The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne
Chapter 63: Worse Than Expected Conditions

Chapter 63: Worse Than Expected Conditions

"In that case, I’ll see Alicia off first, Prince Nolan. My apologies for not being able to escort you to your room."

Orlan held Alicia in his arms and gave Nolan an apologetic look.

Nolan smiled casually and waved his right hand.

"There’s no need to worry, Marquis Orlan. I understand your situation."

Orlan felt relieved by the response. He then turned to Alex and said, "Alex, please escort Prince Nolan to the room you’ve prepared. And have Melissa attend to all his needs."

Melissa was a diligent and versatile maid—an excellent cook and the best servant Orlan had. Entrusting Nolan to her had been his plan from the beginning.

"As you command, my lord," Alex replied respectfully with a bow.

He turned to Nolan and said, "This way, Your Highness."

"Mm." Nolan nodded softly. He glanced at Alicia in Orlan’s arms and gave her a warm smile. "Goodbye, Alicia. Let’s play later, okay?"

Alicia’s face lit up with delight. She waved her right arm excitedly and replied, "Goodbye, Brother Nolan! I’ll be waiting!"

With that, Nolan and Alex headed down the hallway to the left, while Orlan took Alicia upstairs to his study on the second floor.

***

"By the way, Alex, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

Nolan walked down the hallway with both hands tucked into the pockets of his robe.

His curious gaze wandered left and right before settling on the middle-aged man ahead of him.

Alex turned his head with a smile and replied, "Please, go ahead, Your Highness."

"I want to know about Alicia’s condition," Nolan said bluntly. "Why does her body look so small and out of proportion for her age? If I’m not mistaken, she’s six years old, right?"

He already had his suspicions, but he still wanted to hear Alex’s explanation. After all, there was always a chance Alicia’s condition was caused by a different illness.

From what he understood, many serious diseases in this world—such as cancer or genetic disorders—could be cured with magic.

However, some rare conditions, particularly those tied to magic itself, remained beyond the reach of healing spells.

Alex’s expression remained composed, as if he had anticipated the question.

"You’re correct, Your Highness. Young Lady Alicia is indeed six, but due to a curse lodged in her body, her growth stopped when she was three," he explained in a somber tone. "You may have also noticed her pale complexion. That, too, is a result of the curse. Every night, the young lady suffers from convulsions and vomits blood. Because of this, her body lacks blood and must be treated daily to keep her stable."

Nolan’s brow furrowed at the explanation, and his expression grew serious.

"Convulsions and vomiting blood? That happens every day?"

"Yes, every day," Alex replied with a slow nod. "It leaves her in constant pain. I can hardly bear to watch her suffer like that."

To Alex, Alicia was like a granddaughter. He loved her dearly and cared for her with all his heart.

That’s why, every time he saw her in pain, it felt as if his heart were being pierced by a thousand blades.

Nolan remained silent, but his mind was already busy calculating possibilities.

They continued walking down the hallway, discussing Alicia’s condition—which turned out to be far worse than Nolan had anticipated.

"Hmm?" Nolan’s brows lifted slightly when he noticed a maid exiting a room on the left side of the hallway.

She was pushing a food trolley, but instead of meals, it carried a cloth, a small bucket of water, and various other supplies.

Judging by its contents, it looked like a care trolley for a patient.

Startled by the sight of Alex, the maid quickly lowered her head in a respectful bow.

"Good afternoon, Butler Alex," she greeted politely.

Alex came to a stop and gave a small nod.

"Good afternoon, Nina. Are you taking care of Lady Syra? How is she doing?" He asked calmly.

Nina looked up with a smile and said, "Lady Syra’s condition is about the same, Butler, but lately she’s been waking up more frequently. That’s a promising sign."

"Thank goodness..." Alex let out a relieved sigh, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "We need to report this to Lord Orlan right away. Make sure he hears about it, understood?"

Nina nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Butler Alex!"

But then her eyes fell on Nolan, who was standing beside Alex. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"What a handsome man!" She blurted out before she could stop herself.

Realizing what she had just said, Nina quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

Alex gave an awkward smile and glanced at Nolan, feeling relieved when he saw the prince wasn’t upset.

"Ahem... This is Prince Nolan of the Imperial Palace," he explained.

"What!? P-Prince!?" Nina froze, her entire body stiffening.

But she quickly regained her composure and gave Nolan a deep bow.

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness! I hope I haven’t offended you!" she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Nolan simply smiled and waved a hand. "Don’t worry, I’m not upset."

Nina let out a quiet sigh of relief and returned his smile.

"All right, Nina, I’ll take Prince Nolan from here. Please continue your work," Alex said.

With that, he led Nolan toward the room that had been prepared.

Unbeknownst to them, a cold smile briefly curled on Nina’s lips—so subtle and fleeting that no one would have noticed.

***

"This is your room, Your Highness. I hope you’ll find it comfortable," Alex said as he opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was spacious and well-furnished. A grand king-sized bed stood in the center, adorned with a thick white blanket, two bolsters, and a pair of neatly arranged pillows.

One glance was enough to tell the bedding was of the finest quality.

Two wardrobes stood on opposite sides of the room—the one on the right held clothes, while the one on the left stored extra blankets and linens.

About two meters from the foot of the bed, a long table sat between two elegant two-seater sofas.

At the far end of the room was a private bathroom, enclosed by a high-quality glass door—frosted from the outside to ensure privacy.

"I’m perfectly satisfied, Alex. Thank you," Nolan said with a faint smile.

The room was spacious and bright. Just being in it made him feel at ease and refreshed.

"I’m glad to hear that, Your Highness," Alex replied with a look of relief, then bowed respectfully. "I’ll take my leave now. A maid named Melissa has been assigned to attend to your needs."

"Alright." Nolan gave a slow nod.

With that, Alex turned and quietly exited, leaving Nolan alone in the room.

As the door closed behind him, Nolan let out a soft chuckle and glanced around the room with a relaxed expression.

"Well then, time to explore the mansion."

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