The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The Emperor of the Ushif Empire, Dione Sevellus, had two wives.

The first wife and former Empress, now deceased, ‘Diana Quisel’, and the second wife and current Empress, who could be considered the actual power of the empire, ‘Cassandra Nephelis’.

From the former Empress came the first prince and the second princess, and from the current Empress came the third and fourth princes.

Then, who was the fifth princess?

To the public, she was known to be born from a fallen duke’s family.

However, among the central nobility, including the imperial family, it was an open secret that she was born of a concubine.

Even more, to a woman of unknown name from commoner origins…

Although the Emperor personally took her in and bestowed upon her the title of princess, she could never receive treatment equal to her four siblings.

One throne and four children vying for it.

As a child of a concubine with no noble lineage, she could never enter into that fierce battle.

Merely a princess in name, but in reality, a shell without any power.

Seemingly powerless, what could a woman alone truly do?

She was completely unable to do anything on her own, of course, and she failed to build even a sliver of a supportive faction for herself.

Eventually, she was driven out of the imperial palace due to civil strife, and later died of illness without any notable resurgence. That was the tragic past life of this princess.

Truly, a princess of misfortune.

Whoever coined that term, was it not fitting?

Although now she lives peacefully with a pure face, in a few years, tears of blood will fall from those clear eyes.

“How long have you lived here?”

“About a month.”

“Alone?”

“I live with a maid.”

“I see…”

Our conversation would start, but then my indifferent responses would abruptly cut it off.

The more this happened, the more anxious the princess’s gaze became, and Emily’s gaze, peeking through the barrier, turned even sharper.

“I… I want to apologize for what happened earlier today. I acted in a way unbecoming of a princess. As you said, if I can’t be of help, I should at least not cause trouble…”

“There’s no need for you to worry. I also apologize for any rudeness in my behavior towards you, Your Highness.”

As I stood up and bowed, she also stood up in response.

She hesitated as if she wanted to wave her hands dismissively but then awkwardly sat back down.

“Um… well… that is…”

The princess seemed to struggle with whether or not to speak.

I decided to silently wait for her to continue.

“Why… why did you come to the front lines?”

“I wanted to gain various experiences before enrolling in the academy.”

“Weren’t you scared?”

“I’m overcoming it.”

“I see…”

A heavy silence filled the tent.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I was the one who asked first.

“What is it that you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t come here to inquire about my personal affairs, did you?”

“No, it’s not for any significant reason! I just wanted to ask about you!”

“About me?”

[Our master is quite popular, isn’t he?]

Kaeram, lying on the bed and watching closely, remarked sarcastically.

“Yeah. From the first time I saw you in front of the border gate, I felt you were very different. Unlike me, you seemed very mature?”

“For someone who thought that, you seemed to look at me with quite an unwelcome gaze…”

“Oh, I apologize for that! It seems my jealousy unintentionally showed through.”

By now, I had a good idea why this princess had come.

It was, in essence, a personal consultation.

The purpose was for people of the same age to talk and get to know each other better.

Honestly, it was somewhat unexpected…

Setting aside what state I was in, it was quite ambitious for her to come seeking a conversation on this late night with a guy she met for the first time today.

Does the princess have so few people around her?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think there’s anything I can say to you, Your Highness. It would be inappropriate for me to share my personal stories, and I’m not as mature as you think.”

Even if I feel a bit of pity, I am too busy managing my own life to counsel someone else’s. If it does not benefit me, even if she is of the emperor’s bloodline, she is no more than a pebble on the road.

[Ah, what shall we do with our naive master?]

Kaeram clicked his tongue, showing a fed-up reaction.

Emily’s gaze felt even sharper, but I did not show any reaction.

After all, what they think is none of my business.

“What’s the reason…?”

Her tone suddenly changed.

“So, you’re also ignoring me because you think I’m just an empty shell of a princess?”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

“No, I can tell by your tone. You want to end this conversation quickly and send me away. It was wrong of me to come here unannounced, but honestly, it’s very unpleasant.”

Her gaze settled on me sharply, like a dagger.

“Alright, I understand. From your perspective, there’s no benefit in forming a connection with me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I know myself best. I’ve realized it after experiencing it countless times since birth. No one has ever tried to show me in a good light just because I’m a princess.”

I had no choice but to remain silent, because I was no different from the people she had encountered.

Further excuses would have been unnecessary.

The princess sighed and stood up from her seat.

“I’m sorry for taking up your time. I thought we could at least have a proper conversation, but it seems I was mistaken. You’re completely different from your brother, Aschel.”

…What?

I doubted my ears for a moment.

“What did you just say?”

“I said you seem completely different from Aschel. Even if you’re brothers, you don’t necessarily have to be alike.”

Why?

Why is that guy’s name coming out of the princess’s mouth?

Not being able to control my emotions, the princess was startled by the look on my face.

“What-what’s with that look?”

“Aschel… I mean, how do you know my older brother?”

I asked quietly, pulling my gaze away.

