By Some Unbelievable Twist, I Became the Villainess’s Older Brother - Chapter 23.1
Indeed, Adelio had never liked how Enoch stiffened only around him. With everyone else, Enoch was always warm and gentle, yet with Adelio, he was forever aloof.
Of course, that was part of what made him interesting. But Adelio was not in a particularly good mood now.
To be precise, his mood had remained low ever since a retainer told him that Enoch had gone to meet the First Princess.
On top of that, Enoch had ignored his warning and was acting as though he shared a secret with the First Princess… His anger kept rising at the sight of Enoch remaining cold and tight-lipped despite one question after another.
With anger and irritation surging inside him, Adelio worried at his lip. Enoch was still hunched uncomfortably, his brow furrowed.
Adelio had rushed over the moment he heard the news. Yet Enoch did not understand how worried he had been and would not answer his questions.
When Enoch looked irritated and treated him like a nuisance, Adelio somehow felt all his strength drain away. His long lashes trembled.
“You truly know how to irritate a person…”
“……”
Enoch did not trouble himself to answer even Adelio’s sigh-laden words. At last, Adelio relaxed the arm holding him.
The moment he did, Enoch immediately escaped from his side. Letting out an instinctive sigh, Enoch swiftly moved to the seat across from Adelio and glared as if warning him not to come any closer.
Adelio looked out the window as though he had already lost interest. Yet he somehow appeared a little dejected, making Enoch strangely uncomfortable.
Hunched over, Enoch studied Adelio’s mood. …I’m clearly the one who was tormented, so why do I feel like a guilty criminal?
“…We truly didn’t discuss anything important. The First Princess was concerned about His Highness the Crown Prince’s well-being, so we exchanged a few words about that. She also took the opportunity to see if I was alright. If I keep lying around sick and never show my face in public, it could reflect poorly on His Highness the Crown Prince too.”
Adelio listened silently, then looked away from the window. He curled one side of his mouth in a sneer, as though he had heard something absurd.
“Ha. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in some time. She was worried about someone? And the Crown Prince of all people? Nonsense.”
Then again, he had a point. Enoch already knew that what he had said was too absurd even to pass as a joke. When he met her in person, the First Princess had seemed to possess no such sibling affection for the Crown Prince.
Was that why Adelio had questioned him so relentlessly? Adelio and the Crown Prince appeared quite close even at a glance, so it was not especially strange for him to be so wary of the First Princess.
Only then did Enoch begin to feel a little sorry.
From that perspective, Adelio must have thought Enoch had willingly walked straight into the enemy’s den. Enoch began to understand why Adelio had been so on edge the whole time.
“…And when I mentioned that the culprit behind the attempted assassination of His Highness the Crown Prince had taken his own life… she didn’t seem angry at all. If anything, she looked pleased.”
“Oh? You two talked for quite a while, didn’t you, Sir Enoch? To think you even discussed such things.”
‘That was because she kept talking about transmigrators and whatnot… I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut and make her more suspicious.’
“…Yes. But that was all.”
Having finished, Enoch closed his mouth and fidgeted with his fingers. Then he glanced sidelong at Adelio.
Adelio slowly turned his eyes toward him and stared before speaking abruptly.
“Very well.”
“……”
“I’m still exceedingly angry that you entered the palace and met the First Princess without a word to me, but yes. The magnanimous man that I am will try to understand that part.”
“……”
What in the world was he saying? Did he expect thanks? Enoch furrowed his brow at the absurdity.
“In exchange, all your remaining time today belongs to me. That is acceptable, isn’t it?”
…What? Enoch’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. As though even that reaction greatly pleased him, Adelio lowered his gaze to Enoch and grinned.
“Well, you’re kind to everyone… so I trust you won’t have any particular objection.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
