The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“……!”

Anyone would think this blanket is a top-grade magic robe by the looks of it.

Wrapped all over as a means of defense, trembling pitifully, it was indeed a pitiable sight.

“How long are you going to stay like that?”

Unable to bear it any longer, I asked.

“Y-You, young master, what in the world did you bring in? How could you think of raising such a thing in the room…….”

“You said you wouldn’t be scared even if a demonic beast was right in front of you, didn’t you?”

“That- that’s a different story! Besides, that thing isn’t even a demonic beast, she’s a dr…….”

Her eyes, filled with terror, accidentally met with Nana’s, who was in the middle of her meal.

“Hi, Hiieek!”

Just like that, she froze for a moment, then ran away to her room with a bizarre scream.

Nana, with a puzzled look, came over to me and asked.

“Papa. Why is sister Emily like that?”

“Don’t worry about it. She’ll adapt on her own.”

I gently stroked her head and reassured her.

Nana smiled contentedly.

Eventually, I brought Emily to the academy.

Technically, she should return to the Vellias mansion.

However, personal servants are considered private property of nobles, and their destination can change at any time if their master wishes.

Meaning, as long as she’s classified under my personal servant, her fate is mine to decide.

This is something no one else can intervene in unless they are the head of the family.

Emily would never have dreamed that she was used as a pawn to kill me.

Although their plan failed, there was no reason to keep her alive considering the potential risks that remained.

She wouldn’t end up well if she returned to Vellias, and I had no intention of just watching that happen.

Since no one would question me taking back my servant, they wouldn’t dare to approach carelessly either.

Well, that’s the case for Emily, but…

My gaze returned to Nana, who had resumed her meal.

Is this the concern a parent feels, watching their child grow day by day?

I managed to hide it well over the past two years, but it wasn’t perfect.

Not just the food expenses, but suspicions were starting to rise from other aspects as well, and if this continues to accumulate, it’s bound to explode eventually.

At least, thanks to her ability to transform into a human at will, we’ve been able to suppress the leakage of any magical energy…

But it’s going to be difficult to continue this lifestyle.

I might have to consider not just a disguise employment like Emily’s, but perhaps a disguise enrollment for her.

“I’m back, young master.”

Just then, Brian returned from his personal training.

He immediately handed me two unfamiliar letters.

“Both were received from the academy’s official mail.”

Lately, it seems I’ve been receiving letters frequently.

I was slightly anxious it might be another strange invitation, but fortunately, it wasn’t.

One of them was a letter from Sister Alice.

It contained a short greeting and news that she had finally decided on her future path.

She’s going to do it.

Joining the Order of Knights of Light to continue the family’s legacy.

It wasn’t surprising.

From an early age, I’ve heard it so often, and I myself have sworn it dozens of times, that my sister’s choice was a natural one.

It’s no exaggeration to say that she chose the best possible direction she could go.

I cannot deny that the Order of Knights of Light is the place where her innate talents can be utilized most effectively.

Typically, the applications to join would undergo a review and probation period of about six months to a year, but for my sister, those periods are likely to be significantly shortened.

If you ask whether this counts as a special recruitment, yes, it does.

There’s no need to waste time delaying someone of her renowned talent, known to all the citizens of the empire.

At the very least in three months, or possibly even within a month, my sister will earn the title of a Knight of Light.

The problem is what comes next.

Although there was one incident, my sister’s life is progressing in the same direction as her previous life.

That means, presumably, the end of her life will also be the same as her previous life.

Not much time is left.

Soon, another day will come when she will leave the academy.

After reading my sister’s letter, I carefully sealed it and set it aside.

Then, naturally, I turned to the second letter.

“What’s this?”

Clearly, the recipient was me, but no matter where I looked, the sender’s name was nowhere to be found.

I opened the letter to check its contents immediately.

The moment I saw that awkward title after my name, I knew immediately who the sender was.

It was Luna.

Anyone would think we’re a pair of deeply affectionate seniors and juniors.

The more I read the letter, the more my brows furrowed. Was it just my imagination?

They say even a brief encounter is a form of fate, but isn’t this a bit too much?

This is almost like one side is forcibly pushing for a connection.

What exactly does this kid want from me, constantly trying to get close?

Others might say, ‘Isn’t it obvious that this girl is interested in you?’, but being inherently negative, such things don’t move me at all.

It only triggers unnecessary wariness.

While reading, the last sentence unexpectedly made me smile.

Just to clarify, I laughed because it was absurd.

She’s coming to visit soon? Does that mean she’ll come to see me before school starts again?

A strong sense of foreboding about an impending troublesome event surged within me.

Just as I was seriously considering escaping somewhere for the rest of the vacation,

-Knock knock

A strange knocking sound echoed in my room.

Simultaneously, the unease I felt while reading the letter flared up even more intensely.

Stopping Brian from going to check, I slowly approached the door myself.

As I mentioned, it’s currently the vacation period.

Meaning, I’m the only student living in the Royal Residence at the moment.

