The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

< Chapter 51: My People (1)

"Yawn…"

A morning where the sunlight streams through the window.

For me, it's a time when a melancholic yawn turns into a deep sigh.

"Magic, as I've said before, is about using the power of the gods who created this realm. It depends on how we utilize the mana inherent within our bodies…"

My first theory class in 30 years.

I think I might have made a bad deal with the chancellor.

I had said I would attend classes now and then, out of a semblance of conscience, but it seems I need to reassess what 'now and then' means.

Sitting through two hours is exceedingly boring.

-Swish

As soon as the first class ended, I immediately got up from my seat.

That's it for today's classes.

If I listen any more, my mind will become muddled.

Just as I was about to leave the classroom without a single textbook.

"Where are you going, Cyan?"

An unexpected voice caught me by the ankle.

Turning around, I saw a red brooch that signified membership of the royal family.

In this classroom, there could only be one person wearing that badge.

Princess Airen.

She was glaring at me with a displeased expression.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

I replied with a neutral expression.

"The bathroom isn't that way. You're not planning to leave after attending just one class for the first time in a month, are you?"

Why does she, who is not even an instructor, care about that?

"The bathroom on this floor will probably be crowded, so I was going to use the one downstairs."

Princess Airen shot a suspicious look at my unchanged expression.

Beside her, Resimus also looked somewhat troubled.

"Are you really just going to the bathroom?"

"Of course. I'll go to the bathroom and then return to the classroom."

Though not immediately, it might take about two weeks, I suppose.

"Fine. Then come with me. I want to use the downstairs bathroom too!"

"……"

For a moment, I wondered if I had heard her wrong and tilted my head in confusion.

Even when saving Resimus, I thought she had changed a bit,

But her whining like a child was still the same.

"Ah, Princess Airen, even so, as a princess, your dignity…"

Finally, even Resimus at her side felt the need to intervene.

But something about the way he addressed her seemed odd?

"Did you allow her to call you by your name?"

"Hm? Oh right! I told Resimus to just call me by my name in private! We're all the same students here!"

All the same students…

I wonder if she's the only one in this academy who thinks that way.

"What the princess desires is not for me to question, but you should be careful in front of others. As you know, this place is not exactly welcoming."

Despite the advice, her displeased expression did not ease.

"And you?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you still call me 'princess'? I heard you even spoke informally with Prince Set. Can't you do the same with me?"

"Isn't the situation different? I am a citizen of the empire, and you are a princess of the imperial family. How could I dare address you so casually?"

Resimus was startled by this.

It's likely she initially insisted that it was absolutely not possible, strongly opposing the idea.

Princess Airen sighed softly.

"You're still the same as a year ago? Still blunt and old-fashioned."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

While this pointless conversation was happening, footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs.

Princess Airen's body stiffened upon seeing the faces of those arriving.

"Airen?"

Those who saw her face frowned, recognizing her immediately.

Faces that clearly resembled each other like brothers, with the distinctive black mole under their eyes characteristic of the Nephelis family.

The same royal red brooch that Princess Airen had.

I, too, recognized their faces.

The empire's third prince, Fabian Severus, and the fourth prince, Nerobian Severus.

The children of the current empress and Princess Airen's older brothers.

I remember they were about four years older than me, so they would be around 15 now.

Teenagers in the throes of puberty, with growing frames and prominent Adam's apples.

To them, who were growing day by day, the 11-year-old Princess Airen was nothing more than a little chick.

The brothers looked down at her standing dazedly, with half-closed eyes from above.

"It's been a long time, Fabian, Nerobian, brothers…"

Princess Airen gently bowed her head after placing her hand on her brooch.

Naturally, they weren't in a good enough relationship to exchange pleasantries.

They were princes backed by the Nephelis ducal family, the emperor's relatives. They didn't look kindly upon Princess Airen, whose origins were unclear.

"Tsk…"

Despite his sister's greeting, the third prince, Fabian, clicked his tongue as if he found it laughable and walked past without giving her a second glance.

On the other hand, the fourth prince, Nerobian, seemed quite amused by her gesture, showing an unpleasant smile.

"So you've grown a bit, not trembling while greeting? Airen…?"

“…….”

She remained silent, only bowing her head further.

Although she didn't show it, I could feel her trembling with agitation.

"Still trying to maintain the dignity of a princess by having someone by your side. But who would you have beside you, given your status…"

His scornful gaze, filled with contempt, momentarily froze as it met mine, standing quietly.

"Cyan… Vert?"

Have I become such a well-known figure already?

It feels like there’s no one I meet who doesn’t know me.

"Do you know me?"

"Of course! How could I not know the offspring of Duke Vert, a long-time friend of my grandfather? I saw the duel a few days ago. Despite having an unremarkable element, you beat the 'Prince of Sand' quite impressively, didn’t you?"

It doesn't quite feel like a compliment. Is it just me?

For now, I responded without showing any reaction.

"Thank you for your kind words."

"I’ll definitely invite you to the next social party. Let’s talk more then!"

With a pat that felt somewhere between encouragement and provocation, the fourth prince smiled.

"……?"

Then, suddenly approaching Princess Airen, he whispered softly in her ear.

