Previously on The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne...
Evalyn trains tirelessly but finds her progress stalled. Prince Nolan arrives with Eira, and after a playful misunderstanding, Evalyn confides in him about her training slump and her low confidence in facing Nathan at the upcoming contest.
"Forty percent?" Nolan inquired, his brows raised in surprise. "That low?" He had genuinely believed Evalyn was confident of victory against Nathan, estimating her chances somewhere between sixty and eighty percent. However, it turned out his assumption was incorrect—Evalyn's odds were merely forty percent, significantly below his expectations. "Actually, the odds might be higher," Evalyn replied with a faint, unconvincing smile, "but I'm only confident at forty percent. As I've mentioned, I've hit a bottleneck these past few days, while Nathan continues to make progress. This is what's creating the disparity between us." Evalyn was not one to inflate her own capabilities. If she stated her chances were only forty percent, then, in her estimation, that was the most accurate assessment. "Hmmm…" Nolan sank into thoughtful silence. At that precise moment, a servant entered, placing a cup of tea, a cup of coffee, and a glass of iced chocolate upon the table. Eira's eyes sparkled with delight. She eagerly seized her chocolate, savoring it with evident pleasure. Nolan took a measured sip of his coffee, then lifted his gaze and stated calmly, "What if I were to assist you in surpassing your body's inherent limitations?" Evalyn stopped dead in her tracks, her gaze fixed on him, stunned. "Huh?" *** Within the expansive grounds of the Lionheart family estate, Evalyn stood poised, a wooden sword clutched in her hand. Facing her was Nolan, who also wielded a wooden sword. He had discarded his outer robe, now clad in form-fitting training attire that accentuated his sculpted physique. "Are you absolutely certain about this?" Evalyn asked, a note of hesitation in her voice. "I would rather not bear responsibility if you were to sustain an injury, you understand?" She was acutely aware of Nolan's physical condition. To put it delicately… his constitution was exceptionally frail. She had never once witnessed him engage in any form of exercise, let alone handle a sword. All she had gathered from Elina was that Nolan occupied most of his time in a state of indolence within his chambers. "Pfft!" Nolan emitted a soft chuckle. "You underestimate me, Evalyn. How about this—let's establish a wager." "A wager?" Evalyn's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "Indeed," Nolan affirmed with a nod. "The terms are quite straightforward: the loser shall fulfill any wish the winner desires. What are your thoughts on this proposition?" He paused, then added, "Oh, and one more thing. Refrain from utilizing your full capabilities. Engage only with your physical prowess. You are capable of that, are you not?" Evalyn possessed a naturally competitive spirit; she would never decline such a challenge. As anticipated, upon hearing his proposition, the grip she held on the sword's hilt tightened perceptibly. A subtle smile graced her lips as she advanced, assuming a ready stance. "Hehehe…" she let out a low chuckle. "Since you are the one proposing this, do not harbor regrets later, alright?" Ironically, she had been contemplating a way for Nolan to undertake a task for her for some time. Now that he had presented an opportunity himself, she was resolved not to let it pass by. Witnessing her burgeoning confidence, Nolan simply offered a gentle smile, remaining silent. After all, the ultimate victor was yet to be determined. Perched at the periphery of the training grounds, Eira observed the unfolding scene with an expression of apprehension. "Elder Sister Evalyn intends to spar with Master? But… isn't that somewhat ill-advised?" she murmured, idly scratching her head. Nolan and Evalyn positioned themselves approximately five meters apart, their gazes locked in an intense standoff for several moments. Abruptly, Evalyn bent her knees and surged towards Nolan with astonishing speed. Her velocity was so profound that an average observer would struggle to track her movements. As she closed the distance to a mere meter, she propelled herself into the air, descending with her wooden sword in a powerful, downward arc. *Tok!* The wooden sword, poised to strike Nolan, was halted with dismissive ease. "What!?" Evalyn's eyes widened considerably in sheer astonishment. However, Nolan granted her no respite to process this turn of events. He clenched his fist and delivered a sharp jab to her abdomen. Evalyn was propelled backward in a staggering flight, yet she managed to arrest her momentum before succumbing to a fall. She instinctively clutched her aching midsection, her face contorting in pain. "Is that all you're capable of?" Nolan's voice resonated, laced with a chilling taunt. Evalyn's brow furrowed as she resolutely re-established her footing. "Do not grow arrogant. I have not even begun to exert myself fully!" *Whoosh!