The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 619 Departure to the Ancient Kingdom of Eron

"You are not afraid of them, yet you are consumed by the fear of conflict?"

Nolan was taken aback. His face registered utter bewilderment, as if the words he had just heard were entirely beyond his comprehension.

"That is precisely it," Ragan conceded with a slow nod. "You may choose to underestimate other kingdoms, but the Ancient Kingdom of Eron is not to be trifled with. While they lack the formidable glory of their golden age—having been pushed to the brink of ruin by the demon emperor—they command a terrifying and unique relic: the Void Reaver Disc."

The Void Reaver was an ancient artifact, a relic that had endured for five millennia.

Though its true purpose remained shrouded in mystery, legends claimed it harnessed enough destructive power to erase an empire as mighty as Velmora.

While it remained mere rumor, no soul dared to dismiss it or challenge its validity.

There was sound reasoning behind such apprehension. The Ancient Kingdom of Eron had outlasted the majority of the empires and kingdoms across the entire continent.

Their ascent to hegemony had been aggressively swift, spanning a mere hundred years.

In the aftermath, they annexed surrounding territories, extending their iron rule across the entire southern continent and even carving a foothold into the central lands.

Ragan dared not provoke the Ancient Kingdom of Eron, chiefly because of that Void Reaver Disc.

The idea that a direct confrontation might trigger the collapse of his own empire was not an impossibility, and he was determined to avoid such a fate at any cost.

Nolan furrowed his brow intently. "Aren't you being far too cowardly, Father? Even if a clash with them is undesirable, surely that doesn't justify sacrificing my sister?"

Ragan cast his eyes upward. "It is not a matter of simplicity. You are clearly unaware of how obsessed Aldrian has become with Seira."

Startled, Nolan shook his head. "I am entirely ignorant of this. Would you care to enlighten me?"

Ragan nodded and commenced his explanation. By the time he finished several minutes later, Nolan sat in stunned silence, his expression locked in a stiff mask.

"This..." Nolan’s mouth moved wordlessly, as if he meant to speak but found his voice trapped in his throat.

He had never imagined such a convoluted history lay behind this engagement.

Aldrian and Seira had crossed paths in their youth. Calling them 'childhood friends' would likely be a gross exaggeration.

The truth was, they had known each other as children and spent some time together, yet their bond had remained superficial at best.

It was no wonder Seira felt such an aversion to the engagement; they simply had no genuine connection.

Yet, that was not the most intriguing detail. Aldrian was the first prince and designated heir to the throne of Eron.

Following his nomination, his brothers refused to yield, openly challenging his right to the crown.

Then, by some mysterious twist of fate, Aldrian—formerly perceived as weak—underwent a sudden transformation, displaying formidable strength as he crushed every opponent.

He ultimately solidified his claim to the throne and currently awaited only the auspicious moment to rise as the new ruler of Eron.

Perhaps tethered by the memory of their childhood, he began pursuing Seira with fervor the moment his status was assured. Seira, however, remained completely indifferent to his advances.

In the end, Clarise stepped in, weaponizing Aldrian's unrequited affection to further her own agenda.

"Father, is this truly acceptable? Using foreign influence to tip the scales in our internal battle for the throne is surely a violation of tradition?"

"No, no laws are being broken," Ragan remarked, shaking his head. "Aldrian is not using his military might to aid Adalen directly. He is simply leveraging his own prestige to sway the empire's nobility. Since there is no overt coercion involved, it remains perfectly within the accepted bounds."

Nolan went quiet for a moment, eventually letting out a soft sigh.

"I understand now. Very well, leave it to me. I shall take charge of this," Nolan stated as he slowly rose to his feet.

Ragan opened his mouth to pose a question but thought better of it, offering nothing more than a subtle nod.

Following a brief exchange of final remarks, Nolan departed.

Whoosh!

Orion materialized at Ragan's side. Watching Nolan’s receding figure, he asked with some trepidation, "Your Majesty, are you certain you should allow Prince Nolan to proceed?"

Ragan reclined in his chair and turned his gaze toward him.

"And why would I choose to stop him?"

Orion appeared mildly distressed. "I realize5 my words are bold, but Prince Nolan is notorious for inviting disaster wherever he wanders. If he undermines Consort Clarise's schemes, would that not invite unnecessary danger?"

Ragan emitted a soft chuckle and waved his hand dismissively.

"There is no cause for concern. Do you truly believe I was blind to his intentions?"

Do not be misled by his apparent ignorance a moment ago; he was fully aware of exactly what Nolan planned to do.

That boy would inevitably stir up trouble within the Ancient Kingdom of Eron, but Ragan had deliberately chosen to feign ignorance and permit the prince his freedom.

Orion paused, then offered a submissive nod. "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."

He did not dare utter another word. With the Emperor's declaration, the matter was settled.

"Tell me, have you successfully retrieved the intelligence I requested?" Ragan asked.

Orion bowed, reaching into his garments to produce a sealed parchment.

"Here is the document, Your Majesty. It details the strategic attack plan formulated by the Holy Empire of Valtanir."

Ragan retrieved it, spreading it out to read with composed focus.

Moments later, he finished, his face remaining a blank, unreadable mask.

"Dariel is quite bold, planning an offensive on the northern territories. It appears the Holy Empire of Valtanir is nearing the end of their coffers," he sneered with a frigid scoff.

He had long anticipated this development, so Dariel's plot failed to shock him in the slightest.

Taking a slow, measured breath, he sat tall in his chair. "Summon Freya to the palace in two days' time. I wish to discuss this matter with her. Is that clear?"

Orion bent at the waist in a deep, respectful bow. "As you command, Your Majesty."

…

"Are you prepared?" Seira asked, shifting her gaze toward the approaching Nolan.

"I am. Let us depart."

Seira flashed a gentle smile and stepped into the waiting carriage. Nolan followed behind her, and in moments, the carriage rumbled away from the palace grounds.

From the vantage point of her balcony, Clarise watched them vanish from sight. A thin, triumphant smile graced her lips as she whispered, "Once that child encounters Aldrian, she will undoubtedly fall under his charm. With that alliance, Adalen will finally make his move, establishing himself as a rival to both Elina and Cedric."

The current frontrunners in the succession crisis were the formidable Elina and Cedric.

Both held entrenched positions, bolstered significantly by the backing of the Eastern and Northern Dukes.

Although Adric enjoyed support from his uncle, Jared Malvain, it was not enough to challenge them effectively.

Many southern nobles threw their support behind Elina, swayed largely by the efforts of the Marquis Caltheron family.

In contrast, Adalen’s position remained the weakest among the four heirs.

Clarise knew she had no choice but to strike before the window of opportunity closed.

"Seira, I pray you do not harbor hatred for me. For the survival of your brother, this sacrifice is mandatory," she murmured, her eyes glinting with a sharp, icy resolve.