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

Whoosh!

A surge of black light and smoke suddenly burst forth in front of Nolan.

Moments later, the figures of Arnold and Malverna emerged from within—each wearing a starkly different expression.

Arnold smiled and bowed respectfully, while Malverna crossed her arms and let out an irritated grunt, her gaze sharp and cold.

”Welcome, my Lord. Did you have a pleasant journey?” Arnold asked politely.

”Quite pleasant,” Nolan replied, stretching his stiff body before taking a sip of the tea Elina had prepared—still warm and fragrant.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he continued, ”By the way, thanks for your help yesterday, Arnold. Without you, things might’ve gotten a bit tricky.”

”Pfft! No need to thank me, my Lord. Helping you is part of the job,” Arnold replied with a chuckle and a casual wave.

Nolan nodded in approval, then turned to Malverna. ”Oh, right—Malverna, this is Arnold, my most loyal subordinate.”

He then turned to Arnold and gestured toward her. ”Arnold, this is Malverna—the Demon Empress from a thousand years ago. For... certain reasons, I’ve made her my slave.”

”Temporary slave,” Malverna corrected sharply.

Nolan simply shrugged and took another sip of his tea.

Arnold was momentarily surprised, then turned to Malverna with a curious expression.

”Were you the leader of the Demon race a thousand years ago? I thought that title belonged to the Demon Emperor, who was killed by the two Transcendents back then.”

Malverna shook her head casually and replied with indifference, ”He wasn’t the true leader. He was my disciple—one who betrayed me, killed me, and usurped my power. So, the history you know is a lie.”

Every time that traitor’s image surfaced in her mind, Malverna couldn’t suppress the murderous intent simmering within her.

The betrayal of someone she had trusted most had shattered her heart and made it difficult to trust anyone again—even Nolan.

Arnold fell silent. Although curiosity stirred within him, he wasn’t foolish enough to pry into someone’s past so recklessly.

After all, they had just met. And judging by her frosty attitude toward his Lord, it was clear this woman would be a handful.

”I’m Arnold. As my Lord said, I’m his most loyal subordinate. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said politely, extending his left hand.

Malverna hesitated but eventually accepted the gesture and offered her left hand in return.

But the moment their hands touched, her eyes widened—and she quickly pulled her hand back.

Her eyes widened in horror as she exclaimed in a trembling voice, ”What powerful mana! And your mana... it’s so pure—like it’s one with nature itself.”

Her expression quickly shifted. Narrowing her eyes warily, she asked in a guarded tone, ”Who exactly are you? And... are you a descendant of the Ancient Dragon?”

The Ancient Dragon—an awe-inspiring title—belonged to the most powerful being in existence: the supreme ruler of the dragon race across all corners of the world.

He was a legendary figure, said to be the very first dragon to ever exist. It was he who had founded the Celestial Empire of Velgranth on the western continent and passed its leadership down to his descendants.

The Ancient Dragon had long since entered a deep slumber and hadn’t been seen for thousands of years.

So how did Malverna recognize Arnold’s connection to him?

Simple. In the past, she had once met the Dragon Emperor—and had felt that same overwhelming presence of natural power within him.

Now, standing before Arnold, she felt that same presence once again. There was no doubt in her mind—this man was connected to the Ancient Dragon and the Imperial family of Velgranth.

”Ancient Dragon? I haven’t heard that name in a long time,” Arnold said with a soft chuckle. Then, with a slight nod, he added, ”You’re right. I am connected to the Ancient Dragon—but not in the way you might think.”

Malverna’s brows drew together in a slight frown, but she held her tongue. Just like Arnold, she knew they had only just met. Asking personal questions now would be unwise.

”Well, actually, I called you here for one reason,” Nolan said bluntly, glancing at each of them in turn. ”Arnold, starting today, you’re off Elina’s guard duty. Malverna will take over. Keep an eye on my sister and protect her, okay?”

Malverna didn’t object. She gave a small nod, her expression cold and indifferent.

”I understand,” she replied simply.

For her, protecting someone wasn’t difficult. The real issue was that, until now, there had never been anyone she deemed worth protecting. Elina would be the first.

Seeing no resistance, Nolan nodded in satisfaction. Despite her ice-cold demeanor, Malverna always followed his orders without complaint.

That alone was enough for him.

He then turned to Arnold and said, ”Now it’s your turn, Arnold. I have an important mission for you.”

Arnold placed his right hand over his chest and bowed respectfully. ”Please give the order, my Lord.”

”I want you to keep an eye on Cedric and find out what he’s been up to lately. Also, monitor the Prime Minister’s movements. I want all the information gathered within three days. Understood?” Nolan looked at him sharply.

Among Elina’s rivals for the throne, the two most dangerous were Aldric and Cedric. But on his own, Cedric was far more threatening.

The four-eyed man was known for his intelligence, cunning, and precision.

He had been the Academy’s most outstanding student—earning a perfect score, something no one in the empire’s history had ever achieved.

To make matters worse, he was backed by the Prime Minister—a figure even more dangerous than the Malvain family.

Admittedly, in terms of resources, military strength, and influence, Prime Minister Roswell was no match for the great noble families. But in the world of politics, he possessed a far deadlier weapon: connections.

His network of spies and informants spanned the entire Empire—perhaps even extending into the territories of other kingdoms and empires.

It was no surprise. He had stood at the pinnacle of power since the reign of his father. The foundations he’d laid were deep—far beyond what ordinary people could comprehend.

Compared to the Malvain family or even the Singularity of Light, Nolan was far more wary of the man who always wore a smile.

”As you command, my Lord. Don’t worry—I’ll gather everything,” Arnold replied respectfully.

”I believe in your ability,” Nolan said seriously. ”But be careful. Roswell is cunning and calculating. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s already anticipated someone trying to infiltrate his circle.”

Arnold fell silent for a moment before narrowing his eyes and nodding firmly. ”Understood.”

Nolan said nothing more. He trusted Arnold more than anyone.

After giving a few additional instructions, he waved them off.

”Yawn~” Nolan let out a lazy yawn as he rose from his seat.

He turned to the window on his right and gazed outside, a sarcastic smile tugging at his lips.

”A birthday party, huh? I hope something interesting happens... Otherwise, it’s going to be unbearably dull, isn’t it?”

. . .

Author’s Note:

Thank you all for your incredible support this month. I truly didn’t expect these results—it’s all thanks to you!

I hope you’ll continue supporting me in the coming month as well.

Thank you again!