The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne
Chapter 88: A Farewell

Chapter 88: A Farewell

"By the way, Prince Nolan," Orlan said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out another token.

This one was purple, with a hint of light blue. At its center was the image of a white-scaled fish, shaped somewhat like a long, slender snake.

Orlan stared at it briefly before handing it to Nolan.

"This is the token of Count Balfron’s family—my wife’s side. They’ve decided to support you and Princess Elina in the fight for the throne," he explained respectfully.

Nolan was taken aback, nearly in disbelief. He accepted the token and examined it for a moment, then looked up at Orlan.

"The Balfrons? Why would they support Elina? Was this your doing, Marquis Orlan?" he asked, intrigued.

The Balfron family was a respected noble house of Count rank, known for its close ties with the Caltheron family and a spotless public reputation.

To be honest, Nolan had considered approaching them. It wasn’t without reason—the Balfrons held significant influence in the southeastern region of the Empire.

More importantly, they controlled one of the three most vital ports in the Empire, earning immense profits from tariffs and tributes paid by passing ships.

If the average income of a Count-level noble family was around five hundred million Sharn, then the Balfron family could earn nearly one billion Sharn every six months.

That was on par with the income of a Marquis household like the Caltherons.

So even though their official rank was only that of a Count, no one dared to look down on them—or cross them.

After all, they controlled the sea trade routes. And anyone foolish enough to cause trouble would find it difficult to obtain vital goods that could only be acquired through maritime trade.

If Elina truly had the Balfron family’s support, her next steps in the succession would become much smoother.

And now, Orlan was offering that support freely—no wonder Nolan was so stunned.

Orlan let out a chuckle as he took a sip of coffee. Shaking his head lightly, he said, "You’re mistaken, Prince Nolan. That support isn’t something I arranged—it’s exactly what they wanted to offer. Sure, my wife may have had some influence, but the final decision came from Count Balfron himself. And he chose to place his trust in Princess Elina in this struggle for the throne."

Syra, his wife, was the sole heiress of the Balfron family. No wonder her status was held in such high regard within the household.

That afternoon, to celebrate her recovery, Orlan contacted Count Balfron—his father-in-law—and shared the good news.

As expected, the old man became emotional. Tears streamed down his face without end.

When he asked who had healed her, Orlan answered honestly: Nolan.

At first, the Count thought it was a joke and didn’t believe him. But after a long and detailed explanation, he was finally convinced.

Orlan didn’t stop there—he also praised Nolan highly, especially his exceptional abilities and his connection to the Singularity of Chaos.

With his wife’s persuasion added to the mix, Count Balfron ultimately decided to support Elina in the battle for the throne.

However, beneath it all, Orlan still harbored his own ambitions. He wanted to see Elina win the succession and become the next heir to the throne.

If that happened, both the Caltheron and Balfron families would rise in political influence.

And if things truly went in their favor, it wasn’t impossible for the Caltherons to replace the Malvains as the dominant power in the south.

Nolan glanced at Orlan’s calm, relaxed expression and let out a soft chuckle.

This man’s cunning... but I like that, he muttered, twirling the token in his hand before slipping it into his pocket.

How could he not know what was going on in Orlan’s mind?

Still, Nolan didn’t feel the slightest bit of anger. This was a mutually beneficial alliance—of course there had to be gains on both sides. He understood that well.

"Thank you, Marquis Orlan. I accept this favor," Nolan said with a faint smile, taking a sip of his coffee.

"You’re welcome, Prince Nolan. I only hope Princess Elina wins the throne and brings prosperity to the Empire," Orlan replied with a light laugh.

"Pfft. I hope so too," Nolan chuckled, then closed his eyes in quiet contentment.

***

The next morning...

In front of the mansion’s main entrance, Nolan stood quietly, facing Orlan, Alicia, Alex, Syra—who sat in a wheelchair—and Jisha.

"Well then, I’ll take my leave," Nolan said softly.

Orlan smiled and replied, "Thank you very much for your help, Prince Nolan. If not for you, this matter wouldn’t have been resolved so quickly."

Syra, seated beside him, gave a slow nod and added in a gentle voice, "Orlan is right, Prince. I’m truly grateful—for lifting Alicia’s curse and waking me from my coma. I’ll never forget this kindness. If you ever find yourself in trouble, please let us know. I promise, we’ll help you without hesitation."

Nolan didn’t turn down the offer. He gave a slight nod and replied calmly, "I’ll remember your promise."

His gaze shifted to Alicia. With a warm smile, he crouched in front of her.

"I’m heading off now, Alicia. Take good care of your mother and father, alright? And remember what I told you—be a good girl and don’t argue with them. Got it?" He advised, gently rubbing her head and giving her cheek a light pinch.

"Um!" Alicia nodded enthusiastically, clenching her fists with determination. "Don’t worry, Brother Nolan! I’ll be good and not cause any trouble!"

"Good girl." Nolan nodded in approval, ruffled her hair once more, and stood up.

Then, turning to Jisha with a playful grin, he teased, "Feeling sad that you have to say goodbye to me?"

Jisha immediately pouted and looked away, clearly annoyed.

"Sad? Don’t flatter yourself!" She snapped in a haughty, arrogant tone.

Yet beneath her voice, there was a faint trace of sadness she couldn’t quite hide.

The truth was—she hated Nolan to the core. And yet, for some reason, being around him made her feel oddly at ease... and curious.

That unfamiliar feeling made her head spin. All her life, she had focused solely on magic, research, and books—never once letting a man get close to her.

So when those strange emotions surfaced, she didn’t know how to handle them—other than to feel annoyed, confused, and uncomfortable.

Nolan, of course, noticed the change in her expression. But instead of teasing her further, he simply smiled.

"If you ever get the chance, come visit the Imperial Capital. I’ll be waiting."

The offer caught Jisha off guard. She looked at Nolan, who appeared calm and utterly sincere—and her eyes lit up with a rare spark.

"Um! I’ll come if I get the chance!"

Nolan chuckled, then exchanged a few final words with Orlan, Syra, and Alex before stepping into the waiting carriage.

Under their watchful eyes, the carriage slowly rolled away, growing smaller in the distance until it vanished from sight.

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