The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Year 988 of the Creation Era, July 2nd.

From my previous life onwards, I’ve lived without forgetting this day.

No, it’s more accurate to say that I couldn’t forget it.

The person who treated me kindly with a sincere heart, without malice or hidden motives.

It was the last day I saw Alice, my sister, alive.

-Knock Knock

With the intention of at least observing minimal politeness, I knocked on the door and waited for 2 seconds.

Receiving no response, I naturally opened the door of the chancellor’s office as if it were my own house’s door.

-Burst Open

“…!”

Whether he was cursing at me or not, Chancellor Kundel was frowning.

In front of him was Alice, my sister, who looked as surprised as a startled cat, with her eyes wide open.

“Cyan?”

Without hesitating for even a second, my sister called out my name.

That face, that smile.

It was exactly the same as it was decades ago.

In no time, she rushed over and began to pat my head.

“What brings you here? Did you know I was coming?”

“Of course not. I came here for a personal meeting with the chancellor.”

Of course, that was a lie.

I had just come earlier knowing that my sister would visit the chancellor’s office first.

Was it just my imagination, or could I feel the chancellor’s skeptical look, as if asking when I had ever requested a meeting?

“You’ve grown up into a complete man, haven’t you? Soon you might even surpass my height.”

“It seems possible if you step down from those shoes right now.”

“Your twisted personality hasn’t changed!”

My sister said, pulling hard on both of my cheeks.

Two years passed smoothly, like water flowing.

Just as she had returned here after living abroad for three years, I, too, had been here after two years of academy life.

“It’s unexpected. I thought you would definitely go to Vellias for the holidays. Why are you still at the academy?”

In the leisurely summer, warmed by the gentle sunlight, the academy students are broadly divided into two categories during the vacation.

Students who return to their hometowns for rest, and students who stay at the academy, continuing their self-directed studies.

The latter is more akin to a mandate than a choice, as students who fail to meet the academy’s required grades during the semester remain to attend supplementary classes.

Of course, I wouldn’t stay here for such bothersome reasons.

Although I’m a student who has just finished the first semester of my third year at the academy and am on vacation, I have never returned to my hometown, including the past two years.

“Why go back when there’s no one to welcome me?”

My response, as if it was obvious, made my sister scratch her face.

It would indeed be strange to go all that way back when there’s no one to welcome you.

This was no different from my previous life.

Despite having 12 vacations over 6 years, the number of times I returned home was zero.

It wasn’t just me; Cranz was in the same situation.

In fact, Mrs. Margaret, who dearly loves him, even advised him not to come home during vacations but to tour the empire and mingle with the nobility.

Well, I had nothing to do with such matters, so I didn’t bother traveling around.

The Royal Academy, if nothing else, took good care of the convenience of its students, allowing us to stay in the dormitories even during vacations.

So, I was continuing my dormitory life, no different from my previous life, into the third year.

“Did you know your sister was coming?”

“The streets were so noisy that I found out right away. There was a fuss about the child of god returning.”

I smoothly bypassed the chancellor’s somewhat skeptical question.

“Right, I don’t want to unnecessarily interrupt the touching reunion between siblings. Just place what you brought on top there and then go out with your sister.”

My sister’s gaze naturally moved to the bundle of papers in my hand.

I went over to the chancellor’s desk without paying much attention and placed it there.

“Even though you’re a graduate, Alice, there’s no one here to stop you. Stay as long as you like and return when you’re ready. If you want, I can offer you a dormitory as well.”

“Ah, yes… Thank you, Chancellor.”

The atmosphere felt like the conversation was forcibly concluded, but it seemed there was no need to worry.

-Swish

As we headed towards the door, I subtly grabbed my standing sister’s hand.

“Let’s go, sister.”

Her face turned red, seemingly surprised by the unexpected physical contact.

* * *

Alice felt bewildered by the current situation.

She was surprised by her younger brother’s boldness in suddenly grabbing her hand after such a long time, but fundamentally, the aura emanating from Cyan was distinctly different from before.

A mature demeanor that contradicted his youthful face.

Even the subtle mana aura that emanated from him, knowingly or unknowingly.

‘Has he really grown this much in just 3 years?’

One year of life at the front and two years at the academy.

Three years wasn’t a short time, but even she, who was often praised as a genius, hadn’t achieved this much.

In her firm gaze, there was an inexplicable sense of alertness.

‘Is he still thinking of continuing the family legacy?’

She couldn’t forget his figure from three years ago, when he returned to the mansion, determined to continue the family legacy.

Contrary to her belief that it was just a child’s foolish fantasy, his sword carried his true intentions.

Despite her holding back, she clearly experienced his strong will, which she couldn’t break.

However, Alice hoped that Cyan’s heart would change inwardly.

Since a person’s heart is as light as a feather and can change at any time, she didn’t want him to choose the difficult path of being the continent’s guardian.

