By Some Unbelievable Twist, I Became the Villainess’s Older Brother

“In any case, it is fortunate that you are capable of that much. If others ask, answer as you did just now. You must never show anyone else the slightest opening.”

“……”

“Why do you not answer? Did you understand me?”

“…Yes. I understand, Master.”

After barely forcing out the answer, the First Princess moistened her parched lips with tea. Her insides churned as she wondered how her master had discovered what she concealed.

Surely God would not have told him even this. Where had the secret leaked? No matter how she thought, she could find no answer.

The Saint watched her calmly, then clicked his tongue. Only then did the First Princess stop thinking and look at him again.

“Do not think too deeply. Do not wonder how I learned of it. You need only remember that you must leave no trace. …Is the pawn you used truly trustworthy?”

The First Princess’s shoulders flinched. The Saint picked up the teacup from the table.

After savoring a sip of the steaming tea, he added.

“The fewer people who know your secret, the better. For the sake of what is to come as well. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes. I understand.”

Watching the Saint smile in satisfaction, the First Princess slowly lowered her head. Unlike a moment earlier, when her expression had been rigid, the corners of her mouth were now raised in satisfaction as well.

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“I intend to return to duty next week.”

Duke Laochenes frowned over his meal at Enoch’s words.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

How could they even ask in exactly the same way? Recalling Zyla from not long ago, Enoch smiled faintly.

The Duke and Duchess’s gazes met across the air. As though confirming that they had heard correctly, the two gestured toward each other with their chins and exchanged looks.

Watching them, Enoch picked up his knife again. The tender lamb melted in his mouth after only a few bites.

“The family physician said it would be fine as long as I did not overexert myself. He also said the wound on my forehead would leave no scar if I applied the medicine faithfully twice a day. Apparently, if I use it diligently, the mark will vanish completely within two months.”

As Enoch spoke and touched the gauze on his forehead, Duchess Laochenes nodded.

“I heard that as well… But I still cannot help worrying. Moreover, you said your memory has not fully returned.”

At the concern in her voice, Enoch smiled. To keep the family from discovering that he was not the real Enoch, he had confessed first that parts of his memory were missing.

Rather than suspect him, the couple attended to every small detail and tried to restore Enoch’s memories.

Enoch gratefully accepted their care. Strangely enough, whenever they told him about his past, vivid memories surfaced in his mind as though he had truly experienced those events.

Thanks to that, Enoch adjusted well to this world. Other memories gradually began returning too, allowing him to deal with unfamiliar situations more capably.

Of course, Enoch understood their concerns. But even so, he couldn’t remain shut inside the mansion forever.

Even if he truly had been injured while saving the Crown Prince, there was a limit to how long others would make allowances. If he failed to appear for so long, even the Imperial Family, currently grateful to him, might gradually begin to think differently.

Apparently, Enoch was not alone in that thought. After considering for a moment, Duke Laochenes nodded.

“Yes. After resting this long, it is time you slowly returned to duty.”

“But darling. Enoch is still…”

“He did not lose every memory, only a portion. And has his condition not improved considerably? Even when he returns, everyone Enoch sees will be someone he knows, so he will be fine. If he cannot remember something for a moment, frequent exposure should restore the memory as well.”