diff --git a/docs/en/references/data/api-types.md b/docs/en/references/data/api-types.md
index c507b3a15d..a475b4d0c4 100644
--- a/docs/en/references/data/api-types.md
+++ b/docs/en/references/data/api-types.md
@@ -88,6 +88,36 @@ The API system supports two pagination modes with composable query parameters.
 | `SortParams` | `sortBy?`, `sortOrder?` | Sorting (combine as needed) |
 | `SearchParams` | `search?` | Text search (combine as needed) |
 
+### Cursor Semantics
+
+The `cursor` in `CursorPaginationParams` marks an **exclusive boundary** - the cursor item itself is never included in the response.
+
+**Common patterns:**
+
+| Pattern | Use Case | Behavior |
+|---------|----------|----------|
+| "after cursor" | Forward pagination, new items | Returns items AFTER cursor |
+| "before cursor" | Backward/historical loading | Returns items BEFORE cursor |
+
+The specific semantic depends on the API endpoint. For example:
+- `GET /topics/:id/messages` uses "before cursor" for loading historical messages
+- Other endpoints may use "after cursor" for forward pagination
+
+**Example: Loading historical messages**
+
+```typescript
+// First request - get most recent messages
+const res1 = await api.get('/topics/123/messages', { query: { limit: 20 } })
+// res1: { items: [msg80...msg99], nextCursor: 'msg80-id', activeNodeId: '...' }
+
+// Load more - get older messages before the cursor
+const res2 = await api.get('/topics/123/messages', {
+  query: { cursor: res1.nextCursor, limit: 20 }
+})
+// res2: { items: [msg60...msg79], nextCursor: 'msg60-id', activeNodeId: '...' }
+// Note: msg80 is NOT in res2 (cursor is exclusive)
+```
+
 ### Response Types
 
 | Type | Fields | Description |
diff --git a/packages/shared/data/api/apiTypes.ts b/packages/shared/data/api/apiTypes.ts
index e6ce39ee28..4cdfc08761 100644
--- a/packages/shared/data/api/apiTypes.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/data/api/apiTypes.ts
@@ -152,9 +152,18 @@ export interface OffsetPaginationParams {
 
 /**
  * Cursor-based pagination parameters (cursor + limit)
+ *
+ * The cursor is typically an opaque reference to a record in the dataset.
+ * The cursor itself is NEVER included in the response - it marks an exclusive boundary.
+ *
+ * Common semantics:
+ * - "after cursor": Returns items AFTER the cursor (forward pagination)
+ * - "before cursor": Returns items BEFORE the cursor (backward/historical pagination)
+ *
+ * The specific semantic depends on the API endpoint. Check endpoint documentation.
  */
 export interface CursorPaginationParams {
-  /** Cursor for next page (undefined for first page) */
+  /** Cursor for pagination boundary (exclusive - cursor item not included in response) */
   cursor?: string
   /** Items per page */
   limit?: number
diff --git a/packages/shared/data/api/schemas/messages.ts b/packages/shared/data/api/schemas/messages.ts
index 59c0e15c6a..4cc0a54998 100644
--- a/packages/shared/data/api/schemas/messages.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/data/api/schemas/messages.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  * Includes endpoints for tree visualization and conversation view.
  */
 
+import type { CursorPaginationParams } from '@shared/data/api/apiTypes'
 import type {
   BranchMessagesResponse,
   Message,
@@ -115,14 +116,16 @@ export interface TreeQueryParams {
 
