The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

In life, you often hear these phrases:

Knowledge is power.

Or ignorance is bliss.

Neither statement is entirely wrong, but if you ask which is more correct, it’s not easy to decide.

So, what if we compromise between the two?

I’d like to define it this way:

Being ignorant makes you a fool, but knowing allows you to at least cope.

With Cranz’s assault witnessed by my sister, our household was turned upside down.

Of course, it didn’t last long.

She had to return to the academy soon, and without my only protector, I was left to be a loner once again.

After that, Cranz harassed me in more persistent and cunning ways, and those around me continued to ignore the situation as if nothing had changed.

Before she left, my sister told me to talk to her anytime if I was having a hard time.

But I didn’t say a word.

I didn’t want to see her get angry or sad again.

Then, as now, I didn’t want to hide in the folds of a woman’s skirt to escape reality.

But as mentioned earlier, being ignorant turns you into a fool, and you can’t cope with what’s to come.

I wanted my sister to know.

How dirty and miserable the honor of the family she wanted to protect was, and that there was no need to sacrifice herself to protect it.

That’s why I’m speaking now.

“…!”

My sister’s right hand was trembling violently.

She looked ready to draw her sword and charge at Vellias at any moment.

I decided to wait quietly until she spoke first.

“Is what you just said all true?”

“I wouldn’t say such things even as a joke.”

“How did you survive and get here?”

Just then, a man approached us and immediately bowed.

“Who are you?”

He was about twenty years old, a young man named Brian with neatly groomed brown hair and innocent eyes.

“I am Brian Kendrick, an official knight of Vellias. Currently, I serve as a guardian knight, protecting Lord Cyan.”

“A guardian knight?”

Brian explained the circumstances of the past three years with precise pronunciation, without a hint of hesitation.

He had received orders from the Duchess but decided they were unjust and betrayed her, immediately becoming my guardian knight and safely escorting me to the academy.

Effectively, he took credit for everything I had done, as I had instructed him to do so.

“I- I don’t understand! Why didn’t you tell anyone else?”

“There was no one to tell. My father is always busy with the front lines, isn’t he?”

“Even so, you should have at least told me!”

Honestly, this feels like a first.

This is the first time my sister has truly been angry with me.

But do you know what?

I realized I’ve never had anyone in my life who would get angry for me like this.

Normally, when you get scolded, you’re supposed to feel down and upset,

but strangely, I find myself wanting to smile more and more.

I think I might be a bit weird.

I suppressed my inner feelings and calmly said,

“Just as you traveled the continent for three years for your own life, I too kept silent for mine. Once the Duchess made a mistake, I didn’t take any further action. Cranz, knowing his own fault, stayed quiet as well. Telling you now means that it has all ended well.”

“How can you say it ended well!”

My sister finally yelled, grabbing my shoulders.

I looked at her eyes, now brimming with tears, without showing my own emotions.

“I’m sorry, Cyan. I made a vow to live for you guys, yet I didn’t even know what you were going through.”

But as always, my sister is smart and strong.

By telling her this, she quickly understands what she needs to do.

“I wanted to take my time talking with you and visit your dorm, but it seems like I have to go somewhere urgently.”

Anywhere but there would be troublesome.

It would be a problem if our cute little one woke up from their nap.

I cheekily asked,

“Will you come again?”

“Of course.”

Just when I thought she would pat my head again, this time she gently hugged me.

“You don’t have to bear everything alone, Cyan. It’s okay to say it’s hard.”

At the moment her soft breath touched my ear, I felt an unparalleled sense of peace.

So warm and comforting.

I thought I’d never feel this way again.

I’m truly glad I returned to this point in time.

Now, all that’s left is to protect this warmth.

As long as I live, the day her warm touch turns cold will never come.

My fist clenched with determination.

* * *

“Are- are you okay, young master?”

After my sister left, Brian asked me with a worried tone.

“Why?”

“It might be presumptuous of me to think this, but I worry if we’ve caused unnecessary concern for Lady Alice. Frankly, I was also quite surprised that you brought it up…”

I shrugged my shoulders and said,

“People’s hearts can be like reeds that sway easily, yet sometimes they are like solid rocks that hardly change.”

Especially people like my sister.

“That’s why we need to raise awareness. We need to gradually make them realize that everything they believed in without a doubt might be going wrong. Otherwise, by the time we can’t turn back, it will lead to ruin.”

If you ask me if this is from experience, I’d rather not answer.

I just hope my warning disguised as advice helps her to cope well with what’s to come.

I believe she will surely overcome it.

Anyway, that’s enough about my sister’s matter…

My gaze then turned to Brian, who was beside me.

“Why- why do you ask, young master?”

“Didn’t you act well enough? I thought you wouldn’t be able to say a word without trembling?”

