. You may go.”
The king waved his hand in a joking manner. As Ryan glanced around to see if it was really okay to leave, Hendrick nonchalantly grabbed his omega’s arm and made him stand up.
“Let’s go, Ryan.”
“Ah, okay.”
Is it really okay to go? The royal couple and his family were all here. As he rolled his eyes back and forth, trying to gauge the atmosphere, everyone just smiled contentedly, and no one stopped them.
Rather, Catherine even gestured with her eyes for them to hurry and go.
It was then, as Ryan was walking while holding Hendrick’s hand, that he noticed several people being dragged away surrounded by knights.
“Liam?”
Ryan abruptly stopped walking after spotting a familiar face among them. On the other side, they seemed to be walking with their heads bowed, not realizing the situation.
“Ryan.”
Until Hendrick called him, Ryan’s gaze didn’t leave Liam’s back. In any case, it was no longer his business.
The incident with the Hydrian flower extract that Liam had caused would be fairly judged by the king, and there would be no situation where he would encounter Liam in the future.
Still, just once.
“Hendrick, I have a favor to ask…”
“You can’t go alone.”
As soon as Ryan started to speak, Hendrick added a condition as if he knew what he was going to say.
“I’ll just quietly observe, so talk to him where I can see you.”
“Okay.”
It wasn’t that it was completely forbidden, and he was saying he would go together. Ryan had no reason to refuse. Rather, he even felt like he had gained a reliable ally.
Of course, he always had his family who supported and cherished him, but this was a different sense of stability.
“Then let’s rest for a bit first and go after having dinner. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
Moreover, the other person even took care of his health and meals, so it was only natural to feel more attracted to him, right? Ryan gently swung their held hands and smiled brightly.
Hendrick, who had been quietly watching that sight, suddenly approached closely and pecked Ryan’s lips before pulling away. It happened so quickly that Ryan could only blink.
Somehow, that seemed to stir Hendrick’s heart even more. He finally cupped the back of Ryan’s head with his large hand, tilted his chin diagonally, and deeply delved into his mouth.
“Mmph, mmm…!”
Ryan, who had been instantly swept up and unconsciously intertwining his tongue with Hendrick’s, only belatedly realized where they were after Hendrick pulled back a little, and he smacked his broad back.
“Hey, you should consider the time and place!”
Does he really have self-awareness as a prince or not? Ryan, who had actively kissed back but was only blaming others, flinched.
It was because he suddenly felt a strange heat when Hendrick licked his wet lower lip with his tongue. It seemed that it wasn’t just Hendrick who had a problem.
‘Why am I like this too?’
In broad daylight, in a public place where palace people also passed by. Just from seeing that sight, he was aroused. These days, whenever they had a chance, he and Hendrick would kiss, so it seemed the side effects had kicked in strongly.
No matter what, he had to control himself. Didn’t the royal physician say so too? To do it moderately to the extent that it doesn’t strain the fetus.
“Let’s go, quickly.”
With a premonition that he might cause an accident if he kept looking at Hendrick, Ryan hurriedly held his hand and started walking briskly.
Even after coming to Hendrick’s palace, a quarrel broke out.
“Why are you saying you’ll stay separately? We can be together.”
When Ryan said he would rest in another room, Hendrick firmly refused. However, Ryan couldn’t tell the truth either.
‘How can I say that I get excited just by looking at you?’
He absolutely must not get caught. When he saw Hendrick’s shoulders slump in disappointment after he had firmly vowed, his heart started to waver.
“I’ll just watch you sleep and leave. So please rest in my room. Okay?”
Moreover, at Hendrick’s request to even give up his spot, Ryan eventually lost. How could he refuse when Hendrick held both his hands and spoke with his large build?
‘Ah, seriously. Why does he keep acting so cute?’
It seemed that Hendrick had found a secret weapon to deal with Ryan.
“Okay. But where are you going? Aren’t we going to have dinner together later?”
“I’ll be back before then. I’m going to check a few things related to your palace that we talked about earlier.”
“Ah…”
When the forbidden palace, or rather the palace that turned out to be Hendrick’s property, came up as a topic, Ryan had no choice but to nod his head.
He was led by Hendrick to the bedroom where he slept. The moment he discovered the spacious bed, Ryan’s ears turned slightly red. Naturally, it was because he remembered what had happened yesterday.
‘Right. We did that too.’
He really shouldn’t have come here! How could he forget that? However, no matter how quickly you regret, it’s always too late.
In the meantime, Hendrick slowly laid Ryan’s body on the bed he had reached.
“Rest, Ryan. I’ll be back soon.”
Hendrick, who had pressed his lips against Ryan’s smooth forehead and then removed them, spoke affectionately. His voice was so soft that it felt sweet and smooth like drinking cocoa filled with whipped cream.
“Okay. You should also look around moderately and come back.”
“Should I?”
“Oh, the queen will take care of the rest.”
Hendrick, who understood the implication that the queen should be left to handle most things, let out a soft chuckle.
“Who says? From now on, I’ll try to work moderately and spend more time with you.”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant! What if the queen holds a grudge against you?”
“There’s no way that would happen.”
That’s just what you think. As Ryan glared at him with a pout, Hendrick laughed and pressed his lips against his eyelids. It felt ticklish and warm, so Ryan ended up laughing as well.
In the end, their lips overlapped, and their tongues playfully intertwined and untangled repeatedly until Hendrick finally let go of Ryan.
“I’ll be back.”
As Ryan waved his hand, Hendrick reluctantly left the room. And Ryan, who was left alone, blinked slowly and then closed his eyes.
Thinking that he hoped Hendrick would be by his side when he woke up from his sleep.