The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The duel between the family’s hope, Cranz, and the incompetent Cyan.

Without needing to predict, the spectators unanimously foresaw Cranz’s one-sided victory.

Seeing Cyan standing defenselessly, some thought he had given up on the duel entirely…

But what was this?

With quick movements, he dodged Cranz’s sword and swiftly brought him to his knees.

Not stopping there, he knocked Cranz out with a kick to the face and ended the duel by pointing his sword at him.

“……!?”

Servants with no experience in martial arts were dumbfounded, not understanding what had just happened.

However, the gazes of the higher-ranked knights and martial artists, who had honed their swordsmanship, were different.

Cyan’s foot had landed precisely at the moment Cranz was about to strike with his sword, as if he had watched and responded to his opponent’s movements to the very end.

Losing his target, Cranz lost his balance and fell, and Cyan quickly subdued him without missing the opportunity.

It was clearly no coincidence.

It required an extremely delicate sense and concentration,

And it was the same for Duke Vert.

Cyan Vert, the youngest of his five sons, received no attention from birth, known for having neither talent nor enthusiasm for swordsmanship or martial arts.

But even to such a child, parental affection exists.

Even if he was an incompetent, through today’s duel, there was a hope he might show even a small possibility, which was secretly anticipated.

But what was this?

With just one exchange, he had subdued the fourth son.

The Duke smiled.

The youngest had talent after all.

Perhaps he had been hiding his true abilities all this time.

If he completes the academy’s education, he will surely grow into a proper member of the family.

It felt like finding a gem in an unexpected place.

However, the next action he witnessed turned his joy into doubt.

“……?”

An unnecessarily brutal assault.

Even if it was excused as a means for complete subjugation, there was no need for such a merciless strike against a brother after the victory was already decided.

It was an act born out of a desire to completely dominate the opponent.

Was there a need to show such behavior in a mere duel, and that too by a ten-year-old child?

The Duke’s face turned to contemplation.

“Eulken?”

At the Duke’s call, a knight approached.

“Did you call for me, my lord?”

“I will delay our return. Inform the knights at the front…”

The knight appeared surprised by the decision to delay their return but did not question it and simply bowed before leaving.

However, he did not question and simply bowed his head and left.

“……”

The Duke continued to gaze intently at Cyan.

Whether Cyan was aware of his gaze or not, he simply returned the sword to the maid with an indifferent expression.

* * *

In the afternoon, when the sun was high in the sky.

Though I sat down to eat lunch, something felt significantly different.

The table was laden with food as if it might break under the weight.

It was not as if I was expected to eat until I burst, but how could this possibly be considered a meal for one person?

But lets set the food aside for a moment…

“What’s all this, Emily?”

“I, I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything about being supplied with this much…”

Normally invisible, the mansion’s servants were now all lined up in front of me.

Among them, I could see a few who were assigned to Cranz.

The maids who prepared the meal were looking at me with sparkling eyes, as if urging me to try their food.

It feels like it’s going to go in through my nose rather than my mouth…

Just because I won a duel does not mean my status has suddenly skyrocketed.

Originally, I only had Emily as my designated maid.

Meaning, all these people had gathered here voluntarily.

It’s human nature not to forget the kindness of those who have nurtured them.

For one to succeed, it’s common to have many supporters who help and back them up.

Nobles’ children, when they rise in status, usually do not forget to take care of the nurses and maids who raised them, as it’s almost a custom to do so.

But this is beyond that.

People who never even greeted me before are now swarming around, hoping to catch some crumbs of benefit…

Well, I understand.

In a way, it is a rather sordid principle of how the world works.

It is in human nature to hustle for survival.

“Could you all please leave?”

I still want to eat in peace, after all.

“It’s a bit overwhelming. I appreciate the effort you’ve put into preparing the meal, but I’d like to eat in peace. If I need anything, I’ll call. So, I’d appreciate it if you all could leave.”

The servants, glancing at each other, started to exit one by one.

As Emily sneakily tried to follow them out, I stopped her.

“Why are you leaving, Emily?”

“Me?”

“Aren’t you supposed to bring dessert?”

At the mention of dessert, she turned around with a beaming smile.

Just so you know, Emily is really bad at cooking.

Among the mansion’s maids, she is known to be the worst.

Not just with cooking, but there is not anything she excels at.

Well, it is not particularly strange for an incompetent servant to be assigned to an incompetent master.

I did not ask her to stay because I wanted to drink her tea.

It was just a gesture of goodwill from a master.

Even so, one might wonder why someone who doesn’t hesitate to speak rudely to a member of the ducal family would be kept around.

But I dare say, there is no one in this mansion who cares for me as much as this maid does.

Was it when I was about nine? There was a time when I was burning up with fever, barely conscious,

At that time, Cranz had decided to go on his first hunt, taking all the mansion’s servants with him, leaving no one to care for me.

The person who carried my feverish body to the domain’s healing center was Emily.

And then, she took care of me for two days and nights without sleep.

She may be a bit odd in character, but if it were not for her, I might have died unnoticed in the mansion in my previous life.

In other words, she is the only person I cannot afford to lose and must keep by my side.

After the meal, as if she had been waiting, she brought out the tea.

“But, young master! How did you manage to defeat Master Cranz?”

