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

”Ugh...” Zarak groaned softly as he slowly opened his eyes.

Suddenly, he gasped in surprise when he saw his surroundings—a dark and silent room.

”This... Where am I? Have I been kidnapped?” he wondered frantically.

His gaze scanned the entire room, and he realized he was inside a prison cell. The room was narrow, with a single iron bed that was supposed to be his.

Chains and iron balls were placed on the side of the room, looking like instruments of torture.

Boom!

A thunderclap echoed from outside, followed by heavy rain. The already tense atmosphere grew even more frightening.

”Damn it! The person who kidnapped me must be one of the princes,” Zarak growled, clenching his fists.

Only they would want him dead, especially given his current situation.

”But who did it? Aldric? Adalen? Or even... Elina?”

For some reason, his intuition told him it wasn’t any of them—not even Elina. That girl couldn’t possibly have such a complex heart... could she?

That left only two people—Cassian and Cedric. Between the two, he leaned more toward Cedric.

It should be noted that his mansion was heavily guarded by mercenaries he had personally hired. They were strong, and it was nearly impossible for any assassin to infiltrate.

And as far as he knew, Cedric was the most mysterious one, with countless unpredictable tricks.

His mansion might be well protected, but if that man with glasses said he would die, then it could really happen.

”Damn it...” Zarak bit his thumbnail to suppress his anxiety. ”I have to get out of here and reach that place. Otherwise, I’ll die and lose my chance in this battle for the throne.”

He searched the room for a way out, but it was futile. The cell was tightly sealed without a single flaw. The door was solid, with only four iron bars at the top to see outside.

There was a crack in the upper back wall, but it was blocked by three iron bars.

It was clearly impossible for him to escape through there.

As confusion turned into despair, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside.

Startled, Zarak quickly returned to his original position and pretended to be unconscious. He wanted to see the face of Cedric’s henchman who had captured him.

Seconds passed, and the sound grew closer.

Click!

The sound of a key turning echoed, and the door slowly opened. A tall man with gray hair entered. He wore a long black cloak that reached down to his feet.

Unfortunately, a mask covered his face, making it impossible for Zarak to see who he was.

The man approached him, lifted his right leg, and kicked Zarak in the stomach.

Bang!

The impact was so strong that his large body was lifted off the ground and slammed against the back wall.

”Argh...!” Zarak groaned in pain, clutching his stomach. It felt as if his internal organs—his stomach, intestines, and kidneys—had shifted to places they shouldn’t be.

”Don’t pretend to be unconscious, you damn pig,” the man snapped coldly. ”Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been awake all this time. Enough small talk. Come with me to my lord.”

With that, he turned and walked out.

Zarak’s stomach and back throbbed with pain. Honestly, he could barely move, but he didn’t dare disobey. Forcing himself, he struggled to get to his feet while clutching his stomach.

Every step was weak and faltering as he followed the man.

***

In a spacious room, a man in a black cloak sat lazily on a throne.

The cloak draped down to his feet, and the demon mask he wore concealed his entire face.

Just sitting there, he radiated such an aura that anyone who looked at him would tremble, as if staring at the angel of death.

The room was so silent that even the faintest breeze could be heard.

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the gate. Two figures entered—the gray-haired man and Zarak.

Zarak turned toward the throne, and in an instant, his body froze.

Singularity of... Chaos!? He gasped in horror. How is this possible? Am I dreaming?

At first, he had thought Cedric had kidnapped him to torture him. But now, the true culprit was the Singularity of Chaos.

What had happened? Why was this targeting me?

Questions swirled in his mind, but none offered an answer.

”My lord, I have brought Prince Zarak before you,” said the man beside him respectfully.

The Singularity of Chaos gave a slight nod. ”Thank you. You may leave.”

Without a word, the man turned and left, leaving Zarak alone with the masked figure.

Fear surged through Zarak, but he was not one to panic in the face of danger.

With his head bowed and hands trembling yet clasped together, he spoke, ”Good evening, Singularity of Chaos. I don’t know why I’m here, but I am certain you must have saved me from evil forces. So... thank you.”

He truly had no idea how he had ended up here. But as far as he could recall, there was no grudge or hostility between him and the Singularity of Chaos. The only reasonable explanation, then, was that he had been rescued.

Perhaps Cedric had kidnapped him, and the Singularity of Chaos had saved him. Of course, these were just thoughts he clung to in an attempt to comfort himself.

”Oh?” The Singularity of Chaos sounded slightly surprised. ”And how do you know I saved you?”

Zarak froze for a moment before regaining his composure.

”Because I know you wouldn’t kidnap me, Singularity of Chaos. There’s no hostility between us, so it wouldn’t make sense for you to do that,” he replied respectfully, with a hint of admiration.

”Who says we have no hostility?” The sudden words from the Singularity of Chaos made Zarak’s heart race.

Cold sweat dripped down his body, soaking his clothes.

What did he mean? Since when did we have a conflict? Zarak frantically searched his memory for any events that might explain it.

Suddenly, he remembered hiring assassins from the Blood Moon organization to kill Elina and Nolan. Fear crept over him as he muttered in horror, Don’t tell me... that’s what he means? Damn it! I hope not!

”Pfft! I’m just kidding,” the playful voice of the Singularity of Chaos rang out, instantly easing Zarak’s tension.

Forcing a stiff, awkward smile, Zarak laughed along. ”Your sense of humor is really good, Singularity of Chaos.”

The masked figure simply smiled silently in response.

Quickly, he changed the subject. ”By the way, do you know who intends to kill you?”

Zarak’s expression darkened immediately. ”Who else but that bespectacled man, Cedric Lorian?”