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

Chapter 618: Ragan’s Unusual Behavior

The Ancient Kingdom of Eron lay on the southern side of the continent. To reach it, people usually chose the sea route because it was faster.

Of course, a land route also existed, but most people still preferred traveling by sea. The land journey was extremely dangerous and arduous.

Travelers had to cross the Aldren Mountains—one of the most perilous mountain ranges in the world.

Dense forests teeming with monsters stretched between those mountains. That was why the sea route was considered the safest and most sensible way to reach the southern continent.

Meanwhile, Nolan and Seira were preparing to depart for the Ancient Kingdom of Eron.

Given their status as members of the imperial family, they didn’t need to prepare anything themselves. The servants had already taken care of everything.

Even so, the two felt that certain essential items should be prepared personally.

”Your Highness Nolan, pardon the interruption. His Majesty the Emperor is summoning you to his office.”

A servant suddenly arrived and delivered the message.

Nolan was slightly taken aback but did not ask any questions and simply gave a small nod.

”I understand. Thank you for informing me.”

The servant bowed before turning to leave.

”That old man is summoning me, is he? I’m sure he wants to discuss Seira’s engagement,” Nolan muttered.

He had already informed Ragan about his departure with Seira today, so it made sense that the old man would call him to his office.

Without giving it much thought, Nolan immediately left his room and headed toward his father’s office.

***

”Father, it’s me, Nolan. May I come in?”

Nolan knocked on the door to Ragan’s office and waited quietly.

”Come in. The door isn’t locked.”

After receiving permission, Nolan opened the door and stepped inside.

Ragan sat behind his desk, sorting through several documents.

Glancing at Nolan, he asked with curiosity, ”It’s unusual for you to knock before entering. You usually just walk straight in, which makes me wonder if you even attended that ethics class a few years ago.”

He leaned back in his chair, a playful smile on his face.

Nolan rolled his eyes and stepped closer. ”Mother scolded me for behaving like that. Did you report me?”

”Me? No way.” Ragan shrugged, putting on an innocent expression.

However, the faint smile on his face suggested otherwise. Nolan felt annoyed but had no time to argue.

After sitting down, he crossed his legs and asked, ”So, what do you want to discuss? Is it about Sister Seira’s engagement?”

Although he already knew the answer, he still had to pretend ignorance so the old man would explain everything himself.

”Yeah, I did call you here to discuss that. Tell me—what did you do to your sister?”

He straightened his posture and fixed Nolan with a sharp gaze.

Seira’s resistance to the engagement with Alrdian from the Ancient Kingdom of Eron was still vivid in his mind.

There was no way she would agree to it unless someone had influenced her.

In this palace, who didn’t know how much Seira loved and cared for Nolan?

Her affection for him even surpassed what she showed toward Adalen—her brother born of the same mother.

Because of that, Ragan suspected that Nolan was the one who had influenced Seira.

Nolan furrowed his brow, his expression turning displeased.

”Father, I know you’re upset with me, but accusing me based on assumptions isn’t justified,” he said irritably. ”I never influenced my sister Seira in the slightest. I can guarantee that. I only advised her to think about her long-term future. I didn’t know she would end up accepting Mother Clarise’s arrangement, so don’t accuse me without proof.”

He spread his arms wide, as if to demonstrate his innocence.

Ragan stared deeply into his eyes but saw no sign of deceit. Doubt crept into his mind.

’Could I be wrong? But if it wasn’t him, then who?’

His brows knitted tightly. He couldn’t believe Seira would agree so suddenly without a clear reason.

No matter how hard he searched for an answer, he found none and could only let out a long sigh.

”Alright, I understand. By the way, you’re going with Seira to the Ancient Kingdom of Eron, aren’t you? I want to know why.”

Ragan changed the subject, his expression turning serious.

”I don’t know. She suddenly asked me to come along. She probably feels safer with me there,” Nolan replied casually.

There was no way he could reveal his true purpose for going to the Ancient Kingdom of Eron—to beat up Aldrian and force him to surrender to his older sister.

If his father found out, he was certain the old man would forbid him from going.

Ragan sensed that something was off about his answer. His instincts told him that this boy was planning something that would shock him later.

However, without proof, he couldn’t accuse him of anything.

”Hah...” Ragan let out a long sigh as he massaged his temples. ”I don’t know whether you’re lying or not, but make sure you don’t cause any trouble, understood? I don’t want your departure to spark hostility between us and the Ancient Kingdom of Eron. Do you understand?”

Nolan gave a faint smile and asked, ”Father, are you afraid of the Ancient Kingdom of Eron?”

Ragan’s eyes widened at the question. He slammed his right palm onto the desk, producing a loud thud that echoed throughout the room.

”What did you say? Afraid? Where did you hear that?” His face flushed with anger.

Nolan remained calm, as if unaffected by the outburst.

”No one said that. It’s just my assumption. Besides, your behavior has been strange and unnatural,” Nolan replied, folding his arms across his chest. ”Who in this palace doesn’t know how much you care for Sister Seira? Yet you didn’t stop Mother Clarise from arranging her marriage to Prince Aldrian, despite Seira’s refusal. So don’t blame me for drawing that conclusion.”

In the governance systems of kingdoms and empires, princes usually waited for the king’s or emperor’s decision regarding the heir to the throne.

This situation was different in the Great Velmora Empire, where the throne was decided through battles among the princes.

Even so, there was one similarity between the Great Velmora Empire and other kingdoms or empires—the fate of their princesses.

Unlike the princes, who fought for the throne, princesses were usually kept out of power struggles.

Most of them were used as pawns in political marriages between kingdoms and empires across the continent, including within the Great Velmora Empire.

However, there were exceptions. Princesses with extraordinary achievements were rarely used as political tools. Nolan’s three older sisters—Sharon, Freya, and Selena—were prime examples.

All three possessed exceptional talents that even most princes in the palace lacked.

As a result, their father would never use them as pawns in political marriages.

As for Seira? She was no less remarkable than they were—perhaps even superior.

After all, Seira was a true genius. If not for the strict rules of succession, Nolan was certain Ragan would have chosen her as the next sovereign.

Ragan fell silent at the question, his expression showing a struggle Nolan had rarely witnessed.

”Actually...”