The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 952 A Farewell, Forever (What If)
Previously on The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne...
4:00 a.m.…
Beep!
Beep!
The sound of his phone's alarm suddenly rang out from the nightstand beside the bed.
Nolan, who had been fast asleep, suddenly woke up.
The dark ceiling greeted him.
He turned off the alarm, then glanced at the clock on his screen. It was 4:00 a.m.
Nolan opened his work group chat and saw that his secretary had tagged him several times.
Leaning against the headboard, Nolan began catching up on his work through his phone. Fortunately, it was just a small, unimportant task.
He had already completed most of his work for the coming month.
As he immersed himself in his work, a woman's indifferent voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"It's time."
Nolan's movements stopped instantly. His body trembled slightly before slowly calming down.
He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"It's time, huh?"
Nolan closed his eyes as he recalled everything that had happened during his six months in this world.
He had awakened from his coma, reunited with his best friend, Carl Charles, and then reunited with his parents and younger sister, Alice, whose existence he hadn't even known about before.
Then, he met Seira—the woman he had loved most in both his first and second lives.
He had also fixed various shortcomings within the Frey family, including three national-scale projects that had been neglected because of his father's incompetence.
And finally, he had successfully married Seira yesterday.
It could be said that Nolan had fulfilled all of his desires in this world.
His obsession had also gradually faded, and he no longer had any desire to fight against fate.
"I have no reason to stay in this world."
It would be a lie to say he didn't feel reluctant or angry about leaving this world.
This was the life he had dreamed of for nineteen years.
But he knew it was impossible. The gods would never allow him to stay.
Nolan opened his eyes, then slowly got out of bed and got dressed.
The room was a mess after the intense night he and Seira had spent together.
"Mhmm…"
A soft moan came from the bed.
Nolan turned around and saw Seira slowly waking up. She rubbed her eyes, then looked at Nolan in surprise when she saw that he was already dressed.
"Where are you going this early in the morning?" she asked softly.
Nolan's heart ached, but he hid his emotions behind a smile.
"I want to go out for a bit. Do you want to come with me?"
Seira's drowsiness vanished instantly.
"Mhmm! I want to come!"
She hurriedly got out of bed and got dressed in front of Nolan without the slightest hint of shyness.
After all, they were a couple and had spent the night together.
Once they were ready, the two of them walked outside and were immediately greeted by the dark predawn sky.
The villa's living room was enormous. There were no walls—only transparent glass windows that offered a direct view of the sea outside.
A few coconut trees stood in the distance, their leaves swaying in the sea breeze.
Nolan grabbed a coat for Seira and gently wrapped it around her.
Seira held his right hand and rested her cheek against his shoulder.
They walked out of the villa and were greeted by a piercingly cold breeze.
Seira quickly realized that Nolan wasn't wearing a coat himself.
"Why aren't you wearing a coat?"
Nolan shook his head.
"It's okay. Let's go."
He took Seira's hand and led her toward the shore. Since it was still dawn, the sky was dark, and the constellations of the Milky Way were clearly visible above them.
There was a bench not far from the beach, so Nolan led Seira there.
They sat down, and Seira hugged Nolan tightly.
"The sky is so beautiful, isn't it?"
She pointed toward the constellations above them.
Nolan gazed at the beautiful night sky and nodded weakly.
"You're right. They're… really beautiful."
His voice sounded a little sad, almost nostalgic.
Seira noticed something was wrong with Nolan. She gently stroked his face and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Nolan? I feel like something's been bothering you. Did something happen?"
Nolan turned to her and met her worried gaze. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
After taking a deep breath, Nolan gently held Seira's hand against his cheek.
"Seira, do you want to hear my story?"
"Your story?"
Seira blinked curiously.
Nolan nodded.
"I was in a coma for two full years. Did you really think I was simply unconscious the whole time?"
Seira gasped in surprise.
She looked at him uncertainly, wondering what he meant.
Before she could say anything, Nolan continued.
"You know what? I was actually reincarnated into another world."
Seira was surprised once again.
"Reincarnated into another world?"
Nolan gazed at the Milky Way above them, his expression calm and emotionless.
"As I remember it, after the accident, I died and became a spirit."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"My body was destroyed during the autopsy. I saw you there, crying until you eventually passed out. After that, I heard a mysterious voice and was reincarnated into another world as the Sixth Prince of a great empire called Great Velmora."
