The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

In the faint, distant dawn.

A woman’s dark blue hair, blending with the dim dawn light, gently swayed in the wind.

“Are you leaving?”

At the familiar voice coming from behind, the woman turned her head.

A fist-sized spirit was sparkling with transparent light.

“You’re not here to see me off, are you?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I just happened to come out to enjoy the morning air and happened to stumble upon you.”

She knew it wasn’t sincere, the woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“It’s a pity, but I just left quietly, leaving only a letter. I couldn’t afford to cause any more trouble.”

“Trouble… I don’t think those kids would see it that way, would they? Is she feeling ashamed in some strange place contrary to what she has shown so far?”

“Do you think so?”

As if trying not to reveal the emotions buried inside, she forced a smile.

“Still, you’ve been taking care of a stranger for two years. I’ll leave my memories here as unforgettable treasures.”

“There might not be many memories to call good. If there are any good memories to take away, it’s fortunate.”

The spirit’s words seemed to contain an inexplicable melancholy.

“Are you going back to your hometown?”

“Well, sort of, but before I go, there’s a place I need to visit. Before I can leave, I have to meet the one who guided me here.”

“I see. Alright then. Take care on your way back.”

“Yes! Marian, stay healthy for a long, long time!”

At the wish for a long life, the spirit chuckled in disbelief.

Being told to live long as a creature with lifespans surpassing that of humans by dozens of times, it felt strangely ambiguous about how to react.

With her final farewell, the woman turned her body and soon disappeared beyond the rising horizon.

The lonely spirit gazed intently at the point where she had departed for a while.

“It’s truly regrettable. Gifted with innate talent, yet departing prematurely without fully realizing it…”

With a lingering sense of regret, the spirit’s footsteps did not falter easily.

“In the end, perhaps it’s better to die early than to live a painful and meaningless life. With only a little time left, try to live well once, Alice Vert…”

But all the spirit could offer was meaningless sympathy.

Turning away with those words, the spirit returned to the lightless forest.

All that remained in the place where the spirit lingered was a faint sense of divine energy.

* * *

“I’ll need to verify your identity.”

In front of the imposing castle gates, a long line was forming.

When asked for identification for entry procedures, the woman pulled out a document from her pocket and presented it.

“…?”

A golden document with three intersecting swords, each different from the other.

This symbolized the Vert Ducal Family, one of the prominent families of the Ushif Empire.

In other words, possessing this proved one’s affiliation with the Vert Ducal Family.

The guards widened their eyes in surprise as they glanced at the woman who handed over the document.

“Ah…”

Hair the color of a clean blue sea.

Pure silver irises without a hint of malice.

Even a captivating figure that stimulates human primal desires.

Seeing this, if there was someone who possessed this document, there was only one person in the world.

“Ah, Miss Alice Vert?”

Commonly known as the Child of the Gods.

It was Alice Vert, the second daughter of the Vert Ducal Family and a graduate of the Royal Academy.

“After graduating, you still have access rights, right?”

Regardless of age or gender, there was no one who wouldn’t permit entry after seeing that smile.

Since there were no particular issues, she completed the simple entry procedures and entered the city right away.

It had been a visit after a whopping three years since graduation.

With each step she took, all eyes turned to her.

No one could resist the charming appearance reminiscent of a goddess, and no one could resist the strong scent of magic emanating from her body without breaking a sweat.

However, whether she knew it or not, Alice proceeded with a calm expression along the golden road towards the academy.

Following the path her body remembered, she arrived first at the top floor of the academy’s main building, the principal’s office.

The principal, who was working on some documents, looked up at her with an indifferent gaze.

“Just three years indeed.”

Like welcoming an expected guest, Principal Kündel stood up from his seat to greet her.

“I was worried you might have been chased away, but I’m glad to see you.”

The girl who was once hailed as the Child of the Gods at 16, now, three years later, had grown into a woman so charming that calling her simply a goddess would not be an exaggeration.

Alice sat down modestly with a gentle smile.

“So, how was your impression of exploring the continent for three years?”

“To be honest, there wasn’t much exploration of the continent. I stayed in ‘Pruina’ for two years straight.”

“The territory of the White Elves?”

The principal raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“It wouldn’t have been a land where humans would be welcome, right?”

“I thought it was the place where I could best contemplate the meaning of harmony that you mentioned, Principal. In a community full of distrust and rejection, how much light can my existence really shine? It wasn’t easy. It took a whole year for them to truly accept us.”

The white land of Pruina in the northern part of the continent.

The residents there, the White Elves, had lived in isolation from the outside world for centuries and were a species that vehemently rejected human contact.

