Previously on The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne...
Nolan arrives at the Demon Imperial Palace and begins a relentless assault on its barrier. He declares he will not stop until the Demon Emperor Zerathos faces him. Zerathos appears, displaying immense power that shocks Nolan. Nolan easily deflects Zerathos's pressure, prompting a cautious response from the Demon Emperor. Nolan then moves to attack Zerathos, who also prepares to fight, and they both disappear.
"Your Majesty!" Yuria cried out, pursuing Zerathos in a desperate attempt to catch him, but her efforts were futile. Nolan had already whisked him away to a location beyond her senses. "Damn it all!" Yuria clenched her teeth, a furious curse escaping her lips. "That scoundrel! Who is he, to dare attack the Demon Emperor!?" She had never fathown anyone would possess such audacity as to assault the imperial palace and openly defy the demon race. If only she hadn't hesitated for that brief moment, the Demon Emperor Zerathos wouldn't have been so easily abducted. After a moment to collect herself, her anger subsided. The Demon Emperor was immensely powerful; it was inconceivable that he would fall to a mere human. Turning her attention to the soldiers below, she commanded with a chilling tone, "Execute my orders—secure the borders. No one shall pass. Should any dare to defy this command, report it to me immediately. Do you understand?" "Yes, Prime Minister Yuria!" the captain and his soldiers responded in unison. ... "Evalyn, are you within?" Roseline's voice called from the exterior. Evalyn, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them. She shifted her gaze towards the tent flap and replied, "I am here, Ancestor. What is it?" "May I enter?" "Please do." The curtain parted, and Roseline, clad in a nightgown, stepped inside. A faint smile touched her lips. "My apologies for disturbing your rest." Evalyn gracefully sat up, giving a casual wave of her hand. "It is quite alright," she responded lightly. "What do you require?" Roseline gave a nod and took a seat on the wooden chair beside the bed. "Rei, Lucas, and I have been discussing the assault on the Demon Emperor's fortress," she stated plainly. "And..." She paused briefly before continuing, her tone growing somber. "We have resolved to launch our offensive within the next two days." Evalyn's eyes widened slightly. "So soon?" "Indeed." Roseline exhaled a long sigh. "Initially, I had hoped to delay the attack until the end of next month. However, time is no longer on our side. Intelligence from a spy Lucas apprehended in the southern region indicates the Demon Emperor is plotting an invasion of the central continent. Should that occur, the human alliance will crumble, and he will undoubtedly triumph in this ongoing war. Therefore, Lucas strongly advocated for us to proceed with the attack plan without further delay." Evalyn was rendered speechless. She had not anticipated the ripple effect of her arrival to be so profound. A sense of guilt washed over her, as if she were the catalyst that had thrown the established timeline of this era into disarray. Roseline observed the subtle shift in Evalyn's demeanor and inquired without hesitation, "What troubles you? Is something amiss?" She reached out, gently patting Evalyn's head. Despite their similar ages, Roseline already viewed Evalyn as her future descendant—and in essence, she truly was. Evalyn hesitated, unsure whether to voice her concerns. After a moment of contemplation, she drew a deep breath and confessed, "Ancestor... please forgive me." Roseline blinked in surprise. "What for?" Evalyn gently bit her lower lip before explaining, "It is because of my arrival... and Nolan's as well. According to the historical records, this offensive was not slated to occur for several more years. The discrepancies that have arisen are most likely due to my presence." Roseline was once again taken aback. The attack was meant to happen years later? She remained silent for a moment, carefully processing Evalyn's words before comprehension dawned. Her expression softened as a quiet chuckle escaped her. "What are you suggesting? None of this is connected to you or Nolan. So please, do not burden yourself with guilt." "But..." Evalyn began to protest, only to be gently interrupted by Roseline. "Even before you and Nolan arrived, the southern region had already faced an attack from the demon forces. And Lucas obtaining that intelligence was an eventuality, unavoidable. Therefore, none of this is your responsibility," she explained calmly. Roseline had never for a moment considered that Evalyn was the sole reason for these events; it simply didn't align with her logic. While historical records might suggest a later attack, Evalyn failed to consider a crucial point—history itself could be subtly altered by those who chronicled it. Naturally, this was just conjecture. The immediate priority was the impending attack, scheduled to commence within the next two days. Evalyn considered Roseline's words, finding them logical. She had arrived not long after the demonic forces had assaulted the southern region. Moreover, neither she nor Nolan had undertaken any significant actions that would drastically alter historical trajectories. Everything that had transpired thus far seemed to be beyond their direct control. With this realization, a measure of relief settled upon her, and she offered a faint smile. "You are correct, Ancestor. Thank you for your counsel." "You are most welcome," Roseline replied with a warm smile and a nod.
