Chapter 18: The Identity of the Voice

Chapter 18: The Identity of the Voice

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door of the annex.

Ian lowered the bed sheet he was lifting.

‘Who is it?'

It was incomprehensible.

Clearly, no one had come to this place in the future he had been through. At least not until nightfall.

Then, an unexpected person opened the door and entered.

“Pardon my intrusion, I’m here to help.”

“!”

It was just a servant.

It was also apparently the servant who was standing next to the head butler in the audience room before.

So Ian frowned.

‘Strange. Seeing the Duke’s and the head butler’s nature, there’s no way they will allow a servant to go help me.’

That was true.

The servant looked at the dusty Ian and broke into a smug smile.

‘I knew it, you're struggling alone.’

In fact, the servant was none other than the assassin who came to kill Ian.

He was a ruthless assassin who had been hiding in the impregnable dukedom of Garcia early on.

Of course, it was not easy to infiltrate into the territory of Duke Garcia, although it took a long time for him.

And this time, after hearing the news of Ian's return, he was given a new mission.

[There are rumors going around that there is one more heir to the throne. Be sure to get rid of the royal bloodline that Duke Garcia brought in beforehand.]

It didn't matter if he was really a prince or not.

All that was important was that this little boy was the one brought by Duke Garcia.

‘This kid will surely cause a stir in the succession war.’

The king and other members of the royal family were unaware of the existence of this child yet.

It would never be known unless they continued to spy on Duke Garcia, who had lost his successor candidate.

So, before the king, who trusted Duke Garcia the most, noticed...

‘I have to get rid of him.’

There was hardly any difficulty.

This was the dukedom of Garcia, which had plenty of outstanding knights, but he had confirmed it for sure when he came here.

[Look at them. It’s the knights.]

[Come to think of it, they have training this evening, right? Has it started?]

[As expected, the knights are different.]

Soon the Duke had to go to the capital to prove Ian's legitimacy as a prince.

It would probably be a large-scale event that attracted the attention of the people. Therefore, the operational meeting of the knights for that had begun.

In fact, all the knights in the castle were summoned under the name of the knight commander.

Even Nathan couldn’t defy the commander's order. It was a mandatory summons for Galon as a squad leader as well.

That meant...

‘The prince is alone right now.'

The current prince did not even have a personal attendant.

Not to mention there was no cleaning oil there because of the head butler.

It was definitely dreary for the prince.

He would be cleaning the annex by himself.

‘This is my chance.’

In fact, in the past, Ian had cried and fell asleep on a dusty bed.

If so, there was only one thing for the assassin to do.

Pretending to help clean up, gaining the prince's favor, approaching him, extracting information, and killing him.

‘I was really lucky. If the head butler had not taken a break from being beaten by the Duke, this opportunity would not have fallen into my lap.’

The assassin rechecked the poison in his hand.

This colorless, odorless poison, which was used the most by the First Princess and her guardian, would provide him with the perfect alibi.

This was the best chance to kill someone.

No, he thought it was an opportunity.

“But I don’t need it? I already finished cleaning.”

“?!”

The assassin was shocked.

He thought the prince was bluffing, but it was really all done.

And the assassin was stunned by the sparkling appearance of the annex unlike before.

"What? I'm sure no one has come here."

Ian answered calmly.

"It finished quickly thanks to the knights."Diiscover new stories at nove/lbin(.)c/om

The assassin doubted his ears. What? Who's helping you with what?

“Are you saying that the knights helped with the cleaning? Those proud knights who can’t even do anything other than fighting?”

"Yes. I asked for it. They must have helped me as I am still a child. So, go back.”

When Ian was about to drive the servant out with a heartless voice, the assassin panicked and caught Ian up.

“No, the knights are asking me... for this, and so I’ll help you... finish it!”

Ian tried to shoo the servant away without listening.

It was only natural.

‘Is he the assassin who is going to kill me?”

Ian immediately recognized the assassin.

His facial features were quite unique, and that past experience remained a trauma, so it was a face that was hard to forget.

