The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 669 A Sleepless Night

Aldrian's demise inflicted a crushing strike upon Gulvar's standing as ruler.

Despite his brazen efforts to curry favor with Seira, Aldrian remained pivotal in reviving the kingdom's lost splendor.

Yet Aldrian lay dead now, shattering that grand vision entirely.

Even worse, the incident unfolded in the capital itself, squarely under the royal palace's oversight—a mortifying assault on Gulvar's command.

No one voiced it aloud, but Gulvar perceived the swelling discontent encircling him.

Letting it brew unchecked would ignite far graver crises ahead.

Stifling the turmoil churning within, Gulvar muttered, "No matter what, I must resolve this before it gets worse."

He reigned as king, deeming any challengers mere underlings.

Unaware to him, that dread would manifest into harsh truth someday.

***

"What should we do? Do you have any ideas?" Alex inquired, face etched with gravity.

Eldrin paused briefly before inspiration flashed, igniting his gaze.

"What if we contact the noble families? With their help, finding Nolan Lorian and Seira Lorian will be much easier."

Alex nodded at once upon hearing it.

"That's a great idea. Let's send letters to every noble family in the kingdom."

They sprang into action without delay, diving straight into the task.

…

"An order to locate Nolan Lorian and Seira Lorian?"

A middle-aged nobleman eyed the missive coldly in his grasp.

Charles Krifton led House Marquis Krifton, towering in rank over most kingdom nobles.

Regrettably, such rank proved insufficient for avenging his son's tragedy.

Klein had perished amid Alina's birthday feast not long prior.

Royal pressure had crushed him outright, stripping all recourse.

Now they demanded his aid pursuing Nolan and Seira, branded lawbreakers of the realm.

"How shameless," he snarled, shredding the royal-sealed parchment before discarding it.

Vivid still burned the rage when Gulvar had glared him into submission after his outcry for his son's justice.

His reward? Intimidation pure.

Gulvar menaced exile for House Krifton—a brutal stomp upon his patriarchal dignity.

Charles drew a steadying breath, wrestling back his fury.

Moments passed, clarity sharpened his thoughts for deeper scrutiny.

"Violating the kingdom's laws… what exactly did those two do?"

The palace's account rang hollow to his ears.

Hailing from the mighty Great Velmora Empire, Nolan and Seira's pursuit absent dire offenses smacked of idiocy, courting catastrophe.

What crime had Nolan and Seira truly committed?

Charles pondered scenarios, yet each crumbled without merit—he couldn't conceive it.

Footsteps echoed from beyond then, succeeded by a gentle rap.

"My Lord, a letter has arrived for you. It is from Duke Ellias. May I come in?"

Charles tensed before snapping, "Come in."

The door parted gradually as the servant entered, fishing the envelope from his pocket to present it.

Charles seized it, spotting instantly the Duke Halvane family's formal emblem.

"When did you receive this?" he demanded.

"A few minutes ago, Your Highness. Duke Ellias's envoy said the letter contains important information and that you must read it," came the servant's deferential response.

Charles's visage shadowed over. With a dismissive flick, the servant retreated swiftly.

Unsealing it, he scanned the contents.

Minutes on, his features froze rigid, breaths ragged and uneven.

"Prince Aldrian… is dead!?"

…

Karakh loomed serene, back turned to the black-robed figure.

"Have you delivered the letter to Duke Ellias?" he queried.

The cloaked one bowed low, answering with respect, "Yes, Your Highness. Duke Ellias should have already informed the other nobles by now."

A subtle smirk curled Karakh's mouth.

Gulvar had purposefully shrouded Prince Aldrian's passing from noble houses across the land.

Karakh knew his father would enlist noble aid against Nolan and Seira, yet balk at unveiling the genuine cause.

Such reluctance carved the flawless breach.

Here lay his moment to seize chaos, prying royalty further from nobility's grasp.

"Excellent. You haven't let me down," he declared, pleased. "Execute the second scheme—unleash turmoil in the capital. Ensure it's severe enough to plunge the populace into frenzy. Losing thousands of lives is tolerable. Crucially, shatter the people's faith in my father entirely. Clear?"

The subordinate stood erect and responded deferentially, "Understood, Your Highness. Entrust it to me."

Karakh nodded approvingly and flicked his hand.

Instantly, the man disappeared, abandoning Karakh who erupted in a victorious guffaw.

Staring at the noonday heavens, he murmured, "Power shall soon be mine. Forgive me, Father. I had no alternative… since you struck first."

Had his father picked the crown prince justly in those days, such a merciless plot would never have crossed his mind.

Yet what other choice remained?

For the throne of the next king, he'd stoop to any deed—even if it meant sinking into guilt's abyss.

...

That evening, Altheris Kingdom's capital draped itself in an eerie silence. The city's core neither bustled nor stood empty.

Merchants kept their doors ajar, attending late-night diners.

Whoosh!

A biting gale ravaged every corner of the city. Folks instinctively clutched their arms and glanced skyward, dread etching their faces.

"Do you feel it? The night wind feels colder than usual," one man uttered, trembling.

"You're right." His companion nodded. "For some reason, I have a bad feeling."

"A bad feeling?" The first man scowled. "What do you mean?"

The second man fell quiet and merely shook his head.

"Nothing. Let's go. Your wife must be waiting for the food you brought."

Without responding, his friend turned and hurried away beside him.

But before they covered ten meters, a thunderous blast detonated in their rear.

The pair whipped around. The eatery they'd just left blazed in ferocious inferno.

Eyes bulging wide, terror coursed through their veins.

"F-fire!"

"Run! It's spreading to the other shops!"

Frantic shrieks burst from every side. The two shook free from stunned daze.

Faces drained of color, they spun and bolted.

Yet the blaze was merely the prelude.

Within moments, successive detonations rocked multiple vital zones of the capital.

Chaos devoured Altheris that night, leaving none to slumber.