Then she changed the subject. "By the way, there's another important matter I need to discuss with you. It concerns the impending attack."
"Please, speak freely," Evalyn replied.
Roseline took a deep breath before revealing, "Actually, Rei and I intend to include you in the upcoming offensive."
"What?" Evalyn was taken aback. "You want me to join the attack?"
"That's correct," Roseline confirmed with a nod. "Currently, humanity faces a severe shortage of capable warriors. Many have already been lost in previous engagements."
Her expression grew somber, tinged with sadness.
Those who had fallen were truly heroes, individuals whose bravery would be etched in history for generations.
However, their sacrifice had significantly depleted the human forces, posing a grave challenge for the planned assault.
"Is… is that permissible?" Evalyn inquired, a touch of unease in her voice. "I mean, you and the Hero of Light agreed to keep my identity concealed, didn't you? What if my origins as someone from the future are exposed?"
Roseline offered a reassuring smile. "Have no fear. Rei and I have already devised a suitable cover story for you. You will be presented as an unnamed female warrior hailing from the Central Continent. This will be your designated identity. What are your thoughts on this?"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, clearly hoping for Evalyn's consent. Including Evalyn in the strike force would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset.
Sensing the expectant gaze, Evalyn let out a small sigh and nodded in agreement.
"Very well… I understand. I will participate."
In truth, lingering questions about her true purpose for being brought to this era still troubled her.
She had already mastered her ancestor's combat techniques. Logically, she and Nolan should have already returned to their original time period.
Yet, this was not the case. Both of them remained inexplicably bound to this era.
This situation could only signify one thing: her arrival here was not solely for the purpose of inheriting her ancestor's legacy, but also to fulfill an additional, unrevealed objective.
As for the specific nature of this objective… Evalyn herself had no concrete understanding. It was possible it held some connection to the Demon Emperor.
"Wonderful!" Roseline exclaimed with delight, grasping Evalyn's hand firmly. "Thank you, Evalyn!"
Witnessing Roseline's evident joy, Evalyn offered a smile and a nod.
"Oh, and by the way…" Roseline suddenly sported a mischievous grin. "Nolan hasn't returned since his last departure. Do you find yourself missing him?"
Evalyn's face immediately flushed a deep red, and she quickly averted her eyes.
"W-What are you suggesting, Ancestor? There's absolutely no way I miss him."
Roseline let out a soft chuckle before rising and settling down beside her.
Gently poking Evalyn's cheek with her index finger, she playfully teased, "I know you have feelings for him. It’s quite apparent in your demeanor. How about this? I'll assist you in winning his heart. What do you say?"
Startled by the proposal, Evalyn turned towards her swiftly, only to be met by Roseline's amusement-filled gaze.
She swallowed apprehensively before asking, "Are you speaking genuinely?"
"Naturally," Roseline affirmed, patting her chest with pride. "Ahem! Pay close attention now. This is knowledge you certainly won't acquire in the future, mind you?"
Evalyn nodded eagerly, ready to absorb the advice.
Pleased with her granddaughter's attentiveness, Roseline began her explanation, "So, the secret to capturing a man's affection is…"
And thus, the ancestor and her descendant commenced a joint discussion on the intricacies of matters of the heart.