“How? You saw it yourself.”

“No! You never showed the slightest interest in swordsmanship before, young master! Unless you trained while I wasn’t looking…”

“I did it when you weren’t around.”

“Really…?”

It’s not a lie.

My swordsmanship training began at the academy.

Clearly, I had practiced in her absence.

Emily’s dumbfounded face was quite a sight.

-Clomp clomp

While enjoying the tea, I heard footsteps.

Not the light steps of servants, but the heavy steps of a knight.

The mansion’s dining area was an open space without doors, and soon a knight in shining white armor appeared from around the corner.

“Guard Knight Eulken. I greet you, Master Cyan.”

It was Eulken Darius, a senior knight of the Order of Light.

Startled by the appearance of a high-ranking knight, Emily quickly stepped back and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your meal.”

“It’s okay. what brings you here?”

“The Duke is looking for Master Cyan. I will escort you to his office, if you would please accompany me?”

A summons from my father.

I had heard that he delayed his return to the front, but I did not expect him to summon me so soon.

“Understood. Shall we go now?”

There was no need to delay now that my meal was over.

I rose from my seat and followed Eulken to my father’s office.

Being escorted by a high-ranking knight.

This was no trivial matter.

The delivery of messages and escorting could be done by even low-ranking soldiers.

However, the one guiding me now is a senior knight, a warrior who has reached the pinnacle of martial prowess.

This alone signifies how much my status has risen.

The servants bowing their heads as soon as they see me.

Even though I was merely walking to the office, I was under the kind of formidable protection that others could not even dare to approach.

“Yo-young master! Over here!”

Emily, glancing around, pointed across the corridor.

A dignified lady was approaching.

Margaret Erzeth.

The Duke’s legitimate wife and the mother of Cranz, whom I had just knocked down a short while ago.

Judging by their direction, she seemed to have come from the infirmary.

Probably checking on Cranz’s condition.

“……!”

Upon spotting me, she frowned as if it was the most natural reaction.

Undeterred, I approached her and initiated a conversation.

“Is Cranz alright?”

She was clearly displeased.

“How dare you speak. After brutally beating your brother, you have the audacity to show your face?”

Brutal beating…

I wonder if she is aware of the cruel acts Cranz has done to me when she says that.

Well, I can understand her resentment a hundred times over. It wouldn’t be unfair even if she slapped me for what happened to her child.

I had not entirely ruled out such a reaction.

It’s not like she ever had a fondness for me.

As long as she does not cross a certain line, I can let it go quietly.

“After all, what can you expect from someone of your lowly lineage? Born from a filthy mother, how could the child be any different?”

…

She crossed the line.

Whatever shred of decency I had left snapped.

Had it been me in my past life, maybe, but to spew those words in front of me now was akin to asking for death.

“You were destined to beg for food on the streets from the start. And yet, after being taken in by the Duke, you overstep your bounds? But then again, someone like you wouldn’t understand even if it was explained a hundred times!”

The Duchess’s words were no longer registering in my mind.

Oh, what to do?

I just want to kill her.

What would happen if I killed the Duchess here?

Should I just kill her and think later?

I could just slit her throat before Eulken has a chance to react…

After a moment of consideration, I shook my head.

It would not be worth it to kill her so easily.

“What are you standing there for? Move aside!”

I simply ignored her and stared straight into her eyes.

“What, what is that look for? How dare you look at me with such eyes!”

“What are you trying to do?”

My words froze the surroundings.

“It greatly displeases me when a dignified Duchess speaks so harshly.”

The Duchess let out a scoff as if she was taken aback.

“Ha! Why should I care about your feelings?”

“You should care, though.”

“What?”

“Do you know what I could do to Cranz?”

Her eyes trembled violently for a moment.

“At least, shouldn’t he go to the academy in one piece?”

She trembled at my smile, which was not bravado but sincerity.

After all, it’s not like breaking an arm or a leg means you can’t live, nor is it committing a capital offense, right?

And it is not like my father would severely punish me for such an act.

“How dare such a low-born, vulgar person!”

“Don’t you realize the situation you’re in? I must now go to see the Duke, so could you please move aside? Du~chess~!”

Not just her, but even her servants were shocked.

I had the audacity to tell the mistress of the house to move aside.

The Duchess, enraged, raised her hand.

-Clack

However, that hand was stopped, not by my face, but by someone else’s.

“……!”

“Let’s stop here, Madam.”

Let me say it again, I am currently under escort.

Escorted by a high-ranking knight who received direct orders from the Duke.

The guard knight, who would not even stand by the Duchess, is now by my side.

What does this imply?

It means my position is no different from the Duke’s.

Even if the one attempting harm were the Emperor, this guard knight would aim for his neck.

Let alone the Duchess, who could not stand in my way.

“Can’t you let go?”

When he gently released her, she immediately stepped back.

“I will not tolerate any further delay. Please make way, Duchess.”

Shaking with humiliation, she eventually stepped aside.

As she moved away, the servants behind her also pressed against the wall to clear a path.

“Please send my regards to Cranz!”

I passed by her with a cheerful smile as if nothing had happened.

The Duchess, unable to say anything, just glared at me with an agitated gaze.

Unperturbed, I gracefully walked down the corridor.

(to be continued)