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

Chapter 604: Questioning the Reason (2)

”Do you really want to know?” Isabella asked calmly.

Nolan nodded. ”Of course, Mother. Please tell me so I can finally feel at ease.”

He had long wondered why his mother left the Empire, giving up all her glory and status to marry his father, Ragan.

Being a concubine wasn’t dishonorable, but it hardly compared to the prestige of being a princess—especially the heir to the Eastern Empire of Izanagi.

If he were in Isabella’s place, he would have chosen to remain a princess, the heir to the largest empire on the eastern continent.

Isabella sipped her tea and exhaled deeply.

”All right, I’ll tell you. I know I was wrong to hide this truth from you and Elina,” she said, setting down her cup and bowing her head toward him. ”I want to apologize first.”

Nolan was surprised by her gesture. He wanted to help her straighten up but restrained himself.

He could sense his mother’s guilt. On the eastern continent, bowing one’s head is a common sign of admitting one’s mistake.

”I understand, Mother. It’s okay. I understand your situation,” Nolan said softly.

Isabella felt a wave of relief, nodded slowly, and then began to explain everything to Nolan.

Half an hour later, Isabella paused and fell silent. She glanced timidly at Nolan, as if searching for his reaction.

Strangely, he remained calm and composed, merely sipping his tea while studying her with a thoughtful expression.

’Was he not surprised?’ Isabella wondered silently.

If her father and mother had known, she was sure they would have thought her crazy. After all, the reason she gave sounded utterly absurd.

But Nolan was different. He seemed to accept her explanation, leaving Isabella both confused and relieved.

Meanwhile, Nolan pondered, trying to process his mother’s story.

’So, it’s all still connected to the Singularity of Stars, huh?’ he muttered.

From her story, he had uncovered several key points. One of them was the legend of Hikari no Futago.

Just like Prime Minister Mikazura, his mother had discovered that Hikari no Futago were not two twin girls, as commonly believed, but twins of opposite sexes.

However, she hadn’t learned this from a book. The information came from an old fortune teller, whose name had been lost to time.

At first, she had doubted the old man’s words.

But after witnessing a series of astonishing events that he had predicted, she finally came to believe him.

Even becoming a geisha, meeting Ragan, and eventually marrying him had all been part of the chain of events predicted by the old man.

Yet one question lingered in Nolan’s mind: what exactly was the old man’s purpose?

Why did he always appear in the lives of those closest to him—even Elina?

Take Ryuuten and Ayamori, his mother, and the recent events at Luvistar, for example. It was as if the Singularity of Stars were steering the course of his and Elina’s lives.

To Nolan, this was unmistakably a threat. He couldn’t comprehend the purpose behind it all.

He knew he had to uncover the truth before it spiraled beyond his control.

”I understand, Mother. Thank you for explaining.”

Isabella blinked several times before asking, ”Do you believe me?”

Nolan smiled faintly and nodded. ”Of course I do. I’m sure you’re not lying to me.”

His words made Isabella’s heart flutter. A warmth of happiness flowed through her, though she quickly masked it.

”You have such a sweet mouth,” she teased, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Nolan grinned lightly. Then he asked, ”By the way, Mother, I want to ask you two things.”

Isabella nodded, silently urging him to speak.

”Are Hikari no Futago in the legend... me and Elina?”

”I don’t know,” Isabella said, shaking her head. ”To be honest, I still question it myself. Do Hikari no Futago really exist? The old fortune teller claimed that my two children were the ones mentioned in the legend, but I’m not entirely sure. Yet if his words can be trusted, then yes—you and Elina are indeed the ones referred to in the legend.”

Nolan fell silent, lost in thought. The legend of Hikari no Futago still felt strange.

There were two versions—twin girls or twins of opposite sexes. Most likely, the latter was correct.

But then, why wasn’t this widely known?

Even the high-ranking officials of the Izanagi Palace seemed unaware of it.

’Could there be a hidden secret behind it?’ Nolan wondered silently.

There was no truly reasonable answer—at least, not without asking the Singularity of Stars directly.

”Second question... do you love Father?” Nolan asked, his expression serious.

Isabella was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. ”What kind of question is that? Don’t you know how much I love him?”

Nolan chuckled softly and nodded.

”You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.”

He remembered just how much his mother loved his father—her favoritism was clear whenever he and his father quarreled.

But Nolan didn’t feel anger. His concern was for his mother’s happiness. As long as she was at ease, he would not interfere.

They kept talking. Maybe it was just his imagination, but Nolan felt his mother was more at ease now, less rigid than she used to be when speaking with him.

It was a sharp contrast to before, when she always held herself with perfect dignity and composure.

Nolan guessed it was likely connected to the secret that had long weighed on her.

”Oh, right. I have news for you. It’s about your older sister, Seira.”

”Seira? What happened to her?” Nolan asked, curious.

”Seira...” Isabella’s expression turned serious. ”She’s going to be arranged to marry a prince from the Ancient Kingdom of Eron.”

...

”Anyway, I don’t want to be betrothed to him!” Seira said stubbornly.

But Clarise, standing in front of her, didn’t care. She folded her arms and replied coldly, ”You have no right to refuse. Your father and I have already agreed to Prince Aldrian’s request. So, prepare yourself to go to the Ancient Kingdom of Eron.”

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Seira with a face red with anger.

After Clarise left, Seira grabbed a vase and smashed it.

Bang!

Sharp shards scattered everywhere, some cutting her arm.

But Seira didn’t care. Her breathing was ragged and uneven.

”I don’t want to get married,” she muttered, tears brimming in her eyes.

She had known this day might come, yet she refused to accept it. She had promised herself she would never marry any man in her life.

But fate had other plans—she had to marry a stranger.

Her tears finally broke free. She sank to the floor, crying uncontrollably.

”Nolan... help me... woaaa!”

Her sobs were raw and painful. Yet no one was there—just the weight of crushing, suffocating loneliness.