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

Chapter 856: Pride Carved into the Bone

”Wait a minute.”

Novaria froze. She looked up and met Nolan’s calm gaze.

Elina blinked in surprise and looked at her brother curiously.

”Does he want to help her?”

As the thought crossed her mind, a faint smile appeared on her lips. Whether she was right or not, she trusted her brother.

Nolan crossed his legs, his right arm casually wrapped around Rafine’s slender waist.

Rafine’s face turned as red as a tomato. She wanted to scold the shameless man, but the words wouldn’t come.

In the end, she could only lower her head in embarrassment.

”Novaria, you said earlier that you were being forced into an arranged marriage, right? Who is it with?” Nolan asked casually.

There wasn’t a hint of politeness in his tone, but that was simply how Nolan spoke.

He only showed that kind of respect to his mother and Seira. He even called his own father—the emperor—an ”old man.”

Novaria felt a little uncomfortable with how casually he addressed her. Still, she knew this wasn’t the time to worry about something so minor.

”I’ve been betrothed to Prince Ethan of the Great Kingdom of Horland on the Western Continent.”

Elina and Rafine were both taken aback.

”The Great Kingdom of Horland?” Elina’s expression immediately turned serious. ”I didn’t expect that.”

The Great Kingdom of Horland was the strongest human kingdom on the Western Continent.

They controlled nearly half of the human-inhabited territory on the continent.

They stood on equal footing with the Great Velmora Empire, which ruled most of the Central Continent, and the Holy Valtanir Empire, which dominated the Southern Continent.

What made it even more surprising was that Novaria’s fiancé was the crown prince, meaning she would one day become the queen of the Great Kingdom of Horland.

”Congratulations. You’ll be queen someday.”

Elina clapped her hands slowly, a mocking smile on her face.

Novaria’s face turned pale, and her fists clenched tightly. Even so, she could only lower her head and swallow her emotions.

”The Great Kingdom of Horland? Isn’t that the kingdom ruled by that man named Thomas?”

Nolan looked surprised for a moment before a knowing smile spread across his face.

”So that’s how it is...” he murmured with a chuckle. ”That kingdom has already fallen. Doesn’t that mean I’ve already solved Novaria’s problem?”

The timing was almost too perfect. To Nolan, Horland’s downfall couldn’t have come at a better time for Novaria.

Of course, she didn’t know that yet.

That also meant Nolan could use it to his advantage.

”All right, I understand. I’ll help you. You want to stay here, right? How about three months?”

Nolan’s words shocked Rafine, Elina, and even Novaria.

”N-Nolan, are you serious?”

Unable to hold back her shock any longer, Rafine immediately sprang to her feet.

”Of course. Do I look like I’m joking?” Nolan gave her a meaningful look.

”But...”

Rafine was about to say something. Her gaze occasionally drifted toward Elina, who remained calm.

Nolan gently patted her shoulder, as if reassuring her. In the end, Rafine swallowed her anxiety and decided to see how things would unfold.

”Are you serious, Nolan? You’re really going to let me stay?”

Color slowly returned to Novaria’s pale face.

”That’s right. But...”

Nolan smiled meaningfully.

”You’re staying here to work, not to sit around doing nothing.”

Novaria’s delighted expression instantly froze.

”W-Work? What do you mean?”

”Isn’t it obvious? You’ll be staying here not as the second princess of the Great Velmora Empire, but as a maid. Do you understand?”

The room fell silent.

Rafine stared at him in disbelief, while Elina remained calm, a faint smile playing on her lips.

”Impossible!” Novaria immediately protested. ”I’m the second princess of the Great Velmora Empire, and you want me to become a maid? Forget it!”

Her pride as a princess was deeply rooted.

Become a maid?

What kind of joke was that?

Nolan wasn’t bothered by her reaction. In fact, it was exactly what he had expected.

”It’s okay. I understand. After all, you’re a woman of pride. Your status is incredibly high, and countless people bow their heads whenever they see you.”

Nolan’s words sounded like a compliment, but they were nothing more than a taunt.

Novaria realized that immediately. Her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment.

”...And since you’re a woman of such high status, this mansion is far too modest for someone like you. So, you may leave now,” Nolan continued casually, not the slightest bit of respect in his tone.

A woman of honor?

The second princess?

Those titles certainly suited Novaria. She had been pampered by the queen since childhood, and Nolan, who had watched her grow up, knew she would never accept such an offer.

Even so, he didn’t regret saying it. From the very beginning, his goal had simply been to humiliate Novaria—nothing more.

To be honest, Novaria had always been an annoying woman. If they weren’t related by blood, Nolan would have crippled her long ago.

Novaria gritted her teeth in anger. She shot Nolan a cold glare before turning around and walking away with her head held high.

Although Elina was her only hope of escaping the political marriage, she refused to lower herself to the point of becoming a maid in this mansion.

Watching her disappear from view, Elina let out a soft chuckle and looked at her brother with a meaningful smile.

”Was all that just to humiliate her?”

Nolan leaned back in his seat, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.

”Of course not. I simply offered her what I thought was a fair deal. Besides, she’s the one who needs our help, not the other way around. She should’ve swallowed her pride and begged, even if it meant becoming a maid. But look at her.”

Nolan opened his eyes and looked toward the direction Novaria had left.

”She still sees herself as a noble princess worthy of respect, without realizing she’s nothing more than a bird abandoned by both her parents.”

Elina said nothing, but inwardly, she agreed with her brother.

”By the way, have the Shadow Guards keep an eye on her. Regardless of her attitude, she’s a valuable piece we can use against Aldric in the future,” Nolan said.

Elina nodded.

”I understand. I’ll have the Shadow Guards monitor her.”

The Shadow Guards were a military unit personally established by Elina. Most of its members were former notorious criminals who had retired and chosen to live quiet lives.

About a month ago, they had come to Elina, offering to serve under her command.

As it happened, Elina desperately needed more people to protect the mansion and everyone inside it, especially after the assassination attempt that had nearly claimed Rafine’s life.

Although one of Singularity of Chaos’s subordinates was still protecting her, Elina didn’t want to rely on him forever.

A smug smile appeared on Nolan’s face. His gaze remained fixed on the mansion’s exit.

”Come on... let’s see how much longer you can hold out, Novaria,” he muttered.