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

”I’m sorry… I don’t think I can go with you.”

Rei and Roseline froze, staring at her in confusion.

”You can’t come? Why?” Roseline asked anxiously.

Evalyn didn’t answer right away. She kept her head down for a moment before slowly looking up—her face already stained with tears.

”…Because I’m about to disappear.”

The moment she said it, something strange happened. A faint white light started glowing from her body.

It kept getting brighter.

Rei and Roseline’s eyes widened.

”Evalyn, you…” Roseline quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as sadness filled her heart.

”Forgive me, Ancestor,” Evalyn said hoarsely. ”After I defeated the Demon Emperor, I started feeling this strange force pulling me. The longer time passed, the stronger it got. In the end, I realized… my time in this era was ending.”

She let out a soft sigh and lowered her gaze to her right hand, which was slowly breaking apart into particles of light.

Roseline couldn’t hold it in anymore. She stepped forward and hugged Evalyn tightly.

”Evalyn... thank you... Thank you for coming to this era,” she sobbed. ”Because of you, we were able to win this war. Once again, thank you...”

Rei also felt a deep sadness welling up inside him, but he forced himself to hold it back. Lowering his head, he clenched his fists tightly in an attempt to suppress his tears.

Evalyn returned Roseline’s embrace and buried her face in her shoulder.

”You’re welcome, Ancestor. I’m also glad I could help you during the battle just now. Thank you for all the experiences you’ve given me.”

Both of them were immersed in deep sorrow. The air around them was heavy and quiet.

Watching that painful farewell, Rei couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears welled up in his eyes before slowly running down his cheeks.

Even though his time with Evalyn had been brief, the parting still felt painfully heavy.

Moreover, Evalyn was his descendant in the future—a part of his family.

After a moment, Evalyn and Roseline finally released their embrace.

Evalyn turned to Rei, then walked over and bowed her head.

”Ancestor, thank you,” she said softly. ”Thanks to you, I was able to learn many hero techniques. Once again… thank you.”

She’d come to this era just to learn the basics of Rei’s fighting style. By the time the major assault on the Western Continent began, she’d already mastered it.

Rei suppressed the sadness in his heart. He straightened his posture and forced a smile.

”You’re welcome. I should also thank you. Because of you, I’ve realized many things I had never noticed before.”

His gaze occasionally drifted toward Roseline.

All this time, he had ignored the feelings she had shown him.

It wasn’t until he met Evalyn and Nolan that he realized his stance had been nothing more than an act of cowardice.

He was a man.

He should not keep pretending to be oblivious to a woman who had sincerely expressed her feelings, whether directly or indirectly.

Evalyn lifted her head and smiled gently.

”I’m glad to see you’ve finally realized Ancestor Roseline’s feelings. I hope the two of you stay on good terms. And remember—”

Her expression turned serious.

”Don’t give in to the Dark Hero, understand? If you do and make Ancestor Roseline sad, I’ll come back to this era by any means necessary and beat you up.”

She raised her fist in a playful threat.

Rei wasn’t angry. Instead, he let out a small laugh and nodded.

”Don’t worry. I won’t do it. I swear.”

He raised his right hand with a sincere expression.

Evalyn grinned in satisfaction. She trusted Rei. After all, it was from Rei and Roseline’s marriage that the Lionheart family would be born and continue to exist for a thousand years into the future.

Buzz!

The light surrounding her grew brighter. Her arms and legs slowly began to dissolve into particles of light.

Evalyn watched her body fade away and smiled softly.

”It’s time. Goodbye, both of you. Stay healthy… all the way to the end of your lives.”

With those words, her body turned into light and flew into the sky.

Roseline and Rei looked up, a mix of sadness and quiet relief in their eyes.

Then, suddenly, a voice came from behind them.

”Hero of Light, Your Highness the Princess, what are you doing?”

They both turned and saw Lucien, one of the generals who had fought in the battle earlier.

”We were just seeing Warrior Evalyn off,” Rei replied softly.

Lucien’s face filled with confusion.

”Warrior Evalyn? Who is she?”

They both froze.

They looked at each other in astonishment.

”Evalyn is…”

The words caught in Rei’s throat.

At the same time, his memories of Evalyn began to fade.

Her face.

Her smile.

The way she spoke to him.

The spirit she always carried.

Everything gradually faded, as though an invisible hand were erasing her existence from their memories.

”Evalyn… Evalyn…” Rei muttered repeatedly, his face turning pale.

”Evalyn…”

He clutched his head tightly.

”Who is she?”

…

”So, what brings you here?”

An old woman stared at Nolan with a cold gaze.

She had a hunched back, a pale face, and black hair streaked with gray.

She was Leinara, the leader of the Falling Star Academy.

Nolan met her gaze calmly before saying, ”I’ve come to entrust a girl to you.”

He then turned to Chloe.

”Introduce yourself.”

Chloe stepped forward and bowed her head.

”My name is Chloe. Nice to meet you.”

Leinara narrowed her eyes.

”So, you caused chaos in this academy just to entrust that girl to me?” she asked, her voice restrained.

A blue aura erupted from her body, forming a violent whirlwind that swept through the room and shattered everything in its path.

Yet Nolan remained calm. The mysterious barrier surrounding him effortlessly withstood the destructive force of the aura.

”Yes, I came to leave her here. Why? Do you object?” Nolan asked provocatively.

”You…”

Leinara gritted her teeth at his insolence.

However, she didn’t dare confront him directly.

After all, Nolan’s strength was terrifying. By himself, he had turned the Falling Star Academy upside down and driven numerous Celestial Mages into retreat.

His strength was at least at the Beyond the World level—or perhaps even higher.

Leinara had no desire to make an enemy of someone like that.

Still, she couldn’t show any weakness. If she did, Nolan would only become even more arrogant.

”Don’t worry. I’m not asking for your help for free. I’ll give you a reward.”

He opened his palm, and a vial of potion appeared out of nowhere. He casually tossed it to Leinara.

”You only have a few years left to live. I’m sure you’re aware of that, aren’t you? Drink this. I guarantee it will extend your lifespan by another two hundred years.”

Leinara’s expression froze. Her eyes widened as she stared at the vial in her hand.

”Are you telling the truth!?” she asked in disbelief.

”Of course.” Nolan gave a slight nod. ”I don’t have time to play games with you.”

Leinara swallowed hard.

Her natural lifespan should have been around four hundred years.

However, the severe injury she suffered two years ago drastically shortened her lifespan. She had already resigned herself to her fate.

Who would have thought that Nolan would actually give her such a miraculous potion?

She clutched the potion tightly and nodded repeatedly.

”I agree! Don’t worry. As long as I remain at this academy, that girl will be safe!” she promised firmly.

Nolan smiled in satisfaction. He turned to Chloe and knelt in front of her.

”Study hard. This place will be your home from now on. If the opportunity arises, I’ll come visit you in the future. Do you understand?”

Chloe was already sobbing uncontrollably. She immediately threw herself into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

”Mhmm! I’ll be good! Just make sure you come back for me someday, okay?”

Nolan nodded with a gentle smile.

The two shared one last hug before reluctantly letting go.

Buzz!

A white light suddenly radiated from Nolan’s body.

At the same time, his hands began to dissolve into countless particles of light.

”The time has come.”

Leinara was startled by the sight.

”What’s happening to you?”

Nolan merely smiled and ignored her question.

His gentle gaze rested on Chloe for a few final moments.

Then, his body completely transformed into light and disappeared from that world.