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

Chapter 1002: Conflict Between a Mother and Daughter

”Your fiancé is dead.”

Novaria froze at those words.

”M-My fiancé is dead!? How is that possible?”

Her fiancé was the crown prince of the Great Kingdom of Horland—the most powerful human kingdom on the western continent.

How could he have just died like that?

”How am I supposed to explain this?”

Vanessa looked helpless.

”The Great Kingdom of Horland was suddenly destroyed by an unknown entity. And it all happened overnight.”

Novaria’s body tensed when she heard the news. Her breathing quickened, and her face went pale.

”How... is that possible?”

It was hard to believe that such a powerful kingdom had been destroyed.

What kind of entity could have done something like this?

As if sensing her thoughts, Vanessa explained in a heavy voice, ”According to the Malvain family’s spies, there was a horrific explosion that wiped out the entire capital region. Every living soul within it was shattered into pieces, leaving nothing behind. Other regions were also destroyed, though not as completely as the capital.”

Novaria looked dazed. She didn’t know whether she should feel happy or sad about the news.

On one hand, countless lives had been lost. But on the other, her engagement had been called off, meaning she had completely escaped the unwanted marriage she never wanted.

”Don’t blame yourself. None of this has anything to do with you or any of us here,” Vanessa said soothingly.

Novaria simply nodded without saying a word.

”By the way, since the first prince of the Kingdom of Horland can no longer be your fiancé, I’ve arranged another fiancé for you. He’s from—”

”Mother, can I say something?” Novaria interrupted.

Vanessa raised her eyebrows slightly.

”Go ahead.”

Novaria sat up straight and looked deeply into her mother’s eyes.

”Mother, I don’t want to get engaged to anyone. Or get married, for that matter.”

Vanessa’s expression darkened.

”What do you mean?”

”I don’t want to get married!” Novaria repeated firmly.

”You...”

Anger erupted inside Vanessa. She slammed her palm down on the table and shouted, ”You have no right to refuse! It’s your duty to fulfill your obligations as the second daughter!”

Novaria flinched at those words. Her pupils dilated, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Her mother, who had always spoiled her, was acting like this simply because she had refused a marriage proposal.

For the first time, Novaria felt an excruciating pain in her heart. She knew she was worthless.

Aside from her status as the second daughter and her beauty, she had nothing else of value to offer.

She had always known that sooner or later, something like this would happen. She just didn’t want it to come to that.

She wanted to control her own destiny instead of letting others decide it for her—not even her own mother.

Gritting her teeth, she stood up and retorted, ”I won’t do it!”

Vanessa was stunned. The next moment, overwhelming rage surged through her once again.

She stood up and snapped, ”What do you mean!? How dare you defy my orders!?”

Novaria’s body trembled with fear. But she quickly gathered her courage and looked at her mother with teary eyes.

”Yes, I’m going to defy your orders this time, Mother! Please don’t force me.”

Silence enveloped the two of them.

A moment later, Vanessa touched her own face before suddenly bursting into laughter.

”Hahaha! Novaria, Novaria. I never expected you to change like this. Back then, you always obeyed my orders, no matter what. But now you dare to defy me?”

Her eyes sharpened like knives.

”Don’t tell me you think you can do whatever you want just because you managed to go to the eastern region and live with Elina?”

A cold smile appeared on her face.

”No way! Now that you’re back, I won’t let you return to that cursed place again. Living with her has turned you into such a brave and rebellious person.”

She clapped her hands and ordered, ”You two, arrest Novaria.”

Whoosh!

Two black shadows darted toward Novaria.

But before they could touch her, a sword blade slashed toward them.

Slash!

The Crescent Moon Swordsman was the one who attacked.

The two shadows hurriedly retreated, revealing their true forms—two elderly men dressed in black robes with long hoods.

”What does this mean!? Do you want to go against the imperial family?” Vanessa threatened coldly.

The Crescent Moon Swordsman showed no fear. He raised his sword toward Vanessa and replied indifferently, ”I’m only carrying out the orders given by Princess Elina. I’ll eliminate anyone who harms Princess Novaria, no matter their status.”

A threat...

Those words were clearly a threat!

A blue vein bulged on Vanessa’s forehead as she raised her hand and pointed at the Crescent Moon Swordsman.

”What are you waiting for!? Hurry up and kill him!”

The two old men exchanged glances before nodding in unison.

Whoosh!

Both of them darted forward at incredible speed, raising their weapons—a sickle and a giant axe.

”Die!” they shouted together.

The Crescent Moon Swordsman didn’t flinch. He shifted his sword to the side and whispered, ”First Strike... Silence.”

Without a sound, without any strange movements, and without any flashy explosions, he simply swung his sword gently.

Whoosh!

The sound of a gentle breeze echoed in all directions.

The two old men froze in midair. For a moment, it seemed as if space and time had completely stopped.

The next second...

Scrk!

Their bodies were sliced into pieces at incredible speed.

Even their blood was cut apart. A moment later, the wall behind them split in two before shattering into countless fragments.

It wasn’t just the wall. All the furniture—from the sofa to the table—had been cleanly split in two.

Boom!

The wall collapsed, revealing a clear view of the backyard.

It had all happened so fast—in the blink of an eye.

Vanessa’s furious expression froze completely. Her confidence was shattered in that very moment.

The Crescent Moon Swordsman casually twirled his sword before sheathing it again.

”I respect you because you are the queen, and I owe a debt of gratitude to the previous emperor. Consider this my mercy. I won’t kill you.”

Novaria stood frozen in place, her mouth hanging open.

What just happened? Am I dreaming?

She pinched her cheek and felt the pain.

That meant what had just happened wasn’t a dream.

”Princess Novaria, do you still have business here?”

The Crescent Moon Swordsman’s voice snapped her out of her daze.

”N-No. Everything’s settled,” she replied nervously.

”Good. In that case, let’s go.”

He turned and walked past her.

Novaria took a deep breath before slowly exhaling. She glanced back at Vanessa one last time.

”Mother, I’m going home. This place isn’t my home anymore. My place is at the mansion in Virella. I’m sorry. I couldn’t live up to your expectations.”

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Vanessa standing there with a dazed expression.