The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Dark clouds hung over, casting a gloomy shadow under the heavy downpour.

The dreary weather seemed to mirror her tumultuous emotions.

-Creak

As the door opened with a sound, Princess Violet quickly turned her head.

“It’s Aschel.”

The princess’s eyes grew cold, indicating he was not the guest she had hoped for.

“It seems you’re disappointed.”

As Aschel asked with a playful smile, the princess also laughed mockingly.

“It seems like the disappointment is on your part, Aschel. Your plans didn’t go as expected, did they? Or is there still a final plan you haven’t revealed yet?”

“…”

“Since it has come to this, shall we speak frankly? You were trying to kill me, weren’t you? On my brother’s orders?”

Aschel didn’t immediately respond.

“Our brother, who is full of jealousy, wouldn’t just let me go like this. The fact that you, his man, were assigned to me is proof of that.”

With a smirk, Aschel took something out of his pocket.

It was an ordinary-looking parchment scroll.

“This is a summoning scroll capable of calling forth a beast. Just manifest a certain amount of mana, and you can summon a beast right on the spot. It’s a very useful artifact. Of course, it’s possible to use it right here and now.”

His explanation was essentially a confession.

“I won’t make excuses. As you thought, Prince Luinel asked me to kill you on the frontline, and I planned to summon beasts during the visit to cause chaos and then assassinate you.”

-Whoosh

However, as if it was no longer needed, Aschel burned the scroll right there.

“But the plan was flawed from the beginning. I didn’t expect the unexpected reinforcement of the imperial army, nor did I know that there would be a knight loyal to you among our ranks.”

“That’s right. But I would be no different from an unintelligent microorganism if I didn’t struggle knowing I was going to be killed. I made the best choice I could.”

Princess Violet crossed her arms, looking triumphant.

“I have a question for you, Aschel. Did you really intend to kill only me during this visit?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have recommended Alice as my personal guard knight. Your sister, who knows nothing about your plan…”

“…”

“You intended to kill both me and your sister, didn’t you?”

Princess Violet wanted to receive personal protection from the Knight of Light, Alice.

This was the story Aschel told when he first met Alice.

But the truth was not so.

It was Aschel who wanted this, not the princess, who simply accepted his recommendation and called Alice.

“Seeing that you’re not responding, it seems my guess was about right.”

Aschel answered with a faint smile instead.

“I won’t bother asking the reason. What family doesn’t have its issues? Even blood ties can be forsaken over personal circumstances…”

The princess nodded as if she understood.

“However, it’s always best to make the first move. Cecilia told me that even Alice is quite distrustful of you. If things continue this way, your true intentions might become fully exposed, Aschel.”

“Let me share an interesting fact with you.”

Finally breaking his silence, Aschel spoke.

“The events of this visit have not yet been reported to the royal palace. Not even a single informant has been dispatched.”

“So, what of it?”

“The visit may be over, but the report on it can still be changed at any time.”

Although it might seem like an insignificant remark at first, its implication was far from trivial.

The report on the visit can still be changed.

This statement meant that the royal visit was not yet concluded, and it was a warning that worse things could happen to her.

The princess’s expression darkened instantly upon realizing this.

“Are you… threatening me now?”

Aschel shook his head.

“My plan has already been thwarted. I have no desire to devise a new one now. I merely wished to broaden your perspective.”

The princess frowned.

“Really? You’re one of my brother’s men. Why would you do a favor for someone he wants dead?”

“Who said that Prince Luinel is my master?”

-Crack!

Suddenly, a fierce thunderclap roared outside the window amidst the pouring rain.

“What…?”

Princess Violet tilted her head, wondering if she had misheard.

Aschel continued, unfazed.

“I serve no one. I am not even serving the prince. Our relationship is merely business-like, a collaboration for mutual goals.”

“Do you expect me to believe that now?”

“My words are not so frivolous as to weave lies into absurdities.”

“So, I can relay this directly to my brother? I’m truly curious to see if he shares the same view!”

Aschel shrugged, as if it didn’t matter to him.

The princess was so taken aback that she was at a loss for words, and a brief silence followed between them.

“Aschel… what exactly do you want?”

The princess’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke again, realizing that Aschel was even more enigmatic than she had thought, sparking both wariness and fear.

“Do you desire this country?”

“That’s not it.”

Aschel promptly dismissed the princess’s speculation.

“I dream of achieving the highest aspiration that a human being can pursue.”

“The highest dream?”

“Yes. To surpass the limits set upon humanity and reach the ultimate pinnacle of existence.”

The princess laughed, as if the idea was ludicrous.

