The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

Chapter 567: The Speed of Falling Cherry Blossoms

Upon hearing her guess, Nolan was taken aback. He looked into Evalyn’s playful eyes with a serious expression, then let out a soft chuckle.

"Impossible. That can’t be true. My mother was her parents’ only child, and they’ve both passed away," he said, waving a hand dismissively.

He knew almost nothing about his mother’s family. Even so, he was certain she had no siblings. His father had told him the same.

"I’m just kidding. Don’t take it seriously," Evalyn giggled. "Well then, let’s walk around the capital before heading to the imperial palace."

Nolan nodded slightly, and the two of them strolled through the city of Hinode with excitement.

The cityscape was beautiful. Hinode lay close to the mountains, and their silhouettes stood clearly against the horizon.

The air was cool and fresh, making every breath feel refreshing.

"Nolan, what’s that? Do you want to try it?" Evalyn asked eagerly.

Nolan followed her gaze and spotted a food stall. There weren’t many customers, but the fish and crab decorations on the signboard made it eye-catching.

"Could it be taiyaki?" Nolan guessed.

"Taiyaki? What’s that?" Evalyn blinked in curiosity.

"It’s a specialty from the Eastern Empire of Izanagi. It’s made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients. The filling is usually red or purple bean paste, but there are also chocolate and strawberry flavors. It’s shaped like a fish or crab because the batter is poured into animal-shaped molds to make it more appealing. Do you want to try it?"

Evalyn was surprised by how much he knew. But considering Isabella was his mother, it didn’t seem that strange.

"Sure, I want to try it!" Evalyn nodded eagerly.

Nolan smiled and led her to the queue. Fortunately, there weren’t many people, so they didn’t have to wait long.

Nolan ordered taiyaki with red bean, chocolate, and purple bean fillings, while Evalyn chose chocolate and red bean.

Since Evalyn couldn’t speak the Eastern Continent’s language, Nolan ordered on her behalf.

When their order was ready, they took their packages and headed toward the city center.

There was a fairly large public park with benches open to everyone.

But that wasn’t what caught her attention the most. It was the cherry blossom trees surrounding the park.

"How beautiful! Are those cherry blossom trees?" Evalyn asked, her eyes sparkling.

Although she wasn’t particularly knowledgeable, she still recognized cherry blossoms. After all, they were famous for their beauty.

"Yes, those are cherry blossom trees," Nolan replied with a slight nod.

He sat on a bench not far from the trees, and Evalyn followed, taking the seat beside him.

A cool breeze drifted past them, making the trees sway gently.

Petals fell like soft rain, creating a breathtaking scene.

"It tastes so good!" Evalyn exclaimed in delight. "The red bean melts in my mouth, and the dough is so soft!"

It was her first time eating taiyaki, and she had to admit it was the most delicious snack she had ever tasted.

It wasn’t overly sweet. A slight savory note balanced the flavor perfectly.

Nolan took a bite of his chocolate-flavored taiyaki and was just as surprised. Just as Evalyn had said, the taste was unique and delicious.

For people from the Central Continent like them, the flavor suited their palate and didn’t feel strange at all.

Whoosh!

The wind swept past them again, and cherry blossom petals drifted gently to the ground.

"Do you know how fast cherry blossoms fall?"

Evalyn blinked at the unexpected question.

She rubbed her chin in thought. "Three centimeters per second?"

Nolan smiled faintly and shook his head.

"It varies depending on the air pressure around them. But on average, they fall at about five centimeters per second."

"Five centimeters per second?" Evalyn repeated softly. Her gaze lingered on his violet eyes.

For some reason, she sensed a trace of sadness in them.

Nolan continued eating, his eyes fixed on the falling blossoms.

He didn’t understand why she had asked that question. Yet deep inside, he did. Memories of his former fiancée surfaced in his mind.

***

"Hey, Nolan Frey. I have a question. How long do you think it takes for a cherry blossom to reach the ground?"

A stunningly beautiful woman turned toward him.

Dressed in a suit, Nolan slipped his hands into his pockets. "Three seconds, maybe? It depends on the air currents."

The woman giggled and stretched lazily as petals fell around them.

"Your answer isn’t wrong. But according to a journal I read, it falls at five centimeters per second. Beautiful, isn’t it?"

Nolan was slightly surprised. He looked into the woman’s eyes and asked, "Why are you asking that?"

She gave a faint smile, stepped closer, and wrapped her arms around him.

"Cherry blossoms symbolize separation. If we ever part ways, don’t worry—I’ll come to you. That’s my promise," she whispered.

Nolan fell silent for a moment. Then he smiled and returned her embrace.

"Those words give me goosebumps. And that responsibility... shouldn’t it be mine, Seira? I’m the man here. There’s no way I’d let you be the one searching for me."

Seira buried her face against his chest and spoke softly. "All right. If that ever happens, then come find me, okay? Even if you have to cross a vast sea of stars... please come find me, Nolan."

***

"Hey, why are you spacing out?"

Evalyn’s annoyed voice pulled Nolan back to the present. He took a slow breath and shook his head.

"It’s nothing. By the way, is there anywhere you’d like to go?"

Evalyn narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. She felt his demeanor had changed slightly since they saw the cherry blossoms.

But she was too lazy to press him further.

"There are many places I want to visit. One of them is the geisha district. They’re women who can play traditional musical instruments, right? I want to see them!"

Geisha were professional hostesses trained in traditional arts. Their role was not to sell their bodies but to entertain guests through conversation, music, and performance.

Nolan rubbed his chin. If he remembered correctly, his mother had once been a geisha.

He had also learned from his mother that geisha were not prostitutes but artists who created a refined and comfortable atmosphere for guests.

That alone was enough to make him curious about the profession and the place itself.

"All right. Let’s tour the capital and stop by there," Nolan said.

Evalyn beamed. "Let’s go!"

...

In a quiet room, Mikazura sat before a sheet of calligraphy paper, painting careful strokes across its surface.

His expression was calm, as if all his emotions had been poured onto the white page.

Suddenly, his brush halted when he sensed someone step in behind him.

"What is it?" he asked evenly.

A man dressed in black ninja attire bowed his head.

"My apologies for the interruption, Prime Minister. Princess Kaede has arrived in the capital. On her way here, she encountered someone unexpected—Prince Nolan Lorian."