"Stop acting so high and mighty, pretending to be a princess, Airen…"

Fists clenched and pupils shaking.

The whisper, meant only for the princess, unfortunately reached my ears as well.

This is why having too keen hearing can sometimes be a problem.

After issuing what sounded more like a warning than advice, the fourth prince quickly followed the third prince down the stairs.

A peaceful silence followed the storm.

"Phew…"

As if trying to compose herself, Princess Airen took a deep breath.

"Sorry. That was a bit of an unsightly scene, wasn’t it?"

"Were- were those… gentlemen, the princes…?"

Resimus asked.

"Yes, they were. My brothers. We're not exactly close, but today seemed particularly worse."

"What did they say…?"

"It's nothing. Just a bit of a misunderstanding, that’s all."

Misunderstanding, huh…

It's not incorrect to say, but there's a saying that "the hidden meaning of a warning is caution."

Strictly speaking, the fourth prince was cautioning Princess Airen in the situation just before.

Why?

Obviously, because of me.

The mention of inviting me to a social party wasn't made without reason.

The fourth prince had just treated me as a noble in my own right.

It might sound funny coming from me, but my position is far from light at the moment.

Rumors are already widespread within the academy that Cyan Vert is receiving special treatment, and for someone who is not of royal blood to be wearing royal regalia by the emperor's decree says it all.

I found this out relatively recently.

Anyway, there I was, standing right next to Princess Airen, for whatever reason.

So, it was inevitable that he felt the need to be cautious.

If there was any misunderstanding, it's that I currently belong to no one.

I was just trying to escape from class and ended up being caught up in a dispute with her.

"Cyan…?"

Seemingly having something she wanted to say, a slight tremble was visible on Princess Airen's small lips.

"Please, speak."

"People say there's nothing thicker than blood… but is that really true?"

It was a somewhat unexpected question, but I had a rough idea of what she meant by it.

I answered nonchalantly.

"Conventionally, that's what is believed. After all, blood relations are an inseparable part of human society's most fundamental relationships."

"That's true, isn't it? Family is supposed to be just that…"

Disappointment seemed to seep through her voice at the formal response, a sense of defeat detectable.

"However, when that bloodline is combined with power…"

"…?"

"Then it can become worse than any relationship with strangers."

It was a sort of anecdote.

"Because power can be more brutal than blood…"

How she would take this was now up to her.

"…"

Though I couldn't tell what she was thinking, she clenched her fist tightly, her face set with determination.

* * *

As the sunset dipped into the western horizon, Brian, laden with snacks like candy, bread, and chocolate in both hands, was passing through the center of it all.

"……"

The streets of Luwen were still bustling with people.

Though it was a perfectly ordinary evening scene, Brian's heart wouldn't stop racing.

He felt the presence of unfamiliar followers weaving through the crowd after him.

This sensation wasn't new to him.

From the day after he arrived in Luwen with Cyan, he had felt unknown watchers observing them from every corner.

Was it thanks to his unique animal-like senses?

While he might have brushed it off once or twice, the continuous surveillance was too persistent to ignore, even for someone as inconsequential as himself.

Especially when wandering outside the academy or buying groceries, the followers clung to him, heavily suggesting surveillance.

Could they be trackers sent from Vellias?

If so, these watchers weren't just after him.

After all, he was just a nobody.

If they were targeting anyone, it would undoubtedly be his master.

However, contrary to his worries, these presences usually disappeared without a trace after a day or two.

Precisely around the time Cyan would leave the dormitory at night, claiming he was going out for exercise.

Without saying much, it was clear to Brian that his master was handling the situation himself.

So far, the original watchers had been replaced by new ones about three times.

But today was different.

Along with the usual group tailing him,

he sensed another group on the opposite side doing the same.

They were definitely not from the same faction.

The energies felt too distinct;

one maintained a reasonable distance in surveillance, while the other harbored a killing intent that felt dangerously close.

Perhaps because of a significant incident he had experienced before, he had become somewhat accustomed to such vile intentions, and he decided he couldn't just ignore it as usual.

-Swish

Finally, Brian quickened his pace, not towards the dormitory, but into a dark alley.

The followers, too, did not miss a beat and continued to trail him.

It had been a month since he became the servant of an eleven-year-old master.

It was a short yet long time, filled with bizarre events beyond counting.

From a suspicious instructor who came and went at odd hours, to a woman who could materialize from a sword, and even a hybrid child of a dragon and human.

No matter how talented a noble's offspring might be, they couldn't possibly show such extraordinary traits.

Cyan's age had become merely a number to Brian.

He occasionally wondered about his true identity and had some guesses, but never asked directly.

Cyan, for his part, never told him to keep secrets or seemed to hide anything.

Brian believed that his master trusted him and would tell him in his own time.

After all, he wasn't the smartest person.

He thought that as long as he remained loyal and served his master well, he was fulfilling his role as a servant.

But the world doesn't work on intentions alone,

and ultimately, a servant's worth lies in being helpful to their master.

Determination blazed in Brian's eyes.

Arriving at a dead end in the alley,

He gently set down his load and spoke softly towards a corner.

"Please, come out now."

(To be continued)