“Ha, isn’t that a bit too fanciful? What, do you intend to become a god?”

“How you perceive it is up to you, Your Highness. But…”

Aschel moved closer to the princess until they were face to face.

“I would like you to join me on the path to my dream.”

Aschel smiled warmly, extending his hand towards her.

“Are you asking me… to become one of your people?”

It was a highly risky statement, implying the intention to turn a member of the noble royal family into one of his own.

Aschel continued as if there were no issue.

“Did I not say? I serve no one. So, shouldn’t you become one of my people, Your Highness?”

Princess Violet pondered.

How should she react to this bold and impure proposition?

Should she assert her royal authority and reprimand him?

She didn’t ponder for long.

All the clutter in her mind cleared, leaving only one thought dominant.

She must take his hand immediately,

Just as Princess Violet was about to accept Aschel’s hand,

“Keek!”

A strange laughter emanated from a corner of the room.

Both Aschel and the princess turned their heads immediately.

-Boom!

“…!”

Another thunderclap roared, illuminating the silhouette of a stranger perched on the windowsill.

Squatting there as if amused by the scene, they observed with keen interest.

How long had they been there?

Until the laughter was heard, not a hint of their presence was felt.

Cloaked in black with a masked face.

Nowhere in Vellias would someone be seen in such attire.

“Who are you?”

Aschel was the first to regain his composure and ask.

-Thud

Without a word, the mysterious figure tossed a pouch towards them.

The pouch rolled to a stop in front of Princess Violet.

Feeling a sinister aura, the princess stepped back, allowing Aschel to check the contents.

“Eeeek!”

Upon seeing what was inside, the princess screamed and fell backward.

Aschel’s face contorted with severity.

“Cecilia…!”

The princess couldn’t finish her sentence, her trembling hand pointing at the contents of the pouch.

What was thrown by the unknown entity was the grotesquely twisted,

“Cecilia!”

The head of Knight Cecilia.

The extent of torment required to disfigure a face so dreadfully was unimaginable, stirring a nauseous feeling within.

“…….”

The mysterious figure simply stood there, smiling wickedly as if pleased with their gift.

* * *

I unexpectedly heard a rather interesting story.

The highest dream that a human being can pursue?

Truly a splendid phrase.

Isn’t it a testament to the unwavering will to overcome one’s limits and reach the highest point one can ascend to?

But to have heard such a grand phrase from the mouth of a demon, how could I not laugh and dismiss it?

It’s ludicrous to the point of being laughable.

“……!”

Have they become mute from shock? Why is there no response?

Thinking it might open their mouths if I presented it as a gift, I threw it once, but how deeply moved they must have been to even sit down, truly a satisfying feeling.

“I’ll ask once more. Who are you, you wretch?”

How could my noble brother not recognize the face of his cute younger sibling?

Of course, even if asked, I have no intention of answering.

After all, why would I tell that brat what he wants to know?

I walked towards him without a word.

He must also know that the second princess and Cecilia plotted my sister’s assassination.

Thinking about it again makes my blood boil.

-Ziiiing

Sensing a threat, he infused his sword with mana.

A brilliant radiance of white light emitted, as if to say, do not come any closer.

“One last time! If you do not respond, I will……!”

-Clang!

Laughing at such nonsense is enough just once.

Listening to his voice any longer, I might lose even the little sanity I am clinging onto.

His sword clattered noisily as it rolled on the ground.

“A- a villain! There’s a villain in my room……!”

When people are terrified, their bodily sensations usually freeze, but their mouths often do not.

In an instant, I rushed over and covered the princess’s mouth, naturally locking eyes with her.

“……!”

Her face, consumed by fear, was quite a sight.

Was it a struggle to survive, as they say?

Well, it’s a very natural action for a human to take.

But the fact that the means to this end was our sister, I can’t possibly accept.

I would like to return to this wench the pain my sister experienced, just like the owner of that lying neck……

-Faint

Her body suddenly collapsed and fainted.

What a sight.

Anyway, since she’s not going to die today, it doesn’t matter if I just leave her be.

I stood up and turned my gaze back to him.

“…….”

He looked at me with a questioning gaze, but he couldn’t move his body.

To think that the guardian who will save the continent is trembling before a mere assassin.

Killing such a man now wouldn’t satisfy me.

I turned around.

It must be puzzling.

The current situation must be insanely incomprehensible.

But you should know this.

Today’s event is just the beginning for you.

The grand dream you plan and wish to achieve in the future,

Will be thoroughly shattered and destroyed by me.

I very much look forward to that moment arriving as quickly as possible.

(To be continued)