The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

In the midst of a valley swarming with demonic beasts, if someone were to claim that a newly knighted female knight returned alive without a scratch, especially after facing a high-ranking demonic beast, how many would believe it?

At the very least, the knights at the frontlines would dismiss it as unworthy of belief.

However, not only the seasoned veteran knights but also the knights of the imperial army, who set foot on the frontlines for the first time, couldn’t fully grasp the incredulous situation with their own eyes.

“I apologize for causing concern.”

Alice bowed her head to the Duke, standing in front of him without a single injury.

Duke Vert embraced her tightly in response.

“I’m proud of you, Alice!”

Not only did she safely escort the missing princess to the rear, but she also single-handedly killed a notorious high-ranking demonic beast and returned to the frontline with dignity. The Duke genuinely couldn’t help but rejoice.

Other knights were also in awe of Alice’s bravery, with one exception.

‘How- how did she return alive…?’

Cecilia was immobilized by the bewildering turmoil rising within her. From head to toe, she trembled like a leaf, and her heart was relentlessly pounding.

‘Why is she unscathed?’

It wasn’t a scratch that one might accidentally get on an arm or leg. It was a stab wound close to the abdomen, where organs are located. Though not deep, it was a strike that should have made normal movement impossible. Moreover, the bloodstain remained so distinctly visible. At the very least, her walking should have been extremely unnatural.

Yet, Alice acted as if nothing of the sort had happened, showing a perfectly normal demeanor.

As Alice finally lifted her head and her gaze met Cecilia’s, Cecilia could not respond.

In that moment, filled only with the pounding of her heart,

“……!”

She smiled.

A beautiful smile that could not be compared to any flower in this world.

It was a smile Cecilia was familiar with, having seen it often.

However,

“……”

Cecilia felt fear.

Knowing that the smile was not born of joy or positivity, she felt that until she understood the true intention behind that smile, her current fear would not be alleviated.

* * *

“…….”

Alice’s return, nonchalantly left behind at the crossroads of life and death, was now known to Princess Violet, whose face no longer held any pretentious sorrow or false joy.

“Princess. It’s Cecilia.”

Without shifting her gaze, the Princess spoke.

“How is Alice doing?”

Her voice unexpectedly carried a leisureliness.

“She hasn’t said anything…”

At this, Princess Violet let out a disbelieving laugh.

“By not speaking, does she stand to gain anything?”

“There’s nothing to gain.”

Cecilia’s response was firm yet filled with a sense of difficulty.

Frankly, depending on what she said at this moment, their situation could dramatically change in an instant. Yet, Alice had not opened her mouth since her return.

Betrayed by a knight she trusted and faced with an unwanted moment of death, yet she says nothing? It was an action incomprehensible to them.

“I heard she also killed a high-ranking demonic beast called the Red Wolf by herself… Was Miss Alice’s martial prowess that exceptional?”

Honestly, Cecilia wanted to say no.

Having passed her infancy, she had become the sword that protected Alice as a knight of the Vert family for a full 10 years. Over those 10 years, Cecilia had stood by Alice’s side, to the extent that they could each boast of knowing the other better than their own families.

Alice’s ability?

It was true that she possessed talent so exceptional she could be called a child of the gods, surpassing a genius. Given enough time, she would grow to be the foremost knight on the continent, a presence without equal.

But not yet.

She was like a flower yet to fully bloom.

It was absolutely impossible to kill a high-ranking demonic beast with a body that was not only abnormal but also wounded.

Yet, Alice had returned. And in a perfectly fine condition at that.

Could someone have helped her? Nothing was certain.

Silence lingered in the room for a moment.

“How interesting.”

Cecilia doubted her ears.

“In a situation that seems suffocatingly distressing, why do I find myself laughing?”

It was not a pretentious or concealed laugh, but a joy that emanated from sincerity.

“I knew since our time at the academy, Miss Alice was a person of immense generosity and integrity, unlike me with my fabricated appearance, completely genuine. Cecilia, who was by her side, would know better, wouldn’t you?”

Cecilia silently affirmed with her silence.

“Surely, she isn’t keeping her mouth shut without any reason. Or perhaps, she’s waiting for the right moment. If not that, then…”

“……!”

At the sudden familiar presence felt from outside the door, Cecilia turned her head.

“She might want to check on us.”

-Creak-

Soon, the door opened, and a familiar-faced knight entered.

Cecilia’s least desired knight to encounter at the moment…

“Order of Light’s mid-level knight, Alice Vert. Greetings, Princess Violet.”

It was Alice.

“Welcome, Alice. I ended up arriving before you, unintentionally.”

The Princess greeted her with a calm smile, as Alice’s face was as emotionless as stone.

“You seem to have a lot to say? Don’t hesitate. I’ll listen…”

Her attitude was not just calm but confident.

Alice didn’t hesitate to respond.

