The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness

“Miss?”

Ah.

Only then did Muen suddenly realize he had nearly forgotten that he was no longer the sole son burdened with carrying the Campbell family inheritance alone.

He now also had a younger sister—one he had not even met yet, but who was definitely adorable—whose hundred-day celebration banquet was about to arrive.

One matter after another had continued endlessly ever since he left Belrand. So much time had already passed, yet as her older brother, he still did not even know what his little sister looked like.

That truly was somewhat neglectful.

“When is the banquet?”

“Half a month from now.”

“Half a month...”

Muen thought briefly.

“Once the matters here are settled, I should still be able to make it in time.”

“You really should go back and visit. Madam misses you greatly as well,” An said with a nod.

“Then help me pass along my greetings first.”

Muen smiled bitterly.

“Once I finish dealing with things here, I’ll head over immediately. Hopefully Mother won’t scold me too harshly by then.”

“Understood. I’ll convey Young Master’s intentions for you.”

As she spoke, An handed over the second letter in her hand—the unopened one.

“And this as well.”

“This is?”

“A letter from Master.”

“Father?”

Muen asked in confusion.

“If he had something to say, couldn’t he just send someone to relay it directly? Was there really a need for a letter?”

The Imperial military camp where his father was stationed was, at most, only half a city away from his current location. If Lorne truly wished, with the speed of a Crowned-level powerhouse, he could arrive in only a few breaths.

The Kingdom’s grand barrier was currently only half-opened, but that restriction did not affect him.

Yet not only had he failed to come personally, he had not even sent someone to directly pass on a message.

Instead, he had gone through the trouble of...

Sending a letter?

“Reportedly, Master already left,” An said next, causing Muen even greater surprise.

“So when the message was delivered, they asked me to bring this letter along as well.”

“Left? Are you sure? When?”

“According to the information I received, Master departed yesterday.”

“Yesterday...”

Muen scratched his head.

Was that during the time he had been shaken unconscious?

Did Father know about his condition and leave without saying goodbye?

And he even deliberately left behind a letter before leaving?

What exactly is he up to?

“Wasn’t the Imperial army supposed to remain until the Kingdom’s new king ascended the throne? There should still be some time before that happens.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

An shook her head.

“Master would never casually reveal military movements. However, Imperial cavalry patrols are still present throughout the streets, and there are no signs of large-scale troop movements. So the stationed army likely has not moved. The only one who departed early should be Master himself.”

“The army remains, but Father left alone?”

Muen rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Then he’s probably off carrying out some highly classified mission again.”

So mysterious...

Forget it.

Since that was the case, there was no point asking further anyway. Besides, Muen had never been interested in political affairs to begin with.

Now that the Empire and Kingdom had entered a ceasefire and even the demons in the west were gone, the Empire’s border pressure had practically disappeared completely. Most likely, Father was not preparing for war this time.

Some other private matter?

Or perhaps some special task that only he could accomplish?

Muen casually thought about it for a moment before tossing those meaningless thoughts aside.

Better read the letter first.

He took the envelope from An and casually moved to open it, only for An to stop him immediately.

“Not yet. The person who delivered the letter said Young Master absolutely must not open it until tomorrow morning. Before then, nobody may open it.”

“Tomorrow morning?”

Muen became even more puzzled.

“What kind of strange request is that? Don’t tell me this letter contains some special power that only works if opened tomorrow morning?”

As he spoke, Muen lightly shook the envelope, yet sensed absolutely nothing unusual from it.

There was not even the slightest trace of magical aura.

Of course, considering Father’s magical aptitude was so poor he could not even cast a basic illumination spell, he probably could not have infused anything magical into it anyway.

“I don’t know either, but the messenger repeatedly emphasized that this was Master’s order. Even Young Master must obey it.”

“...Alright.”

Muen remained completely baffled.

Although he had no idea what the old man was plotting, since the matter had been treated so seriously, waiting one more night was not a big issue anyway.

“Then I’ll keep the letter. Be careful on the road, An.”

“Mhm. Don’t worry, Young Master. I’m no longer the weak little maid I once was.”

“...”

Weak?

Little maid?

Were you ever weak to begin with?

Filled with countless complaints yet nowhere to vent them, Muen simply pinched An’s elegant cheeks as punishment for the troublesome maid.

“Be gentler over there.”

“Madam is Young Master’s mother, which naturally makes her my mother as well. Of course I’ll treat her with the same gentleness I show Young Master.”

“And my little sister?”

“That depends on what kind of feelings she develops toward Young Master.”

An’s aura suddenly sharpened.

“If she harbors those kinds of feelings toward Young Master, then even as your biological sister, I can only treat her like some filthy lit—”

“She’s my sister, and she’s only a hundred days old!”

Using both hands now, Muen mercilessly squished An’s elegant and icy face completely out of shape while forcibly cutting off the dangerous second half of her sentence.

“Where exactly did you even learn this kind of nonsense? You really don’t seem like the type to accumulate knowledge like this!”

“...That shameless Saintess’s hidden book collection included stories about biological siblings...”

“Don’t secretly read Liya’s dirty books! That’s basically the same as peering into the abyss! You’ll turn bad!”

