The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 661 Investigation Order (2)

"There's something in here!"

All gazes swung toward Alex. Eldrin moved nearer and questioned, "What is it?"

Alex lifted the wine glass, which remained a quarter full, and spoke in a grave tone, "A weird odor is emanating from this glass. Check it out."

He passed it over to Eldrin.

Eldrin accepted the glass and drew it near his nose. He inhaled deeply and detected a subtle aroma—something an average person could scarcely notice.

The fragrance was mild but laced with a biting, acrid edge.

His gaze sharpened as he declared icily, "An aphrodisiac potion. Who slipped it into this glass?"

An aphrodisiac potion stirred intense sexual urges in whoever consumed it. From the smell, this batch was potent enough to send the drinker into a wild frenzy, potentially knocking them out cold.

Since the glass was Seira's, it showed someone had aimed straight for her.

"I'm not sure. But I suspect someone," Alex answered evasively.

Eldrin locked eyes with him and grasped the implication right away.

"How sure are you?"

"Ninety percent," Alex responded, his face twisted in turmoil. "Your thoughts? Do we inform His Majesty?"

Eldrin set the glass down on the table and denied with a shake of his head.

"Hold off for now. Princess Seira is still missing, and we haven't found Prince Aldrian's body yet. More digging is required."

A dark possibility flashed through his thoughts: Aldrian dosed Seira and attempted to assault her—yet she resisted and slew him.

It seemed outlandish, yet it fit best.

Alex gave a nod, then faced Rugard and demanded frostily, "Who served as the attendant for this private room?"

Rugard grew frantic and scanned his employees hastily.

"Which of you handled duty here? Speak now!" he ordered.

Rugard grew frantic and scanned his employees hastily.

"Which of you handled duty here? Speak now!" he ordered.

The employees traded nervous looks. As the strain mounted, a server burst in from the doorway and stammered, "That was me, Manager."

Heads turned to spot a plain-faced man advancing toward the group.

Rugard advanced and warned in a somber tone, "Karis. Tell us precisely what occurred with Prince Aldrian and Princess Seira. Don't omit a thing, or you'll regret it badly."

His menacing tone left Karis quivering.

"I-I'll tell everything!"

Karis started narrating the events. Alex, Eldrin, Rugard, Alina, and the staff paid rapt attention.

Yet upon hearing how Aldrian mysteriously caused Seira to collapse, their eyes bulged in shock.

Alex thrust up his hand. " Halt."

Karis stopped dead and clamped his lips shut immediately.

Alex eyed Rugard, who caught on without delay.

"Everyone out. Immediately!" Rugard snapped chillingly.

The employees fled the room without protest.

Moments later, only Rugard, Alex, Eldrin, Alina, and Karis lingered.

Alex fixed Karis with narrowed eyes and barked, "Erase what you said from your mind. Got it?"

Karis bobbed his head rigidly. "I-I got it."

Alex eased the intimidating aura he'd unleashed, then probed, "Now, where did they go?"

Karis gulped and revealed, "They're at the Seven Lights Inn."

"The Seven Lights Inn?" Alex and Eldrin recoiled in surprise.

Their faces hardened, and they bolted from the room without hesitation.

Alina chewed her lip. She never imagined her brother would perpetrate such a vile deed on Seira.

Linking it to Nolan's abrupt vanishing, a heavy dread swelled within her.

'No… Nolan can't be guilty,' she whispered inwardly, tears cascading down her cheeks.

Fear gripped her that reality might contradict her hopes. Should Nolan truly be responsible, their bond would shatter.

…

A sprawling grassland stretched three kilometers beyond Altheris' capital.

Beneath the starry night, a soft wind swayed the lofty grasses, painting a mesmerizing vista.

Right then, under the pale blue moonlight, a dark steed thundered across the field at breakneck speed.

Two riders shared its back. Up front, gripping the reins, sat a striking young man.

Tall and imposing, he sported shoulder-length messy black hair and striking purple eyes that sparkled in the lunar glow.

Clutched behind him was a breathtaking beauty whose long pink locks trailed down her back.

Nolan and Seira were their identities.

Following Aldrian's slaying, Nolan seized a horse by the inn and escaped Altheris' capital.

Thirty minutes had passed since Aldrian's demise. Surely, the palace had mobilized a huge hunt for the absent Nolan and Seira by now.

Night gales whipped their faces. Nolan infused the horse with magic, propelling it to velocities and distances beyond any normal mount.

"Sister, grip firm. I'm accelerating."

Nolan yanked the reins. The horse bolted ahead, seemingly eclipsing the very winds.

Seira clung harder. Her complexion had drained—this marked her initial brush with such raw excitement.

Sharing the ride with her brother amplified the thrill manifold.

Her sealed eyes fluttered open. Staring at Nolan's focused visage, she breathed, 'I wish this could endure forever.'

She pressed closer around his waist, nestling her face into his sturdy back.

…

Alex, Eldrin, and Alina sped straight to the Seven Lights Inn.

The opulent establishment appeared forsaken. Save for scant staff on shift, it stood empty.

Upon arrival, the front desk clerk welcomed them courteously. "Apologies, but we're shut down. Prince Aldrian booked the whole place."

Her statement jolted the trio. Eldrin composed himself swiftly and stated icily, "I'm Eldrin, His Majesty's trusted aide. Where's the prince?"

The clerk paled and tensed. "Prince Aldrian occupies the top floor, Your Excellency."

Eldrin acknowledged with a nod. He and Alex dashed to the uppermost level without pause.

Alina trailed urgently. She had to verify Nolan's innocence.

Arriving at the fourth floor—the inn's pinnacle—they beelined for room 112.

Alex tested the door, finding it sealed. He smashed it open with a kick and barged in.

Inside, Alex, Eldrin, and Alina stood petrified.

Chaos reigned in the chamber. Furniture lay splintered, some reduced to powder.

But that paled beside the body sprawled on the ground, pierced by a dagger.

It belonged to the crown prince—Aldrian.