The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne
Chapter 71: A Murder to Silence

Chapter 71: A Murder to Silence

"What!?"

Nina flinched and staggered back in shock, her face frozen in horror.

Her eyes darted between Orlan, Jisha, Melissa, Alicia, and the soldiers standing behind them.

She turned pale as she slowly lifted a trembling finger toward Orlan.

"L-Lord Orlan? H-How... How are you even here?" She asked, her voice shaking.

Orlan’s eyes turned cold. He narrowed his gaze, and the air around him suddenly grew thick with killing intent.

"You don’t need to know why I’m here," he said flatly. "What matters now is... how are you going to explain this? Are you the one who ruined my life—who destroyed my family?"

He clenched his teeth, struggling to contain his fury. But beneath the anger lay bitter disappointment and a deep, aching hurt.

Although his bond with Nina wasn’t as close as the one he shared with Melissa, he had still considered her one of the people closest to him. She had always seemed kind, caring, and dependable.

That was why he had trusted her to look after his wife.

But the girl he had once believed to be gentle and good-hearted... had turned out to be the very mastermind behind Alicia’s curse—and the long suffering that followed.

The betrayal pierced him like a blade to the heart.

Yet slowly, that pain gave way to something else: a seething rage that boiled within his chest.

Unless he killed Nina with his hands, he knew he would never find peace.

Nina was stunned by his words. A sudden realization flashed through her mind, and she immediately turned to Nolan, her face flushed with rage.

"Are you the one responsible for all of them being here?" She asked in a stifled voice, her teeth clenched.

Nolan, still gasping and clearly in pain, gave a faint grin—as if mocking her.

"Yes," he replied flatly, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips. "Surprised?"

"You bastard!" Nina shouted, her voice trembling with fury.

She had been far too careless.

Given Nolan’s reputation, she had assumed he would be easy to manipulate.

Her original plan had been simple: toy with him until dawn, then kill him—leaving all the blame to fall on Orlan and the Caltheron family.

That would have sealed their fate under the Emperor’s judgment.

But now, everything had fallen apart because of her own negligence.

Worse still, the man she had thought of as weak and easy to control... was far more cunning—and far more dangerous—than she had ever imagined.

"Nina," Orlan called out coolly as he took a sword from one of the soldiers and drew it forward, "this is the end. There’s no escape for you. But tell me—who else is behind this—and I’ll make your death swift."

Nina’s expression twisted in fear, and she instinctively took a step back.

"Don’t get carried away, Lord Orlan," Nina said with a forced smile. "You really think you’ve won? Heh... I bet you don’t even know this mansion is cursed. There’s a huge magic circle wrapped around the place, and I’m the one controlling it."

She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a black, pentagon-shaped stone with a golden grail symbol—the mark of the Underworld Gate.

She held it up for everyone to see and shouted, "With this thing, I could wipe all of you out in an instant! Hahaha!"

Her laughter turned wild—completely unhinged. Nina, who used to seem so gentle and polite, now looked like a total maniac. Even Orlan, Jisha, Melissa, and Alicia could hardly believe their eyes.

"Sister Melissa..." Alicia whispered, shaking in fear as she clung tightly to Melissa’s hand.

Her round face had gone pale, and her little legs were trembling.

Out of all the maids, Alicia had spent the most time with Alex, Melissa, and Nina.

It had never crossed her mind that the kind sister who always smiled at her and treated her sweetly... was the same person who had cursed her—making her suffer since birth.

It was hard to believe. But the truth was right there in front of her.

Melissa squeezed Alicia’s hand and gave her a comforting smile.

"Don’t worry, young lady. I’ve got you," she said gently.

Alicia was still scared, but she trusted Melissa. She gave her a small nod.

Standing next to Orlan, Jisha narrowed her eyes, fully alert.

I knew something was off with that food, she muttered under her breath.

At the time, something had felt off—like the food was laced with black magic. But no matter how hard she checked, there wasn’t a single trace.

In the end, she let it slide. Still, just to be safe, she tossed the food and asked Melissa to make a fresh one for Alicia.

Good thing she did—if not, the curse would’ve already taken effect, and Alicia would be suffering all over again.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Jisha raised her hand to the side. In a flash, a blue magic staff appeared in her grip, and she swung it forward.

"You really thought that we were that clueless, Nina?" Jisha said with a mocking smile. "Nolan spotted your magic circle first... and I destroyed it before you even noticed."

"What? That’s impossible!" Nina stood frozen, eyes wide with shock.

Her gaze snapped to Nolan, who was smirking at her.

"You... you actually found it?" she asked, disbelief written all over her face.

Nolan slowly rose to his feet, still feeling weak from the poison that had been slipped into his food.

Luckily, it wasn’t deadly—just a temporary paralysis that was finally starting to wear off.

"You can check for yourself," he said with a playful grin.

Nina went quiet. A bad feeling crept into her chest, but she shook it off and started activating the magic circle.

Buzz!

The token in her hand glowed with a sharp black light, but a second later—

Bang!

It exploded, shattering into pieces. Nina’s face went pale.

"N-No way..." she muttered, stumbling back with shaky steps.

The magic circle she’d planted in secret... was really gone?

"Give it up, Nina," Orlan said coldly, stepping toward her.

He held a sword, its blade gleaming under the moonlight.

"I’m giving you one chance. Tell me everything, and I’ll make it quick. But if you stay quiet..." His eyes gleamed with killing intent. "I’ll make you suffer—until you wish you were never born."

Nina clenched her teeth, ready to activate her escape spell—when suddenly, a green magic circle lit up beneath her feet.

Bright light burst out, forming a barrier that locked her in place.

"What!?" Her eyes widened in panic.

Looking ahead, she saw Jisha standing there with a playful smirk.

"Trying to run? Did you ask for my permission?" Jisha teased mockingly.

"You..." Nina’s eyes burned red with fury.

But before she could say another word, Orlan was already in front of her.

"Lord Orlan! Please—have mercy!" She cried out, panicking. "I... I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! Everything I know!"

Orlan gave a small nod, his gaze cold. "Good. Now tell me everything—who else is involved?"

Nina froze. She knew this was the end. Her fate was sealed—she wasn’t getting out of this alive.

She glanced at Melissa, about to speak—when suddenly, an arrow burst through the window and struck her right in the throat.

"Argh!" Her body stiffened, eyes going wide with shock.

A sharp, burning pain tore through her before she collapsed, hitting the floor hard—unconscious.

Orlan froze for a moment, eyes locked on the arrow stuck in her neck. His face twisted in anger.

"Damn it! That was a kill shot—they wanted to silence her!" he snapped.

He spun around and shouted at the soldiers, "Find whoever did this—now!"