The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 705 Decennial Contest

"Ugh… why hasn't that person reached out since that incident? He's so dense and infuriating!"

Alone in her chamber, Evalyn muttered her frustrations aloud. The memory of sharing a kiss with Nolan replayed in her mind, causing her cheeks to flush a deep crimson.

She couldn't quite fathom how she had mustered the courage for such a bold action.

Nolan must surely perceive her as an bothersome woman. Still, the impulsive act had been a result of reaching her breaking point.

Evalyn felt completely confident that Nolan was aware of her burgeoning affections for him. Yet, he consistently feigned ignorance, as though completely oblivious, until her patience wore thin and she acted on impulse by kissing him.

"Arghh!" Evalyn cried out, flailing her legs idly in the air. "You absolute idiot! Such a clueless fool! How could I possibly fall for you?!"

She snatched a cushion and buried her face into its soft fabric. Surely, there were countless handsome and accomplished gentlemen within the empire.

Yet, inexplicably, none had ever captured her interest. Only Nolan occupied her thoughts, prompting her to question, "Is that man under some kind of spell or enchantment?"

Just as her mind was consumed by thoughts of Nolan's smile and his maddening tendencies, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from beyond her door.

"Evalyn, it's me. Are you inside?"

Her father's voice carried through the air. Evalyn swiftly discarded the pillow and rose to her feet.

She was adorned in a white, somewhat revealing nightgown. Her fair skin and the gentle swell of her chest were subtly discernible.

Nevertheless, deeming it her father, she paid no mind and promptly opened the door.

"What is it, Father?"

Luke regarded her from head to toe, his brow furrowing slightly.

"It's already past noon, and you're still in your nightgown? Don't tell me you've only just awakened?"

Evalyn offered a sheepish grin. She had, in fact, awakened roughly an hour prior. Too indolent for a proper shower, she had merely lounged in bed, absorbed in a book.

Upon growing weary of reading, her thoughts had inevitably returned to Nolan, leading her to silently tease and admonish him in her mind.

Perceiving her quiet demeanor, Luke released a soft sigh and gently rapped his knuckles against her forehead.

"You are slated to become the next head of the Lionheart family. Everyone—including your aunts and uncles—regards you with a different expectation than other young individuals. Your every action is scrutinized. Therefore, you must cease behaving in such a manner. Do you understand?"

Evalyn lacked the fortitude to argue, especially since her father's words held undeniable truth.

"I understand, Father. I appreciate your counsel."

Luke's expression brightened with satisfaction at her compliant response, and he then shifted the topic.

"Incidentally, it has been a decade since the last grand competition. You haven't forgotten about it, have you?"

The instant Luke uttered those words, Evalyn's demeanor underwent an immediate transformation.

The Decennial Contest represented a significant, recurring event between two prominent families—the Lionheart lineage and the Asbourne clan.

These two houses had maintained a state of animosity for a millennium. However, recognizing that perpetual conflict would only foster deeper resentment, both factions, with the assistance of the imperial court, reached an accord to hold a contest every ten years.

The contest's parameters were straightforward: every ten years, the most exceptional young prodigies from the Lionheart and Asbourne families would engage in combat within a designated arena.

Naturally, the objective was not to claim lives but rather to gauge the developmental progress of the participating families.

And in this particular generation, Evalyn stood as the most distinguished scion among the younger members of the Lionheart family.

Furthermore, she was unique in having earned the acknowledgment of the Divine Sword of Luminus—an honor unseen since the passing of the family's progenitor, the transcendent warrior who had once wielded it.

Conversely, the Asbourne family's most promising young talent was identified as Nathan Asbourne.

Much like Evalyn, Nathan had also secured recognition from the Dark Sword of the Eclipse, thereby becoming the nascent hope for the Asbourne lineage.

"Ahem!" Evalyn cleared her throat somewhat bashfully, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "That is indeed an official occasion. How could I possibly have overlooked it?"

Luke merely rolled his eyes. Her flustered expression and evident embarrassment painted a clear picture: she had, in fact, forgotten.

Nevertheless, he felt disinclined to pursue the matter further and contented himself with a gentle reminder, "The contest is slated to commence in one week. This event signifies the pride of both our families. I trust you will emerge victorious, just as you did a decade ago."

Evalyn nodded with composed resolve. "I understand. You may leave it to me."

Ten years prior—or more precisely, when she was merely ten years of age—she and Nathan had already crossed paths in that very same contest.

Evalyn had been the victor, triumphing over Nathan with effortless grace and leaving the Asbourne family in a state of profound humiliation at the time.

That prior defeat was precisely the catalyst for Nathan's enduring animosity towards her.

However, Evalyn remained entirely unfazed. She was the acknowledged victor, a fact recognized by the Emperor himself, as well as the official representatives of both the Lionheart and Asbourne families.

"That's good that you understand." Luke offered a smile before turning to depart. "Go take a bath now. You certainly reek."

With those words uttered, he departed, leaving Evalyn in a state of stunned silence.

She promptly took a whiff of herself, a pout of vexation forming on her lips.

"I don't stink! Ugh... Father is so irritating!"

...

"The Decennial Contest?"

Cedric, engrossed in the documents before him, suddenly stilled, his eyes widening in disbelief. He glanced up, his gaze meeting Nathan's composed expression.

"Indeed, Your Highness. The contest commences in a mere week. The Asbourne family has extended an invitation, requesting my presence," Nathan stated with unwavering calm.

"I see..." Cedric acknowledged with a nod, posing no further inquiries.

He was quite familiar with the Decennial Contest. If his memory served him correctly, Evalyn had emerged victorious the previous decade.

Nathan's loss back then had been a monumental event, causing ripples that extended even to distant kingdoms and empires across different continents.

This was understandable, considering the Lionheart and Asbourne lineages both traced their roots back to the two legendary heroes who had once vanquished the Demon Emperor Zerathos.

"On a related note, a question lingers in my mind. Do you feel confident in your ability to defeat Evalyn Lionheart?"

Cedric leaned back leisurely, scrutinizing Nathan with keen interest.

The forthcoming contest held a peculiar significance. It represented not only a long-standing rivalry between the Asbourne and Lionheart families but also served as an indirect battlefield between himself and Elina.

This was due to each family's allegiance to their respective claims for the throne.

Consequently, the outcome would directly influence their standing in the public eye—and among the still-neutral noble houses.

"One hundred percent," Nathan affirmed with absolute certainty, holding up all ten fingers. "In the past, my relative weakness made it simple for Evalyn to best me. However, that is no longer the case. With the assistance of the Dark Sword of the Eclipse, my prospects of victory are exceptionally high."

A fact unknown to many was that the Divine Sword of Luminus and the Dark Sword of the Eclipse were indeed perfect foils for each other.

Ultimately, the victor would be determined by the individual's proficiency with their respective blade.

Nathan harbored no doubt that his command over the Dark Sword of the Eclipse far exceeded Evalyn's mastery of the Divine Sword of Luminus.

Victory, he felt, was undeniably within his reach.

"Excellent!" Cedric beamed with evident satisfaction. "I trust you will turn that aspiration into reality. Only then can I diminish Elina's prestige somewhat."

A smile touched Nathan's lips as well. "Consider it done, Your Highness."