I walked for a while, reminiscing on the time I spent in the rift. I don't know how long I spent in there, but it felt like it had taken years of my life.
I was in no rush, so I continued to walk, eventually reaching an old road.
'Now all I have to do is wait.'
The Thorne Royal Army will have already sent its people to patrol the are considering a prince had 'died' here, and just in case the rift was breached and the creatures flooded out.
While I waited, I started thinking about my future.
'If I'm right, it should be about time for the academy to reopen, and the entrance exam should start soon.'
I had to make my way to the academy as soon as possible, as that's where a large chunk of the novel took place, and more importantly, where the main cast would all gather and become good friends, making names for themselves and eventually coming to be known as humanity's saviors.
'I need to know whether he has already regressed or not at all.'
It was extremely important for my plans if the protagonist had regressed. If he hadn't, it would mean a lot wouldn't go the way I want it to.
'I can claim to be a regressor as well if he has regressed.'
That was my main way of getting the protagonist to trust me. I would tell him a bit about what I read in the novel, making him believe I was also a regressor.
'Or I could claim to be able to see the future.'
Either way, I needed him to follow the path I set for him, and I needed him to trust me.
"Identify yourself! This is a restricted area!"
A voice cut into my thoughts. I turned toward it and saw a uniform I recognized.
'The Army.'
The uniform was navy blue with a distinct logo etched on the left shoulder and a badge indicating their rank.
The soldier approached me, his hand on his sword at his side.
'Mid or maybe peak D-rank.' I guessed his rank.
'A prince died, and they only sent these? What a fucking joke.' I laughed inwardly at the thought.
"You don't recognise your prince?" I spoke in a cold tone.
The soldier froze and took a long look at me, analyzing me.
His eyes widened. "Impossible."
"M-my apologies, your highness." He bowed down at a perfect 90-degree angle. "Y-you were reported as dead."
"Hmm"
'As I thought, Paul probably made up some shitty story claiming my death.' I grit my teeth, anger swelling up.
"Huuu..." I let out a breath, trying to calm myself down.
'He's not worth it.'
The soldier seemed to have noticed my anger as his expression faltered slightly.
"Y-your highness, if I may?"
"Speak."
"I must take you to the nearest station to confirm your identity." His voice became firm, almost commanding.
"..."
The soldier stiffened at my silence, likely expecting a reaction.
"Okay, take me there."
"I-huh?" A genuine look of surprise was plastered on his face.
His expression made sense, though.
'The previous Cassian would've flipped.'
"Let's move, I don't have all day." I pointed toward the space where my right arm should be; the phantom pain hadn't gone away, but I was trying my best not to show it.
The soldier immediately took the signal and led me to the nearest station. "Follow me, your highness."
"Hmm."
The station was about a kilometer away from where we were, but we reached it rather quickly.
Reaching the station, I was led inside by the soldier.
These stations were pretty simple.
They were placed near a rift as a response team. If the rift were to ever be breached, they would stop it from spreading, but if it was too much, they'd call reinforcements.
This specific station was under the Thorne Royal Army's jurisdiction, which I could tell by the uniforms of the soldiers around.
I felt the gazes of many other soldiers as they stared at me with dumbfounded expressions, whispering things like:
"How is he still alive?"
"Look, he lost his arm."
Their voices were filled with curiosity and... amusement.
I didn't care, though I knew none of them respected me despite my status and were probably happy to see me in this state, maybe even angry I survived.
I eventually reached the main office where the station's chief was usually located.
"Come in." A rough voice came from inside.
I stepped in, scanning my surroundings.
The office was pretty boring, no accessories, just a desk, a chair, and a window.
In the chair stood a rather large man with a few scars on his face and a bald head.
'He's probably around peak C-rank.'
"Nice to meet you, your highness." He spoke.
"Nice to meet you as well, Station Chief."
His eyes widened slightly at my words as if he hadn't expected me to actually greet him with respect.
'Okay, now they're just being dramatic.'
"Your highness, if I may ask..." He paused. "How are you alive?"
"Wow, straight to the point, not even a coffee, maybe a tea to help me settle in."
"..."
"Haa.. okay, I'll tell you."
I recounted the events as best I could, leaving out just the bit about escaping with Bear; they can't know about that. I did, however, also leave out Paul's betrayal. I'll handle that myself.
The station chief's eyes widened at my story, as if it were unbelievable.
I smiled at his reaction.
"And that's about it."
"..." The station chief's expression was complicated.
"Your highness, could you tell me one more thing?"
"Yes?" I wasn't sure what he was trying to say.
"What happened to your eyes?"
"...Huh?"
'My eyes?'
"What do you mean?" I questioned him.
Without answering, he took out a mirror and handed it to me.
I leaned forward to take the mirror, but was unable to.
'Oh, right... no arm.'
"...ahem"
Taking the mirror with my left hand, I then looked at it.
There I saw myself.
My handsome self. My perfect jawline, perfect nose, per- wait... no, I mean what caught my attention was my eyes.
Gone were the golden eyes that represented the Thorne Royal Family, replaced by deep grey eyes.
'How?'
It was starting to make sense why that soldier had suspected me; if I had golden eyes, he would have trusted my word, but he brought me here to confirm my identity.
Strangely, I didn't hate the new eyes.
In fact... I liked them.
'They do look cool, and it enhances my mysterious, handsome guy look.'
I was really liking my face.
'Or... I could just really hate being associated with the Thorne name.'
It was true I hated the name and those who carried it, but I could never escape it, as my eyes were always a reminder.
Maybe that's why I all of a sudden started appreciating my face, the part I hated the most was... gone.
"I don't know why it's like this, but you should be able to know it's me regardless."
"...That's true."
Honestly, I had no idea how he had confirmed my identity. I just assumed the fact that he hadn't locked me up for insulting royalty meant he knew it was me.
"Anyway, more importantly, I need to get to the academy."
"...Your admission has already been cancelled."
"I'll take the entrance exam," I spoke without hesitation.
He gazed at my missing right arm. "Like that?"
"I'll get a prosthetic."
"Haa..." He sighed as if I had said something stupid. "Your highness, you do realise that if you don't get your arm regrown soon, the window will close and you'll never get it back."
"That doesn't matter."
The station chief had a dumbfounded expression, but the second he looked at me and saw that my mind was already made up, he conceded.
"Okay... I will contact the main branch to come pi-"
"I want to go straight to the academy."
I had no time to waste at the palace, interacting with my... family.
The academy was now my main destination, and I needed to get there as soon as possible.
"..." The station chief took a moment but eventually came to a decision.
"I will prepare transport and find you a suitable salesman for prosthetics." He agreed, but for some reason, I didn't like that it was so easy.
My brows furrowed. "Why help me?"
"...The Thornes pay quite a lot, let's just say I'd like an advance on my paycheck."
"You'll still contact the main branch regardless."
"I'm sorry, your highness, it's procedure."
I wasn't bothered; in fact, I was relieved he didn't have some ulterior motive that would get in my way. I did expect him to tell them anyway, but it's not like I gave a shit.
And besides, he's just doing his job. Who am I to judge a salaryman?
I smiled. "Thank you, Station Chief, I will repay you someday."
"I'm sure you will." He said in a somewhat sarcastic tone.