* Her form seemed to dissolve into the air, only to materialize instantly beside Nolan. She unleashed a swift sword slash, targeting the very vicinity of his neck. *Tok!* Once again, Nolan deflected the assault with effortless execution. Evalyn wasted no time. She planted her feet firmly, pivoted her body with fluidity, and launched a powerful roundhouse kick backward. Her heel blurred towards Nolan's face at an astonishing velocity. Yet, Nolan raised his right arm, once more intercepting the attack. Capitalizing on the brief opening Evalyn presented, Nolan seized her ankle and powerfully flung her forward. Evalyn's body sailed through the air for nearly four meters before crashing onto the ground, executing several tumbling rolls. "Ugh…" A pained groan escaped her lips as agony surged through her body. "What is amiss with you, Evalyn? You are not typically this deficient in strength, are you?" Nolan inquired, his expression tinged with a slight frown. There was no question that Nolan possessed exceptional reflexes. Indeed, he occasionally engaged in nocturnal training sessions, a fact unknown to anyone within the imperial palace.
However, that by no means indicated Evalyn should be suffering such a swift defeat. Nolan had at least anticipated a more substantial challenge from her.
Yet, the reality was starkly different—Evalyn was being completely outmatched. It defied all logic.
While Nolan found himself perplexed by Evalyn's surprisingly poor performance, Evalyn herself was even more bewildered.
She pushed herself upright, dusting off the grime from her attire.
"Since when did you acquire skills in swordsmanship and martial arts?" she inquired, tilting her head up to meet Nolan's gaze directly.
Every single one of Nolan's movements flowed with an impeccable smoothness and natural grace, as if he possessed the uncanny ability to anticipate and nullify all her offensive maneuvers.
Evalyn was forced to concede—her initial underestimation of him had indeed led to her early attacks being so easily repelled.
But following that realization, she began to apply herself with renewed seriousness. Her subsequent assaults now carried a formidable eighty percent of her full physical might.
Despite this, Nolan continued to deflect every strike with apparent ease, even unleashing swift and precise counterattacks.
The entire situation was utterly preposterous.
"Does that truly matter at this point?" Nolan responded with a lighthearted tone, casually twirling his wooden sword. "Your focus ought to be on devising a strategy to overcome me."
Evalyn's frustration escalated with his playful taunts. In previous encounters, Nolan had invariably conceded the moment she bested him.
Who could have possibly foreseen that a modest increase in strength would transform him into such a vexing opponent?
Gritting her teeth in determination, she tightened her hold on her sword's hilt and surged forward with renewed aggression.
Nolan, without the slightest hesitation, met her charge with an immediate counter. The two combatants became locked in a furious exchange.
At a superficial glance, it might have appeared as though Evalyn held the advantage.
However, any observer with a keen eye would have discerned that Nolan was deliberately restraining his full capabilities.
Tok!
Tok!
The distinct percussion of wooden swords colliding echoed repeatedly. Each and every one of Evalyn's lunges was parried with effortless precision.
Initially, Evalyn attributed Nolan's success to sheer luck. But as the duel prolonged, her astonishment intensified.
'How can this individual possess such astoundingly terrifying reflexes?' she pondered, consumed by disbelief.
"What troubles you? Are you tiring already?" Nolan inquired, a teasing smile gracing his lips.
Evalyn's irritation festered, spurring her to launch even more vigorous attacks. Unfortunately, from Nolan's perspective, her every movement was agonizingly sluggish—akin to observing a video playback at a quarter of its normal speed.
"Tedious," Nolan murmured under his breath.
Abruptly, he extended his hand, firmly grasping her wrist.
Evalyn's eyes widened dramatically in sheer surprise.
Before she could even register the change in circumstances, Nolan yanked her forward, forcefully brought her down onto the ground, and expertly pinned her beneath him.
He then raised his wooden sword, positioning its tip directly against her neck.
"You have lost," Nolan stated softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
