The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 631 The Pressured Dariel

Nolan raised an eyebrow as the snippet of conversation reached his ears. Driven by curiosity, he crept closer and leaned against the bark of a nearby tree.

He masked his presence effectively, eavesdropping on the pair of servants.

"Make sure no one discovers this. If they do, we are doomed."

"Don't worry about it. The payoff is massive, and I'm not foolish enough to ruin this opportunity."

"Good. Once the deed is finished, we are abandoning this kingdom. Leave Prince Meliodas to clean up the mess."

Once their exchange ended, they separated, moving as though they were total strangers.

One servant walked past Nolan, yet remarkably, he didn't even glance his way.

Nolan tipped his head back, watching the servant depart with a pensive expression.

"How curious. Prince Meliodas? Is that not the third prince?"

A thin smile touched his lips. "Just as I suspected—the upcoming party promises to be quite entertaining. The Ancient Kingdom of Eron will soon descend into chaos…"

He felt no shock. The political climate of the Ancient Kingdom of Eron mirrored that of the Great Velmora Empire.

The princes were locked in a clandestine struggle for the throne. The only variation was that Gulvar’s succession plan seemed tethered to a hidden objective.

Nolan guessed it was deeply connected to the Reaver Void Disc, which his father had alluded to earlier.

Without such a factor, it made little sense for Aldrian to be named the crown prince, especially since his brothers were far more capable and suitable for the role.

Retaining his lingering smirk, Nolan strolled away and shortly vanished from sight.

…

Within the Holy Empire of Valtanir, in Halveran…

A woman processed through the imperial palace with serene grace. She possessed an ethereal beauty, though a white blindfold veiled her eyes.

Her radiant golden locks cascaded in soft waves across her back.

She was draped in a flowing white priestess robe, the hem trailing well past her ankles.

With every measured step, the fabric brushed against the palace's carpeted floors.

She was Aurora, a saint of the Church of the Goddess of Light. She was flanked by two towering, muscular men clad in gleaming silver armor.

Kishir stood to her left, while Karmish was on her right—they were her loyal and formidable personal protectors.

The trio continued their advance, ignoring the servants who stared in confusion and alarm.

"Is that Saint Aurora? What is happening? Why would she be here?" a maid whispered.

"I haven't a clue. Could something have transpired without our knowledge?"

"Oh, I know!" another maid interjected with a grave expression. "They say the empire is on the verge of war with the Great Velmora Empire. Perhaps the saint has arrived to intervene."

Her companions found the theory convincing and exhaled in relief.

They held no love for war. It only invited misery upon commoners like them.

While they held respect for the Holy Emperor, they remained opposed to a conflict with the Great Velmora Empire, sensing only ruin to come.

Meanwhile, Aurora and her guards reached the throne room.

Dariel occupied the throne, accompanied by his wife and their two offspring, Erald and Rebecca.

He threw a frigid look at Aurora, but quickly smoothed his features.

"Welcome, Saint Aurora," Dariel greeted with a veneer of politeness. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Although his tone lacked overt hostility, it was entirely performative. In reality, he and Aurora had been at odds for months.

Previously, the Church of the Goddess of Light had acted as a steadfast ally to the royal family, endorsing their policies from the shadows.

Yet, following the death of the former saint and Aurora's ascension, the Church’s stance had shifted dramatically.

They turned antagonistic toward the throne and began to openly question his legitimacy as the Holy Emperor.

Compounding this, the Singularity of Chaos had decimated the capital a year prior, gutting public faith in his rule.

Consequently, the Church of the Goddess of Light had ascended in prestige among the populace. A widespread rebellion aimed at the empire felt inevitable.

This, precisely, was the source of Dariel’s mounting headaches.

He longed to eliminate Aurora, but such an act would only ignite the fires of rebellion further.

After all, Aurora possessed immense status. To the common folk, she served as the primary conduit for the Goddess of Light.

Aurora halted three meters from the throne. She faced him with composed resolve and stated, "I have come to address your war intentions. What is the logic behind this move? Are you aiming to drive this empire into the abyss?"

Her sharp, cutting tone caused Dariel to knit his brows.

As emperor, no one had dared address him so brazenly. It was a novel, stinging sensation, and rage began to boil within him.

Nevertheless, he suppressed the urge to lash out.

Drawing a slow, steadying breath, he replied with an icy detachment, "I have my reasons."

"Reasons? What kind of reasons? Do they truly rank above the lives of your people?" Aurora challenged with a sneer.

War offered no legitimate excuse; it simply invited famine and ruin.

Dariel’s hands clenched into fists, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

"Yes, it is vital!" he hissed through gritted teeth. "We require this. Do you not realize the empire is spiraling toward collapse? We have emptied the treasury just to reconstruct the capital of Halveran. Securing the Eldrath Mountains is our only avenue to survive this crisis. I suggest you refrain from interfering."

The destruction of Halveran had utterly depleted the imperial coffers in a desperate bid at reconstruction.

Even that hadn't sufficed. He had been forced to take a massive loan from the Blue Moon Trading House at a crippling ten-percent interest rate.

This debt exerted heavy pressure on the state’s finances, pushing them to the brink. Only through conquest could they hope to satisfy their creditors.

Naturally, he was well aware that victory against the Great Velmora Empire would not come easily.

He lacked confidence even in breaching the defenses of the Eldrath Mountains with his current northern deployment.

Regrettably, Aurora remained unmoved. Knitting her brow, she issued a firm refusal: "I care little for your justifications. War serves only to invite chaos, and I am certain the people feel the same. Abandon these plans, or face the consequences."

Having delivered her warning, she pivoted and departed, shadowed by the silent Kishir and Karmish.

Dariel ground his teeth. His eyes blazed with fury as he muttered to himself, 'Damnable woman… she is beyond maddening. Father was right—I must make my move as quickly as possible.'

Aurora’s influence had become a lethal threat. If she remained unchallenged, his hold on the imperial throne would surely be severed eventually.`