The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne-Chapter 16: A Childhood Friend and The Descendants of the Transcendents (2)

Chapter 16 - A Childhood Friend and The Descendants of the Transcendents (2)

At those words, Nolan wasn't surprised in the slightest. He turned his head with a faint smile.

"As expected from the Lionheart family. Your intelligence network really does reach everywhere," he said with a soft chuckle.

Evalyn was his childhood friend. She belonged to the Lionheart family—one of the two bloodlines descended from the Transcendents.

The Transcendents were two legendary heroes who had once defeated the Demon Emperor.

Back then, the Great Velmora Empire was far from the dominant force it is today.

The continent of Tarnithar was home to many races, each claiming their own territories.

Humans settled in the heart of the continent, while other races—Demons, Dragons, and Elves—occupied the North, East, West, and South.

Among them, the most powerful were the humans, Demons, and Dragons. However, the Dragons were secretive by nature and rarely involved themselves in the affairs of others.

Humans and Demons, on the other hand, were locked in constant conflict.

Led by the Demon Emperor, the demon race once stood at the very peak of continental power, posing an existential threat to humanity.

In response, the Great Velmora Empire joined forces with other kingdoms to forge two of the most powerful weapons in history: the Divine Sword of Luminus and the Dark Sword of Eclipse.

Both weapons were forged from the rarest materials found on the entire continent of Tarnithar and were revered as weapons of the gods.

However, no one could wield them—until the decision was made to summon two heroes from another world. These heroes would later become known as the Transcendents.

The plan succeeded. The summoned heroes were not only able to wield the divine weapons but also succeeded in defeating the Demon Emperor and the demon race.

Their victory brought lasting glory to humanity, a legacy that endures to this day.

After the war, the two Transcendents chose to remain in this world and start families of their own.

From the wielder of the Divine Sword of Luminus came the Lionheart family. The wielder of the Dark Sword of Eclipse became the ancestor of the Asbourne family.

Both bloodlines became revered across the continent—wielding power just below the imperial family and equal to that of the dukes.

Meanwhile, Evalyn simply rolled her eyes at his praise.

"If you already know, then stop bringing it up. You're so annoying," she muttered, scooping up a spoonful of minced horse meat and popping it into her mouth.

A burst of salty, savory, and slightly spicy flavors spread across her tongue, making the corners of her lips curl up despite herself.

No matter how many times she visited this restaurant, their cooking never failed—it was always the best.

Seeing her reaction, Nolan couldn't help but laugh. He was well aware of the strained relationship between Evalyn and her father.

As the sole heir of the Lionheart family, Evalyn was burdened with the responsibility of carrying on the family legacy.

On top of that, she was exceptionally gifted. At just eighteen, she had already gained recognition from the Divine Sword of Luminus.

This was no small feat. Since the death of its original Transcendent wielder, the Divine Sword had never acknowledged another master.

For hundreds of years, it had remained silent—leaving the Lionheart family in a constant state of unease.

Evalyn's emergence brought them hope. It was no surprise that the weight of succession had fallen squarely on her shoulders.

She was brilliant—both in combat and beyond. But she was also headstrong and frequently clashed with her father over even the smallest of things.

That wasn't too surprising. Deep down, Evalyn had never wanted to be the heiress nor the wielder of the Divine Sword of Luminus. freёwebnoѵel.com

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. No matter how much she resisted, it was a path she couldn't escape.

Just like Nolan—born a prince, even though it was a life he never truly desired.

He picked up a piece of grilled chicken and gently placed it on Eliza's plate.

"Eat plenty, don't be shy," he said warmly, patting her head with affection.

"Thank you, Brother!" Eliza beamed and began enjoying her meal.

Evalyn shot Nolan a glance filled with envy. Is that sweet, gentle side of him? He had never once shown it to her.

All she ever got were teasing remarks or sarcastic jabs—enough to ignite her temper every single time.

"By the way, I haven't asked you yet," Evalyn said, taking a sip of her beer. "What brought you to this restaurant? Are you out on a walk with Eliza?"

Nolan gave a small nod as he chewed his food. "Yeah. I was getting bored at the palace. Ever since the succession announcement, the atmosphere has been tense and suffocating."

Evalyn fell silent, her thoughts drifting. Then, her expression shifted—serious and curious.

"Are you part of the succession, Nolan?"

She already knew the likely answer, but still, she wanted to hear it directly from him.

To her surprise, Nolan simply smiled and shook his head with a playful glint in his eyes.

"No, I'm not."

"What? How is that even possible?" Evalyn's eyes widened in disbelief.

She knew the royal rules well. Princes above a certain age were required to participate in the succession.

Nolan was already eighteen. There should have been no exception.

"I submitted a formal appeal to Father," Nolan said casually. "I asked him to let Elina take my place."

Evalyn frowned. "You did what? And he agreed? How is that even possible?"

"I don't know," Nolan said with a shrug. "Honestly, I was ready for him to say no. I even prepared a whole speech to argue with him. But somehow, the old man just... agreed. His only condition was that I look after Elina and support her. Feels weird, doesn't it?"

"Of course it feels weird," Evalyn said, nodding. "Still, your father must have his reasons. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything to hurt you. After all, you're his son."

Nolan nodded in agreement. Despite his usual rebellious behavior, his father had never truly punished him. In fact, he let him get away with almost everything.

Even his siblings—Aldric, Cedric, and Adalen—often expressed jealousy, convinced that their father favored him.

"By the way," Nolan asked, changing the subject, "has the Lionheart family decided who they'll support?"

"Not yet," Evalyn replied, shaking her head slightly. Then she gave him a teasing smile.

"But don't worry. I'll make sure they choose Elina."

Nolan blinked in surprise, then smiled softly.

"You really haven't changed, Evalyn..."