Seira listened quietly, holding him tightly.
"I have a younger sister named Elina Lorian. By the way, we're twins. The only difference between us is our hair. She has white hair, while mine is black."
Whenever he talked about Elina, Nolan unconsciously smiled.
He then began recounting his life, from his childhood until he turned eighteen.
The battle for the throne, his journey back to the past, meeting two heroes from Earth, and his efforts to return to this world by learning the Two-Worlds Teleportation spell—he explained everything in great detail.
Before they knew it, half an hour had passed. The sky, which had been dark at first, was starting to brighten.
Nolan eventually fell silent, and the atmosphere between them grew quiet. The only sound was the occasional rustle of the wind.
Seira, who had remained silent throughout his story, finally spoke.
"I believe you."
Nolan froze in surprise. He turned toward her, his expression stiff.
"You… believe me?"
Seira smiled and gently stroked his face.
"Of course, my love. If I don't believe you, then who else will?"
Nolan felt dazed when he heard that. Earlier, he had thought Seira might think he was hallucinating, but it turned out she believed him.
"Thank you… Thank you… You're the only one who understands me…"
Tears welled up in the corners of Nolan's eyes.
He pulled Seira into his arms.
Seira hugged him back tightly.
The two of them held each other for several minutes before finally letting go.
Nolan wiped away his tears. His face looked relieved, as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.
"Seira," Nolan called softly.
"Yes, my love?" Seira replied gently.
"I have to go."
"Go?" Seira froze. She quickly sat up straight, her voice trembling.
"Go where?"
Nolan fell silent as he gently stroked the beautiful face of the woman he had longed for day and night.
"I have to return to the world I came from. I broke the gods' laws by coming to this world without permission. I have no choice but to accept their punishment."
Seira burst into tears when she heard this. She hugged Nolan tightly and began to sob uncontrollably.
"No! I don't want to be apart from you! Nolan, I beg you… don't leave me."
Nolan didn't answer. He simply gently stroked her head.
Seira continued crying until she had no tears left.
"I'm sorry. This is my punishment, and I have to accept it."
His words felt like a hammer striking Seira's heart.
"Impossible… no…"
She wanted to cry again, but no tears came.
Buzz!
Nolan's body suddenly began to emit a faint white light.
Seira was shocked and frantically examined his body.
"Y-Your body… What's happening to you!?"
Nolan calmly looked at his hands and feet, then shook his head.
"The time has come."
Before Seira could lose her composure, Nolan leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.
Seira was stunned, but she quickly returned the kiss, losing herself in the gentle warmth.
Their lips eventually parted. Color slowly returned to Seira's pale face.
"Listen to me."
Nolan gently caressed her face.
"I've prepared a long-term plan for the Frey and Aldridge families. Listen carefully, okay?"
Seira could only nod weakly.
Nolan then explained his entire plan to her. Since his time was limited, he could only go over the key points.
Fortunately, he had drawn up the plan two months ago. Everything was neatly organized in his office.
When Nolan finished explaining, Seira finally understood the situation. But she didn't feel like discussing it right then.
"Can't this be prevented?"
Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes again.
Nolan gave a bitter smile.
"Unfortunately, no. This is my fate."
Seira sobbed as she hugged Nolan tightly.
"Don't forget me, okay?"
"I won't. I'll never forget you…"
Nolan returned her embrace.
The sun slowly rose above the eastern horizon. As its first rays appeared, Nolan's body began to transform into particles of light, which floated into the sky and gradually disappeared.
Only when she felt the emptiness in her arms did Seira realize that Nolan was gone.
"Arghh!"
Seira couldn't hold back her tears. She screamed loudly as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Why… why is fate so cruel!? Why!? Waaaah!"
In the distance, a beautiful woman watched everything with a complicated expression.
She let out a long sigh and shook her head.
"Fate is truly cruel," she whispered. "But this is the path that man must take."
She raised her hand, and a beam of light slowly flew toward Seira before entering her body.
At that very moment, Seira, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of drowsiness wash over her.
Before she could react, her body grew weak, and she collapsed onto the bench, losing consciousness.
The woman then turned into particles of light and disappeared into the sky.