The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

It’s already been ten days since I left Saphern.

From the sporadic news I heard, it seems that the lord of Saphern was found in the marketplace the day after I left the city.

Of course, he wasn’t found in one piece.

His bones were broken in dozens of places, and one of his legs was so crushed that it was beyond healing.

No matter how much he was asked what had happened, he just kept repeating pleas for his life like a madman, and eventually, he fled Saphern as if running from a demon…

It seems he experienced the cruel torment of being on the brink of death, worse than death itself.

Still, it looks like they didn’t foolishly let him go.

Well, from now on, it’s up to that family to handle.

I let out a sheepish yawn and looked out the window.

Peaceful.

It might be the most peaceful moment of the past ten days.

In every city I passed, there were always kids clinging to me, asking if I needed guards, bandits jumping out in slightly secluded places, and beasts running towards us, attracted by the smell whenever we stopped the carriage to camp.

I don’t know how they constantly interfere with my journey like ghosts.

It seems like most of them disliked living in this world, so I personally sent them to the other side.

“Master, Luwen is in sight!”

Beyond the fluttering leaves, the white city at the end of the road revealed itself.

Luwen, my final destination and the city of splendid harmony.

Typically, areas where countries border each other are considered dangerous, prone to disputes at any time, but this place is different.

It’s where the borders of the Ushif Empire, Garam Kingdom, and Spania Kingdom meet.

Until the Royal Academy was established, this place was nothing more than a barren wasteland where not a single blade of grass grew.

Probably no one expected that.

That an academy would be built in such a wasteland.

The Royal Academy is a national institution established under the ideology of pursuing the infinite development of magic and humanity.

As the word “national” suggests, it’s not something that just anyone can establish.

Great Sage Teramile Ishpa.

Throughout human history, he was hailed as arguably the greatest magician, and he was the founding figure of this academy.

Starting with the successors who wanted to follow the Great Sage’s ideology, it gradually grew and developed into what is now the multinational city of Luwen.

The city is surrounded by pure white walls on all sides.

Luwen is entirely encircled by walls, and only those who have gone through the proper procedures and obtained permission can enter or leave the city.

As we approached the gate, like in other cities, guards blocked our way.

As always, I got down from the carriage and showed them the crest of the Vert family.

“Greetings to the scion of the Duke of Vert! Welcome to the city of harmony, Luwen!”

The guards saluted with a robust chant.

Brian, who had been driving the carriage, asked as if it weren’t obvious by now, “Where should we go?”

“Just keep going a bit further, and you’ll see a road adorned in gold. Just follow that road straight.”

“Understood.”

Following the directions, Brian slowly moved the carriage along the road.

As I turned my gaze out the window, I saw a procession of numerous carriages and distinguished nobles from across the continent bustling through the streets.

This brings back unintended nostalgia…

Even though they’re not particularly good memories, every time I return to this space from the past, it feels like I’m on a time travel journey through memories.

Back then, even watching people from the window was difficult for me.

Looking back, this academy has indeed brought many changes to me.

Had I not come here, I might never have caught the devil’s eye.

I’ve said it repeatedly, but there’s nothing left for me to learn here, and nothing about me will change because of it.

I have even less intention of indulging in noble camaraderie, and the academy is merely a fence to protect my current status as a student.

Well, who knows if my mind might change.

This time, perhaps I’ll be the one to transform this stagnant place…

With these intersecting thoughts, the carriage was gradually drawing closer to the Royal Academy.

* * *

Upon arriving at the main administration office, I found it crowded with various people, including students who had come for registration, instructors, and administrators, all busy talking among themselves and not particularly paying attention to me.

I approached the staff in charge of registration and submitted my application.

The female staff member, reading my application, pushed up her glasses and said, “Could you show me something that proves your identity?”

I took out my family’s crest from my pocket and placed it on the desk.

The staff member was slightly startled upon seeing the crest.

“May I know your name?”

“Cyan Vert.”

“…!”

At the mention of my name, all eyes in the room turned to me.

“Cyan Vert? Isn’t that the incompetent from the Vert ducal family…?”

“Isn’t he the prince who supposedly roamed the front lines with senior knights for a year?”

“Ah, but I heard he just hid in the back. Probably just a title his father slapped on him.”

“He doesn’t resemble Prince Cranz at all.”

Sometimes having too keen a hearing is a problem.

Though I usually let such idle talk pass through one ear and out the other, as you know, I’m no saint.

I hope such comments don’t reach me when I’m in a bad mood.

Otherwise, I might end up tearing those babbling mouths apart…

Well, I can’t do that on the first day.

Today, I want to proceed with a fresh mindset.

“Your registration is complete. You can wait in your assigned dormitory, and you should attend the entrance ceremony held in two days.”

The staff member handed me the stamped admission form and the keys to the dormitory.

“…?”

The sparkling key had a gold ring with a crown engraved on it.

Sensing something was amiss, I immediately asked the staff member, “Is this correct?”

“Yes, Prince Cyan, you have been assigned to the Royal Wing. It was selected through proper procedures, so you need not worry.”

The mention of the Royal Wing caused another murmur among the crowd.

But the claim that it was selected through proper procedures seemed absurd.

In my past life, I was assigned to the Noble Wing.

It was a standard dormitory where most noble children lived.

