The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

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Chapter 62: Alice Vert (2)

July 2nd, 988 of the Celestial Era.

I’ve lived my life without ever forgetting this day, from my previous life until now.

No, perhaps it’s more accurate to say I couldn’t forget it.

It was the day I last saw my sister Alice alive, with nothing but genuine affection towards me, without any malice or ulterior motives.

*Knock, knock*

With the intention of maintaining at least a minimum level of courtesy, I knocked on the door and waited for about two seconds.

When no response came, I gently pushed open the door to the principal’s office as if it were my own home.

*Creak*

“…!”

Was he scolding someone? Principal Kundel’s forehead was creased as if he had been swearing.

Standing in front of him, with eyes widened in surprise like a startled cat, was my sister Alice.

“Cyan?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, my sister called out my name.

That face, that smile.

It was exactly the same as it was decades ago.

Before I knew it, she had rushed over and started patting my head.

“What’s going on here? Did you expect me to come?”

“As if! I’m here for a private meeting with the principal.”

Of course, it was a lie.

I had just come early knowing that my sister would be visiting the principal’s office first.

Was it just my imagination, or could I feel a slight sense of disapproval in the principal’s gaze, as if questioning when I had requested the meeting?

“You’ve become a proper man since I last saw you! Soon you’ll be towering over me, huh?”

“If you step down from those high heels right now, it might be possible.”

“Your crooked personality hasn’t changed a bit!”

My sister said, pulling my cheeks firmly.

Two years had passed calmly, like flowing water.

Just as she had returned after two years of living elsewhere, I too found myself here after two years of academy life.

“Surprising, isn’t it? I thought for sure you’d be in Velias for the break. Why are you still at the academy?”

A serene summer day with the warm rays of the sun bathing the earth.

The students at the academy, welcoming the vacation, can be broadly divided into two groups.

Those who return to their hometowns for rest.

Those who stay at the academy to continue self-directed learning.

The latter group is more compelled than chosen, as students who haven’t met the academy’s required grades during the semester often stay back to attend remedial classes.

Of course, I’m not one to stick around for such tedious matters.

Currently in my third year at the academy, welcoming the vacation after completing the first semester, I’ve never once returned to my hometown, not even once in the past two years.

“Even if I go back, there’s no one to welcome me, right?”

My sister scratched her face at my answer, which seemed to be obvious.

With no one to welcome me back, it would be strange to make the long journey home.

This wasn’t any different from my past life.

Despite having twelve vacations over six years, I had never returned home once.

It wasn’t just me who didn’t go home; Cranz, that fellow, was the same.

In fact, Lady. Margaret, who adored him dearly, didn’t even ask him to come home for the vacation but instead urged him to travel across the empire and socialize with the nobles.

Well, it didn’t concern me in the slightest, so I had no need to bother with such things.

While this Royal Academy may be different in many ways, it still caters well to the students’ convenience, allowing dormitory living even during vacations.

So, I’ve been continuing the dormitory life, not much different from my past life, for the third year now.

“Did you know your sister was coming?”

“The commotion in the streets made it quite obvious. It was like a frenzy when the Child of God returned.”

I casually brushed off the slightly skeptical question from the headmaster.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to disrupt the heartwarming reunion of siblings. Just leave what you brought on the desk there and go out with your sister.”

My sister’s gaze naturally fell on the bundle of papers in my hand.

Without hesitation, I approached the headmaster’s desk and placed it there.

“Even though you’re a graduate, there’s no one to stop you from staying, Alice. Stay as long as you want and return whenever you feel like it. We can arrange dormitory accommodations if you wish.”

“Oh, thank you, Headmaster.”

It seemed like the atmosphere had abruptly ended the conversation, but there seemed to be no need to worry about it.

As I left towards the door, I subtly took hold of my sister’s hand.

“Let’s go, sis.”

Perhaps she was surprised by the unexpected physical contact, as my sister’s face flushed red.

* * *

The current situation felt somewhat unsettling to Alice.

There was a mix of surprise at her younger brother, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, boldly taking her hand, but more notably, there was a distinct difference in the aura emanating from Cyan compared to before.

Contrary to his youthful face, there was now a more mature aspect to him.

Even a subtle hint of mana energy seemed to waft from him.

‘Has he really grown this much in just three years?’

One year on the front lines, followed by two years at the academy.

While three years wasn’t a short time, she couldn’t imagine herself growing to this extent despite being hailed as a genius.

She couldn’t help but sense an inexplicable sense of caution in his firm gaze.

‘Is he still harboring the desire to uphold the family legacy?’

Three years ago, when she returned to the mansion, she couldn’t forget the sight of his determination to uphold the family’s legacy.

Contrary to what she initially thought was just a child’s futile fantasy, his determination was genuine and intense.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t break his strong will, experiencing firsthand the depth of his resolve.

However, Alice secretly hoped for a change of heart in Cyan.

After all, as fickle as a feather, a person’s heart can change at any moment.

She didn’t particularly want to urge him onto the challenging path of being a guardian of the continent.

