The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Having traveled for a full day from the territory of Quzel to Sevellenus, Kundel arrived.

As the head of the Royal Academy and one of the few 9th-grade Grand Magicians on the continent, he was received with the utmost hospitality even by the royal family.

Kundel’s purpose for the visit was undoubtedly to meet with the Emperor, but he had been asked to wait a little longer due to the Emperor’s ongoing health issues, leaving him to waste time endlessly within the palace.

“Is the meeting with His Majesty still uncertain?”

“It seemed he was improving, but another seizure has occurred. I apologize, but a meeting with His Majesty may not be feasible for a while…”

As the official delivered the disappointing news, Kundel’s face was filled with worry.

“What about Prince Louisnel?”

“He has not gone out, so he must be in his chambers…”

“In that case, I will go to see the prince.”

Kundel rose without hesitation.

“But, Prince Louisnel has requested not to see anyone until he feels better…”

“Then inform him that I will wait at the door until he is ready to meet.”

With a bold attitude of disregarding the prince’s feelings, the official had no choice but to comply.

As Kundel was about to leave the reception room, a servant announced.

“Princess Violet has arrived.”

Neither the Emperor nor the Prince, but a third party had come to seek him out.

Kundel, caught off guard, raised an eyebrow as he responded.

“Princess Violet has come?”

At that moment, the door to the reception room opened, revealing the Imperial Second Princess who had been waiting outside.

“It’s been a long time, Chancellor. No, I mean, Grandfather…”

Though they were related by blood, the title of ‘grandfather’ coming from her lips felt unfamiliar to Kundel.

“Forgive me for not coming immediately upon arriving at the palace. Have you been well?”

“Oh, it’s been a while, Princess Violet…”

Despite her status as a granddaughter, she was still a legitimate princess.

Since they were in the palace, Kundel did not hesitate to show respect.

“I wanted to have a chat with Grandfather, so would you please excuse us?”

“Yes, of course…”

As the princess gestured, everyone except the two of them left the room.

Left alone unexpectedly, Kundel looked at the Second Princess with suspicion.

“What’s on your mind, Violet?”

Kundel went straight to the point without hesitation.

“Please, have a seat. I won’t take up too much of your busy time, Grandfather.”

With an extroverted demeanor not seen at the academy, Kundel reluctantly took a seat, unsure of what to expect.

“I’m truly grateful for the additional knights you sent to accompany me on this diplomatic journey. Thanks to them, I returned safely without any incidents.”

Kundel responded with silence.

Having received reports from the dispatched knights about the diplomatic journey, Kundel already knew what had transpired.

The princess’s claim of a safe return was an obvious lie.

“I see you’re on guard.”

Whether she noticed or not, the princess spoke with a bitter smile.

“Why do you think that?”

“Your gaze, Grandfather. It’s so different from before. It’s a pity. You should be wary, but I’m not the one you should be cautious of…”

At that moment, Kundel’s gaze turned cold.

Unfazed, the princess continued.

“I already knew that the reason for sending the knights included my brother.”

“…!”

“I also know that there was turmoil there, and an attempt to kill me. Grandfather, you sent the knights to prevent that, didn’t you?”

Kundel controlled his emotions once again and asked, “How long have you known?”

“I’ve known about my brother’s feelings towards me for a long time. So, I’ve also prepared my own countermeasures. It didn’t seem to go entirely smoothly, but…”

Kundel was well aware of what those countermeasures meant.

“So, I’ll be straightforward.”

“What do you mean?”

“Make me the Emperor. Grandfather.”

Kundel neither jumped up in surprise nor shook his head in disbelief.

His face was filled only with questions about why the word ‘Emperor’ came out of her mouth.

“Despite His Majesty’s deteriorating health, he’s still trying to make big brother his successor. If things continue like this, the throne will go to him.”

As long as there was no rebellion from the current Empress’s side, everything would go smoothly.

“But I don’t think he’ll make a true Emperor. You should know that too, Grandfather.”

“What evidence do you have for saying that?”

“Let me ask you this then. When my brother becomes Emperor, do you think me and my other siblings will survive?”

“….”

Kundel couldn’t bring himself to answer.

