The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness Chapter 509: Handling

Street. Alleyways.

A lady holding a parasol walked gracefully along.

The hem of her skirt fluttered as she stepped with elegance. Under normal circumstances, she should have drawn many passersby to stop and admire her.

But on this dim street, no matter how many sharp gazes like hawks swept past from the shadows along the roadside, not a single one lingered on the figure holding the parasol.

It was as if, in their field of vision, that figure did not exist at all.

The parasol in the girl’s hand turned lightly. Just like that, she walked straight through the street, stepped through the courtyard gate, passed along the corridor, brushed shoulders with several squads of cautiously patrolling knights, and finally arrived at the deepest part of the residence.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

She knocked on the door.

“Get lost.”

From inside the room ca a cold and furious voice:

“Didn’t I say this already? I’ve been in my room this whole ti and haven’t gone anywhere. Don’t bother !”

“......”

Hearing that familiar voice, Celicia raised an eyebrow slightly, then used exactly the sa cold tone—no outsider could possibly tell the difference—as she said,

“Open the door. It’s .”

There was a mont of silence inside. Then ca a clatter of tables and chairs, the chaotic noise of things falling to the floor. The austere atmosphere from just now vanished in an instant.

The door opened, revealing a sneaky little bun-shaped face.

After confirming that the cold figure outside was absolutely not an illusion, the sneaky bun-face finally let out a long sigh of relief.

“President, you finally ca back.”

“Mm.”

Celicia put away the “Resentnt of the Single” in her hand and walked into the room.

“The disguise is not bad.”

“Hehe, so-so. I can only fool outsiders who aren’t familiar with the princess.”

Veil scratched her head awkwardly.

“Any abnormalities?”

“Abnormalities... I think so.”

“You think so?”

Celicia looked at Veil.

“Yeah. Just now I don’t know what kind of fit those Royal Knights had, but several tis in a row, they ca in the middle of the night to ask if I was there, and they even wanted to go out and see them in person.”

At these words, a glint flashed in Celicia’s eyes.

“Did you rember those knights?”

“I rembered them!”

Veil puffed out her chest proudly.

“With sothing that obviously suspicious, how could I not take it seriously? I secretly left a copy magic outside. Their faces should already be recorded. I’ll bring it to you right now.”

Veil jogged out, circled once outside the door, then handed Celicia a very inconspicuous little magical device.

Celicia infused it with mana, and several images quickly appeared. She recognized that they were all Royal /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Knights stationed to guard this residence.

“Mm. You did very well.”

Celicia flipped through and morized those faces, then nodded in satisfaction.

Although her secretary was lazy, a hobody, and a hopeless fujoshi obsessed with taboo love, she was extrely reliable when it really mattered. Otherwise, Celicia would never have entrusted such an important task to her.

“But speaking of which, President...”

Now that Celicia was back, Veil, who finally felt at ease, slumped her bun-face onto the table like a lifeless salted fish.

“Why did you take so long to co back? I almost got exposed just now. It scared to death.”

“I just went to take care of sothing.”

“Really just business? What kind of business needs you to go out in the middle of the night for so long?”

A sharp glint flashed in Veil’s eyes, and a fla called gossip blazed up fiercely inside her.

“President, don’t tell you went on a date with that Muen Campbell.”

“......”

Celicia silently raised her head. She didn’t say much. Only the blade hidden in the parasol handle suddenly slid out a few centiters.

Crack.

Under Veil’s stupefied gaze, the limited-edition prince × evil-villain-leader gravure artbook she had just placed on the table to pass the ti was instantly shredded into fine pieces by countless sword flashes.

“No—”

The girl desperately grabbed at those fragnts, trying to piece them back together, but it was useless. She could only choke in silence, wishing she could travel back half a minute and slap her own mouth right before she ran it.

You knew perfectly well what kind of temperant your tsundere president has. Why did you have to run your mouth?

Damn it, my artbook!

“All right, I know that’s not your only copy. Drop the act.”

Celicia glanced at Veil, who was biting her handkerchief in hatred.

“Hurry up and pour a cup of coffee.”