For a strange visitor to come to this place, which even the facility managers don’t care about…

Though I haven’t checked yet, I felt like I already knew who was on the other side.

Hoping it wasn’t the person I had in mind, I cautiously opened the door.

-Creak

“…….”

I didn’t say anything upon opening the door.

Not because I was too shocked to speak, but because the situation I anticipated was unfolding before my eyes.

The unfamiliar visitor looked at me with bold, unhesitating eyes and said,

“It’s been a while, senior.”

* * *

Naturally, I couldn’t let her into the room, so I grabbed her hand and pulled her outside.

Luna came out limply like a soulless doll, offering no resistance.

The place we arrived at was the cafeteria, which I had never set foot in since my enrollment.

Of course, we were the only ones there.

“You’re more aggressive than I thought, senior?”

She said, stroking her wrist.

“Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. Why did you come to find me?”

“I was bored.”

Her expression was infinitely confident and straightforward.

There was not a hint of falsehood in it.

“Looking at your face, senior, it’s like you’re facing someone with an ulterior motive.”

She knows well.

I affirmed with my silence.

“It’s a bit disappointing. We’re sitting at the same table, after all.”

Technically, you just joined me at the table while I was eating without asking.

I don’t want to waste time on trivial conversations.

Leaning back, I crossed my arms and said with a look that clearly showed I was on guard.

“Look here, junior. It seems like you’ve misunderstood what a proper senior-junior relationship is. If we only count the time you and I have directly faced each other, it’s less than two hours.”

“I thought it was more? I thought it was around 20 hours.”

She talks as if it were 20 hours.

“Even if it’s not 20 hours, but 20 years, trust isn’t something that naturally develops in human relationships. Don’t you think it’s strange that I, who have supposedly only seen you for about 2 hours, would be overly familiar with you?”

“……”

She seemed momentarily speechless, but not shocked.

“Senior, there’s only a year difference between us, and yet you speak as if you’ve lived for over 20 years with such experiences……”

I had no retort, so I averted my gaze for a moment.

She’s annoyingly perceptive.

“Alright. Anyway, it means that trust needs to be formed between you and me, right? I already trust you, so we just need to build your trust in me.”

She sure knows how to speak sharply.

Luna closed her eyes briefly and then seemed lost in thought.

It appeared she was pondering how to gain my trust.

“Should I tell you a secret about our society that you might like?”

“……?”

“In fact, including my grandfather, the high-ranking members of our society have been keeping an eye on you. The reason I was sent to the imperial banquet was also to investigate you.”

For a moment, I frowned, thinking I had misheard.

What?

What am I listening to?

“You might feel it’s unfair, but our society has been experiencing a series of unfortunate incidents recently.”

“Unfortunate incidents?”

“Yes. A knight who had been supplying demon blood from the front lines was suddenly assassinated one day, and a merchant who had been providing research materials and human subjects to our society was found dead out of the blue. Moreover, the dragons, who had been a major support for the existence of our magic society, were suddenly eradicated near the academy by someone. Too many fatal incidents have occurred for us to consider them mere coincidences.”

It was absurd, but I couldn’t laugh.

Because the series of events she mentioned were all related to me.

For the moment, I kept my reaction hidden and asked.

“……So, the Garam Society is keeping an eye on me as the perpetrator behind these unfortunate events you mentioned?”

“Yes.”

Luna’s answer was consistent.

“Don’t you know that lying to gain trust will have the opposite effect?”

“I’m not lying. I’ve told you the facts as they are.”

I knew.

Above all, the incidents she mentioned were definitely not fabrications.

The problem was that these incidents were related to the Garam Society Luna belonged to, and they were watching me as the culprit.

“On what basis are you saying this?”

I had no choice but to deny it, calling it absurd.

“Honestly, I don’t think it makes sense either. But my grandfather is quite suspicious by nature and considers all possibilities. It seems he focused on the fact that you, senior Cyan, had lived at the front lines before entering the academy and that you possess the darkness attribute, which makes it easy to erase traces.”

“So, it’s not a solid inference, just a vague speculation?”

“That’s about right.”

Regens, the head of the society.

I knew he was suspicious by nature, but I never imagined he would consider me as a suspect.

Moreover, the dragons I killed were actually connected to the Garam Society…

This was something even my past self didn’t know.

A collusion between dragons and humans.

How would other dragons and countries react if they knew this?

“Alright, assuming what you’re saying is true, that your grandfather and others in the society are suspecting me, and now you’ve spilled that fact to me. Why would you go to such lengths to gain my trust? I have nothing to offer you.”

This was no mere secret; it was a clear piece of confidential information.

It’s not something that can be lightly referred to as a favor.

Why, then? For what reason is she continually approaching me, trying to gain my trust?

Unless she speaks up, she will never escape being a target of my suspicion.

“……”

Her gaze remained fixed on me, unchangingly neutral.

Her slightly trembling pupils seemed to reveal her inner turmoil, pondering deeply.

Soon, Luna opened her mouth.

(To be continued)