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

”Good job, Evalyn.”

Nolan walked over and patted Evalyn on the shoulder.

Evalyn gave a faint smile and snorted. ”Is that all I get?”

Nolan paused for a moment before realizing what she meant.

”What do you want?” he asked jokingly, folding his arms across his chest.

”Hmmm...”

Evalyn stroked her chin and looked him up and down with a meaningful gaze.

Goosebumps instantly rose on Nolan’s skin. A ridiculous thought immediately crossed his mind.

”Don’t tell me... she wants my body? Damn... Isn’t that dangerous?”

While he was still lost in his imagination, Evalyn’s voice pulled him back to reality.

”Take me to eat at the Dragon’s Tear Restaurant again next time. Can you?”

Nolan froze. The woman was looking at him with a mischievous smile.

The corner of his mouth twitched. It seemed she knew how to tease him as well.

”Alright, I’ll take you.”

Nolan waved a hand dismissively.

”By the way, come with me to collect my winnings.”

As he spoke, he rubbed his palms together eagerly.

Earlier, he had bet fifty million Sharn on Evalyn. In the first category, he predicted Evalyn would win. In the second, neither attack managed to hit her. And in the third, Nathan ended up covered in twenty bruises.

It was almost the same set of choices he had made when betting against Cedric earlier.

The third category, in particular, was the one Nolan had been hoping for the most.

The odds of predicting it correctly were incredibly low, so anyone who guessed it right would receive a payout of one hundred times their bet.

Nolan himself had placed a bet of twenty million Sharn. According to the rules, he would receive two billion Sharn in return.

That was an enormous sum—equivalent to the combined quarterly income of four Dukes.

Evalyn nodded. Coincidentally, she also wanted to see how much profit Nolan had made from his bet.

And she fully intended to ask for her share. After all, it was thanks to her that Nolan had won.

Unaware of Evalyn’s little scheme, Nolan grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

***

The prize collection area was located not far from the arena where Evalyn and Nathan had fought.

”So, the one who came up with this betting event was the Red Rose Trading House?”

”That’s right.” Evalyn nodded. ”The Red Rose Trading House is affiliated with the Asbourne family. If I’m not mistaken, Hector Asbourne’s wife is the daughter of the trading house’s former leader. Since her parents passed away, she has taken over its management.”

Hector’s marriage to Ereina, the daughter of the Red Rose Trading House’s leader, was well known at the time.

Not only because of the lavish wedding, but also because the marriage created a strong alliance between the Asbourne family and the Red Rose Trading House.

Back then, the Red Rose Trading House was the strongest trading house after Belfor’s Red Obsidian Trading House.

However, after the rise of the Blue Moon Trading House, not only did the Red Obsidian Trading House decline, but many other trading houses suffered as well, including the Red Rose Trading House.

Now, the Red Rose Trading House ranked fourth, and its assets had dwindled to only twenty percent of what they had been during its peak.

”Hmmm…” Nolan stroked his chin.

In truth, he had a conflict with the Red Rose Trading House. More precisely, the conflict stemmed from Shion and the Blue Moon Trading House.

The Red Rose Trading House frequently interfered with their business, especially by carrying out various acts of sabotage against the chefs working at their three restaurants.

As a result, the restaurants suffered considerable losses. Fortunately, Eliza had an extremely sharp taste. Thanks to her, they managed to get through the crisis.

Thinking about the Red Rose Trading House, a faint smile appeared on Nolan’s lips.

”Hehe... What a coincidence. I’d like to see if they can actually afford to pay. If they can’t, then... hmm... I’ll make them lose even more money.”

Before long, he and Evalyn arrived at the prize collection area. Many people had already gathered there ahead of them. There were roughly three to four hundred people in total.

At first glance, that was a lot. But compared to the crowd that had filled the arena earlier, it wasn’t even a fifth as many.

”Welcome, Your Highness,” a young man greeted them. ”Are you here to claim your prize?”

Nolan and Evalyn turned toward him.

Nolan nodded.

”Yes, I am.”

The young man smiled.

”Please follow me.”

Nolan said nothing and followed him, while Evalyn walked behind.

The two were led to a private room separate from the crowd waiting in line outside.

The room was spacious and luxurious. Everything—from the cabinets and sofas to the tables and curtains—looked like it had been made from top-quality materials.

”Welcome, Your Highness, and congratulations to the champion, Young Lady Evalyn.”

A beautiful woman greeted them. She was tall, nearly as tall as Evalyn.

Her dark gray hair flowed down her back, and a crescent-shaped hair ornament rested on the right side of her head.

Her black eyes had slightly upturned corners, giving her a naturally cynical appearance, though that did not necessarily reflect her personality.

She wore a red dress, the skirt short enough to reach her knees. Her long, fair legs were wrapped in black stockings.

It had to be said—she was exceptionally beautiful. Yet she exuded a dangerous aura, like a venomous snake waiting to strike.

The woman was Ereina, Nathan Asbourne’s mother and the leader of the Red Rose Trading House.

The young man who had escorted them bowed to Ereina before quietly taking his leave.

”Please, have a seat,” Ereina said, gesturing toward the sofa beside her.

Nolan and Evalyn sat down while Ereina prepared tea for them.

Once she was done, she set three cups of tea on the table and took a seat on the sofa across from them.

”Your Highness Nolan, Young Lady Evalyn, I believe you already know who I am, right?” Ereina said with a faint smile. ”My name is Ereina, the leader of the Red Rose Trading House, and I...”

She began introducing herself.

Nolan listened calmly without interrupting. He wanted to see what Ereina was truly trying to accomplish.

The prize Nolan had won was enormous. As the owner of the Blue Moon Trading House, he knew better than anyone that the Red Rose Trading House could not possibly come up with billions of Sharn on such short notice.

Even if they had that amount, most of it would be tied up as operating capital. If that capital were disrupted, their financial chain would collapse, and bankruptcy would be inevitable.

After finishing her introduction, Ereina noticed that Nolan and Evalyn remained silent. Neither of them had even touched the tea she had prepared.

”Your Highness Nolan?” she called hesitantly. ”Why aren’t you drinking your tea? Is it not to your liking? If you wish, I can prepare a fresh pot.”

Just as she was about to stand, Nolan stopped her.

”No need. I didn’t come here to drink tea. I came here to claim my prize.”

His eyes met Ereina’s dark ones calmly.

”I’m sure you’ve already prepared it, haven’t you?”