The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness Chapter 531: The Plan

“A charity banquet... a charity banquet... heh heh... This is him openly opposing . This is a declaration of war! A declaration of war!”

Andrew swept all the docunts on his desk aside in one motion—along with those priceless antiques. His eyes were bloodshot, like a wild beast in a furious rage.

“I haven’t even made a move yet, and he dares—damn him!”

“Your Highness, please calm yourself.”

Orlando pushed his wheelchair forward to the desk. From among the debris that had been imnsely valuable just monts ago and was now nothing but worthless fragnts, he found that small, exquisite card.

It could be called a calling card—or an invitation. It was from the famous Marquis Angus, inviting idle—or, as he phrased it, benevolent—nobles to go to the Lower District in a week’s ti to attend a charity banquet hosted by him.

The funds raised at the banquet, together with so of his own savings, were planned to be used to build five schools, three orphanages, and one hospital in the Lower District.

Judging from the scale alone, this would be another grand event. Any noble who cared in the slightest about their reputation would not pass up such an opportunity. At such a critical mont, Andrew should have been no exception.

But...

“Perhaps Your Highness is overthinking it. Prince Albert may truly just be attending a banquet.”

“Just attending?”

Andrew pointed at Orlando as he roared, his expression twisting with anger.

“Say that again—do you believe it yourself? He’s clearly announcing to the world that the exalted Eldest Prince has returned! He still wants to fight for it!”

“......”

Orlando fell silent, unable to refute him.

So long as one was not irredeemably stupid, it was impossible to miss the significance of the Eldest Prince choosing to step into public view at this mont.

“Why him? Why him?! The throne was supposed to be mine—mine! He was a brain-damaged cripple—what right does he have to compete with ?! Why?!”

Andrew paced back and forth, muttering at a rapid pace.

“No, he can’t be allowed to appear there. The mont he shows up—outside the palace, no less—it becos a disaster for . Those rigid old fools who keep chanting about the ‘rightful eldest prince’ will never miss such a chance. No... absolutely not...”

“Your Highness is right...”

Watching Andrew actively reason his way through it, a faint smile curved at the corner of Orlando’s mouth. Then he lowered his head and asked sincerely,

“Then... what does Your Highness °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° intend to do?”

“What else is there to do? At this point, there’s only—”

A vicious glint flashed across Andrew’s face. He suddenly turned his gaze toward Orlando.

“You go out first.”

“I...”

“Get out! Let be alone. No one is to disturb !”

“...Yes.”

Orlando obediently turned his wheelchair and left the room.

Everything returned to silence; even the lights dimd.

After closing his eyes in the darkness for a long while, certain that no one would interrupt him, Orlando took out an exquisite handbell.

The bronze bell rang, its clear sound piercing through the night.

Then a bird swept in like a shadow from outside the window and landed atop his antique bookshelf.

“Prince Andrew.”

The robin, wearing a bow tie, gave an elegant bow.

“Good evening. Summoning —do you require my assistance in so matter?”

“I want to et Mr. White Tiger.”

“This...”

“I want to et him.”

“Since it is Prince Andrew’s command...”

The robin let out a helpless sigh. With a flick of his wing, a small, delicate magic device fell before Andrew.

The device activated, a luminous screen spreading clearly through the darkness as a majestic figure gradually ca into focus.

It was a white tiger standing upright, gently swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. As if expecting this eting all along, he calmly looked toward the other side of the projection.

“It’s been a long ti, noble Prince Andrew. Seeing that you are still in good health makes happier than anyone...”

“Cut the nonsense.”

Andrew interrupted him directly.

“You know why I called you, don’t you?”

“...Of course.”

White Tiger smiled.

“With all of Belrand watching you and the Eldest Prince, even if I wished not to know, it would hardly be realistic.”

“Good. I agree to the conditions you proposed before. In return, you will kill Albert.”

Andrew clenched his fist and spoke every word distinctly.

“Completely—on the level of both body and soul. I do not want him to appear at that charity banquet.”

“This...”

Evidently unprepared for Andrew’s bluntness, White Tiger paused for a mont.

“Do you not wish to reconsider?”

“There’s nothing to reconsider. I’ve long been sick of the Royal faction anyway. Royal faction—do they truly see no one but my dying father in their eyes? And that Duke Campbell as well—I personally sent him several letters, all of which sank without a trace. That bastard is probably looking down on too!”

Andrew ground his teeth, none of the composure and magnanimity he usually displayed remaining.

“I will give you what you deserve—status and power. But the premise is that I sit on that throne! You understand that... I must sit on it!”

“Of course. That is precisely why we support you.”

White Tiger placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.

“Then, as you wish, we will exert our full efforts to resolve your troubles. Robin, show His Highness that.”

“Understood.”

The robin hopped forward and handed a docunt to Andrew.

“This is...?”

“The plan. Everything you need is in there.”

“A plan...”

Andrew flipped through it quickly. He had little interest in the so-called assassination procedures—he understood that rigid plans were of limited value, that situations during an assassination changed constantly, and that adaptability mattered most.

But after reading the entire plan, his pupils still contracted as he exclaid in shock,

“These thods of travel and routes for Albert—are they real?”

“Of course they’re real.”

White Tiger raised three fingers, smiling.

“One week from now, the Eldest Prince has three ways to reach the Lower District. First: travel in his true identity, riding in Marquis Angus’s carriage.

Second: disguise himself as a royal musician and depart with the royal ensemble.

Third: hide within an outbound procurent convoy.

“But...”

White Tiger closed those fingers together.

“All three are actually smokescreens. The Eldest Prince intends to use these decoys to disrupt our actions, then—with the help of outsiders—secretly leave the palace and head for the Lower District.”

“Why do you know all of this? Could it be that—”

Listening to White Tiger’s detailed explanation, Andrew realized that every possible path for the Eldest Prince had been completely sealed off by this plan. A chill crept into his heart.

“That’s right. For us to know things in such detail, it naturally ans that there is my informant at the Eldest Prince’s side.”

“An informant...”

Andrew’s gaze sharpened.

“My brother is that intelligent—wouldn’t he discover the informant?”

“Rest assured. I can guarantee it.”

White Tiger wore a cryptic smile.

“The existence of the informant will absolutely not be discovered by the Eldest Prince.”

......

“Your Highness, everything has been arranged according to your instructions.”

The maid Lavini entered the room soundlessly, placing her hands gently at Albert’s temples and massaging them to ease the exhaustion of his long day.

“When the ti cos, we can depart.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It is my duty.”

“It’s fortunate that you’re by my side.”

Albert lightly grasped Lavini’s hand and asked with a gentle smile,

“There may be so danger ahead. Even so, will you stay with the whole way?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Lavini froze for a mont.

Then her lips curved upward. She leaned down, clasped Albert’s hand in return, and murmured softly by his ear,

“Of course. I will always stay with you, Your Highness.”