The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 694 Overthrowing Gulvar's Regime (1)

"Brother Karakh!?" Alina's eyes widened in disbelief. "N-No… that cannot be! There's absolutely no way Brother Karakh would ever do something like that!"

She vehemently shook her head, unable to reconcile the accusation with her image of her brother.

"Brother Karakh is the most responsible person I know. He assisted Father in restoring order just eight days ago, and he has achieved so much for the kingdom's survival. How could he possibly be the culprit?"

Alina's brow furrowed, and she directed a gaze of clear displeasure at Nolan.

Ever since Aldrian's death, Karakh had dedicated himself to tirelessly helping the royal palace navigate through one crisis after another.

And Nolan was the one who had previously shattered her trust. There was simply no reason for her to believe his words now.

Nolan simply offered a silent smile. Such innocence was a rare commodity in this world.

He was aware that Alina was naive—perhaps even foolish—but he hadn't anticipated her being quite this naive.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense could plainly see it: every event that had transpired in the capital, from its inception to its conclusion, had benefited only one individual—Karakh.

Nolan felt certain that Gulvar had already come to this realization. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do but accept it with a heavy heart.

Karakh was the sole son he had left. All the others—Aldrian, Meliodas, and the remaining princes—were already deceased.

Perhaps Alina was the only one who stubbornly refused to see the truth—that Karakh stood to gain the most from all of it.

Nolan found himself unsure whether to laugh or to pity the young woman.

Yet, upon further consideration, Alina wasn't entirely wrong in her perspective.

With Gulvar no longer able to stand by her side, and her trust in Nolan irrevocably broken, Karakh was the only figure remaining who could provide her with emotional solace.

Nolan let out a soft, drawn-out sigh.

"I am not speaking nonsense. In the final analysis, all the chaos engulfing the capital serves the interests of only one person—Karakh. Reflect on this carefully."

Having uttered these words, he closed his eyes once more, leaving Alina to grapple with his pronouncements alone.

Given her intelligence, it should not have been a difficult task for her to connect the dots.

The genuine quandary lay in… whether she possessed the desire to accept such a harsh reality?

Alina fell into a profound silence, her expression etched with turmoil and a heavy burden.

She yearned to refute his claims, yet Nolan's logic was undeniably compelling.

She found herself without any argument to counter his reasoning. Nonetheless, Karakh was still her brother. The sheer disbelief that he could be capable of such an act refused to dissipate.

"What if I provide proof?" Nolan proposed, his voice cutting through her thoughts.

His words jolted Alina from her deep contemplation.

Alina narrowed her eyes, suspicion clouding her gaze. "Proof? What do you mean by that?"

Nolan slowly rose to his feet, stretching his stiffened limbs.

"As per the plan I devised with him, tonight is the designated hour for his move. You grasp the significance of my words, do you not?"

Badump!

Alina's heart hammered violently against her ribs. Her breathing grew ragged as a chilling wave of fear coursed through her.

"Don't tell me—"

Before she could voice her dread, Nolan offered a knowing smile and interrupted her.

"Indeed. Your father is slated for overthrow tonight."

Without awaiting her reaction, he turned and exited the chamber.

Alina remained in a state of stunned disbelief for a moment. Then, steeling her resolve, she clenched her teeth and made the decision to follow Nolan.

She needed to witness it with her own eyes… Was her own brother truly capable of committing such a monstrous deed?

If such a revelation proved true, Alina knew she would shatter irrevocably. Nothing in this world would remain trustworthy—not even her own blood relations.

***

Within the opulent throne room, the atmosphere was thick with stifling tension.

Over twenty ministers, representing various governmental departments, had assembled, each bearing a grim and deeply troubled expression.

"Your Majesty, how are we to find a resolution to this crisis?" The minister of the economy inquired, his voice heavy with despair. "Millions have already erupted in rebellion. If we remain inactive, the widespread chaos will inevitably escalate."

Gulvar opened his mouth, but no sound emerged. After a prolonged moment of silence, he finally posed the question, "Is there no support forthcoming from the other cities?"

The Minister of Trade responded with a shake of his head.

"No, Your Majesty. If anything, the situation is deteriorating. The other cities are succumbing to unrest as well. Protests have ignited everywhere—and all occurring concurrently."

Gulvar's eyes widened in alarm.

"H-How is this even possible!? Wait…" His face darkened with dawning realization. "Could this be the machination of those noble families!?"

They were indeed the prime suspects. Despite the royal family having ostensibly resolved the matter concerning the demise of their son and daughter, Gulvar was acutely aware that the noble factions would never truly accept the outcome.

And now, with riots erupting across multiple cities—clearly orchestrated with noble involvement from the shadows—his suspicions intensified.

The assembled ministers remained silent, their somber visages serving as irrefutable confirmation of Gulvar's growing dread.

"Damn it all!"

Gulvar slammed his palm forcefully against the ornate armrest of his throne.

"How dare they defy me like this?!" he snarled, clenching his jaw. "Are they not concerned about making an enemy of the formidable Lyren family?"

Up until this moment, the various noble families had always yielded to the royal family's authority.

This occasion marked the very first time they had ever dared to unite in such significant opposition.

"Excellent… truly excellent…!" Gulvar uttered softly, his eyes blazing with potent rage. "Minister of Intelligence, I command you to identify every single noble family scheming in the shadows. I require a comprehensive report within the hour!"

The Minister of Intelligence clasped his hands together and offered a deep bow. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Abruptly, an unperturbed voice cut through the tense atmosphere from the throne room's entrance.

"Father. Such measures are unnecessary."

A profound stillness fell over the hall. The assembled ministers turned in unison, their gazes falling upon Karakh standing at the entrance, flanked by two figures concealed within black cloaks.

A subtle smile gracing his lips, he commenced his approach toward Gulvar.

The ministers swiftly parted, creating an unobstructed path for his advance.

"Karakh?" Gulvar's brow furrowed in confusion. "What brings you here? No… that is not the pertinent question. What do you mean by 'unnecessary'?"

His eyes narrowed, suspicion clouding his expression.

Yet, Karakh remained unfazed by the palpable pressure emanating from his father.

Halting a few paces from the steps leading to the throne, he responded with measured calmness, "It is not needed, Father. Even if you were to ascertain their identities… what action could you possibly take with such knowledge?"

Gulvar appeared visibly taken aback, impulsively questioning, "What are you suggesting?"

Karakh released a slow, deep sigh.

"Father, the current turmoil is a direct consequence of your own oversight. Reflect upon it. Following the events of that disastrous party, what decisive actions did you implement? Instead of seeking to de-escalate the situation, you further exerted pressure upon the noble families. All they sought was a clarification… and an apology. Is that truly an insurmountable request?"

Gulvar's astonishment escalated. He struggled to comprehend the sudden shift in Karakh's demeanor and his unexpected discourse.

Even more jarring was the accusatory undertone in his son's voice.

Gulvar could not refute the harshness – indeed, the cruelty – of his past actions, yet he felt no remorse.

He was the king, after all. No one possessed the right to challenge his decisions.

And now, his own son dared to question him. Injustice burned within him.

"What exactly are you implying?" Gulvar demanded, his voice strained as he fought to suppress his mounting anger. "Do you comprehend the gravity of accusing your sovereign of impropriety?"

Karakh did not waver. If anything, his gaze intensified, becoming even more frigid.

"And so?"