The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“There’s a limit to recklessly charging in. How could you even think of running straight into the blade?”

My sister’s gaze was sharper than a knife.

“I just rushed in driven by instinct, without really thinking about it,” I said, trying to avoid her gaze with a nonchalant tone. She sighed softly.

“Ha, it’s a miracle there weren’t many casualties amidst this chaos. It’s truly astonishing.”

During the attempt to save Luna, I was grazed by a weapon wielded by an assailant and got injured.

The assailant was immediately dealt with by the knights, and since the injury wasn’t severe, I received basic treatment and had bandages applied.

It might be a bit troublesome, but it would be better to keep them on for a while.

“By the way, Cyan, where have you been all this time? I heard quite a few ladies were looking for you?”

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I was resting in my room. Then, suddenly, I heard screams in the hallway, and assailants appeared, so I hurriedly ran outside.”

Of course, that was a lie.

But since I had been wearing a mask until I met Emily and her group, there wouldn’t be any witnesses to dispute my fabricated alibi.

My sister just stared at me silently.

“Is there something on my face?”

“No, it’s just… you reminded me of someone else for a moment…”

She couldn’t help but smirk.

“If you had seen it, Cyan, you would have thought it was incredible. It was a rare sight, one person fighting against dozens.”

“Did you see his face?”

I asked, feigning innocence.

“No, his face was covered with a black mask, so I couldn’t see it. He probably never intended to reveal his identity from the start.”

I felt relieved that I had changed clothes.

“Still, it was quite heroic of you to save that Luna kid, wasn’t it? Like a knight in shining armor. I was going to nag you about how to treat ladies, but I’ll let it slide this time.”

A question mark popped up in my mind.

Did I do something worth being nagged about?

I asked without showing any signs of concern.

“What happened to the child?”

“For now, the people from the Garam Academy have taken her. The Empire will probably start an investigation soon.”

I could sense a downturn in my sister’s voice.

Luna and the Garam Academy might end up being detained in the imperial palace.

After all, the decisive Daze Stone was found in her possession.

We didn’t destroy Luna’s stone.

Given that she had revealed her face, we couldn’t act rashly,

or else, I too would have been connected to the troublesome situation.

“She must have been scared, caught up in such chaos in a foreign country and now facing an unfair investigation. Make sure to comfort her when you see her again, Cyan.”

“I understand.”

Assuming we see each other again.

Having saved her life once, I had no intention of getting further involved.

-Knock knock

It was a normal knock, but I felt a shiver run through my body.

My heartbeat quickened, and anxiety started to build.

I naturally knew who was on the other side of the door.

“May I come in, Cyan?”

It was a voice I could never forget, no matter how much time passed.

The owner of the voice, who entered through the opened door, smiled vilely at me.

“It’s good to see you’re okay, Cyan.”

After 2 years, I was once again facing the eldest son of the Vert family.

It was Aschel.

* * *

Alice’s expression upon seeing her brother was not as bright as one might expect.

It seemed as if she was questioning why he was here.

However, she quickly hid her true feelings and welcomed him with a bright face.

“Welcome, brother. It’s your first time here at the imperial palace, isn’t it?”

Aschel responded with a smile.

“I was a bit busy meeting with the prince. I’m really sorry for not paying much attention to you guys.”

Was it just me, or did his sincerity not feel genuine?

Alice momentarily averted her gaze, then suddenly turned it towards Cyan.

“…?”

In the brief moment when Aschel turned his head to close the door, Alice clearly saw it.

The strong intent to kill emanating from Cyan’s face, as if he was about to murder the person in front of him.

“It’s nothing, brother! I’m the one who should be sorry for causing you worry.”

But that aura disappeared the moment Cyan lifted his head.

Alice was so stunned that she couldn’t find the words to say.

“Now that I see you, you’ve grown up to be quite charming.”

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light.”

“But…”

The conversation paused for a moment, and an indescribable tension filled the room.

“Did you receive the gift I sent?”

“…!”

At the mention of the gift, Alice’s heart sank.

Unlike her trembling pupils, Cyan’s face showed no change.

He paused for about 2 seconds before responding.

“Are you referring to the bow tie? Regrettably, the maid I entrusted it to lost it amidst the chaos. I’m truly sorry for not being able to keep the precious gift you gave me!”