“Then let me ask you in return. Princess, do you not have anything to say to me?”

The Princess tilted her head slightly.

“Is there something you wish to hear from me?”

Alice’s gaze remained firm.

“I don’t intend to make excuses. As I said before, I struggled simply to survive.”

That meant, in that situation, for the Princess to live, Alice had to die.

“So, I really have nothing to say. I believed without a doubt that you were going to die. What words could I possibly have for someone I thought was dead?”

Alice was left speechless by the audacity that made even the words she had disappear.

“But Alice, you are truly remarkable. To not despair and return alive with dignity, even after being struck by the sharpest blade of betrayal, I really do admire that strong spirit.”

“……”

“So why are you keeping your mouth shut now? If you spoke up, Cecilia and I would be in quite the predicament. Are you hesitating, perhaps?”

Emotion stirred, and Alice’s fist clenched tightly.

Aware of this, the Princess spoke even more triumphantly.

“It’s funny to say, but I hold no malice towards you, Alice. In other words, you have done nothing wrong. So, how about we reconsider our stance?”

The Princess’s hand was caressing Alice’s cheek by now.

“You have merely saved me as a knight who guards the continent and protects the empire…”

Salvation.

Though it was wrapped in pleasant words, it essentially wasn’t different from being asked to remain silent.

Not even an illiterate fool would nod in agreement upon hearing those words, but still.

“That’s how it is…”

For the first time, a smile appeared on Alice’s face, which had been stiff until now.

“I understand your feelings, Princess. If I could save you by sacrificing myself, there would be no greater honor. I will not hold any grudge against you.”

At this, the Princess’s face stiffened in turn.

“I might even have to thank you. Thanks to you, Princess, I have come to understand many things I was unaware of before.”

A sincere joy shone on Alice’s face as she gently lifted her head.

“My duty was to protect the royal family during their tour of the frontlines. However, now that the royal tour has abruptly ended, it seems there is no longer any need for me to stay by your side, Princess. Therefore, I wish to bid you farewell.”

Alice placed one arm across her chest and offered a knight’s salute to the Princess.

“May you return safely to the palace…”

With those words, Alice turned around.

Naturally, her gaze met Cecilia’s.

As if they couldn’t just pass by each other without acknowledgment, they naturally faced each other.

“……!”

Once again, Cecilia saw it.

That smile of hers, which could never stem from positivity.

With that smile as her parting gesture, Alice turned her head away.

Until she opened the door and left, neither the Princess nor Cecilia could say a word.

“……”

Unlike the composure seen moments before, the Princess’s face was now filled with displeasure.

“What does she mean by saying she has come to understand things she didn’t know before…?”

Cecilia had no answer.

But she knew precisely what she had to do in this situation.

For a knight, hesitation is akin to sin,

And any sprout of regret must be pruned beforehand.

“I will… this time for sure, kill Alice Vert.”

Her hand had already found its way to the hilt of her sword.

* * *

There wasn’t particularly a reason to speak of.

From the beginning, she wasn’t one of her people, merely present for the sake of a goal she wished to achieve.

Thus, she thought she wouldn’t feel any guilt.

But Cecilia found it unbearable now.

That smile she saw then.

Could a mere smile stir someone’s emotions to such an extent?

It was neither about getting angry nor about forgiving.

At first, it was confusing due to its inexplicable nature, but now, it was clear.

The smile Alice had given her a moment ago surely contained,

Pity.

Cecilia’s emotions bordered on rage upon realizing this.

The current feelings were intolerable, unbearable.

To relieve these emotions, she thought killing her was the answer.

With the royal escort duty concluded, Alice was supposed to return to the palace, where the knight order’s headquarters were located.

Cecilia waited for her appearance with a calm heart.

Shortly after, Alice emerged from inside the castle gates, gathering her belongings, utterly alone without even a porter.

Just as Cecilia was about to follow her discreetly, erasing her presence,

“……!”

She felt it.

An immense killing intent that made her heart swell with emotion but simultaneously squeezed it cold.

This wasn’t emanating from Alice in her sight.

It came from behind her, within the bush thick with red leaves,

As if calling her towards it.

Cecilia, momentarily forgetting her initial purpose, started to approach the unknown source of the killing intent that seemed to summon her.

A strange space that slightly provoked antagonism, as if splattered with blood-red shadows.

Upon stepping into that place, Cecilia soon faced the owner of the killing intent that had drawn her here.

How long had it been since she felt such emotion?

It’s said that humans feel the greatest fear when they encounter an unknown entity they’ve never faced before.

Even when she first encountered a demonic beast, it hadn’t felt like this.

For the first time since becoming a high-ranking knight, she was feeling fear.

From the masked entity right before her.

“…….”

It was a moment when even breathing became difficult due to the grotesque killing intent emanating from within the mask.

(To be continued)