The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 641 Assassination Plan (2)

"Where are you taking us, Arkash?" Aldrian questioned with hesitation.

Be it a mere gut feeling or something more, Aldrian suspected Arkash had no plans to lead them to his parents.

Even so, his trust in Arkash kept him from demanding answers.

Arkash stayed composed and replied, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I've come especially to fetch you and Princess Seira. Please have faith in me."

He looked back briefly. Aldrian paused briefly, gave a small nod, and said, "Fine, I get it."

Still, a shadow of doubt hid beneath his calm exterior.

Seira observed the interaction without a word.

'So reckless,' she thought with a heavy sigh.

Arkash's malicious intent was plain to see, she was sure.

Yet she opted to stay quiet, eager to discover the scheme he had plotted for her and Aldrian.

The trio pressed on until arriving at a doorway.

"His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen await inside. Enter," Arkash announced with a subtle smirk while pushing the door open.

Darkness shrouded the expansive chamber. From their position, Aldrian and Seira couldn't spot Gulvar and Melody.

"Thanks, Arkash," Aldrian breathed out in relief as he ventured in.

Seira shot Arkash a pointed look before trailing after him.

Arkash stayed outside, shutting the door behind them. A chilling smirk played on his lips as he murmured, "Hehehe… you've fallen right into my snare. Tonight… marks your end."

***

"Where are my father and mother?" Aldrian demanded, his tone quivering with astonishment.

Pitch blackness enveloped the room. Only a sliver of light from the vent allowed any visibility at all.

Seira sighed softly and massaged her temples in annoyance.

"You're too naive, Aldrian. Arkash fooled you completely."

"Fooled me?" Aldrian's eyes bulged, his pulse racing frantically. "H-How could that be!? He's the chief servant of the palace! Betrayal from him is unthinkable!"

Seira merely shook her head. Canceling the engagement now appeared as her wisest choice yet.

"Believe me or not, we're trapped in here—that's the reality."

Her statement jolted Aldrian. He dashed to the door and yanked at it, but it refused to yield.

"No way… Arkash has truly turned against us!"

He reeled backward, hand pressed to his chest amid a torrent of terror and incredulity.

Before, a nagging doubt had stirred, yet he'd brushed it aside in favor of faith in Arkash. That faith now lay in ruins.

Fury erupted within him. He hammered the door with his fists, bellowing, "Arkash! Release me and Seira! You're courting death! Arkash!"

Bang!

Bang!

His relentless blows continued, yet the door stood unyielding. Each hit proved useless.

The barrier was immensely solid, blocked by what seemed like a huge piece of furniture from outside.

"Curse it! What a fool I am!" Aldrian gnashed his teeth, ripped between fury and hopelessness.

Had he heeded his instincts sooner, neither he nor Seira would be confined now.

Facing Seira, he bit his lip. "I'm sorry, Seira, I—"

She cut him off with a dismissive gesture.

"Save your apologies. It's over. We need to focus on escaping—and quickly."

She headed to the room's opposite side, searching for any exit.

Shame burned in Aldrian, leaving him no choice but to trail behind her.

"What was this room originally? It seems utterly vacant," Seira wondered aloud.

"A storage warehouse. Abandoned for a full year now," Aldrian explained while eyeing thin fissures in the right wall.

"A warehouse? That means a vent shaft should exist for air," Seira mused, stroking her chin thoughtfully.

Looking upward, she noticed a narrow vent. Inspiration struck—until she recalled the absence of steps. The ceiling loomed impossibly high.

While deep in contemplation, footsteps resounded from beyond the door.

Soon after, the door burst open with a savage kick, admitting five black-cloaked men who exuded smug confidence.

"Hahaha! Got you now. Arkash reeled you in without a hitch."

The central figure guffawed loudly, his followers echoing the mockery as they advanced.

Panic gripped Aldrian, prompting him to retreat several paces.

"W-Who are you people? Don't you fear death!?" he stuttered.

"Fear death?" The leader snickered, eyes gleaming with mockery fixed on Aldrian. "We're assassins, Your Highness. Death holds no terror for us. Plus, for the coming hour, no aid will arrive. The palace bends to our will in that span."

Aldrian's throat constricted as hopelessness clawed at him.

Guards swarmed the royal palace. Conquering it demanded insider betrayal.

'Who… who orchestrated this!?' he raged inwardly.

Ministers alone couldn't manage it, despite their influence—they lacked the cunning for perfection.

Just one suspect remained: royalty itself.

'But which one? Meliodas? Karakh? Some other prince?'

Racking his brain yielded nothing solid.

The leader's voice shattered the quiet again.

"No more talk. Time to finish you both. Rest easy—the bounty on your heads is massive. Farewell to this life."

His hand opened, summoning a dagger from thin air.

As he charged, Aldrian lunged to halt him.

"Hold on! Spare my life!" he pleaded frantically. "I… I'll double your pay! Just let my fiancée and me leave. I beg you!"

Hands pressed together, he bowed low.

Princely pride vanished. Survival trumped all.

The leader and his crew traded looks, faces twisting from shock to vicious smirks.

"Agreed," the man drawled, spinning the dagger idly. "I'll honor that."

Hope flared in Aldrian's gaze—but the man's next words dripped ice:

"On one condition… slay your fiancée yourself."

He flung the dagger at Aldrian's feet, observing with icy composure.

Aldrian stiffened, staring blankly at the blade, thoughts in chaos.

"Kill… Seira?"