There were dormitories of a lower grade, but usually, families with a title of baron or higher, regardless of their rank, were assigned to the same Noble Wing.

However, the Royal Wing I was assigned to now is not your average dormitory.

Royal. As the word suggests, it denotes royalty.

It’s the highest class reserved not for nobles but for the few kings and emperors’ descendants from each country.

Of course, not just the direct royal family, but sometimes influential families closely related to the royal family, like the empress’s side, are assigned to the Royal Wing, but I was not one of those cases.

This must be the result of someone’s influence.

Could it possibly be my father’s doing?

Well, given his position if he had asked the Emperor directly, it wouldn’t be impossible, but honestly, there’s no reason to go that far.

Sister Alice and even that bastard didn’t get assigned to the Royal Wing.

Not to mention Cranz.

Here I am, receiving intense attention from day one when I should be keeping a low profile.

Probably by tomorrow, there will be rumors about a noble’s child, not even royal, being assigned to the Royal Wing floating around…

I just hope it doesn’t reach my ears.

First, wanting to unpack my things, I led the carriage to the designated dormitory.

It was a place I had never visited even once in my previous six years at the academy.

I thought at most it would be slightly more luxurious than the Noble Wing…

“What in the world is this…”

Brian couldn’t close his mouth in shock as he looked at the dormitory’s exterior.

This was beyond luxurious; it was like they built a castle within the academy.

There was even a neat lake and a garden in front of the building.

To an outsider, it might look like a separate palace built by the nation.

After snapping Brian out of his daze with a slap, we entered through the main gate.

My room was located at the end of the left corridor on the second floor.

For such a luxurious building, the door to the room was surprisingly ordinary.

With a somewhat puzzled feeling, I unlocked the door and entered…

-Thud

The sound was Brian dropping my luggage, which he had been carrying in both hands.

He was so astonished that he didn’t even think to pick them up immediately, just staring in awe at the spectacle before him.

No wonder the doors seemed so far apart compared to the width of the corridor.

The room was about three times the size of the Noble Wing room I had lived in.

“I-I’m sorry, sir! I’ll move the rest of the luggage right away!”

Brian quickly regained his senses and rushed out to bring in the rest of the luggage from the carriage.

Meanwhile, I leisurely walked around the room, checking what was there.

After finishing organizing the luggage, Brian came up to me, bowed, and said, “I’ve organized all the luggage you brought, sir!”

Sweat was pouring down his face like rain.

“You’ve worked hard. You can go now.”

“Yes, I understa… What?”

Brian looked puzzled, not quite understanding what I meant.

“You can go now. You’ve brought me to the academy and unpacked my luggage, so your job here is done.”

I took out a small pouch from my pocket and threw it to him.

Since there’s no need for money within the academy, I gave him all the gold coins I had.

The expression on his face as he opened the pouch was priceless.

“Why would you give this to me…?”

“If you’ve done the work, you should be paid accordingly. Wherever you go, whatever you do, this should be enough for a fresh start. Though, I’d advise against going to Velias if you can help it. But if you insist, I won’t stop you…”

Brian, without saying a word, just stared at the pouch filled with gold coins.

It might seem excessive to some, but I’m not the type to betray or discard people after they’ve served their purpose.

He provided me with a stable ride and a comfortable journey, so it’s only fair to reward him accordingly.

What he does with his life from here is up to him.

-Thump!

“…?”

Just when I thought he had made up his mind, he suddenly knelt before me.

“I, Brian Kendrick, a knight of the Vellias kingdom, dare to ask, I wish to serve the noble Lord Cyan!”

Did seeing the gold coins drive him mad?

“My father always said, if you find a lord you can trust and follow for a lifetime, do not hesitate to serve under them and devote everything. Today, it’s not just a few gold coins, but Lord Cyan, I choose you as the new beginning of my life! Please accept me!”

Whoever his father is, he certainly taught him how to speak well.

I thought he’d just thank me for the few gold coins and leave, but he’s more ambitious than I expected.

Should I call it lineage?

It’s a different feeling from servants like Emily.

“Did you say a lord to trust and follow for a lifetime?”

“Yes! I wish to serve you as my lord!”

“That’s an incredibly foolish thing to do.”

“Excuse me?”

Brian finally raised his head, which had been buried in the floor.

“You might be offering me your unlimited trust now, but I currently have no faith or emotion towards you. This means it wouldn’t be strange if I decided to abandon you at any time.”

“It’s okay! Even if I am abandoned, if my existence has been of even the slightest help to you, that would be enough for me!”

The guy was like a fortress.

“So you realize how stupid that is! If you end up getting stabbed in the back by me later, what will you do?”

“That’s okay too… What?”

A long silence followed in the room.

I got carried away in my excitement and ended up saying all sorts of things.

Did that bastard in my previous life feel this way when he looked at me?

Someone who would do anything for me…

Thinking about it, even though I ran myself ragged for that bastard in my past life, I never actually had anyone serving under me.

The first one who steps forward wanting to serve me being a coachman is kind of funny.

But why not?

If it’s fate, then so be it. If he’s prepared to lay down his life for me, I’ll make sure to take full responsibility for the well-being of my people.

After all, I’m different from that guy.

I smirked and said,

“Just don’t stab me in the back later…”

(To be continued)