The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“Wow! Look how tall our young master has gotten! You look quite stylish like this, don’t you?”

Her face seemed a bit more mature, but her playful nature remained the same.

Well, changing physically doesn’t mean one’s personality changes.

“You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you! You’ve become even more of a man since I last saw you?”

She was greeting him somewhat vigorously, as if to make up for the last two years.

Brian’s face, watching this with his mouth open, was quite a sight.

“How could you not contact me even once in two years? Not coming back even during vacations! I thought something had happened to you because there was no news at all!”

Well, it was still nice to see her after so long.

Her cheerful personality hadn’t changed, so it didn’t put me in a bad mood.

“You haven’t been holed up in your room, avoiding going out, have you? Or have you been bullied? That won’t do! The young master must do well, or else how can I hold my head high among the other maids?”

That’s Emily for you.

If there’s even a slight chance for affection to develop, she quickly snuffs it out.

That’s how my maid should be.

“So why are you here?”

“Is that what you say after seeing me for the first time in ages? You might not know, young master, but I am quite recognized as a maid in the mansion!”

I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

There’s a limit to how much you can lie.

“Oh? You look like you don’t believe me? How much do you think, then, that Master Aschel wanted to make me his personal maid?”

My eyebrows twitched and I doubted my ears.

Who wanted to make whom what?

“Why would my brother…?”

“Why? Obviously, because I’m capable. Not only did I help raise you into a fine young master, but I’m also a steadfast maid who has lived on the front lines! Who wouldn’t want to take me with them?”

Not to belittle your words, but that’s probably not it.

It’s not normal for that guy to approach her, not someone else. Unless there’s some dirty ulterior motive, he wouldn’t be the type to suggest she become his maid.

“So, are you here as my brother’s maid now?”

Somehow, even I felt my voice was charged with tension. I tried to restrain myself, but it’s not easy.

“Of course not!”

Emily responded with a triumphant look in her eyes.

“I refused on the spot. Master Aschel might be handsome, but the only person I wish to serve is you, young master!”

“……”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to react, and my expression awkwardly contorted.

“What’s with that face? Did you think I was such a disloyal maid?”

I almost nodded my head.

After all, I’ve raised her since she was sniveling, and we have shared countless moments of life and death together over a long time.

Why did I naturally think she would have gone to Aschel?

Suddenly, I began to feel uneasy.

“Then how did you come here?”

“When Master Aschel was coming to the imperial city, he brought me along! He said it was also a chance to see you. Isn’t he kind? Though, it’s a pity I couldn’t tour the imperial city.”

Really? Why though?

And he even said to see me as well?

What good did he expect to come from bringing her here?

The more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems.

I silently stared into Emily’s eyes.

So pure, almost to the point of stupidity.

That guy, who has a knack for understanding people, wouldn’t involve her in anything, at least I hope not.

However, it’s too risky to let this be.

“Brian.”

“Yes, young master!”

“Take her to my room.”

Both seemed to have misheard, just blinking in confusion.

“What, what did you say, young master?”

“Stay in my room until the banquet is over. I’ll let you go after.”

The look of panic on her face was always quite a sight.

“What are you saying, young master! Why suddenly me……?”

“I’ll show you around the imperial city afterwards.”

“……!”

Her attitude changed in an instant.

“Where should I go, young master~?”

* * *

“Oh my, Princess Airen, you look absolutely beautiful today~!”

“The pendant suits you perfectly. You’ve truly become a fine lady.”

Princess Airen, having finished all her preparations, finally appeared at the banquet hall.

Like the other members of the royal family, she too was busy conversing with the attendees.

However, those were merely formal greetings.

After asking about her well-being with a word or two, they soon left for another place.

Still, she wasn’t particularly disheartened.

As always, it was something she had experienced at every banquet.

Contrary to other members of the royal family who engaged in deep conversations, as time passed, no one stayed by Airen’s side.

‘Where could Cyan be?’

Even after looking around, the one person she couldn’t see at all.

Despite having heard that he attended the banquet, his figure was nowhere to be seen.

‘Shouldn’t he have come to me first if I’m the reason he’s here?’

Even as she felt a bit upset and petulant, without the person in question, it was useless.

Wondering if perhaps he was resting due to ill health, just as she continued to look around with a bit of worry, Airen spotted a girl of a similar age in front of her.

The girl had her cute face and her hair, reminiscent of the pure light of mana, tied up adorably in blue.

She too seemed to be looking for someone, constantly scanning her surroundings.

“……!”

Their eyes suddenly met.

After a moment of staring blankly at each other,

The girl took the initiative and began to approach Airen.

Placing one hand over her chest, she lightly bowed her head.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Airen Sevellus.”

Despite her cute appearance, her greeting carried a maturity, her straightforward gaze reminding one of someone else.

“I- I’m glad to meet you too! Your name is… Luna Rainriver, right?”

She was not a stranger to Airen.

A genius magical girl from the Kingdom of Garam, who entered the academy a year ago.

The granddaughter of the head of the Garam Magic Society, which, along with the Ushif Magic Society, is considered one of the top in the continent.

Although she had heard a lot about her, it was the first time she had seen her face directly.

