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

Nolan stood by the bedroom window with his hands behind his back.

”Arnold,” he called.

Whoosh!

Arnold appeared like a shadow. Kneeling on one knee, he replied respectfully, ”Your servant is here, my lord.”

Nolan didn’t turn around. Instead, he continued gazing at the night sky, where countless stars twinkled beautifully overhead.

”How did the surveillance go? Has Adalen been up to anything?”

”Reporting, my lord! Prince Adalen has indeed been making moves,” Arnold replied calmly. ”Over the past few weeks, he’s been in constant contact with the Everlain imperial family.”

”Oh?” Nolan raised an eyebrow slightly before turning to look at Arnold.

”Could it be that he and the Everlain imperial family are planning something?”

Arnold fell silent, unsure of how to answer. After all, Adalen was Nolan’s brother.

Seeing Arnold hesitate, Nolan’s suspicions only grew stronger. In a calm but cold voice, he said, ”Don’t hide anything from me. Just tell me. I won’t blame you.”

Arnold let out a long sigh before finally speaking.

”Prince Adalen is planning to attack the empire. He wants to invade through the southern territories, and with the Everlain imperial family’s backing, he’s convinced Duke Malvain to rebel.”

”I see...” Nolan simply nodded.

Arnold couldn’t hide his surprise. He had expected Nolan to lose his temper, but instead, he stayed completely calm.

Noticing the change in his expression, Nolan smiled.

”Are you wondering why I’m staying so calm?”

Arnold nodded. ”Yes. May I know the reason?”

Nolan slipped his hands into his pockets, turned away, and looked up at the night sky once more.

”Isn’t it obvious? Adalen no longer has anyone’s support. Even the noble families who once backed him have withdrawn one by one. So, the only way he can still win is by betraying us and joining forces with the Everlain imperial family.”

Among the four remaining candidates for the throne, Adalen was in the weakest position. His chances of claiming the throne were also the slimmest.

All of this was because of one person—the Singularity of Light.

Back when the struggle for the throne had just begun, many people had high hopes for Adalen.

They all believed that supporting him would bring great benefits in the future, especially with the Singularity of Light standing behind him.

After all, who wouldn’t want the support of someone that powerful?

If Nolan had been in the nobles’ position, he probably would have made the same choice.

Unfortunately, that expectation was shattered by the Singularity of Light’s arrogance during Ragan’s birthday celebration a year ago.

The old man openly defied the Great Velmora Empire and even threatened to start a war.

That incident was enough to shake the confidence of the nobles who had already pledged their support to Adalen—or were planning to do so.

The Singularity of Light didn’t seem like the type to repay a favor, even after receiving one.

And that was exactly the case. Nolan knew the Singularity of Light better than anyone.

The man was arrogant, cunning, and shameless. He wouldn’t hesitate to repay kindness with malice if it served his interests.

That was why the Singularity of Light was disliked even among the other Singularities.

As more and more nobles withdrew their support, Adalen realized his chances of taking the throne were slipping away.

Knowing both the Singularity of Light and Clarise—Adalen’s mother—Nolan had long expected Adalen to choose betrayal in the end.

As the saying goes, ”The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

”So, what was Jason Malvain’s answer? Did he accept Adalen’s offer?” Nolan asked.

”Not yet. But judging by the way he reacted, he probably will.”

Arnold’s answer made Nolan fall into deep thought.

”Jason Malvain...” he muttered, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Nolan knew very little about the man. In his eyes, Jason was intelligent, talented, and charismatic—but also ruthless.

He couldn’t understand why Adalen had chosen Jason as an ally in the rebellion.

”Could there be more to this?”

He rubbed his chin. The chances were pretty high, and his instincts told him the same thing.

He glanced at Arnold, then lightly tapped his forehead.

”I almost forgot. Why didn’t I just ask him?”

Arnold had been by Adalen’s side from the very beginning, so he should know what Adalen had offered Jason Malvain.

”Do you know what Adalen offered Jason?” Nolan asked bluntly.

Arnold nodded.

”Prince Adalen offered him the Elixir of Resurrection, Your Highness.”

”The Elixir of Resurrection...” Nolan froze.

At that moment, he was reminded of Jason’s past. Long before Ragan ascended the throne, there had been a conflict between the two.

Nolan didn’t know exactly what had happened, but he did know that it had led to the death of Jason’s fiancée.

For a time, relations between the Malvain family and the imperial family grew strained.

But thanks to Aldric and Novaria, the queen’s children, the two families eventually reconciled.

According to the rumors, Jason had loved his fiancée deeply. And now, Adalen was using the promise of bringing her back to life to lure him into betrayal.

”How fascinating...” Nolan chuckled, clapping his hands once. ”That must have been the Singularity of Light’s idea. That old man really knows how to play this game.”

Bringing the dead back to life was impossible. Even Seria, the Singularity of Life, couldn’t accomplish such a feat unless the person had died less than a month ago.

Yet Jason’s fiancée had died long before Nolan and his siblings were even born.

So how could the Singularity of Light be so confident he could do it?

If Jason were wise enough, he wouldn’t fall for Adalen and the Singularity of Light’s empty promises.

”But...” A meaningful smile appeared on Nolan’s face. ”Desperate people are the easiest to deceive, even if they happen to be the smartest person in the world.”

Nolan lifted his gaze to the bright moon hanging in the night sky.

Foolishness often wasn’t born from carelessness but from hope. To most people—including himself—the Singularity of Light’s words were nothing more than empty lies.

But to Jason, even the slightest possibility was still a glimmer of hope.

”So, Jason Malvain... what will you choose? Will you hold on to that glimmer of hope... or let it slip away?”

Nolan was curious to see what choice Jason would make.

”My lord, how do you plan to handle this matter? Shall we take action?” Arnold asked from behind him.

Nolan waved his hand dismissively.

”Let everything run its course. We won’t interfere. If Jason chooses betrayal, then the empire will enter a civil war. That will be a matter for my father and Elina to deal with. Perhaps that war will become the turning point that allows Elina to claim the throne,” he replied indifferently.

He had already interfered more than enough. That wasn’t like him.

In his eyes, an empire without conflict would never move forward.

He was certain Jason’s decision would change the empire forever, and he couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded.