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

Chapter 648: Allied with Karakh

”Your proposal, you say?” Karakh’s eyes narrowed sharply. ”Prince Nolan Lorian, cut the crap. This really isn’t funny.”

Although he tried to stay calm, his heart was pounding wildly. He couldn’t tell whether Nolan was speaking nonsense or being serious.

But what if it was true?

”I’m not joking. I’m sure you can tell,” Nolan said casually. ”The choice is yours. Will you take it or not?”

This time, Karakh didn’t reject him outright. He lowered his head, his expression filled with hesitation and doubt.

”Think it over carefully. An opportunity like this only comes once,” Nolan added with a playful smile. ”Trust me, I’m not talking nonsense. I really do have that ability. It all depends on how you respond.”

Karakh fell into a deep dilemma. To be honest, he didn’t believe Nolan.

But he also knew he had no other path to the throne. Aldrian had already taken it.

After a moment of thought, he drew a deep breath and fixed Nolan with a cold stare.

”Alright. I’ll accept. But on one condition—I want to see how you do it.”

Nolan didn’t object. He took a sip of his iced chocolate and said calmly, ”It’s simple. Aldrian’s death.”

Those blunt words made Karakh’s heart race. Before he could respond, Nolan continued, ”Karakh, what do you think about what happened two days ago? What do you think the perpetrator’s motive was for causing that chaos?”

Karakh frowned, then answered hesitantly, ”Was it Aldrian?”

Nolan smiled smugly, as if to say, ”You’re pretty smart.”

”Yes, it was Aldrian. I know you weren’t the culprit, and neither was I. You can be sure of that,” Nolan said. ”The attacker’s movements were well-organized. Their goal was simple—to corner the royal family and kill Aldrian. Unfortunately...”

A sigh escaped his lips. ”It failed. And now, I’m sure that person is furious and won’t dare show their face in front of any of you.”

Karakh listened to the analysis and found it reasonable. If anyone had been the main target of that chaos, Aldrian was the obvious answer.

His suspicion toward Nolan vanished completely. He became convinced that one of his siblings was trying to eliminate Aldrian and seize the throne.

”Then what do you mean by wanting to kill Aldrian?” he asked cautiously. ”Do you plan to do the same thing as that person?”

Nolan rolled his eyes and sneered. ”Don’t tell me you actually care about Aldrian, Karakh. Is your brotherly bond more important than the throne you’ve been craving? If so, you’ve truly disappointed me.”

His words were clearly meant to provoke him. Nolan was certain Karakh valued the throne far more than any bond with Aldrian.

There was a saying: ”Power is something you should stay away from unless you want it to consume you.”

Even the most virtuous person could be swallowed by it. That alone proved how terrifying and dangerous power truly was.

”Nonsense! How could I possibly care about Aldrian?” Karakh retorted through gritted teeth. ”If anything, I hate him.”

In Karakh’s eyes, Aldrian wasn’t fit to be king. Just because he had gained recognition from the Void Reaver Disc, their father had immediately named him crown prince—without even discussing it with the rest of them.

To Karakh, it was a blatant insult. He would rather see Meliodas take the throne.

Even if he didn’t like Meliodas, he had to admit the man was capable and worthy.

”Then why are you so afraid that I might want to kill Aldrian?” Nolan raised an eyebrow.

”I just don’t want more casualties. And I don’t want the royal family dragged into further trouble,” Karakh answered bluntly.

Nolan stared at him for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.

”You’re quite unique.” His lips curled into a faint smile. ”It seems cooperating with you will be the right choice. Don’t worry. I’m not that cruel. And I don’t even have that kind of ability.” He shrugged.

”Glad to hear it.” Karakh let out a sigh of relief, then asked, ”So how do you plan to kill Aldrian? I don’t know if you’ve realized it yet, but he has guards protecting him at all times. Two of them—the Grandmaster and the Void Reaver Disc. The first might not be too much of a problem, but the second one is the real issue.”

His expression grew even more serious as he continued, ”It’s a dangerous ancient artifact. Its power is extraordinary. As long as that thing remains inside him, Aldrian is practically impossible to kill.”

He couldn’t understand how Aldrian could be so lucky when there was him—and another prince—who was far more deserving.

In fact, he even thought the artifact was blind. It had slept for too long, and when it finally awakened, it had chosen the wrong master.

”Thanks for the reminder,” Nolan said casually. ”But you don’t need to worry about that. I have a way to deal with it.”

Karakh studied him closely, as if trying to figure out where that confidence came from.

Unfortunately, he found nothing. In the end, he could only nod.

”I understand.”

***

Nolan stepped out of the room with an indifferent expression and headed back toward his own.

As soon as he stepped inside, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

”Lying to someone is fun, isn’t it?”

Nolan stopped in his tracks. He turned around and saw a figure he hadn’t seen in a long time.

”Malverna?” His eyebrows rose slightly. ”Since when were you here?”

Malverna smiled and walked closer.

”Not long after you went in,” she replied. ”I saw you deceiving that prince too. I almost felt sorry for him. It was like he’d just made a deal with the devil.”

Hearing that, Nolan rolled his eyes.

”You’re overreacting. I’m just helping him fulfill his desire to become king. That’s all.”

”Pfft! You really do have a silver tongue,” Malverna chuckled.

Nolan joined in her laughter. Ever since killing the Demon Emperor Zerathos, Malverna had become more carefree, and she no longer acted so distant around him.

Maybe she trusted him completely now. That was why she didn’t bother maintaining her perfect, haughty facade in front of him anymore.

”So, what are you doing here?” Nolan asked.

”Nothing special. I just missed you. Do you believe me?” Malverna looked at him playfully.

Nolan scoffed. ”I’d sooner believe there are two suns in the sky.”

The corner of Malverna’s mouth twitched, but she didn’t get angry. In the end, she spoke honestly.

”Alright. I came to tell you that your sister really misses you. You promised you’d only be gone for one month, but it’s been more than twenty days since you returned. Don’t forget that promise.”

Nolan snapped back to reality. He had completely forgotten the promise he’d made to Elina.

”You’re right.” He tapped his forehead. ”Thanks for reminding me. Don’t worry. In a few days, Seira and I will be heading home. And since you’re here, I need your help.”

He walked over to the desk, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, then quickly wrote something down.

When he finished, he handed it to Malverna and said, ”Give this to Elina. Tell her to do it as soon as possible.”

Malverna took it and gave a small nod.

”Leave it to me.”