The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 877 Meeting with Jakes

"What does this sentence mean, Cedric?" Margaretta asked curiously.

Cedric fell silent for a moment. His expression turned somber as countless possibilities crossed his mind.

"Could there be a connection between the first announcement and the second? And is Nolan the reason behind it?"

That was the only plausible explanation. Otherwise, it would be impossible for his uncle to send such a warning letter.

"It seems the freeze on the Imperial Palace has something to do with Nolan," Cedric said calmly. "And the real targets are most likely me, Aldric, and Adalen."

"Oh? Are you saying Prince Nolan is planning to attack the three of you?" Margaretta asked with interest.

"It's very likely, but there's no proof yet. Even so, we have to stay cautious. Nolan isn't the worthless prince we thought he was."

Margaretta slowly nodded. She possessed eyes that could see a person's future and destiny, yet Nolan was the only one who had always escaped her sight.

She couldn't see even a glimpse of his future, and that alone was enough to make her wary of him.

"All right, let's put that aside for now," Cedric said. "By the way, have you already seen the outcome of my meeting with Jakes?"

"I have." Margaretta gave a slight nod. "The outcome is favorable. Nothing will go wrong. In fact, you'll gain both wealth and good fortune from that meeting."

"Oh? That's good to hear." Cedric chuckled.

Margaretta's ability to glimpse the future was truly remarkable.

Unfortunately, that ability couldn't be used whenever she wanted. Otherwise, Cedric wouldn't have fallen for Nolan's trick during the bet on Evalyn and Nathan's battle.

As he recalled that incident, hatred surged inside him once again.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

After all, as the saying goes, "It's never too late for a man to seek revenge."

He was certain that, sooner or later, he would make Nolan pay for the humiliation he had suffered.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he was about to stand up when Margaretta suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

"Don't leave yet," she said in a spoiled tone, burying her face against his chest. "You haven't given me my share for today. Give it to me now."

Seeing her acting so spoiled, Cedric could only shake his head helplessly. At this rate, he felt he might eventually fall in love with her.

"All right. Let's go to the bedroom."

He lifted Margaretta into a princess carry.

Margaretta wrapped both her arms around Cedric's neck and smiled sweetly.

…

The northern region was vast. Although it was slightly smaller than the southern and eastern regions, it had one thing they didn't—perpetual ice.

Like the Northern Continent, the northern region was blanketed by snow throughout the year.

As a result, the land remained covered in ice year-round. Only during the summer did the snowfall ease enough to make the weather a little more bearable.

Even then, the land remained blanketed in ice.

Years of living in the harsh cold had made the people of the north taller and more muscular than those from other regions.

Thick fur coats were also a common sight, sold in nearly every shop throughout the northern cities.

Even with its freezing weather, the northern region was one of the most developed parts of the empire.

Its cities were grand and prosperous, drawing merchants from every corner of the empire.

One of the most well-known cities was Orested. It stood at the foot of the Eldrath Mountains, which served as both a natural fortress and the empire's border with the lands beyond.

Orested was also home to Duke Ashvale, one of the empire's four ducal families.

As the heart of the northern region, the city was truly impressive.

Massive walls, standing dozens of meters tall, surrounded Orested and protected it from any threat that might come from outside.

The city was filled with well-known restaurants and inns.

One of the most famous was Mermaid's Tear, founded by Jakes, the wealthiest man in the northern region.

At that moment, inside one of the private rooms at Mermaid's Tear, a short, plump man with a round face sat across from a handsome man wearing glasses.

The man wore a loose, dark blue robe that resembled a kimono from the Eastern Continent, though it wasn't actually one.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Prince Cedric," Jakes said with a flattering smile.

He poured tea into Cedric's cup and continued, "I hope my invitation didn't inconvenience you."

Cedric's expression remained as calm as ever. He took a sip of tea with practiced elegance.

"It's fine. As it happens, I have some free time."

He took another sip before setting the teacup back on its saucer.

"By the way, there's something I'm curious about."

His gaze swept across the VIP room. It was spacious, and the decor was exceptionally luxurious.

For some reason, it reminded him of one of the private rooms at Dragon's Tear in the imperial capital.

"Did you design this restaurant to resemble Dragon's Tear in the capital?"

"Oh?" Jakes raised an eyebrow before a broad smile spread across his face. "Your observation is quite sharp, Your Highness. What gave it away?"

Cedric smiled faintly.

"Just a guess. I've been to one of Dragon's Tear's private rooms before, and this one has a very similar style. I just didn't expect..."

A hint of amusement flashed across his eyes.

"So you're that kind of businessman after all. If Blue Moon ever decides to sue you, you're finished."

Instead of looking worried, Jakes burst into laughter.

"So what? If they want to sue me, let them. I'm not afraid."

He leaned back in his chair, picked up his beer glass, and took a sip.

"The northern region is my territory. Even if Blue Moon is powerful, they only hold sway over the south, west, and east. Their influence here is no greater than mine. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Cedric let out a soft chuckle. Jakes' confidence was certainly impressive. Still, he wasn't wrong.

Jakes was one of the most influential businessmen in the northern region. His connections stretched across the north like a spider's web.

There was even a saying: "If Jakes were a spider, then the northern region would be his web."

From marquises to barons, nearly every noble treated him with respect.

Only the Ashvale ducal family had the power to pressure Jakes. Even then, it was no easy task, since the Ashvale family's business was deeply intertwined with his.

The two continued chatting casually. Jakes was Cedric's primary financier in his bid for the throne, so Cedric wanted to maintain a good relationship with him.

Even so, he didn't want to make it too obvious. Once your true intentions were exposed, your opponent could exploit them and dictate your every move.

In chess, that was called positional dominance.

Cedric took another sip of tea and realized his cup was empty. He was about to refill it, but Jakes was a step ahead.

"Thank you."

Jakes simply smiled before setting the teapot back on the table.

"So," Cedric said, taking a sip of his tea. "What kind of problem could put someone like you—the most influential businessman in the northern region—in such a predicament?"