“A future under an Emperor without harmony and inclusiveness will only lead to destruction. The moment my brother ascends the throne, everyone will be killed. Do you truly desire such an Emperor, Grandfather?”

He did not.

And the same went for the Emperor himself.

That’s why he was here now.

“But I am different. I am truly ready to embrace everyone. The righteous Emperor that you desire… I can be that.”

Kundel paused for a moment, pondering.

Was the woman he was looking at now really the Violet Princess he knew?

Her appearance was so different from what he had seen at the academy over the past six years.

Whether she had changed, or whether her true nature, hidden until now, was finally revealed, he couldn’t tell.

Thus, Kundel could only be caught in doubt and confusion.

“Although not often, I have felt something while watching you over the years.”

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“You never have the inclination to intervene wherever you go. Even if a fight breaks out, you simply enjoy watching, without directly participating.”

Acknowledging that, the princess nodded.

“What happened to change your mind?”

At this, the Violet Princess chuckled softly.

“It’s nothing much. I simply saw the light.”

“The light?”

“Yes. The bright light that will rise to the highest place for the Empire, and beyond, for the continent and humanity…”

Kundel furrowed his brow, unable to understand.

Meanwhile, the princess maintained a mysterious smile that revealed nothing.

* * *

The news spread throughout the academy that the newly appointed instructor Boris had applied for leave due to personal reasons, and Chancellor Kundel, who rarely left the academy, had also left for the palace without explaining the reason.

As students gradually returned to normalcy with the completion of their return, another unexpected event occurred, causing the atmosphere within the school to become unsettled once again.

Sitting and reading a book, Arin’s gaze shifted to a vacant seat.

It was the seat where Cyan used to sit.

“Ugh…”

With a sigh she herself didn’t understand, she closed the book.

Ten days had passed.

While Cyan had taken a leave of absence, the uncertainty of when he would return meant that Arin might not see him for the entire semester.

Although she focused on her studies with the thought of doing her own tasks well, the empty seat left by Cyan bothered Arin greatly.

-Drrrrrrrrrrrrrr

In the midst of this, the back door of the classroom opened.

Arin didn’t lift her gaze, assuming another student had entered.

But to her surprise, a student sat directly in Cyan’s empty seat, casually starting to prepare for class.

“C-Cyan?!”

Startled, Arin stood up without realizing it and approached her.

“W-What, Cyan? What happened?”

“I came to attend class.”

“Oh, no, I mean… Did you come back?”

“Yes.”
[PR/N: No he didn’t he’s still away, dumb princess]
Her casual response left Arin speechless.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“It’s personal.”

His usual dry response left Arin at a loss for words.

Even after years, Cyan’s steadfast demeanor remained unchanged.

Arin even began to blame herself for expecting anything different.

Once the class ended, Arin quickly gathered her belongings and glanced at Cyan’s seat again.

“Huh?”

All she saw was an empty seat.

Perplexed, Arin looked around.

“Why are you like this, Arin?”

“R-Ressimus! Did you see Cyan?”

“Huh? He was here until a little while ago.”

Cyan had already left the classroom at lightning speed.

“Then, okay.”

Now, even thinking was futile.

Arin, without any further disturbance, headed to the Royal Hall with Ressimus.

As they exited the main building, a group of unfamiliar faces appeared before her, bowing politely.

“I greet Her Highness Princess Arin Sevellerus.”

Though their faces were unfamiliar, Arin instinctively knew they were from the palace.

“W-What’s going on?”

“We bring message from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Ah, from His Majesty?”

Arin’s bewildered eyes widened.

Though she had occasionally received letters before, they were mostly routine inquiries about her academy life.

However, never before had a messenger come directly like this.

It was clear that there was some important news.

After returning to the Royal Hall with the messengers, Arin carefully extracted the message.

At first, it contained greetings and concerns about her academy life.

Knowing that the Emperor’s health was not good, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

However, as she read through the message, just as she was reading it slowly to keep her emotions in check, she suddenly stood up at the last page.

“W-What is this?!”

Her face turned red with anger.

Her hands holding the message shook like bamboo in the wind, and eventually, with unbelieving eyes, she looked at the messengers and shouted,

“C-Cyan and… an engagement?!”