Instead, if he had something else he wanted to pursue, she wanted to support that wholeheartedly.

It was a natural thing for an older sister to do for her younger brother.

There was no need for hesitation.

If she was curious, she could simply ask.

With a bright smile, just as she was about to open his mouth to ask Cyan, an unexpected probing question stopped her in her tracks.

“Do you really have to join the Knights of Light?”

“Hmm?”

Her mouth was left agape at the unexpected question, unable to form a response.

Cyan simply waited for her answer with an expressionless face.

* * *

Her reaction was unexpectedly intriguing.

It was the first time he had seen her so flustered that she couldn’t speak.

However, it didn’t take long for an answer to emerge.

“Why are you asking such a question?”

When someone questions another’s decision, the reason is simple: they don’t want it to happen.

I, too, asked that question because I didn’t want my sister to join the Knights of Light.

“I’m jealous.”

But my words gave a different impression than what I truly felt.

“Huh?”

“Well, isn’t the Knights of Light the place where only the Empire’s top knights gather? It’s the prestigious order that everyone who wields a sword dreams of joining. Who wouldn’t envy it?”

My sister burst into laughter all of a sudden.

“Hahaha! What are you saying! Isn’t it enough that your little brother wishes the best for his sister?”

If her joining the Knights of Light seemed somewhat involuntary, it was a big mistake.

Unlike me, my sister was inherently destined in life.

She was born to use her natural talents for the family’s sake, and she didn’t deny it; she even desired it.

The Knights of Light were undoubtedly the highest order of knights on the continent, and it was the highest place she could go.

The feelings of serving the family or protecting the family were essentially secondary.

She had always dreamed of serving in the Knights of Light.

But I know better.

In that place, my sister will meet her death.

Alice Vert, who entered the Knights of Light with much fanfare, meets a tragic end before fully blossoming.

This is the undeniable reality of our past lives.

She willingly heads into the jaws of death, but will I stand by and watch?

“Seems like your resolve to uphold the family’s honor hasn’t changed, huh? Can’t stop it at this point. You also dream of becoming a Knight of Light, don’t you?”

As I’ve said before, maintaining the family’s honor is no longer my concern.

The Knights of Light?

Even if they beckon me, I won’t go.

But for her, it was a lifelong dream, a wish, a duty.

I have no intention of persuading her not to go with feeble words.

I’ll simply correct her path.

If pests come to devour the flower just before it blooms, I’ll catch them all and burn them.

“For the sake of such an amazing little brother, I have to pave the way well.”

But she, oblivious to all this, will likely find my words merely endearing.

Now, I was on the verge of being as tall as her, yet she still treated me like a puppy, petting my head.

“Are you getting along well with Cranz?”

A momentary flicker passed through her eyes when she mentioned Cranz.

Though it might seem like an ordinary question at first glance, it was anything but.

She must have had a specific desire when asking.

Probably hoping he’s doing well.

I’ve only seen my sister furious once in my entire life.

It was around the age of 8, before she entered the academy.

Back then, as usual, I was getting a harsh beating from Cranz under the pretext of swordsmanship training.

There was no one to help, and in the distance, Emily was stamping her feet alone, a pitiful sight.

It was a familiar reality to me from my past life.

My sister witnessed that scene.

When she returned home for the holidays, she stumbled upon an unexpected scene of violence.

At first, she thought it was just a squabble between young siblings.

But she wasn’t a fool.

The sight of Cranz’s face, unblemished and pristine, and my face on the brink of becoming a bloody mess.

And when she saw the bystanders, seemingly indifferent as if it were a familiar occurrence, my sister quickly grasped the situation.

It was truly a first.

Her beautiful face contorted in anger, petals as if in bloom, and her calm mana surged like a storm.

At that moment, I might have felt more fear than when facing a demon king.

I can guarantee that if Cranz wasn’t my brother, he would have been torn apart right there.

No one could handle my sister’s rage.

Her fury was unmatched, questioning how anyone could stand by and watch this happen, whether this was the true face of the Vert family, protectors of the continent.

How she vented her anger on the people.

It’s a memory that still vividly stands out.

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly pleased at that time.

Apart from my sister standing up for me, it pained me deeply to see her, so pure and innocent, so angry and sad.

I’d rather suffer more myself than see my sister like that again; witnessing her in such a state was worse than death.

That feeling hasn’t changed to this day.

For the past three years, I haven’t crossed paths with Cranz once.

Now, such an event is unlikely to occur again, but

I didn’t even want to imagine how my sister would react if she found out that Cranz and Lady Margaret had hired knights before my enrollment in the academy to assassinate me.

However,

“I’ve been living almost like an outsider.”

“Why?”

“No matter how much we’re siblings, I can’t just laugh and joke around with someone who tried to kill me.”

In an instant, my sister’s innocent pupils trembled greatly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Two years ago, on the day I left for the academy, Cranz and Lady Margaret instructed knights within our territory to assassinate me.”

The air around us suddenly grew cold.

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