“What do you an, not the only copy...”

Veil muttered sothing about “for preaching use, for collection use,” and the like, but even though she was reluctant, her hands and feet were quick as she went to brew coffee for Celicia.

Very soon, the sa high-sugar coffee was placed in front of Celicia.

Brought along with it was a little cream cake, newly made, with a cherry on top.

“Go rest, Veil. You’ve worked hard tonight.”

“...Okay.”

Veil had originally wanted to ask a few questions, but when she noticed that, beneath Celicia’s expressionless delicate face at this mont, sothing seed different, she simply bowed and obediently returned to her own room.

Celicia, anwhile, sat upright at the table, silently staring at that little cake that looked extrely delicious at a glance.

Although she was under house arrest, her status was still what it was. She could still easily enjoy the finest, most delicious desserts in this city.

In fact, as long as she obediently sat here, none of the storms in this city could affect her in the slightest. No matter which sun ended up hanging in the sky after the clouds cleared, she would still remain one of the people with the most exalted status in this country.

Yes. As long as she obediently stayed here.

“So this is your real reason for suddenly putting under house arrest, Father Emperor?”

Celicia murmured, her mind replaying that inexplicable argunt she’d had with the Emperor.

Then the images shifted, turning into the terrifying scenes she had just seen not long ago.

On her fingertips, the warm sensation of those lives as they faded still remained.

Disgusting.

“Really... it’s enough to completely kill one’s appetite for dessert.”

Thin strands of light filtered in through the gaps in the window, falling across Celicia’s stunning, emotionless face.

Dawn arrived.

She, too, gazed at that light.

Very soon, Celicia pushed away the sweet she usually loved most. She only downed the coffee in one gulp, gathered her spirits a little, then rang the bronze bell.

“Attend !”

“Your Highness.”

Outside the door, there was the rasp of scales and armor, and a respectful voice sounded.

“Prepare a carriage. I am going to the Imperial Palace.”

“This...”

The voice hesitated.

“What?”

Celicia said coldly, “Although I truly am under house arrest, do I not even have the right to see my own Father Emperor now? Do you intend to imprison ? Who gave you that courage?”

“Y–yes! Please forgive , Your Highness. I will prepare it at once!”

The voice faded into the distance. Celicia pushed open the door and walked straight out. No one blocked her path.

By the ti she reached the main gate, a black carriage with no insignia was already waiting quietly outside.

“Your Highness.”

Kailos, the vice-commander of the Thorn Legion of the Royal Knights, whose armor differed from the others and bore golden patterns, offered a respectful salute.

“Please allow to guard you closely and protect your safety.”

“Mm. Thank you for your trouble.”

Knowing full well that this man’s task was not only protection but also surveillance, Celicia said nothing more. She rely inclined her head slightly and took the initiative to climb into the carriage.

Yet before the carriage could move, Celicia suddenly lifted the curtain. Her cold gaze carefully studied this vice-commander of the Thorn Legion of the Royal Knights.

“Sir Kailos.”

“Present.”

“You... will remain loyal to Father Emperor, won’t you?”

Kailos was startled by the question and hurriedly dropped to one knee respectfully.

“Your Highness, what is the aning of this? As a mber of the Royal Knights, I, your humble servant, will of course remain loyal to His Majesty always!”

“Good. Then these people... interrogate them yourself. I require a satisfactory answer.”

Celicia handed over the copying-magic device she was holding to Kailos.

Kailos examined it, confusion on his face.

“These are indeed all my subordinates, but to suddenly interrogate them... May I ask the reason? Without a reason, it will be difficult for ...”

“What.”

Celicia gave him a cold glance. “Was last night’s order given by you?”

Order?

What order?

He had not given any orders last night.

Could it be...

Kailos suddenly ca to his senses. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he imdiately lowered his head even further.

“Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will personally interrogate them and will definitely give you a satisfactory answer!”

“I hope so.”

Celicia drew the carriage curtain closed again.

Everything returned to calm. Under Kailos’s uneasy gaze, the carriage moved forward steadily, heading toward the most important heart of the Empire.