The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 710 Reaching the Body's Limits

Evalyn's commitment to her training was unwavering; daily, without a trace of weariness, she dedicated herself from dawn till dusk.

Yet, a perplexing stagnation soon became apparent—her skills seemed stubbornly fixed in place.

"What could be the reason?" she mused, her brow knit in concentration.

Another swing of her sword met with the familiar sensation, as if an unseen impediment held her prowess captive.

The unknown source of this frustration only deepened her unease.

While she was lost in these thoughts, a servant approached, bowing respectfully.

"My apologies for the interruption, Young Lady. A guest has arrived seeking an audience."

Evalyn's reverie shattered, and she turned to face the servant.

"Inform them I am not available for visitors," she stated, her tone edged with annoyance.

"But—"

Before the servant could complete his sentence, Evalyn had already turned away, dismissing the matter.

The servant paused briefly before raising his voice to announce the guest's identity.

"The guest is Prince Nolan!"

"What?" Evalyn halted abruptly. She spun back with haste, rushing toward the servant. Grasping his shoulders, she exclaimed, "W-Why didn't you mention that sooner?!"

The servant remained silent, absorbing her outburst.

Evalyn, sensing his unspoken explanation, interrupted again.

"Take me to him. Immediately!" she commanded.

Without daring to protest, the servant swiftly guided her to Nolan's location.

***

Nolan and Eira waited patiently in the reception chamber, attended only by a few servants.

Nolan bore the wait with understanding, aware of the Lionheart family's preparations for the upcoming decennial contest.

Furthermore, his visit was unscheduled; he had not alerted Luke or any other dignitaries in advance.

"Master, is this where we are going?" Eira inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.

Nolan gently ruffled her hair. "Indeed. Rest assured, you will find it quite comfortable here. This is the home of Sister Evalyn. You have met her before, remember?"

"Sister Evalyn?" Eira repeated, her head tilting slightly as she searched her memory. Suddenly, her eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! Sister Evalyn! So this is her residence?"

Nolan offered a simple smile and a nod.

At that moment, the sound of rapid footsteps approached from outside. Moments later, Evalyn appeared, still clad in her training attire.

Her white garments fit snugly, accentuating her slender physique and graceful curves.

Her silver hair, gathered in a ponytail, showcased glistening beads of sweat on her forehead and neck, somehow amplifying her allure.

"Nolan!" Evalyn's voice was warm as she hurried forward. Reaching them, she offered a contrite smile. "I do apologize; I was just finishing my training. Have you been waiting long?"

As Nolan prepared to reply, the distinct aroma of grapes reached his senses.

'Such a pleasant fragrance… could it be her perspiration?' Nolan wondered internally. His gaze involuntarily drifted to the sheen of sweat on Evalyn's forehead, neck, and even under her arms.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, swiftly banishing inappropriate notions. Adopting a nonchalant tone, he responded, "No, I've only just arrived."

Evalyn appeared to relax. However, her attention soon turned to Eira, her eyes filled with inquisitiveness.

"And who is this young lady?"

Eira opened her mouth to reply, but Nolan spoke first.

"She is my daughter."

Evalyn stood speechless.

Eira also remained silent.

"Y-Your daughter!?" Evalyn’s voice quivered. "Y-You must be joking! If that were true… then who is her mother!?"

Observing her escalating panic, Nolan let out a soft chuckle and quickly reassured her.

"Just teasing. This is Eira—the little dragon I brought back from the Kingdom of Kaldarion. Do you recall?"

"Eira?" Evalyn paused. Of course, she remembered the adorable little dragon.

Who could have imagined she would now appear as a young girl?

"Many things have transpired," Nolan stated, rising slowly. "We should discuss matters inside."

Evalyn, though visibly irked by the playful deception, suppressed her annoyance and simply nodded.

She then led Nolan and Eira into the residence.

The Lionheart family estate was remarkably vast, its scale comparable to the grand manors of prominent noble houses like the Austins, Malvains, and Valcrests.

However, its unparalleled distinction lay not merely in size but in its unique decor, spatial arrangement, and architectural design.

Contrasting with typical noble estates, the Lionheart residence eschewed a three-story structure for a more modest two. Its aesthetic echoed the architectural style of the Izanagi Eastern Empire while retaining the refined elegance characteristic of the Great Velmora Empire.

Legend had it that the progenitor of the Lionheart lineage—a Transcendent who once wielded the Divine Sword Luminus—originated from another world, a realm whose culture and customs bore a striking resemblance to those of the Eastern Izanagi Empire.

While the exact reason remained unconfirmed, the Lionheart estate was thought to strongly mirror the architectural style of Izanagi.

"I don't know why, but... is it just me, or has this place changed a bit?" Nolan inquired, curiosity piqued.

Evalyn offered a smile. "You're not mistaken. The estate underwent renovations two years ago. Since you haven't visited in quite some time, it's natural you wouldn't be aware."

A subtle hint of exasperation colored her tone, prompting a helpless smile from Nolan.

It wasn't a matter of not wanting to revisit the Lionheart family; he simply found himself perpetually short on time. Being a prince, his schedule was always demanding.

Of course, his definition of "demanding" primarily involved extended periods of rest in bed.

Evalyn guided Nolan and Eira into the living room. The atmosphere within was conspicuously subdued, devoid of any key members of the Lionheart family.

Only a few servants occasionally drifted through the area.

"Are Uncle Luke and the others currently out?" Nolan asked.

"Yes. Father and the rest headed to the venue for the competition," Evalyn confirmed with a nod. "What would you prefer to drink?"

"I'll have coffee. Eira would like some cold chocolate milk."

Evalyn promptly relayed the order to a nearby servant.

As they awaited their refreshments, the trio engaged in light conversation, which eventually turned towards the impending contest.

"How are your preparations going for your match against Nathan later?" Nolan inquired.

Considering Evalyn's considerable abilities, Nolan had presumed there would be no significant hurdles. He had always maintained faith in her capabilities.

However, Evalyn's expression clouded over. She lowered her gaze and responded with a subdued tone, "Everything is fine."

Nolan's eyebrows lifted slightly. He knew her well; her body would exhibit a subtle tremor, and her expression would become listless and vacant whenever she attempted to deceive him.

"What's truly amiss? Don't try to mislead me," Nolan pressed. "Are you encountering difficulties?"

Evalyn remained silent for a beat before exhaling a long, drawn-out sigh.

"There's truly nothing I can conceal from you." She nodded slowly. "Yes… I seem to be in a slump. I've dedicated days to training, yet it feels as though no tangible progress has been made. It's peculiar. It defies logic."

In her view, consistent training ought to translate directly into increased strength. Yet, she was now facing stagnation, a situation that felt entirely unnatural.

"A slump?" Nolan repeated, a touch of surprise in his voice.

He understood the implications. The human body possessed innate limitations; continuous improvement without eventually reaching a plateau was an impossibility.

It appeared Evalyn had encountered such a limit.

"Given your current level of strength," Nolan asked softly, "how confident are you in your ability to defeat Nathan Asbourne?"

Evalyn fell silent once more, this time for a considerably longer duration. Then, she lifted her head, met his gaze directly, and answered with measured calmness.

"Forty percent."