“You are very beautiful.”

“Me? Oh, this pendant? It was a gift from my brother…”

“No, I mean you, Princess. You look really beautiful, unlike when I saw you at the academy.”

It wasn’t the kind of formal compliment she was used to hearing.

A sincere compliment was hidden in those bland eyes.

Airen felt the heaviness in her heart slightly easing.

The two hit it off quite well.

Their conversation ranged from academy life and magic training to common concerns they felt as women.

It had been a while since she met a peer with whom she could connect so well since Resimus.

“But what were you doing until just now, Luna? I saw you looking around a lot earlier?”

“I was looking for someone. They said they would come to this banquet, but I haven’t seen them yet…”

“Really? Actually, I’m in the same situation; are they a close friend of yours?”

At the question of whether they were close, she showed a moment of contemplation.

“We’re not exactly close, but we do use senior-junior titles with each other.”

“Senior-junior? So, they are a student from our academy? What’s their name?”

With pure intentions, Airen asked, and Luna answered with innocent, malice-free eyes.

“Cyan, my senior.”

“……?”

Airen’s face, which had been blooming like a flower, froze instantly.

Had she heard wrong, or did she wish she had heard wrong?

Not expecting to hear his name in this situation,

Let alone the name, the mention of Cyan took Airen aback and somewhat rattled her nerves.

“Cyan, my senior…?”

* * *

The Great Chamber of the Imperial Palace, East Annex.

This area is designated for the guest rooms of the nobles attending the banquet.

The West Annex, located right next door, is where the children of the Emperor, including Princess Airen, are staying.

In reality, the only area I can freely roam is this East Annex.

Upon checking, the guest rooms were clear.

Since no peculiar energy was felt in the special room presumed to be Aschel’s, this area was deemed unrelated.

It seems I have no choice but to head to the place presumed to be of interest.

Since the entrance to the West Annex is guarded by knights, it was impossible to enter peacefully.

Of course, this is only within the realm of peaceful means.

If we’re talking about less peaceful methods, there’s nowhere in this palace I can’t go.

After all, I have a thorough understanding of the structure of this palace.

I quietly raised my hand and knocked on the wall.

-Thud Thud

A hollow, empty sound echoed, not the sound of a solid wall.

A normal stone wall wouldn’t make such a sound.

This surely meant that there was a space inside.

“Shadowless Move Type 2: Spatial Transition.”

Mist spread from my entire body, wrapping around my right hand, and then I reached out towards the wall.

-Zzzing

The wall rippled like water.

Without any surprise, I moved my feet and inserted my body into the wall.

A matte space where not a single ray of light penetrated.

The air felt slightly thin, but it wasn’t suffocating.

[What is this cramped place?]

It didn’t seem like she was there.

“The imperial palace’s secret passage. It’s a kind of escape route that can be used by the Emperor’s children residing in the West Annex.”

This passage went from the First Prince to the Fifth Princess, starting from each of their five rooms all connected into one, passing through the East Annex, and extending outside the palace.

In case of an emergency, this passage was designed to allow an escape to the outside.

[If it’s a space for the Emperor’s children, how does our master know about it?]

It was a question with a thinly veiled intention.

“Well, it’s probably not for a good reason.”

Although it was clearly made for the royal family, coincidentally, I had found myself in this space before.

As I mentioned just a moment ago, it wasn’t for a particularly good reason.

Not wanting to expose past memories unnecessarily, I instead sifted through the necessary memories and slowly made my way forward.

While advancing up the dust-covered stairs, I felt a presence at the end of the staircase.

If my memory serves me right, that place is the First Prince’s room.

Moreover, the energy felt was not from just one person.

Without hesitation, I headed in that direction.

“……!”

Upon reaching a certain distance, I immediately stopped my steps.

Just 10 meters ahead, beyond a thin wall.

Bright light leaked through the thin gaps.

I could feel it.

The presence of the room’s owner, the First Prince, and alongside him, a familiar energy.

My fists clenched involuntarily, my teeth gritted, and my blood raced.

It wasn’t certain, but I felt confident.

Aschel is beyond that wall.

“Sigh……”

I barely managed to calm the rising urge to kill, trying to grasp the current situation.

During the banquet, which was in full swing.

Two of the banquet’s key figures were now in the same room.

And around them, an invisible mana barrier.

A barrier to prevent eavesdropping.

A preventative measure to ensure their conversation doesn’t leak.

In this state, no matter how much I strain my ears, I can’t hear their conversation.

I could dismantle the barrier with my own hands.

Just a flick of my wrist would be enough to break it easily, but then there’s a very high risk of being caught by those suspicious bastards.

They are not fools enough not to notice their barrier disappearing.

As I was pondering if there was any other way,

[Isn’t that cute?]

A sudden exclamation from Kaeram.

That remark wasn’t directed at me.

It was clearly thrown towards the beings beyond the wall.

“Can you hear them?”

[Of course. Did you think such a barrier could block my hearing?]

Kaeram continued to eavesdrop on their conversation with an interested smile.

I had no choice but to focus my gaze on her face, not the wall.

[Hey, master.]

“Why?”

[Feel like shedding some blood tonight?]

(To be continued)