 /**
  * Query parameters for GET /topics/:id/messages
+ *
+ * Uses "before cursor" semantics for loading historical messages:
+ * - First request (no cursor): Returns the most recent `limit` messages
+ * - Subsequent requests: Pass `nextCursor` from previous response as `cursor`
+ *   to load older messages towards root
+ * - The cursor message itself is NOT included in the response
  */
-export interface BranchMessagesQueryParams {
+export interface BranchMessagesQueryParams extends CursorPaginationParams {
   /** End node ID (defaults to topic.activeNodeId) */
   nodeId?: string
-  /** Pagination cursor: return messages before this node */
-  beforeNodeId?: string
-  /** Number of messages to return */
-  limit?: number
   /** Whether to include siblingsGroup in response */
   includeSiblings?: boolean
 }
diff --git a/packages/shared/data/types/message.ts b/packages/shared/data/types/message.ts
index 6906d68e4d..3542c30a57 100644
--- a/packages/shared/data/types/message.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/data/types/message.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { CursorPaginationResponse } from '@shared/data/api/apiTypes'
 /**
  * Message Statistics - combines token usage and performance metrics
  * Replaces the separate `usage` and `metrics` fields
@@ -474,9 +475,7 @@ export interface BranchMessage {
 /**
  * Branch messages response structure
  */
-export interface BranchMessagesResponse {
-  /** Messages in root-to-leaf order */
-  messages: BranchMessage[]
+export interface BranchMessagesResponse extends CursorPaginationResponse<BranchMessage> {
   /** Current active node ID */
   activeNodeId: string | null
 }
diff --git a/src/main/data/api/handlers/messages.ts b/src/main/data/api/handlers/messages.ts
index 2f7faaded3..d89457ab5e 100644
--- a/src/main/data/api/handlers/messages.ts
+++ b/src/main/data/api/handlers/messages.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export const messageHandlers: {
       const q = (query || {}) as BranchMessagesQueryParams
       return await messageService.getBranchMessages(params.topicId, {
         nodeId: q.nodeId,
-        beforeNodeId: q.beforeNodeId,
+        cursor: q.cursor,
         limit: q.limit,
         includeSiblings: q.includeSiblings
       })
diff --git a/src/main/data/services/MessageService.ts b/src/main/data/services/MessageService.ts
index 85e02ec8e2..1dfb7f378e 100644
--- a/src/main/data/services/MessageService.ts
+++ b/src/main/data/services/MessageService.ts
@@ -315,13 +315,23 @@ export class MessageService {
    * Optimized implementation using recursive CTE to fetch only the path
    * from nodeId to root, avoiding loading all messages for large topics.
    * Siblings are batch-queried in a single additional query.
+   *
+   * Uses "before cursor" pagination semantics:
+   * - cursor: Message ID marking the pagination boundary (exclusive)
+   * - Returns messages BEFORE the cursor (towards root)
+   * - The cursor message itself is NOT included
+   * - nextCursor points to the oldest message in current batch
+   *
+   * Example flow:
+   * 1. First request (no cursor) → returns msg80-99, nextCursor=msg80.id
+   * 2. Second request (cursor=msg80.id) → returns msg60-79, nextCursor=msg60.id
    */
   async getBranchMessages(
     topicId: string,
-    options: { nodeId?: string; beforeNodeId?: string; limit?: number; includeSiblings?: boolean } = {}
+    options: { nodeId?: string; cursor?: string; limit?: number; includeSiblings?: boolean } = {}
   ): Promise<BranchMessagesResponse> {
     const db = dbService.getDb()
-    const { limit = DEFAULT_LIMIT, includeSiblings = true } = options
+    const { cursor, limit = DEFAULT_LIMIT, includeSiblings = true } = options
 
     // Get topic
     const [topic] = await db.select().from(topicTable).where(eq(topicTable.id, topicId)).limit(1)
@@ -334,7 +344,7 @@ export class MessageService {
 
     // Return empty if no active node
     if (!nodeId) {
-      return { messages: [], activeNodeId: null }
+      return { items: [], nextCursor: undefined, activeNodeId: null }
     }
 
     // Use recursive CTE to get path from nodeId to root (single query)
@@ -359,19 +369,22 @@ export class MessageService {
     let startIndex = 0
     let endIndex = fullPath.length
 
-    if (options.beforeNodeId) {
-      const beforeIndex = fullPath.findIndex((m) => m.id === options.beforeNodeId)
-      if (beforeIndex === -1) {
-        throw DataApiErrorFactory.notFound('Message', options.beforeNodeId)
+    if (cursor) {
+      const cursorIndex = fullPath.findIndex((m) => m.id === cursor)
+      if (cursorIndex === -1) {
+        throw DataApiErrorFactory.notFound('Message (cursor)', cursor)
       }
-      startIndex = Math.max(0, beforeIndex - limit)
-      endIndex = beforeIndex
+      startIndex = Math.max(0, cursorIndex - limit)
+      endIndex = cursorIndex
     } else {
       startIndex = Math.max(0, fullPath.length - limit)
     }
 
     const paginatedPath = fullPath.slice(startIndex, endIndex)
 
+    // Calculate nextCursor: if there are more historical messages
+    const nextCursor = startIndex > 0 ? fullPath[startIndex].id : undefined
+
     // Build result with optional siblings
     const result: BranchMessage[] = []
 
@@ -435,7 +448,8 @@ export class MessageService {
     }
 
     return {
-      messages: result,
+      items: result,
+      nextCursor,
       activeNodeId: topic.activeNodeId
     }
   }