Considering that one could easily become an outcast as soon as they set foot there, the fact that she resided there for two years and became so integrated as if she were a local, the principal thought to himself, could only be possible because she was truly her.

“Do you remember, Principal, three years ago when I was about to graduate, you gave me some advice? Do you happen to recall?”

There was no way he could forget.

Initially, he didn’t give advice to just anyone.

‘Wherever you end up, the organization and groups you belong to will inevitably prosper.’

‘So, you should constantly think and ponder about where you truly belong.’

As she was hailed as the Child of the Gods and possessed divine talent, the principal had no doubt that wherever she ended up after graduation would become a central force on the continent.

So, he made a suggestion to her.

To take some time to organize her thoughts through a journey.

There was no special favoritism involved.

He simply guided his student towards a good life as an educator before becoming a principal.

Alice readily accepted the principal’s suggestion and, after spending three years, reappeared before him.

There was a clearer resolve shining in her eyes than before.

“Judging by those eyes, your determination seems solid.”

“Yes. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the answer had been decided from the beginning.”

Alice’s words were accompanied by a somewhat bittersweet emotion.

The principal didn’t rush her and patiently waited for her to speak first.

“I’m going to join the Order of the Knights of Light.”

“…!”

The principal’s eyes furrowed slightly this time.

The Order of the Knights of Light.

According to the doctrine that worships the god of light, Lumendel, it was a high-ranking order of knights in the empire that pursued peace on the continent.

Most of its members were elite knights who had reached the highest level as individuals, and under the command of Duke Vert, the continent’s protector, they carried out crucial missions to defend the continent from demonic monsters.

In truth, it wasn’t a big surprise.

Most people who knew Alice expected her to join the Order of the Knights of Light after graduation.

At the age of 16, she had reached the 6th rank, a remarkable achievement.

With a water attribute of 88%, her exceptional attribute value.

Even the skilled swordsmanship instructors at the academy were easily defeated by her outstanding swordsmanship.

Moreover, since her father was leading them, it was the optimal group where she could be most needed and yet demonstrate her abilities.

The principal never truly wondered why Alice made such a choice.

“So, you intend to continue your family’s legacy.”

Continuing the lineage of the family by following her father, Duke Vert, to defend the continent.

However, the principal didn’t want her to join the Order of the Knights of Light.

Explaining the reason was awkward.

Was it affection for a cherished student?

Or the futile intuition of an old man?

Somehow, the principal couldn’t shake the feeling that if she joined the Order of the Knights of Light, it wouldn’t end well.

So, he suggested the journey, hoping that her heart might change.

“In the end, it’s what my heart tells me. Someone has to shoulder this responsibility. Since I can do it, and I can bear it, I should do it. At least, it’s to ensure that the younger siblings here can enjoy a comfortable life…”

At the mention of siblings, Principal Kundel’s expression subtly changed.

“You said siblings?”

“Yes, that’s right! You know about Cranz and Cyan, don’t you? Are they doing well without causing any trouble?”

The principal couldn’t easily give an answer.

“Principal?”

“What are your thoughts on your siblings?”

He threw the question back instead.

Alice answered hesitantly.

“W-well, Cranz has a bit of a mischievous side, but with the right guidance, he’ll surely grow into a good man…”

She didn’t question specifically about Cranz.

“I’m not sure about Cyan yet, but he seems to have some inexplicable talent. So, I think he’s a child who has a lot to learn! It’s just that he’s a bit timid as a weakness… Why are you like that, Principal?”

The principal’s face was now noticeably stiff compared to before.

Upon Alice’s surprised expression, he maintained silence for almost 10 seconds before finally speaking up.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, Alice…”

“Yes?”

“Do you think you know everything about your siblings?”

Caught off guard by the abrupt change in atmosphere, Alice couldn’t hide her confusion.

“W-what do you mean?”

“Three years ago, I might have said something like this to you. I mentioned that there was one student whom I couldn’t figure out among those who passed through my hands…”

Of course, that one wasn’t Alice.

“But now, it’s not just one, but two. Interestingly, both are individuals related to you.”

“W-what are you talking about…?”

*Knock, knock*

Suddenly, the sound of knocking on the door interrupted them.

Looking towards the door, the principal let out a small sigh before speaking.

“That one person has just arrived.”

“…?”

“Come in.”

*Creak*

As the door opened, Alice’s gaze naturally shifted in that direction.

Thick black hair reminiscent of the twilight sky and sharp eyes.

Similar in height to her, but slightly shorter, around 160 centimeters.

However, his face had a distinctly youthful vibe.

Though his appearance had changed somewhat, Alice immediately recognized who he was.

“Cyan?”

He was Cyan Vert, the youngest of the Vert family and Alice’s brother.

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