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

Chapter 569: A Geisha and Art

Nolan and Evalyn turned at the same time. Standing before them was a beautiful woman dressed in a black kimono.

Her face was coated in thick white makeup, giving her a slightly unusual appearance.

But having already seen her at the entrance, both Evalyn and Nolan remained calm, their expressions unchanged.

”It’s alright. Please, come in,” Nolan said softly.

The geisha nodded and stepped inside, walking to the far end of the room.

There, she opened a closet, revealing five types of musical instruments, all neatly arranged.

”Sir, ma’am, do you prefer classical music or something gentler?” she asked.

Nolan paused for a moment before replying, ”Soft ones, please. Play that for us.”

The woman selected a shamisen, a three-stringed instrument plucked to produce delicate sounds.

Moving to stand before Nolan and Evalyn, she sat gracefully and started to play.

Ding!

Soft notes floated through the room, followed by a gentle melody. Nolan and Evalyn unconsciously closed their eyes, letting the music wash over them.

At the same time, two servants appeared, carrying a tray with a teapot and another tray with traditional snacks from the Eastern Izanagi Empire.

They served the tea into the cups that had already been prepared.

Nolan opened his eyes and glanced down at the green tea in front of him.

Taking a sip, Nolan tasted nothing but the tea’s natural freshness. It had no sugar or additives and was served in its purest form.

Evalyn did the same, but her face immediately contorted into a frown.

”It’s bitter,” she whispered.

Nolan glanced at her and chuckled softly.

”It does taste bitter. That’s because this tea is made from green leaves picked in the mountains behind the empire. The proper way to enjoy it is to sip slowly, let it linger in your mouth, and then swallow,” he explained.

Evalyn was impressed by his knowledge.

She followed his instructions, and sure enough, the bitterness faded, replaced by the fresh, vibrant flavor of the tea leaves. Her eyes narrowed involuntarily into crescents with delight.

”Try this,” Nolan said, picking up a round, red mochi cake and handing it to her.

Evalyn examined it curiously, feeling its soft texture.

”What is this?” she asked.

”It’s Daifuku—one of the traditional cakes of the Eastern Izanagi Empire. Soft and sweet, with a red bean filling. Try it—I’m sure you’ll like it.”

She bit off half and chewed. Instantly, the chewy, sweet flavor spread through her mouth, and a delighted smile lit up her face.

”It’s delicious~”

Nolan chuckled softly and took a bite himself.

’It’s really good—even better than my mother’s,’ he whispered.

If Isabella heard that, she’d definitely hit him on the head in anger. ”What are you saying, huh? Not good enough? How about my punches—are they good?”

Nolan and Evalyn enjoyed their tea and snacks while listening to the soft music played by the geisha.

Before they realized it, two hours had passed, and it was time to leave.

***

”Phew! So this is what the geisha district is like. It completely shattered my image,” Evalyn said, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Walking beside her, Nolan nodded. ”Yes, my perception of geisha has changed too. They truly devote themselves only to the arts—nothing else.”

Now he understood why his father had wanted to marry his mother.

Geisha were forbidden from working as sex workers; they accompanied guests solely with their artistic talents.

Although there were rare incidents where a guest forced a geisha into something inappropriate, the empire strictly protected them and ensured their rights were upheld.

His father had been a clever and discerning man. He knew his mother was intelligent as well, so he had no hesitation in making her his concubine.

Well, his mother’s beauty was certainly part of the reason he had fallen in love.

”But when you think about it, the price is really steep, isn’t it? Just two hours of their service costs around eight thousand Koze—that’s equivalent to five thousand Sharn,” Evalyn said with a small sigh.

Koze was the currency of the Eastern Izanagi Empire, and just two hours of music and tea could cost as much as five thousand Sharn—an incredibly steep price in her eyes.

”Isn’t it obvious? Most geisha are trained from childhood. Their lives revolve around the brothel that raised them. Naturally, their art commands a high price,” Nolan explained calmly.

Of course, not all geisha were trained from childhood. Many began working as teenagers or even adults.

Still, a typical brothel usually had five or ten geisha who had been trained from a young age. Nolan, therefore, wasn’t surprised by the high prices.

”You’re right,” Evalyn said with a nod. ”So, where should we go next?”

Rubbing his chin, Nolan replied, ”How about the hot springs? According to the map I studied earlier, there are some famous ones in the eastern part of the capital. They’re integrated into the natural mountains nearby, so the water is incredibly pure.”

Having read the map and studied the city’s layout, he knew exactly where the best spots were.

”That sounds amazing! I want to try it!” Evalyn’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Hot springs did exist in the Great Velmora Empire, of course—but the tradition originated from the Eastern Izanagi Empire. She couldn’t wait to experience them.

Nolan nodded. Just as they were about to leave, footsteps echoed behind them.

”Sorry to interrupt your time together, Prince Nolan and Hero Evalyn.”

Both of them turned in surprise. A man dressed in a traditional male kimono stood there, a cloth covering his head and a mustache lining his upper lip.

He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.

”Welcome to the capital of Hinode, and my apologies for disturbing your leisure, Your Highness Nolan, Young Lady Evalyn. I am Ikizaki, a direct subordinate of Prime Minister Mikazura. The prime minister is awaiting your presence at the palace. Would you like to go now?”

Nolan’s cold expression softened. At first, he had assumed the man was an enemy, but that was clearly not the case.

He folded his arms across his chest and said, ”I apologize for not notifying you of our arrival. Since Prime Minister Mikazura is waiting, I don’t mind going to the palace right away.”

Turning to Evalyn, he asked, ”You don’t mind, do you?”

Evalyn shook her head. ”It’s fine. Once this is done, we can continue our trip.”

”Good. Then...” Nolan looked back at the man. ”Let’s go to Prime Minister Mikazura’s residence.”

The man nodded and promptly led them toward the imperial palace.