The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 716 Bad News From Luke

In the dining hall, Luke occupied the head seat, his hearty laughter echoing.

"Hahaha! My apologies, Nolan. I've been quite occupied with preparations for the contest and couldn't welcome you sooner. I am genuinely sorry once more."

Nolan, positioned to Luke's right, offered a smile. He casually shook his head and responded, "It's quite alright, Uncle. Please don't fret over it. I'm aware of your busy schedule, so I'm not the least bit offended."

A sense of relief washed over Luke upon hearing this. Nolan was, after all, a prince. Regardless of his close connection with Evalyn since childhood, basic courtesies for hosting a guest were still essential.

Furthermore, Nolan had achieved significant accomplishments in the preceding year.

Among these was his instrumental role in securing an advantage for the empire against the encroaching Kingdom of Kaldarion.

"My dear, be mindful. Try not to laugh so vigorously while you're eating,"

The striking woman seated beside Luke gently sighed, presenting him with a handkerchief. Luke blinked in surprise, a touch on his lips revealing a smudge of food, prompting an embarrassed cough.

Nolan's attention then turned to the woman, whom he was seeing for the first time. Her dark red hair was fashioned into a simple chignon, framing an oval face that exuded a serene, maternal aura. Nolan, however, didn't recognize her at all.

"Uncle Luke, might you introduce the lovely lady beside you?" Nolan inquired with a playful grin.

"Oh! Indeed, my apologies—I seem to have forgotten!" Luke exclaimed, tapping his forehead. He then placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, making the introduction, "This is Tessia, my new wife."

"New wife?" Nolan paused, his expression momentarily frozen.

Though he had harbored suspicions, the confirmation still came as a surprise.

Tessia offered Nolan a smile, dipping her head slightly in a respectful bow.

"I offer my apologies for the delayed introduction, Your Highness. I am Tessia Belorde, from the Viscount Belorde family."

Nolan's eyebrows arched subtly. The Belorde family was indeed one of the viscount families hailing from the western territories. They were neither exceptionally renowned nor entirely unknown, occupying a middling position.

Moreover, Viscount Belorde was known to be an honorable man; Nolan had met him once in the past.

"I see..." Nolan nodded with a smile. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Belorde. As you may be aware, I am Evalyn's childhood friend."

Tessia lifted her gaze, a soft giggle escaping her lips.

"I have heard. You two appear to be quite close."

Her gentle eyes then shifted towards Evalyn, who was seated next to Nolan.

Evalyn merely glanced at her and let out a dismissive snort.

Nolan observed this reaction and offered a faint smile, sensing that Evalyn's relationship with her new stepmother was far from warm. Still, he could empathize. Evalyn's biological mother had tragically passed away during her childhood.

The cause had been an illness, though the exact nature of it remained a mystery even to this day.

Numerous physicians and healers had speculated that her demise was somehow linked to Evalyn's unique talent in earning recognition from the Divine Sword of Luminus.

Whether this theory held water or not, many had accepted it as fact. Some individuals who harbored ill will towards Evalyn even used it as a basis for mockery and insults.

"On a related note, Uncle, I wish to inquire about something," Nolan stated, smoothly transitioning the conversation. "What is your assessment of the Asbourne family's recent decade of progress? Do you believe Nathan stands a chance against Evalyn?"

Luke's demeanor turned serious. He took a piece of beef with his fork and began to eat.

"Truthfully, the Asbourne family has seen remarkable improvements over the last ten years," he explained, his voice carrying a hint of envy. "Their heir, Nathan, has successfully attained mastery over the sword techniques bequeathed by their founding ancestor."

Both Nolan and Evalyn were taken aback.

"Nathan managed to acquire it? How is that even possible?" Evalyn gasped in disbelief.

The Lionheart family and the Asbourne family, while sharing common origins, were distinct entities. They traced their lineage back to two legendary heroes from antiquity—two champions who had vanquished the formidable Demon Emperor Zerathos.

