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

Having failed to anticipate Adelio’s action, Enoch flew gracelessly through the air and struck his forehead against the carriage window frame.

At the dull thud and ensuing sting, Enoch gritted his teeth. Rubbing the place he had struck, he looked at the man who threw him.

Adelio must have felt his incredulous stare, yet he merely tilted his head and smiled. He even waved lightly at Enoch.

At the sight, something surged within Enoch before he realized it. Raising his brows, he inadvertently raised his voice.

“What are you doing, Your Highness! I could have been badly hurt!”

“Oh, judging by your loud voice, your meeting with the First Princess must have been quite impressive.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“Why? Am I wrong?”

Narrowing his eyes, Adelio twisted one corner of his mouth upward. Then he abruptly tore off the black gloves he wore and flung them onto the seat opposite.

Enoch flinched and swallowed dryly. Adelio’s air as he stared at him was remarkably fierce.

A sudden sense of danger closed Enoch’s mouth just as he was about to complain. He felt as though something might happen if he voiced his dissatisfaction now.

Moreover, something had been touching the tips of his shoes. When he reflexively looked down, he saw a long sword lying at his feet. Merely looking at its scabbard sent a chill through him, and his body could only become obedient.

That wasn’t all. Unlike usual, Adelio was neatly dressed today. Every button on his shirt was fastened, and even his tie was properly knotted, making him appear more intimidating than usual.

Hunching his shoulders, Enoch glanced at him and gauged his mood. Even then, he thought that this man, who looked like an idler, apparently knew well enough how to distinguish the time and place.

Of course, that thought crumbled into sand and scattered only seconds later.

“Tsk, I nearly suffocated to death. How do other people wear such things? Isn’t it the perfect tool for someone to strangle you with?”

Frowning, Adelio spoke to himself as he roughly loosened his tie. Yet even as he muttered, his gaze remained fixed on Enoch.

Enoch flinched and needlessly touched his own neck.

‘…He doesn’t mean that he wants to kill me, does he?’

Surely not, but that man was more than capable of doing exactly that. Enoch’s body stiffened even more warily.

“So…”

Clear, cold eyes the color of the sky bored into Enoch’s face. Sensing the frosty atmosphere, Enoch wisely closed his mouth.

Watching him, Adelio soon raised a hand and roughly swept back his hair. His thoroughly irritated motion made Enoch’s eyes dart.

It seemed he ought to say something, but the atmosphere was too dangerous for him to open his mouth. Adelio let out a long breath, sank against the backrest, and crossed his legs. Then he glared at Enoch again.

“Your answer to my earlier question?”

…Question? That was a question? It was a threat! Naturally, Enoch thought that only inwardly. He dutifully answered.

“It was neither interesting nor particularly impressive.”

“Oh? Is that truly so? I cannot believe it. I already saw everything, Sir Enoch. I saw you grinning from ear to ear.”

“That was only because… I was briefly thinking about something else. I certainly was not smiling because of the First Princess. …And my face naturally looks cheerful.”

“……”

“Ah, what I mean is that I tend to smile often…”

As Enoch added the explanation, he slightly raised both corners of his mouth to demonstrate that his words were true.

Seeing it, Adelio smiled back, then abruptly hardened his expression. Enoch’s face went blank as well.

“You find this very entertaining, don’t you?”

“N-no. Of course not. Not at all.”

Enoch immediately shook his head. Naturally, he no longer felt the slightest urge to laugh. Thinking even that insufficient, he urgently waved both hands.