And Ian also knew the identity of the assassin.

‘He is Duke Lavaltor’s assassin.’

The second duke and a prominent nobleman that was honored by the kingdom together with the Garcia ducal family.

At the same time, he was the natural enemy of Duke Garcia.

‘In fact, the Duke was furious.’

The Duke saved his life, but the damage done to him was immeasurable, so Ian had the urge to kill him right away.

But.

‘I have no reason now.’

– I'll be right back.

– What's wrong with your expression, Galon? No one here can harm the prince. This is the unrivaled Garcia dukedom after all.

Ian also laughed.

– I'm fine. Hurry up and come back.

Now Ian was alone.

A shrewd little boy who couldn't be left alone without any soldiers or attendants.

This mission was almost a breeze.

‘Still, I don’t mind. I will secretly assassinate him so that my identity remains hidden.’

It was then.

[What? You are moving already?]

The assassin turned his head to the voice coming out from his hand.

It was a voice heard through a communication tool.

[Isn't it too early?]

"No, please leave it up to me."

Ian knew it was going to happen at midnight, but the assassin had moved up the time a little.

Seeing the attitude of the knights toward the prince, it was better to hurry.

‘I don't know if this simple job will help much, but I’ll do anything for him.’

He was going to deal with the prince at this time, while the training would be going for a long time.

Usually, they would not return here after training, but he was still anxious.

In the next moment.

The voice disappeared from the communication tool, and the assassin, avoiding people’s eyes, arrived at a remote place in the annex.

And as investigated in advance, he headed to the secret passage through the ceiling.

‘Just in case, I looked into it. That's a relief.'

Creak.

The ceiling was too old. There's a sound every time he moved.

But that wasn't a problem for the assassin.

Shhh.

When the assassin made up his mind, his movements became lighter.

If it's this much, it could pass as the sound of wind brushing past.

No one would have noticed that he was here.

After moving for a while.

‘Gotcha.'

The assassin confirmed Ian’s location from the ceiling.

Ian lay alone in bed while hugging a pillow in his arms. He slept very soundly and his chest movements were also regular.

He must be tired after coming all the way here.

The assassin smirked.

‘All right. I'll take care of him.’

The assassin fished a thread and a jar out of his arms. The thread quickly descended from the ceiling and stretched out toward Ian's mouth.

‘Now all I have to do is pour the poison into the thread and it’s done.'

The moment the assassin sprinkled the poison in his hand.

Whoosh!

“!!”

Something shot toward him who was hiding in the ceiling.

It was an attack aimed at his neck!

‘Damn it! The prince is sleeping, so who is it!’

However, the assassin had no time to panic.

Crunch!

The floor of the ceiling that was holding his weight was broken.

Bang!

"Yes, big catch!"

“!!?”

The assassin was startled by the familiar voice.

He had no choice but to do so.

"See? Am I right?"

It was none other than Nathan who knocked down the assassin.

Even there was Galon next to him!

The assassin couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

‘What the heck, why are they here?'

It was a summons from the Duke, for God’s sake!

It's so important that the knights would get a penalty if they ignore it!

Meanwhile, Nathan met Galon’s eyes and shrugged.

"I knew this would happen, so I kidnapped Galon."

"Tell that to His Excellency."

As they drew their swords, the assassin hastily retreated.

But the real problem wasn't the knights.

“Ughh!”

Something different from the knights' attack pierced the assassin's stomach.

And it was when he couldn’t even tell right away what it was.

“!”

Ian, with eyes wide awake, hit the assassin.

Tuk.

A crystal ball fell from his hand.

It was the communication tool.

Sure enough.

[What's this sound? Hey, did something happen? Have you taken care of that younger brother who came out of nowhere?]

A young man's voice was heard from the communication tool.

And at that voice, the two knights opened their eyes wide. Ian, too, couldn’t help but grin.

‘Ah. I thought you were Duke Lavaltor's assassin. Is he the real culprit?’

This man was not the duke.