Instead, if he had found something else he wanted to do, she wanted to support him fully.

That was a natural thing she could do as a sister for her brother.

There was no need to hesitate.

If she was curious, she could just ask him directly.

Just as she was about to open her mouth with a bright smile, at that moment.

“Do you really have to go to the Knights of Light?”

“Hm?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, she found herself at a loss for words.

Cyan was just waiting for her answer with an indifferent face.

* * *

My sister’s reaction was more interesting than I thought.

It was the first time I’d seen her so flustered that she was at a loss for words.

However, it didn’t take long for an answer to come.

“Why would you ask that?”

If there is someone who questions a decision a person is about to make, the reason is simple.

Because they don’t want it to happen.

I, too, did not want my sister to go to the Order of Light, which is why I asked.

“Out of jealousy.”

But my mouth gave a different answer from what I truly felt.

“Huh?”

“The Order of Light, isn’t that where the empire’s finest knights gather? It’s a prestigious order that all sword bearers dream of joining. Who wouldn’t be envious?”

My sister burst into laughter at that.

“Puhaha! What am I hearing! My brother, who should be nothing but supportive, is jealous?”

If one thought her admission to the Order of Light seemed somewhat forced, they’d be greatly mistaken.

Unlike me, my sister was born into a life that was already decided for her.

She was born with innate talent that was to be used for the family, and she neither denied this nor disliked it; in fact, she desired it.

The Order of Light is truly the continent’s greatest order of knights, and it is indeed the highest place she could aspire to.

Serving the family, or doing something for one’s family, is essentially a secondary matter.

She has always dreamed of making a name for herself in the Order of Light.

But I know.

That going there means she will die.

Alice Vert, who gained widespread attention upon joining the Order of Light, meets a tragic death before her time has truly come.

This is an undeniable reality from a past life.

Would I watch with wide eyes as she willingly walks into the maw of death?

“It looks like your resolve to continue the family legacy hasn’t changed, huh? At this point, it seems I can’t dissuade you anymore. You dream of joining the Order of Light too, don’t you?”

But let me say it again, the continuation of the family legacy is none of my concern anymore.

The Order of Light?

Even if they begged me, I wouldn’t join.

But for her, it’s a lifelong dream, hope, and duty.

Now is not the time to dissuade her with awkward words.

Just to set things right.

If pests rush to devour a flower just before it blooms, I will catch them all and burn them to ashes.

“For such a commendable younger brother, I must pave the way properly.”

But, of course, my sister, unaware of this, could only find my words endearing.

We’re nearly the same height now, but she still pats my head as if petting a puppy.

“Are you getting along well with Cranz?”

The moment my sister mentioned Cranz, a slight tremor passed through her eyes.

It might seem like an ordinary question at a glance, but it’s anything but.

By asking, she’s expressing a wish, hoping that things are indeed well.

In my entire current life, I had seen my sister truly angry only once.

It was around when I was about 8 years old, before I had entered the academy.

At that time, as usual, I was being brutally beaten by Cranz under the guise of swordsmanship training.

No one was there to help, and it was a miserable situation with Emily pacing anxiously in the distance, but to my past self, it was a familiar reality. That’s when my sister saw the scene.

She had come home for the holidays, only to find this scene of unwarranted violence.

At first, my sister thought it was just a fight between young siblings.

But she wasn’t a fool.

Seeing Cranz’s face, untouched and clean, and mine, nearly a bloody mess, along with the onlookers who seemed to treat the situation as nothing unusual,

She quickly grasped the situation.

It was truly the first time.

Seeing my sister’s face, usually as lovely as a blooming flower, twist in anger,

And the calm flow of mana around her turned into a raging storm.

At that moment, I felt more fear than perhaps even when facing the Demon King.

I can confidently say that if Cranz wasn’t her brother, he would have been torn to pieces right there and then.

No one could withstand my sister’s fury.

I still vividly remember her outrage, questioning how anyone could stand by and watch this happen, asking if this was the true face of the Vert family, sworn to protect the continent.

Honestly, I wasn’t happy at the time.

Apart from the fact that my sister took my side, it pained me to see her so angry and sad.

I would rather suffer more or fall ill than see her like that again.

That feeling hasn’t changed.

I haven’t seen Cranz’s face for the past three years.

While I doubt such a thing would happen again,

The thought of what my sister’s reaction would be if she found out that Cranz and Lady Margaret had conspired to kill me before my academy entrance, frankly, I didn’t even want to imagine.

However,

“We are almost like strangers now.”

“…Why?”

“Even if we are brothers, I can’t just laugh and shoulder bump each other with someone who tried to kill me.”

My sister’s innocent eyes trembled greatly for a moment.

“What are you talking about?”

“Two years ago, on the day I left for the academy, Cranz and the duchess had conspired to hire knights within our domain to assassinate me.”

“…”

The air around us turned sharply cold.

(To be continued)