The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

”Hmm~ Hmm~”

A maid strolled leisurely down the mansion’s hallway, pushing a trolley.

Joy lit up her beautiful face as she hummed a tune without words.

Suddenly, she stopped and turned her head toward the large window set into the wall.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through it, bathing the corridor in a warm, gentle glow.

Beyond the glass, a vibrant garden full of blooming flowers stretched out in inviting splendor.

”Ah, that’s right... Prince Nolan is here,” she murmured. ”His appearance... it’s nothing like the rumors. He’s so handsome, with a perfect jawline. And his eyes—lazy, yet sharp—felt like they could see straight into my soul.”

She bit her lower lip and slowly moved her left hand between her thighs.

”Ahn~” A soft moan escaped her. Her body tensed and shifted subtly, her gaze turning sultry.

”If only I could make him mine...” she whispered, eyes gleaming with lust and greed as she ran her tongue across her lips in a slow, teasing motion. ”Wouldn’t that be fun?”

...

Nighttime...

Nolan sat comfortably on the bed, his back resting against the headboard.

A storybook lay open in his right hand, and he read it with a calm expression.

Thanks to the luxurious accommodations prepared by Orlan, the room was exceptionally comfortable—especially the bed, which was incredibly soft.

Of course, the beds in the imperial palace were just as lavish, but for some reason, he felt more at ease here.

Every now and then, his eyelids drooped, as if sleep might take him—but it never did.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. The short hand was already pointing to ten.

By his estimate, the culprit would be making a move soon.

”Marquis Orlan and Jisha are already in position. Now I just have to wait for that person to show up,” he murmured.

Nolan was certain that the one who had cursed Alicia—and made Orlan suffer for so many years—would try to attack him tonight.

After all, he was a prince. If anything happened to him—let alone if he died—Orlan would take the full blame, and the consequences would be severe.

As far as Nolan knew, killing a prince carried the death penalty.

The offender’s noble title would be stripped, and their entire family exiled. They would be branded as traitors to the Empire.

One could easily imagine the culprit—hidden behind a false identity all this time—watching from the shadows, delighting in Orlan and his family’s suffering.

”Once the culprit is caught, I’ll interrogate them thoroughly,” he said coldly, his eyes flashing like lightning.

Although Nolan usually kept his distance from government affairs, that didn’t mean he’d turn a blind eye when someone threatened the Empire’s stability.

The Caltheron family played a vital role in the Empire. They had done the nation a great service by developing their entrusted territory with excellence.

More importantly, Orlan was a good man—and a valuable potential ally for Elina in the fight for the throne.

Nolan couldn’t allow him to be put at risk. Any harm to Orlan might jeopardize Elina’s chances of succession.

Just as Nolan sank deeper into thought, the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears, followed by the gentle squeak of trolley wheels.

Knock!

”Pardon the interruption, Your Highness. It’s me, Nina. I’ve brought your dinner. May I come in?”

Nolan blinked in surprise, suddenly realizing he hadn’t eaten all day.

”You may enter, Nina. The door’s unlocked,” he called out.

Clack!

The door opened, and Nina—a petite, pretty girl—stepped in from the hallway.

She pushed the food trolley toward the center of the room and stopped beside the sofa.

”Good evening, Your Highness,” she greeted with a polite bow.

Nolan rose slowly from the bed and offered a warm smile. ”Perfect timing. I haven’t eaten yet, so I’m glad you came when you did. Thank you.”

His gaze drifted toward the trolley. A variety of dishes were neatly arranged—sautéed beef, grilled shrimp, and several other mouthwatering delicacies.

Just the sight of them made his calm stomach suddenly growl with hunger.

”You’re welcome, Your Highness.”

Nina’s adorable face turned slightly red with embarrassment.

She carefully transferred the dishes from the trolley to the table near the sofa.

Once everything was neatly arranged, she straightened up and gave another polite bow.

”Then, I’ll take my leave, Your Highness,” she said softly.

”Alright,” Nolan replied with a small nod, not stopping her.

As Nina exited the room, Nolan began to enjoy his dinner. The food was delicious, each dish giving off an irresistible aroma.

Twenty minutes later...

”Phew... I’m stuffed.”

Nolan leaned back lazily, patting his stomach in satisfaction.

He glanced at the stack of empty plates and chuckled to himself.

Truth be told, he wasn’t someone who usually ate much. But the food Nina had prepared was so tasty, he simply couldn’t help himself.

With his eyes closed, he rested quietly, letting his full stomach settle.

Just then, footsteps approached the door, followed by a soft knock.

Knock knock!

”Your Highness, I’ve come to clear the dishes. Have you finished eating?”

Nolan opened his eyes and looked toward the door.

”I’m done. You can come in.”

The door opened, and Nina entered, pushing the food trolley.

She smiled warmly at Nolan and asked, ”How was your dinner, Your Highness? Did it suit your taste?”

”It was perfect! Everything was delicious and suited my palate very well,” Nolan replied sincerely.

The four main regions of the Great Velmora Empire—South, North, East, and West—were more than just administrative divisions.

They reflected the diverse cultures, customs, and characteristics of each area.

Take the southern region, for instance. As the second-largest area and blessed with fertile lands, its people were generally tall—like Aldric and Orlan—and preferred savory dishes with mild spices.

The eastern region, by contrast, was the largest and bordered the sea that connected to the open ocean.

Thanks to its geography, the people there consumed seafood—fish, shrimp, and squid—more frequently than meat or agricultural products.

As a result, their cuisine focused on freshness, with minimal seasoning.

Even back when he was Nolan Frey in his previous life, he had always enjoyed savory, richly flavored food.

Although Nina’s cooking wasn’t particularly bold in taste, he still found it enjoyable. It felt just right on his tongue.

”I’m glad you liked it,” Nina said with a sigh of relief, a sweet smile forming on her lips.

As she began clearing the dirty dishes, she added, ”I’m truly happy to hear that, Your Highness. I personally prepared your meal, so your praise means a lot to me.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment, and Nolan chuckled softly at her innocent reaction.

But just as he reached for the glass of tea he had prepared earlier, Nina suddenly turned toward him—with an expression that felt... off.

”By the way, Your Highness, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”

She slowly rose to her feet and asked in a quiet voice, ”If someone wronged you... would you forgive them?”

Nolan blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

Still, he didn’t think much of it and replied calmly, ”As long as the mistake isn’t fatal, I wouldn’t hold a grudge.”

Nina fell silent for a moment, then offered a faint smile.

”You’re truly kind, Your Highness. In that case... allow me to apologize for what I’ve done.”

Nolan’s eyes widened. A sense of dread crept up his spine.

He started to rise from his seat, but suddenly—

Badump!

”Argh—!”

A sharp pain pierced his chest. He clutched the left side of it, groaning in agony.

His entire body began to tremble, cold sweat breaking out across his skin.

His eyes darted to Nina—still smiling.

But now, that smile looked nothing short of terrifying.

”Nina... you...”

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