The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“Are you feeling alright?”

“I slept so well for the first time in ages that I feel like I could fly! With this condition, I might even be able to beat Cyan?”

Set’s reckless statement, which seemed to dispel all worries, was met with a stern response from Luna.

“It’s a joke, a joke! Can’t I even make a joke……”

Set waved his hands, urging not to take him too seriously.

Braving through the rough sandstorm, Luna and Set were late on their return journey.

What was supposed to be a group of three had dwindled down to two, casting a not-so-joyful shadow over their situation.

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“Do I even have the right to ask? The incident at your academy wasn’t something you wished for, and here I am, having slept through the whole ordeal like it was my lucky day, to be honest, I’m quite ashamed. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have been able to return as comfortably as we did.”

Set awkwardly licked his lips, expressing his sincere feelings.

“From what I see, Cyan must have some unknown backing, right? The power he possesses also seems to surpass what we had imagined?”

“That seems to be the case……”

The problem was that it wasn’t just a step beyond their expectations but much further.

“Then that settles it, why delve further? It’s normal for a man to have one or two secrets his partner doesn’t know about. As a rival, I think it’s respectful to acknowledge that!”

Perhaps feeling a sense of affinity, Luna looked at Set with a slightly more respectful gaze than usual.

“As expected of my rival! You need to be at that level for me to feel the urge to challenge you! Great! Once we return to the academy, I will embark on a training regime twice, no, three times as harsh as before! You’ll help me, won’t you, junior?”

“Do it on your own.”

A dismissive response instantly nullified the ambitious proposition.

Luna breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was fortunate that he was a simple man, yet the simplicity itself seemed to be the problem at times.

Two days had passed since their departure, and it was in the early dawn, similar to when they had left, that they finally arrived in Luwen.

“Huh?”

Set, looking towards the city gates, couldn’t believe his eyes.

The number of knights guarding the gate had seemingly doubled since last time.

“What’s with all the knights? Sneaking in is going to be impossible now, isn’t it?”

“Then let’s just go in.”

As if it was no big deal, Luna strode confidently towards the city gate.

Set watched her, utterly bemused.

“Identify yourselves… Huh?”

The knights, who had begun to demand identification in a stern voice, paused, their faces showing recognition of the not-so-strange faces before them.

“Luna Rainriver?”

Ignoring her, the sheer presence of Set, whose size made identification redundant, left the knights wide-eyed.

“Why are Academy students here at this hour…?”

“We’ve just returned from a field trip.”

“A field trip, you say? We haven’t heard anything about it…”

“That’s because it was an unauthorized activity. We’re expecting to be disciplined as soon as we get back.”

A moment of silent tension passed around the gate.

“Well, alright then. You may enter.”

“Thank you. No need for any grand welcomes; we’re quite exhausted.”

Luna gestured impatiently to Set, signaling him to hurry up.

Set thought to himself, despite being used to getting away with brazen attitudes everywhere he went, he doubted it would work on this junior.

“But it seems there are more guards than usual. Is there a reason?”

“Oh, you’ll probably hear about it once you’re back, but there was a murder within the Academy recently.”

“A murder?”

Both their eyes lit up with curiosity.

“Yes. Moreover, there’s been a dispatch stating that dignitaries from the Empire will be visiting soon…”

“They’re here!”

Just then, a knight came running from the direction of the main road, shouting urgently to the guards.

“The imperial family has just passed through the western city gate!”

* * *

Graduates usually visit the academy for one of two reasons.

Either to reminisce and take a break,

Or to encourage siblings, acquaintances, or other students currently enrolled in the academy.

Given the academy’s remote location, even these occasions are rare.

Not to mention, it was unprecedented in the academy’s history for not just any nobles, but three members of the royal family to visit at once.

“Breathing in the academy’s fresh air after so long feels great. You all agree, right?”

“Yes. It’s like a forgotten nostalgia…”

Unlike Nerobian, who smiled awkwardly as if to match her, Fabian spoke with a displeased expression.

“Arin should be in the Royal Wing. Let’s go quickly.”

His tone was full of eagerness to finish the business and return.

“Why rush? Since we’re out like this, we might as well enjoy ourselves slowly…”

Unlike Violet, who looked around the streets of Luwen in awe, Fabian and Nerobian’s faces were on the verge of crumpling.

They couldn’t understand why they were brought to such a place as if to be tortured.

Then, a familiar face appeared before them.

The youngest, Arin, had rushed over upon hearing of the visit from the royal family.

“Arin Severus, princess of the Ushif Empire. Greetings to my sister and brothers!”

Arin immediately greeted her siblings.

“It’s great to see you, Arin! It’s been so long. I was worried, but I’m glad to see you healthy.”

Violet greeted her warmly with a bright smile.

Fabian and Nerobian, though reluctantly, greeted her with a bitter smile.

“What brings you all the way to this distant academy…?”

“I thought you might have been shocked by the unfortunate incident that occurred. So, we came to comfort Arin together!”

“Me, really?”

It was unbelievable for Arin.