Aschel stopped him from bowing as he got up from his seat.

“It’s okay. It was something that would have suited you well, but what can we do? I’ll make sure to give you a better gift next time.”

As their conversation progressed, Alice became increasingly anxious.

It felt like watching two bombs with lit fuses, not knowing when they might explode.

She couldn’t understand why she felt this way.

“I’d like to spend more time with you, but I must be going now. Don’t worry about the aftermath. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of so you won’t be inconvenienced.”

With those words, Aschel stood up to leave.

Alice hurriedly followed him out.

“Take care, brother!”

Aschel responded with a smile and left the room.

Alice quickly turned to Cyan.

“…”

Cyan’s expression remained utterly indifferent.

* * *

“I’m so relieved you’re safe, Princess! I was so worried something might have happened to you!”

Resimus couldn’t seem to let go of Airen.

“It’s okay, Resimus! Why are you like this today?”

Resimus, being a servant, couldn’t enter the banquet hall, so she was unable to stay by Airen’s side when the incident occurred.

She feared something might happen to her mistress in her absence.

Being unable to do anything when her mistress was in danger was, to a servant, the worst possible scenario.

Airen realized how much she meant to Resimus, seeing her usually strict instructor in tears.

Though the crisis had passed, Airen’s face remained clouded.

It was natural for her mind to be in turmoil given the situation.

But Airen couldn’t stop thinking about the moment Cyan had embraced Luna.

Repeating the same thought made her imagination add more to the scenario.

‘Was I so insignificant that he didn’t even consider me?’

It felt like all her efforts had been wasted.

Yet, she felt ashamed for harboring such trivial thoughts at a time like this.

‘Who was that man?’

The mysterious man in the black mask.

He appeared during their crisis, saved them, and then vanished.

Especially since he destroyed the pendant she was wearing, which contained a dangerous artifact known as the Daze Stone.

This meant he had known about it from the start and had approached them with that knowledge, effectively saving them from the assailants.

Who could he have been?

Though she hadn’t seen his face due to the mask, the feeling was strangely familiar, as if he was someone she knew well.

-Bang

Suddenly, the princess’s room door swung open.

It was a grave offense to enter the room of a royal family member without notice.

However, the person who entered was someone not even the knights or maids could object to.

“Lu, Brother Luinel…?”

It was Luinel Sevellus, the first prince of the empire.

Given that it was a lady’s room, and she was a princess, Airen should have felt uncomfortable.

However, her position required her to maintain her composure, so she greeted him formally.

“Welcome, brother. It’s an honor to have you visit…”

Despite her polite greeting, the prince’s expression was far from pleased.

He sat down immediately, crossing his legs without responding to her greeting.

“I’ll get straight to the point, Airen.”

The prince’s tone was indifferent and harsh.

“Did you receive a pendant from my personal maid before the banquet?”

She had received it, but not in its original state.

Airen managed to keep her composure and answered calmly.

“Yes. I intended to cherish it as a gift from you, but regretfully, it was damaged during the recent disturbances.”

“Ha!”

The prince let out a disdainful laugh.

“How pathetic.”

“Excuse me?”

Airen couldn’t help but respond.

“You’ve heard, haven’t you? That pendant contained a Daze Stone, a dangerous artifact.”

“Yes, but…”

“I never ordered that maid to give you that pendant. I haven’t even seen it myself. So, the whole thing was a scheme she concocted.”

The prince had supposedly given her the pendant, but it contained a Daze Stone, which led to her being targeted by the assailants and nearly losing her life.

Although she survived, the situation could have been interpreted as the prince plotting to kill her.

But he quickly distanced himself from the incident.

“So, don’t even think about involving me with that pendant! Do you understand, Airen?”

All Airen could do was nod, unable to voice any objections.

“Yes, brother…”

After finishing his business, the prince stood up to leave.

“I thought you might have grown up a bit, but you’re as naive as ever. Did you really think I would send you a gift?”

It was naive to hope for familial affection, which now shattered completely.

“Don’t forget! Your naivety contributed to today’s tragedy as well!”

With that, the prince left the room.

No one, including Resimus, dared to speak to her after he left.

“……”

Only the sound of her trying desperately to hold back tears filled the room.

(To be continued)