The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 637 The Long-Awaited Chaos (2)

"Nolan, where are you? You're still right here with me, aren't you?"

Elsa's voice, laced with panic, sounded from right beside him.

Simultaneously, Nolan sensed her hands wandering over his form, which sent an icy shiver racing down his back.

"Stop!" Nolan yelled, hastily yanking her hands off him.

Unless he halted her right away, those hands might wander downward, leading to utter peril.

Embarrassment mixed with relief washed over Elsa. Darkness terrified her, triggering panic as total blackness engulfed their surroundings.

"Sorry, I'm afraid of the dark. Can you hold my hand a bit longer?" she pleaded softly.

Though Nolan wished to decline, her genuine fear touched him, forcing a grudging nod.

"Fine. But don't let your hand stray. Grip only mine," he cautioned sternly.

"I get it. Relax, I won't let it happen," Elsa promised with utmost seriousness.

Satisfied, Nolan nodded and scanned the area coolly. The pitch darkness impaired him not one bit.

Thanks to the Eye of Chaos, visibility remained perfect, as though illumination persisted.

'He's vanished,' he thought, eyes narrowing sharply.

That "he" meant Meliodas. The fellow had mysteriously disappeared from his previous spot.

'Is he lurking nearby, claiming a secure hideout before mayhem erupts?' Nolan pondered.

Right then, Gulvar's furious roar reverberated across the hall.

"What's happening? Why have the lights failed? Where are those servants!?"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. A technical glitch occurred. Servants are investigating now. Kindly bear with us," a trembling voice from a middle-aged man responded.

Rage consumed Gulvar. Alina's birthday celebration mirrored the royal prestige.

An outage midway through shamed the entire affair beyond measure.

With a darkened scowl, Gulvar glanced about and announced, "My apologies to all. Hold tight—the lights return soon."

Though faces stayed hidden, he detected the nobles' growing anxiety.

Relief swept the crowd at his assurance. One guest chimed in, "No issue, Your Majesty. We comprehend."

The rest hastily echoed praise to curry favor.

Deep down, dissatisfaction brewed among them. Darkness petrified most.

Not monsters haunted them, but the shadow of mortality.

Amid such gloom, threats lurked unseen, poised to assault.

Thus, suspicion arose over the blackout's true cause.

Yet none voiced complaints, lest doom befall kin and self.

"Seira, fear not. I'll shield you!"

Aldrian faced Seira at his side. Darkness or not, her presence registered clearly.

Seira inwardly scoffed. No mere girl, this obscurity failed to faze her.

Besides, Nolan had forewarned her of impending turmoil, pinned on third prince Meliodas.

Hence, composure defined her utterly.

Silence met Aldrian, spurring alarm as hands groped blindly, "Seira? Seira, where are you?"

Contact with her arm made Seira flinch and dodge swiftly.

"I'm here!" she barked irritably.

Embarrassed yet eased, Aldrian blurted apologies. "Forgive me, not intentional. Feared you'd vanish abruptly."

"Vanish out of nowhere? Childish nonsense," Seira mocked icily.

Amid crisis, staying steady and awaiting illumination proved wisest.

Shortly, servants circulated, igniting candles across spots.

Flickering glows eased guests' nerves. Visibility, however dim, beat blindness.

Nolan coolly assessed environs. Abruptly, subtle motion stirred leftward in the hall.

'Here it comes at last,' he murmured, lips curving slyly.

Nearby, a young noble conversed with a peer.

Abruptly, agony pierced his throat.

Puzzled, fingers probed the spot, revealing crimson on skin.

"Huh? Blood?" Eyes bulged in shock.

Reaction eluded him—world whirled, head tumbling mutely to rug.

Arterial spray erupted from the stump like a geyser.

His companion stiffened, paralyzed.

Breath hitched erratically, chest hammered as dread crushed inward.

Shock shattered; lungs bellowed, "Dead… He's dead!"

The shriek jolted all. Ere response dawned, repeats bloomed elsewhere amid horror wails.

"A body! Ahhh! Death strikes here!"

"No! My betrothed! Arghh!"

"Save us! Dead man!"

Turmoil exploded; frenzy consumed instantly.

Shock gripped Gulvar, Melody, Karakh, Aldrian at the abrupt horror.

"Your Majesty, evacuate now! Assault underway!"

Eldrin's desperate cry pierced from rear.

Gulvar's gaze flared. "Assault? Who dares such madness!?"

"Likely guest-masked killers, Your Majesty. Peril peaks. Flee at once with Queen, princes, Princess Alina. Alex guards— I manage chaos."

Queries swirled in Gulvar, yet crisis forbade. Retreat became imperative.

"All, withdraw!" Gulvar commanded.

Clutching Alina and Melody, he dashed rearward. Karakh, Aldrian grasped peril, trailing fast.

Seira lingered in Aldrian's thoughts. Oddly serene, she stirred not toward Nolan.

Panic blinded all to her anomaly amid the onslaught.

"N-Nolan, what's this? Screams everywhere?"

Terror quavered Elsa's tone, grip vise-like on his limb, refusing release.

"Mercenary killers. Young nobles as marks," Nolan stated icily.

"Mercenaries?" Pallor drained Elsa's cheeks. "Who's bold enough? Death holds no terror for them!?"

Palace bedlam equaled kingdom belligerence.

Assassins' might paled; post-massacre, Gulvar'd eradicate nests ruthlessly.

"Beats me," Nolan scoffed ocularly. "Survival's priority now."

Mute, Elsa yielded as Nolan tugged her from position.

Yet abruptly—

Boom!

Deafening blast rocked rear. Seconds later, peril hurtled at Elsa from behind.

Death's reek seized her, body rigid beneath crushing murder aura.

Assassin's focus locked upon her.

"Am I going to die?"