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

”Then I have to go back first. My time is up as well. Take care of yourself, Father. Please let me know if you get out safely,” Melinda said, her voice tinged with worry.

After saying this, she didn’t know if she would ever see her father again. It was entirely possible that this was their last meeting.

”Yes, my daughter. Don’t worry, I will leave safely. Focus on your duties, and make sure the Red Obsidian Trading House remains under your control. Only then can Zarak continue the battle for the throne,” Belfor replied, his tone grave.

”I understand, Father. Leave it to me,” Melinda answered firmly.

Belfor then gave her additional instructions. The Red Obsidian Trading House would most likely be claimed by the Imperial Palace, so Melinda should not act hastily.

At the very least, she needed to wait for the court’s decision. Only once everything was settled could she approach Claire to secure ninety percent ownership of the Red Obsidian Trading House.

For now, Nolan had yet to realize he had been deceived. Belfor, therefore, warned Melinda to remain cautious. Only when ninety percent ownership was firmly in her hands could she act freely.

After all, Nolan would lack the authority or strength to claim the remainder. Even if he tried to seek revenge against Belfor, it would be too late—Belfor would have vanished from everyone’s sight.

Suffice it to say, Belfor was not the one losing; he was the true victor, orchestrating everything from the shadows.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Nolan. If Belfor believed he was ten steps ahead, Nolan was already waiting a thousand steps beyond.

A few minutes later, Belfor stopped, and Melinda assured him that she understood everything.

Belfor let out a quiet sigh, no longer holding it in. Watching his daughter disappear from view, he couldn’t help but smile.

”Everything is in order. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting for tomorrow,” he whispered coldly.

Just as he turned to step back into his cell, the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention, followed by a warden’s voice.

”Belfor Horven, don’t go back just yet. There’s one more person who wants to see you.”

Belfor froze. His brows knitted together. ”Who else? Isn’t Melinda the only visitor?”

The warden shook his head. ”I don’t know. But the visitor already has permission, so I can’t refuse.”

Suppressing a racing heartbeat, Belfor gave a small nod.

”Very well. Let them in.”

The warden stepped aside, and shortly after, the door creaked open. A woman entered.

She was stunning—flawless features, long white hair styled in a bun, and a white blindfold covering both eyes.

The moment Belfor laid eyes on her, his heart skipped a beat.

”Claire?” he exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.

The woman before him was his other daughter—Claire Horven. But how could she be here? Hadn’t she been exiled to a remote village?

While Belfor wrestled with confusion, Claire had already approached and taken the seat Melinda had occupied earlier.

”Father, are you there?” She asked cautiously.

Belfor’s expression instantly turned cold. ”Don’t call me father. I don’t have a disabled daughter like you.”

His words struck Claire like a knife, yet she forced herself to remain calm, plastering a fragile smile on her face.

”How are you...? Are you alright? And—”

Before she could finish, Belfor interrupted, his voice icy.

”There’s no need for your concern. As I said, I don’t have a daughter like you. Now, answer me—how did you get here? Who sent you?”

His eyes narrowed, suspicious. Logically, it was impossible for Claire to know his situation, let alone find her way to this prison.

After all, he had made certain she could never leave the village—and would die there if she tried.

Claire hesitated, biting her lower lip. After a moment, she composed herself and replied, ”Carol told me about your situation. She asked me to come, hoping that my presence might ease some of your stress.”

”Carol?” Belfor’s forehead creased. ”So it was her, huh? How dare a lowly maid act beyond her duties! Hmph! It seems many have started turning against me since I was imprisoned.”

Carol was the maid he had assigned to deliver food to Claire every month. Although Belfor no longer considered Claire his child, he still couldn’t allow her to starve.

If that happened, his reputation would suffer—and his enemies would seize the chance to strike.

Claire remained silent for a moment, letting out a soft sigh before speaking again. ”Father, I have something to ask you.”

Anger surged within Belfor. He wanted to shout, ”Don’t call me father!”

But he held himself back and waited quietly, curious about what she wanted to ask.

”Why do you hate me so much?” Her blind eyes stared straight at him. ”Is it just because I was born disabled? Or is there another reason?”

Belfor was momentarily taken aback. For some reason, he felt the Claire before him might not be truly blind. He quickly dismissed the thought and replied coldly, ”Do you want to know the truth?”

Claire frowned but didn’t hesitate. She gave a small nod. ”Yes... I want to know.”

Belfor took a short breath before speaking flatly. ”To be honest, you are not the child of my true wife. You are my illegitimate child, born to a wild woman. At the time, I was conducting business in the northern kingdom and got drunk with a client. Foolishly, I slept with a woman I didn’t even know.”

He said it plainly. The reason he had kept this secret before was to prevent his enemies from using it against him.

But now, there was no need. He would soon flee the Empire and live in exile, while the Red Obsidian Trading House would be under Melinda’s control.

Once his grandson secured the throne, he planned to return and continue his ambition to subvert the Blue Moon Trading House.

”So that’s it,” Claire whispered, bowing her head.

Now she finally understood the source of her decades of suffering. No wonder her mother had hated her—she was an illegitimate child.

No wonder her sister, Melinda, often spoke to her with sharp words—she had felt her rights were being taken away.

And no wonder her father had despised her—it was she who embodied the consequences of his own folly, the reason his father’s relationship with his wife had fallen apart.

Having understood everything, a strange, unexplainable feeling washed over her, as if the chains that had bound her for so long had suddenly vanished.

Claire’s expression shifted instantly. Where sadness and despair had lingered before, now there was only confidence.

Belfor noticed the change, but he didn’t dwell on it.

”Well, Father—no, Mr. Belfor,” Claire said coldly, rising to her feet with measured grace. ”Thank you for taking the time for me. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. Now, I won’t bother you anymore. Goodbye.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Belfor frozen in place.