Each hero had left a profound legacy for their respective families: the Divine Sword of Luminus and the Dark Sword of Eclipse. This, at least, was the common understanding among outsiders. However, the truth was that these two heroes had also imparted another inheritance: their unique sword techniques.

Each hero had cultivated a distinctive approach to combat and a unique fighting style.

The Transcendent who wielded the Dark Sword of Eclipse—the progenitor of the Asbourne family—was reputed to have fought with a fierce, overpowering style.

In contrast, the Transcendent who became the ancestor of the Lionheart family possessed an elegant, composed, and fluid style, reminiscent of water gently flowing.

This stark contrast created significant differences between the two families, often leading to friction between them.

Acquiring an ancestor's sword techniques, unlike gaining recognition from the Divine Sword of Luminus, demanded profound understanding, insightful dreams, and a variety of unpredictable methods.

For ten years and more, Evalyn had strived to seize that inheritance, yet each attempt ended in failure.

However, Nathan had now succeeded in obtaining the Asbourne ancestor's sword techniques, a feat that left her utterly shaken and plunged into panic.

If Evalyn had previously assessed her chances of victory at a solid forty percent, she now found herself uncertain if she could win at all.

After all, the distinct fighting styles of the two family progenitors were perfectly attuned to their respective legendary blades.

"Forgive me for only informing you now. I only just discovered that Nathan managed to acquire it. The Asbourne family is truly quite cunning, wouldn't you agree?" Luke remarked with a tone of regret.

The probability of victory for the Lionheart family in this impending contest was now infinitesimally small. Even with Evalyn's exceptional talent, the ultimate outcome might remain unchanged.

Nathan possessed a talent no less remarkable than Evalyn's, and more crucially, he had earned the acknowledgment of the Dark Sword of Eclipse, alongside the ancestral legacy bequeathed by the Asbourne family's patriarch.

His might was, without question, formidable.

The atmosphere within the dining hall grew instantly heavy and descended into a profound silence. Evalyn lowered her gaze, continuing to eat without uttering a single word.

Abruptly, she set down her silverware and rose from her seat.

"I am no longer hungry."

Without affording Luke the chance to respond, she turned and made her departure.

Luke felt an urge to detain her, but Tessia intervened, placing a hand on his arm.

"Her thoughts are in turmoil at this moment. It would be best to grant her some solitude to allow her emotions to settle," she stated softly.

Luke suppressed the words poised on his tongue and offered a weak nod.

"I comprehend."

He then turned his attention to Nolan, offering a somewhat sheepish smile.

"My apologies, Nolan. I did not anticipate you witnessing such a scene."

Nolan continued his meal with a calm demeanor, simply waving his left hand dismissively.

"It is quite alright, Uncle. I understand Evalyn's feelings perfectly. She must be utterly devastated."

Reflecting on their training sessions conducted over the preceding days, it became evident that Evalyn had been profoundly disturbed by this news.

It likely felt as though all her diligent efforts had been utterly wasted.

Having concluded his meal, Nolan engaged in a brief exchange with Luke and Tessia before proceeding in the direction Evalyn had taken.

Observing his retreating figure until it vanished from sight, Tessia smiled and turned to face Luke.

"My dear, Prince Nolan and Evalyn share such a close bond. Do you not think we should consider arranging a match between them?"

"Ahem!"

Luke, who had been about to take a sip of his coffee, suddenly let out a cough. He looked at Tessia with a bewildered expression, inquiring hesitantly, "Arrange a match between them?"

"Precisely." Tessia nodded, casting another glance towards the hallway where Nolan had disappeared. "I mean, Prince Nolan is not at all like the public perceives him. He is courteous, kind-hearted, and remarkably easy to converse with. Would it not be more advantageous to formalize an engagement between them?"

Luke contemplated her suggestion, then offered a wry smile.

"It is a rather intricate matter. However, I cannot deny that your point holds considerable weight. We shall have to wait and see."

Tessia simply smiled, choosing not to elaborate further.