“...Alright.”

Several minutes quickly passed, making their farewell feel incomparably brief.

At the very end, An naturally refused to waste even the slightest chance for intimacy. She immediately grabbed Muen’s hand, rose onto her toes, and swiftly planted a heavy kiss directly onto his lips.

“You little troublemaker again.”

Muen sounded helpless, yet indulgent.

“That isn’t causing trouble.”

An gently touched her lips with her fingers.

“I already know what that flat-chested insect plans to do next, so I’m simply covering my territory in advance.”

“...”

Isn’t your coverage already excessive enough?

Today was obviously Ariel’s date, yet the amount of green on top of her head was already enough to race horses across!

“Goodbye, Young Master.”

“Mhm. Goodbye.”

The two separated, and An disappeared into the night.

The former head maid’s letter had sounded extremely urgent. It seemed they truly were desperately lacking manpower over there, which was why An had to travel overnight.

Fortunately, for her current self, that was no problem whatsoever.

...

...

“Hah... An’s gone, Liya probably won’t have much free time, and who knows where Senior ran off to, which means...”

Watching the direction An disappeared into, Muen counted on his fingers while calculating carefully.

Tonight...

The only one he had to deal with was that little seductress?

No fear of someone suddenly stealing him away halfway through. No fear of becoming some pitiful victim again.

And his kidneys no longer had to endure burdens they should never bear at their age.

Wonderful.

While imagining what should be a relaxed and pleasant evening, Muen hummed cheerfully, put away the letter, and walked deeper into the residence.

Splash.

Flowing water turned a small waterwheel.

This was a two-story estate complete with a courtyard, possessing a quiet and elegant atmosphere. In an area around Saint Haze Palace where every inch of land was worth a fortune, such a residence was incredibly valuable.

Yet with Muen’s current status, obtaining this kind of place within the Kingdom was effortless.

In fact, if he merely spoke the words, even moving directly into Saint Haze Palace itself would leave nobody daring to object.

After all, nominally speaking, he was the future husband of the Empress who now ruled the entire Kingdom.

Had he not hidden himself away immediately after the army entered the city and completely refused to reveal his whereabouts publicly, the Kingdom nobles seeking to present him gifts would probably have trampled the entrance threshold to pieces by now.

The more powerful Celicia became, the more deeply Muen could feel the weight behind the identity of “the future husband of the Empress.”

Perhaps in the eyes of the outside world, the title of “future Imperial Prince Consort” now far surpassed “the duke’s son” or “heir to the Lion King.”

“This really is strange. I’ve clearly worked this hard, so how did I still somehow end up becoming a pretty boy living off powerful women?”

Muen sighed melancholically, lamenting that there truly were no shortcuts to success in this world...

Except being kept by a rich woman.

Fortunately, Celicia had already returned early over the past two days. Otherwise, Muen genuinely did not dare imagine what today’s date would have looked like.

Everyone else could only secretly cuckold people in the shadows.

But with Celicia’s personality, she might very well have directly captured Ariel and then done all sorts of things to him right in front of her while Ariel could only...

Hm?

Wait.

Why am I getting excited thinking about this?

No no no...

He was a loyal and devoted good man, not some degenerate who had already transformed into the shape of a “blond villain”...

He had to stay firm in his convictions!

“Speaking of which, where did that little seductress run off to? Why is she still hiding? She can’t seriously think I didn’t notice what she was hoping for, right?”

With determination strengthened, Muen searched several rooms yet still failed to find Ariel anywhere.

Only after pushing open the bedroom door did he finally spot a hazy silhouette swaying behind translucent curtains.

Candlelight flickered softly.

Instead of magic lamps, romantic crimson candles illuminated the room.

And these clearly were not ordinary candles. The faint smoke produced by their flames not only lacked any unpleasant smell, but even carried a light fragrance.

After inhaling it, Muen immediately felt heat rising within his lower abdomen.

At some point, Ariel’s treasured collection had apparently begun including these kinds of “useless items” she once disdained entirely.

“Starting off this intense right away? Don’t tell me Liya infected you too.”

Muen gently lifted the curtains aside.

These definitely had not been there before he left to sleep earlier, meaning Ariel had obviously set them up herself just now.

The little girl worked surprisingly fast.

“Hmph. Don’t compare me to that shameless woman whose brain contains nothing except dirty thoughts and who even drags her best friend into them. I prepared all this to prevent interruptions from other people!”

Ariel really was lying on the bed.

Yet her posture was far less alluring than the silhouette projected onto the curtains, because she currently had her entire body wrapped tightly inside the blanket, exposing only her little head.

“If this isn’t for excitement, there were plenty of other ways to stay cautious. Why specifically choose this method?”

Muen slowly approached closer.

Sensing his masculine presence nearing her, Ariel’s heart instantly began pounding wildly no matter how much she had anticipated this moment earlier.

Her heartbeat thundered loudly. A blush visibly spread across her cheeks while waves of bashful nervousness filled her chest...

Yet she still lifted her little head stubbornly and fearlessly met Muen’s gaze.

“Hmph. Who told you to come over here, pervert?”