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Brian rubbed the back of his head and said,

“Ha-ha! Uh, I couldn’t sleep at all last night because I was practicing! I’m not sure if Lady Alice took it well though…”

Compared to his clueless self from two years ago, this is truly a great improvement.

Is he someone who can be serious when it really matters?

“My sister wasn’t called a divine child for nothing. Even if she stutters through half of her sentences, she understands everything solidly.”

“Is- is that so? That’s a relief then.”

I stared intently at his face as he smiled awkwardly.

“Why- why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why is your face all red?”

“Excuse me!?”

Not even a girl in her first love would blush this much.

“Ah, that, it was my first time seeing Lady Alice too! She’s really as beautiful as the rumors say! Oh, please don’t misunderstand, young master! I definitely didn’t harbor any strange feelings!”

Strange feelings, huh.

Well, I suppose it’s understandable since you’re a man, too.

I haven’t seen anyone surpass my sister in beauty either.

Why do I feel such a strong urge to punch him?

I unconsciously looked at my clenched fist.

I was seriously contemplating whether to smash it on his head or not at that moment.

* * *

After sending my sister off, I headed back to the chancellor’s office once more.

As I knocked and opened the door, the chancellor, who was working, looked up with a deep gaze as if he had been expecting me.

“It seems you have already checked.”

The chancellor was reading the white paper document I had handed over a little while ago.

“As always, I will not ask where you got this information.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Instead, I’ll ask something else. Do you really expect me to believe what you’ve given me?”

His scrutinizing look was intensely sharp.

“If I were to summarize the document you’ve given me, it would be this: Some senior knights of the Order of Light are connected to the royal family. The likely connection is with Prince Luinel Sevellus. They are planning a conspiracy to provoke the monsters in the frontline areas soon, causing a major conflict. And this is to coincide with the royal family’s visit to the frontlines… Even writing a novel wouldn’t be this far-fetched.”

If such an intriguing novel could just pop out of my head, why would I bother attending literature classes?

Unfortunately, as much as the chancellor described those words as fiction, they are not. They are the stark reality.

Looking into the chancellor’s eyes, it seemed he was still half-doubting.

“It’s been over 10 years since I left my family, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been living with my ears closed. You’re telling me that my family and Luinel were plotting this behind my back? Honestly, if anyone other than you had given me this document, I would have torn it up long ago.”

Although it seemed a bit inconsistent for someone who claimed not to care about the family’s honor, I decided to let it slide.

“The truth of the matter is not something I can confirm for you, is it?”

“That’s right. I’ll consider myself fooled for now, but it won’t be long before my informants bring back news that will make me grab the back of my neck in dismay.”

His way of speaking was quite blunt, probably due to his experience.

“Does this have anything to do with your sister?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Years don’t come without gaining some insight. Those emotionless eyes of yours flickered the moment you faced Alice.”

It seemed there was no need to deny it.

“Honestly, it was unexpected. I thought you were someone who knew nothing but himself, but it seems the blood ties are stronger than I thought. After all, there’s no reason for you to hate that child. Among all the students who have passed through the academy, she was the only one I ever wanted as a daughter.”

“You’re saying something quite dangerous.”

I was serious.

For a moment, I even wondered if the old man had gone senile.

Even so, that was crossing a line, Chancellor.

The chancellor, unfazed, continued speaking.

“So, after giving me this novel-like information, what do you expect to ask of me?”

I’m not foolish enough to perform acts of kindness without expecting something in return.

The chancellor knows this too, which is why he always asks what I want in return, but I’ve already been receiving more than enough compensation.

“Haven’t you already been providing enough?”

“Ha, are you referring to your delinquent-like school life?”

Delinquent-like…

I thought I had been living quietly without any problems, but hearing that makes me feel odd again.

I smiled and said,

“As I’ve mentioned before, there’s no need to overthink it. Please consider it a gift for accommodating me.”

“A gift? It’s more like a bribe. Well, I understand what you mean. Just don’t go back on your word later.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the mention of a bribe.

“Really, it’s hard to know what’s going on inside your head.”

Hearing that, a thought suddenly popped into my mind.

Should I ask?

“May I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Earlier, when you were talking with my sister, I heard that there was one student, among those who have passed through your hands, whom you couldn’t quite figure out.”

It was more overhearing than eavesdropping.

“Yes, that was before you enrolled in the academy.”

The chancellor said it nonchalantly.

“Could you tell me who that person was?”

Why do I ask?

Just simple curiosity.

I became curious about just how perceptive the old man is.

The chancellor chuckled and then opened his mouth to speak.

“Asking me when you already know the answer, what’s the point? There’s no need to ask. It’s the person you have in mind.”

As expected of our chancellor.

His insight into people is really unparalleled.

If only he could see his own future just as clearly.

(To be continued)