By Some Unbelievable Twist, I Became the Villainess’s Older Brother - Chapter 18.1
“No. As I have said before, I do not properly understand what Your Highness is saying. I worry that perhaps you have taken the books you read too seriously… urgh.”
Enoch frowned without thinking, then touched the gauze on his forehead at the stinging pain. Seeing him, the First Princess burst into laughter as though something amused her.
“Oh my. Are you alright, Sir Enoch? Do not become so agitated. A wound that would heal in two months may become a lifelong scar. You are a rare beauty, so a scar there would be a shame.”
A peculiar light flashed briefly in Enoch’s eyes. But he merely nodded obediently as though accepting her words.
“Yes. Thank you for the advice.”
Enoch smiled broadly as he answered. A faint crack appeared in the First Princess’s smile, which had been gentle and warm throughout.
Without giving her time to speak, Enoch immediately continued.
“Ah, come to think of it… I heard the culprit in the attempted assassination of His Highness the Crown Prince was caught. But the culprit took his own life in prison, did he not?”
The First Princess’s expression had already vanished. She no longer wore even a false smile. Pretending not to notice the hot gaze on his back, Enoch raised the corners of his mouth again.
“…That is correct. You cannot imagine how furious Father was when the culprit died that way.”
“I thought so. But in truth, there was something I found strange… Did you happen to notice it as well, Your Highness?”
“…What?”
“How could the culprit have hidden poison inside his clothes? The members of the Imperial Guard must surely have searched him.”
“Who knows? I do not know either. Surely the knights simply made a mistake.”
The First Princess paused briefly, then answered with indifference. She spoke as though the matter had nothing whatsoever to do with her and had never interested her in the first place.
Enoch had deliberately prodded her by raising a case the Imperial Family had closed, and he swallowed a hollow laugh. At last, her attitude allowed him to judge.
She reacted this way to the slightest probing, yet she had written to him all this time as though she and the Crown Prince were affectionate siblings. The First Princess’s pretense of complete ignorance struck him as absurd.
After silently watching her for a moment, Enoch lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. Leaning forward, he whispered.
“But… that is not all, Your Highness. I hear the poison cannot be found anywhere in our Empire.”
Adelio had told him that as well. When Enoch silently watched her, the First Princess suddenly raised one corner of her mouth.
Their gazes met across the air. The eye contact continued for quite some time, but neither retreated first.
“…I heard that as well. Was it not a poison obtainable only in the Eastern Empire?”
“Yes, precisely! Is that not truly strange? How did the culprit obtain it? Given his family’s circumstances, he could never have acquired such an expensive poison.”
“Sir Enoch. It seems there is something else you truly wish to say… Why insist on telling me this? Do you believe I am the mastermind behind that culprit?”
Enoch smiled with his eyes.
“I never said that, Your Highness.”
The First Princess tilted her head and blinked at him.
“But listening to you… I feel as though you believe I tried to kill the Crown Prince.”
“Surely that cannot be.”
“Haha… Very well, Sir Enoch. You are an intelligent man, so I will say only this. Do not judge others carelessly without any evid―”
The First Princess, who had spoken with sorrowful regret, suddenly stopped. Frowning delicately, she narrowed her eyes and stared at Enoch for some time.
Enoch met her gaze with an expressionless face. The First Princess soon sealed her lips.
She apparently believed she had already said too much. At the clear sign that she wished to say no more, Enoch smiled with his eyes again and bowed politely.
“Yes. You are right, Your Highness. It seems I spoke needlessly. I sincerely apologize for my discourtesy. Of course, I have never thought such a thing of you, but since Your Highness misunderstood my words that way, it must rightfully be my fault as well.”
“…I never knew you spoke so well, Sir Enoch.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.
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