The yellow-haired villain in Soaring Phoenix’s novels also desires happiness V1C29

Chapter 29: A New Plan and Brewing Darkness

Ronan Campbell.

One of the four major ducal families of the empire, the current head of the Campbell family.

He is also a crowned-level powerhouse, honored with the title “Lion King”!

Who else could be more suitable as a teacher than such a father figure who is close at hand, experienced, powerful, and willing to selflessly impart all knowledge to you without any cost?

None!

“Muen Campbell, oh Campbell, you deserve such a tragic end. It’s truly pitiful to possess a treasure but remain unaware of it.”

Muen looked gleefully at the name on the paper, once again feeling that his future was filled with brightness.

With the personal guidance of his powerful father and the opportunity for practice anytime with the Black Book, wasn’t his strength skyrocketing?

“Next is the second point.”

Muen picked up his pen and continued writing on the paper:

1. Safety.

Compared to having a good teacher, safety is actually the most important, because it concerns Muen’s life.

But the reason it’s placed as the second point is because Muen suddenly realized that this issue wasn’t so urgent. Why?

“Of course, it’s because of Father!”

All along, Muen had been trapped in a blind spot, thinking that safety depended on his own strength. That’s why he had been so anxious to become stronger before.

But just now, after recalling the reassuring name of his father, he suddenly realized…

Why was he so anxious? With Father being so powerful, as long as he obediently stayed behind him, who else could harm him?

The recent assassination attempt on Selicia did indeed almost cost Muen his life, but precisely because of that, the Duke’s mansion now had such tight security that not even a mosquito could fly in!

Hmph, trying to harm me? Father would break all your knives!

“Decision made, from now on, I’ll be a homebody!”

The more Muen thought about it, the more excited he became, as if he were a ** who had already been pushed to the brink of desperation by debt, only to suddenly discover that his deceased old man had left him a set of five apartments in the Third Ring of the Imperial City. He couldn’t help but marvel at how life is full of surprises.

“Mm, with these two foundations, planning like this should be right.”

Muen looked at the newly formulated plan on the paper and nodded in satisfaction.

→ Be a homebody. (School? What school? Do schools have cute maid sisters?)

→ Learn martial arts from Father.

→ Practice and refine myself through the Black Book.

→ Only step out when I’ve reached at least the fifth rank, stunning everyone!

“With this plan, no matter how cruel fate may be, I will defy it with my resilience!”

“Haha, I can’t help but imagine, a few years from now, when the protagonist finds me at the Duke’s mansion, she’ll be shocked to realize that I’m no longer the scared little punk she could bully!”

…

Just as Muen was getting excited about his perfect plan, there came a knock at the door.

“Young master, are you awake?”

“Mm, ah, I’m awake. Is there something?”

“The master is looking for you.”

“Huh? Father is looking for me at this time?”

Muen glanced at the time and realized it was still early in the morning, he hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

“So early to find me, is there something urgent?”

“No matter what, even if it’s urgent, it shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s probably still because of the incident where Selicia was assassinated.”

Muen didn’t think much about it, responded to An, and quickly washed up before leaving the room.

An was already waiting outside the room.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

After exchanging greetings with An, Muen headed towards the study he remembered. According to his usual habits, his father would always be there in the morning, perusing the latest imperial newspapers.

But this time, An suddenly pulled Muen aside. “Young Master, Master isn’t in the study.”

“Hmm? Then where is he?”

“At the mansion gate.”

“The gate? Why would he be there so early in the morning?”

Muen was somewhat puzzled, but still followed An towards the mansion gate.

“Master Muen, good morning, Head Maid.”

Along the way, the maids respectfully greeted Muen, who nodded in response. However, he immediately sensed that something was amiss.

“Head Maid?” Muen looked at An in surprise. “Are they addressing you?”

“Yes, Young Master.” An bowed slightly.

“Recently, the Master appointed me as the new Head Maid.”

“New Head Maid… What about the previous one?”

“She has resigned from her position, taking responsibility for recent events.”

“I see,” Muen suddenly realized.

The arrangements for the coming-of-age ceremony were handled by the Head Maid, so it was natural for the former one to bear responsibility for the recent incident.

“I’m truly sorry. It’s all because of my orders.”

“Young Master, there’s no need to blame yourself. It’s not your fault,” An comforted softly.

“Moreover, even without this incident, the former Head Maid was already planning to retire in two years due to her age. This incident simply accelerated her retirement.”

“Father must be very upset, right?”

Muen sighed softly. Just as An was his personal maid, the former Head Maid must have been his father’s personal maid. She had been raised alongside him since childhood.

Unlike An, who was almost the same age as Muen, the former Head Maid was more than ten years older than Muen’s father. To his father, who lost his parents early in life, she was like a motherly figure.

His father must be very reluctant to let her go.

“Nevertheless, congratulations, An,” Muen smiled.

“There’s nothing to congratulate,” An replied modestly, seeming less cheerful than Muen had imagined.

“Becoming the Head Maid keeps me too busy. I have much less time to be by Young Master’s side,” An explained.

“That’s a good thing. We’re not children anymore; we all have to grow up on our own, don’t we?” Muen replied.

“Grown up… on our own?” An suddenly lowered her head, her expression obscured.

For some reason, Muen suddenly felt that An’s tone was somewhat chilly. However, he didn’t pay it much mind.

“Is Young Master implying that we’ll eventually part ways?” An asked.

“Isn’t that inevitable?” Muen responded.

Muen turned around, cradling the back of his head, and gazed out at the clear blue sky and white clouds outside the window. The weather was pleasant today.

“We all need to have our own lives, An. You shouldn’t let your identity as a maid define you.”

As a modern young man influenced by socialist values, Muen believed that even being a maid should only be considered as a profession.

An shouldn’t call herself a master, nor should she bind her fate to someone like him, a villainous character who could meet his demise at any moment.

Just as in the original book, facing a fate of being hanged.

“So, An,” Muen turned back, his standard smile complementing his handsome features inherited from his mother, shining like the newborn sun outside the window.

“If you have someone you like, just tell me, and I’ll let you go.”

“Be brave in pursuing your happiness; that’s what I hope for you. It’s also my way of thanking you for all you’ve done for me.”

…

“Separate?”

Staring at Muen’s back, a dense, chilling darkness began to surge in An’s eyes.

“How could you say such things, Master Muen?”

“We can’t be separated.”

“We can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t, can’t…”

“Never.”

An bit her nails, and a chilling smirk suddenly appeared on her lips.

“We will… always be together, Master Muen.”