“Last year, when I visited the Royal Academy, I met him by chance. He’s the eldest son of Duke Vert, who is close to my father, so I was naturally introduced…”

The air grew heavy.

I felt nauseous and my breathing became rapid.

Just hearing his name stirred too much emotion.

Calm down. How will you handle it when you actually meet him?

I must control myself now, or I really might tear him apart at the first opportunity.

I need to restrain myself.

I should not meet such a pointless and uninteresting end, should I?

My agitated inner self gradually calmed down.

Quietly lifting my head, I once again spoke with a composed expression.

“I see. I apologize for not presenting a demeanor befitting his stature.”

“Right! You should try to be more like him! Moreover, Aschel generously gave me sincere advice!”

…?

Who gave what?

“My older brother gave you sincere advice?”

“Yes! He told me not to be swayed by what others say, and to continue being upright and dignified as a princess! He also said to strive to become a princess who can truly be of help to the empire.”

Unbelievable.

That extreme opportunist gave sincere advice? I know his devilish nature better than anyone.

He would not spare a moment’s interest, whether good or bad, to someone who he thinks will not affect him in any significant way.

It was only after I graduated from the academy that he started showing any interest in me.

During my incompetent days, he treated me like a stranger, showing no interest at all.

And he gave advice to this naive princess?

Among the imperial family, the fifth princess has the most insignificant and weakest influence.

She is practically non-existent, so insignificant that it is as if she has no power at all. Knowing him, he would have just passed her by with a formal greeting.

Honestly, I wanted to believe it was a lie…

But there was no sign of deceit in the pure princess’s eyes.

“…”

Confused by my unexpected reaction, the princess seemed lost, not knowing what to do.

I will say it again, that guy never acts without reason.

If he gave sincere advice to the naive princess, it must have been because he saw some value in doing so.

He would not have said such things just for the sake of giving advice.

Moreover, if it was a year ago, it would have had no influence from me at the time.

That means this event also occurred in my previous life.

A princess who could be of help to the empire…

Such an uncharacteristic thing to say.

The situation has not changed.

In the end, the naive princess is a woman of no value to me.

What she does or who she is manipulated by someone else is none of my business.

But if that someone is Aschel…

The story changes.

Whatever plan he is concocting or whatever he is scheming, I have no intention of letting it slide.

Now that I am aware, I will delve into every detail and thoroughly ruin it.

-Whirr-

After creating a mana sphere the size of a bean at my fingertips, I flicked it away.

The sphere dispersed into dust, and soon an invisible magical barrier surrounded me and the princess, preventing eavesdropping.

To those outside the barrier, it would only sound like the breathing of ants.

“You mentioned being a princess who could be of help to the empire?”

“Yes, I don’t want to live a life like a puppet. I want to be of help to the country and its people as a princess.”

“Then, if I may boldly ask, Your Highness, are you interested in the throne?”

The mention of the throne startled her.

“Wha-what are you talking about! The throne? I-I have no interest in that at all…!”

“Then let me ask again. How exactly do you plan to serve the country and its people without any interest in the throne?”

The naive princess’s face turned significantly red.

“I-I don’t want to be the emperor! There’s no chance of that happening! It might be difficult now because I’m young, but if I try, I’m sure as a princess I can still be of use to the empire…”

“How pathetic.”

“What?”

“Do you not understand the actual situation of the empire? You say you want to contribute to the empire as a princess? You think it’s hard now because you’re young? Do you think anything will change in ten, twenty years? In this state, you can’t even save a beggar on the street.”

Trembling pupils and quivering lips.

It was the moment her fragile belief, held together anxiously, crumbled pitifully.

She must have known it.

Yet, knowing it, she tried to deny it.

Regardless of anything else, it was necessary to make her thoroughly understand her situation.

Being gentle with her because she is a woman or because she is young would only be harmful.

This princess needed to deeply engrave her predicament into her bones.

Tiny droplets formed at the corners of her eyes.

“Then…”

Struggling to calm her trembling voice, she asked,

“What should I do? How can I live in a way that benefits the empire…?”

“Isn’t it simple?”

“…?”

“Become the emperor.”

The princess froze as if petrified by magic.

It was not a remark thrown out in jest.

With will and power, humans can achieve anything.

A lowly beggar who begged for food could one day pull out a sacred sword and become a hero, and an emperor who ruled over all could be overthrown in a revolution and become a beggar.

Moreover, would she not have value to me if she could at least become an emperor?

-Ding! Ding! Ding!

At that moment, a familiar sound rang out.

With three bell tolls, focus returned to the princess’s eyes, which had lost their focus.

Simultaneously, the knights waiting beyond the barrier rushed in.

“Your Highness, you must evacuate immediately!”

I immediately released the anti-eavesdropping magic.

“Is it a monster attack?”

“It seems so. Quickly, to the rear camp…”

-Boom!

A signal indicating the direction of the monsters’ appearance followed.

The noise was so loud that people instinctively covered their ears.

The sound was close.

Very close.

At least near the encampment.

-Rumble

As if heralding the arrival of a giant monster, a fierce vibration was felt from beneath the ground.

(To be continued)