Her gaze naturally shifted to Fabian and Nerobian, and the moment she saw their uncomfortable, almost anxious reactions, she realized Violet’s words weren’t sincere.

“We can’t keep standing here, shall we move somewhere else?”

“Then, I will guide you to my room…”

The room in the Royal Wing, familiar to the siblings.

Seeing the neatly organized textbooks, swords, and books borrowed for academic enhancement, Violet did not hold back her praise.

“The room of an honor student really is different. I feel like I should learn from you.”

“Compared to Violet, I think it’s nothing.”

Arin responded with humility.

Seeing the sister she hadn’t seen for so long having grown so much, Violet couldn’t help but feel proud as an older sister.

For Arin, the situation was utterly bewildering.

The Princess Violet she knew was not like this.

She, who had no interest in her siblings or even in governing the nation, was now awkwardly showering her with praise.

It might just be her imagination, but she couldn’t shake off the thought that this visit wasn’t made with a friendly intention.

“Speaking of which, Arin’s fiancé lives in this dormitory too, right? Was his name Cyan Vert?”

The moment Cyan was mentioned, a cold unease swept through her.

“Yes, that is correct, but…”

“I’ve come all this way; I’d like to see him. I heard that Arin has been connected with him even before enrolling here. What do you think of him? Does he seem like a good man?”

“That, well…”

Arin found it difficult to answer.

Not because she had nothing to say, but because she was pondering whether it was okay to say anything at all.

“If you wish to meet him, we can go fetch him.”

Fabian, who had been standing there with an uncomfortable expression, volunteered to bring him.

“It’s not polite to summon someone without a prior appointment, especially since he is the youngest son of the Duke of Vert, before being Arin’s fiancé. It would be proper for us to go, wouldn’t it?”

Violet, seemingly intent on visiting Cyan’s room, stood up from her seat.

“Ah, Cyan might not be in his room now! On weekends, rather than staying in his room, he tends to train with his knight…”

“Is that so? Then we should wait in his room. We’re not in a hurry, so let’s take our time.”

Waiting wasn’t the issue; the problem was going to Cyan’s room.

If it were just him, it might have been fine, but there was another presence in her room that absolutely must not be discovered.

Arin knew she absolutely couldn’t bring them to Cyan’s room.

“Cyan doesn’t really like it when people visit his room unannounced; he might be displeased if we go!”

Violet seemed taken aback by Arin’s reaction, her eyebrows twitching slightly.

“Perhaps I should go and talk to him…”

“Arin.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve grown a lot? To even talk back to me…”

Violet’s face, previously filled with smiles, suddenly froze over as cold as ice.

However, as if that had never happened, she revealed her original smile again, and Arin, having witnessed this, was overtaken by a fear she had long forgotten, unable to speak any further.

“…!”

Fabian and Nerobian, witnessing the scene, silently broke out in cold sweat.

In a moment filled with awkward silence in the room,

“Cyan Vert has arrived…….”

The unexpected news of someone’s visit was conveyed.

“Cy- Cyan is here?”

As Arin’s lips parted again from their frozen state, Violet’s expression subtly changed.

Soon enough, Cyan appeared before them.

“Cyan Vert, the youngest of the Duke Vert family. I greet the noble princess and princes of the empire.”

Facing the royal family, Cyan greeted them without a hint of nervousness, his gaze indifferent.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Cyan Vert. No, Lord Cyan…….”

Unlike the princes who greeted him awkwardly, thankful for at least some acquaintance, Princess Violet’s face remained stern, unrelenting.

“Ah, welcome, Lord Cyan! I was planning to visit you myself, but I’m really grateful you came first. Don’t just stand there, please take a seat!”

Quickly overcoming the awkwardness as she owned the room, she hurriedly welcomed him, and Cyan naturally sat next to Arin.

Still dazed, Arin cautiously glanced at Cyan.

His indifferent and nonchalant demeanor was no different from usual.

Perhaps it was that familiar sight that somewhat reassured her?

Arin felt the anxiety that had been rising within her slowly subside.

“I hope we’re not interrupting your weekend schedule.”

“It’s alright.”

“What were you doing?”

“I was practicing swordsmanship with my guardian knight.”

“Oh my? Then Arin’s guess was spot on? Knowing what each other would be doing beforehand, I’m quite envious.”

Despite the cringe worthy praise, Cyan maintained his usual impassive expression.

“As you know, Lord Cyan, the shock Arin received from the unfortunate incident before is indescribable. It would be great if Lord Cyan could comfort her. That was also our purpose for coming today.”

Mentioning the unfortunate incident, the princes’ brows furrowed deeply.

Arin, too, was not at ease.

While it was something a sister could say to her younger sister’s fiancé, knowing the underlying implications made the air in the room heavy.

“Comfort, you say?”

With that, Cyan lifted one corner of his mouth in a strange smile.

As if her words were utterly trivial.

Seeing his smile, Violet felt an extremely unpleasant sensation, as if her blood was boiling backwards.

With an inexplicable surge of intense unease,

“Have you come to give poison and then offer the cure?”

Everyone’s face but Cyan’s turned pale.

(To be continued)