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

”By the way, I havenʼt asked you yet,” Evalyn said, taking a sip of her beer. ”What brought you to this restaurant? Are you out on a walk with Eliza?”

Nolan gave a small nod as he chewed his food. ”Yeah. I was getting bored at the palace. Ever since the succession announcement, the atmosphere has been tense and suffocating.”

Evalyn fell silent, her thoughts drifting. Then, her expression shifted—serious and curious.

”Are you part of the succession, Nolan?”

She already knew the likely answer, but still, she wanted to hear it directly from him.

To her surprise, Nolan simply smiled and shook his head with a playful glint in his eyes.

”No, Iʼm not.”

”What? How is that even possible?” Evalynʼs eyes widened in disbelief.

She knew the royal rules well. Princes above a certain age were required to participate in the succession.

Nolan was already eighteen. There should have been no exception.

”I submitted a formal appeal to Father,” Nolan said casually. ”I asked him to let Elina take my place.”

Evalyn frowned. ”You did what? And he agreed? How is that even possible?”

”I donʼt know,” Nolan said with a shrug. ”Honestly, I was ready for him to say no. I even prepared a whole speech to argue with him. But somehow, the old man just... agreed. His only condition was that I look after Elina and support her. Feels weird, doesnʼt it?”

”Of course it feels weird,” Evalyn said, nodding. ”Still, your father must have his reasons. Iʼm sure he wouldnʼt do anything to hurt you. After all, youʼre his son.”

Nolan nodded in agreement. Despite his usual rebellious behavior, his father had never truly punished him. In fact, he let him get away with almost everything.

Even his siblings—Aldric, Cedric, and Adalen—often expressed jealousy, convinced that their father favored him.

”By the way,” Nolan asked, changing the subject, ”has the Lionheart family decided who theyʼll support?”

”Not yet,” Evalyn replied, shaking her head slightly. Then she gave him a teasing smile.

”But donʼt worry. Iʼll make sure they choose Elina.”

Nolan blinked in surprise, then smiled softly.

”You really havenʼt changed, Evalyn...”