The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 858 Free Meal

If it weren't for those two, she never would have ended up in such an embarrassing situation.

A respected princess of the imperial family was now living in a narrow alley, without proper food or even a decent place to sleep.

If word got out, Novaria knew she would no longer have a place in the empire.

Her noble friends would surely laugh at her. Even if they didn't, her name would still become the butt of countless jokes at the parties they attended.

Novaria suppressed her frustration and slowly got to her feet.

"I'm so hungry," she muttered, rubbing her flat stomach.

She hadn't eaten in two days and was forced to live in a narrow alley like this. It wasn't because she wanted to, but because she had no other choice.

Before leaving, she had taken only a small portion of her wealth with her.

It was only a kilogram of gold and a few pieces of jewelry. She had been afraid her mother and older brother would discover her escape if she took any more.

What made her even angrier was that she had been scammed shortly after arriving in Virella.

The merchant caravan that had brought her there took all her jewelry and vanished without a trace.

At the time, she thought everything would work out. After all, she had planned to stay with Elina. But Elina's cold attitude and Nolan's harsh words shattered all her hopes.

Novaria took a deep breath before stepping out of the alley. She had to find something to eat as soon as possible. Her stomach ached terribly.

As she walked, she looked around with a blank expression.

"Come to think of it, Virella used to be a slum. No one wanted to live here. Yet, in just one year, this town has developed at an astonishing pace."

She had to admit it—Elina truly possessed extraordinary leadership skills. Novaria was certain that if Aldric had been in Elina's position, he would never have achieved the same results.

After wandering aimlessly for a while, she suddenly came across a small shop by the roadside.

There was no one around, and the shop's door was tightly shut. However, a sign in front of it read: Free Meals Every Day

"Free meals?"

Novaria's eyes widened slightly. She swallowed hard as her breathing grew heavier.

Her stomach was growling, yet she didn't know where she could get even a piece of bread.

Ask someone for food?

She was the second princess. There was no way she could bring herself to do something like that.

Novaria glanced around to make sure no one was watching. After confirming the coast was clear, she quietly walked over to the shop and stopped in front of the door.

Pressing her face against the glass, she peeked inside and found the shop completely empty.

"Empty? Are they not open yet?"

Her expression turned anxious.

Grrr...

Her stomach growled loudly, and she instinctively clutched it.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind her.

"Young lady, what are you doing?"

Startled, Novaria quickly turned around. When she saw a hunched old woman standing there, she let out a sigh of relief.

"I…"

She wanted to say, "I'm looking for something to eat because I'm starving."

But the words caught in her throat. Her pride and dignity wouldn't let her say them.

The old woman smiled faintly.

"Are you hungry?"

Novaria froze. Her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

In the end, her overwhelming hunger won out, and she gave a stiff nod.

"Yes."

"I see..." The old woman chuckled softly as she walked past Novaria and opened the shop door.

"Please, come in."

Novaria blinked in surprise. She looked inside the shop before turning back to the old woman.

"Does she own this shop?" She wondered.

Deciding not to think too much about it, she stepped inside.

The shop wasn't very large. It had four tables and four chairs, all covered in a thin layer of dust.

Just by looking around, Novaria could tell the place hadn't been used in a long time.

"Please have a seat. I'll prepare the food," the old woman said before heading into the kitchen.

Novaria chose the chair that looked the cleanest. Before sitting down, she brushed the dust off with her palm.

"That's disgusting."

Her face twisted with disgust. She took a handkerchief from her pocket, spread it over the chair, and then sat down.

The table was dusty as well, so she simply sat upright with both hands resting on her thighs.

A few minutes later, the old woman returned carrying a tray with a plate of bread and a glass of milk.

"Please, enjoy."

She gently set the tray on the table.

Novaria stared at the meal before her. There were three pieces of bread with slightly blackened crusts, while the milk had a yellowish-white tint.

A wave of nausea rose in her stomach. But she was starving, so she forced herself to eat.

The moment she took the first bite, a faint sour taste spread across her tongue. She ignored it, suppressed her nausea, and continued eating, washing it down with the milk.

The old woman smiled as she watched Novaria eat with such urgency.

What Novaria didn't notice was the meaningful glint in the old woman's eyes.

Ten minutes later, Novaria finally finished the meal and let out a long sigh.

"I finally managed to finish it."

She looked at the empty plate with disgust. The bread was sour, and even the milk had tasted slightly stale.

It was the worst meal she had ever eaten. But she had no other choice. She had no money or valuables left to exchange for food.

"Thank you."

Suppressing her disgust, Novaria stood up.

"If I had money, I would pay for it."

The old woman simply smiled as she cleared away the empty plate and glass.

"It's all right. Besides, you don't have to pay. It's free."

Novaria waved her hand dismissively. Her weak and awkward demeanor vanished, replaced by her usual arrogant attitude.

"Since I've said it, that settles it."

The old woman narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

Novaria tossed her hair and turned to leave. But after taking only a few steps, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.

"W-What's happening?"

Her vision blurred, and she stumbled. Before she could understand what was happening, her body gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The old woman watched the scene with an unchanged expression.

She calmly walked over to the door and closed the shop.

Then she returned to Novaria's side and stopped in front of her.

A cynical smile spread across her lips.

"What an arrogant, ungrateful woman. Well, at least I don't have to feel guilty about this."

She crouched down and gently stroked Novaria's cheek.

"A fine piece of merchandise. Those bandits are going to love her... and I'll make a fortune."

A raspy cackle escaped her wrinkled lips.

"Hehehe..."