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

He had planted himself in the center of the couch and kept edging closer, leaving Enoch no choice but to move aside by the same amount each time. Enoch’s sulky gaze shifted toward the empty space beside the Grand Duke.

The meaning was obvious. There was so much room, yet he insisted on coming closer.

The Grand Duke’s gaze remained on Enoch.

“Do you know why I came?”

Hadn’t he just explained that? Enoch straightened and subtly moved away from Adelio as he answered.

“Because I did not visit the grand ducal residence, was it not?”

“Yes. There is that, and one more reason.”

Enoch tilted his head to the side, confused. Adelio let out a deep sigh.

“Someone keeps appearing in my dreams lately. You cannot imagine how exhausted I am. Did you know?”

Adelio shook his head and spoke in a gloomy voice. Enoch stopped short as goose bumps rose over him.

Why was this bastard drawing things out again? Enoch had a bad feeling.

―Knock, knock.

“Come in!”

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the study door. Without thinking, Enoch shouted for them to enter.

Enoch glimpsed Adelio’s face stiffen slightly, but he ignored that. A familiar maid soon opened the door, hurried over, and set a teacup and teapot on the table before the couch.

Enoch watched with interest as she laid out the refreshments and kept stealing glances at Adelio. Adelio’s cold gaze briefly turned toward her.

“If you are finished, leave. We require no more tea, so there is no need for anyone to enter again. Anyone at all. Is that understood?”

The words dripped with cold. The maid flinched and nodded furiously.

“Pardon? Yes, yes, Your Highness.”

Honestly, did he have to humiliate her? Though the words hadn’t been directed at him, Enoch cleared his throat in embarrassment. Looking close to tears after the Grand Duke’s rebuke, the maid blushed, hurriedly opened the door, and left.

Once the two men were alone, silence returned. Enoch took the teapot and poured tea into the Grand Duke’s cup. Only the trickle of tea filling the cup echoed through the study.

“Sir Enoch. Did you properly hear what I said a moment ago?”

“I did. But… surely the person in your dream was not me?”

The Grand Duke smiled.

“Clever as always. Yes, it was you.”

“That cannot be.”

“No. I can assure you. It was your face exactly.”

Enoch inwardly dismissed the claim in disbelief. If his face had appeared in the man’s dream… What in the world had Adelio been thinking about him?

Grinding his teeth inwardly, Enoch let no sign of it show as he glanced at the Grand Duke. Adelio’s eyes were sparkling, as though waiting for Enoch’s question.

“…I appeared in your dream. What happened next?”

Enoch obediently asked. The Grand Duke had a surprisingly simple side, so it was better to humor him at times like this.

Sure enough, Adelio’s expression immediately relaxed once Enoch’s attention was focused entirely on him.

“You struck the back of my head.”

Enoch stopped short. He had done what?

“I… I did? Surely not.”

Enoch threw up both hands as though to proclaim his innocence. Admittedly, he had wanted to do exactly that to Adelio countless times.

But he had never once intended to act on the thought. Seeing the obvious injustice on Enoch’s face, Adelio gave him a sidelong glare.

“Do I look as though I am lying?”

“No.”

What had his dream self been like to do something so, so… admirable?

Enoch cheered inwardly and feigned complete innocence, struggling to keep his mouth from curving upward. He deliberately hardened his face and covered his mouth firmly with the hand that was not holding his teacup.

Ah, no. It would be troublesome if his lips parted.

Fortunately, Adelio was not looking at Enoch, seemingly lost in the memory of the dream. Instead, he gave an incredulous laugh and shook his head.

“Umm, did it hurt badly?”

“Very badly. It was quite a blow. I nearly ran out of my mansion like a madman last night.”

“…Ah. Yes. I see.”

Adelio truly was the sort of man who might run out in the middle of the night like a lunatic. Even as Enoch answered casually, he felt sweat trickle down his back. His body somehow went rigid with tension.

If Adelio actually did that in reality… Surely he would not kill him?

The thought drained all color from Enoch’s face. He vowed never to strike the back of Adelio’s head.

Enoch glanced at Adelio and swallowed dryly. He was genuinely scared to death.

Whether Enoch was frightened or not, Adelio took a sip of tea and narrowed his eyes. Then, very clearly watching for Enoch’s reaction, he searched every inch of his face and spoke.

“Have you been seeing anyone other than me lately?”

…What was he suddenly talking about? Speak properly, you wretched man.

Enoch stared at Adelio in disbelief.

After setting a mood with talk of dreams, he abruptly asked whether Enoch was seeing someone? Enoch was stunned, unable to understand the connection.

“Pardon?”

“Someone else. I asked whether you are seeing anyone.”