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

Chapter 598: A Ghost?

"So, you’re leaving tomorrow, brother?" Elina asked.

Nolan nodded slightly. "Yeah, Evalyn and I are going to the capital to take care of some things. Don’t worry, I’ll be back next month."

He had a lot to take care of in the capital. First, he had to ask his mother about the situation in the Eastern Empire of Izanagi, as well as her reason for hiding all of this from him and Elina.

Second, he had to meet Seira and Eliza. They must miss him terribly, especially the possessive, brocon¹ woman, Seira.

Nolan was sure that once he returned to the palace, Seira would hug and kiss him to her heart’s content. He had to mentally prepare for that.

Third, he had to monitor the progress of Shion and Claire’s work.

He had given them a big project, one of which was a cooperation contract with the Kingdom of Kaldarion on the northern continent.

Although he trusted them, Nolan still had to supervise their work. Otherwise, his father would scold him mercilessly.

’Hah... come to think of it, my life is far from the relaxed life I dreamed of, isn’t it? It’s really annoying,’ Nolan muttered helplessly.

He wanted to enjoy his life peacefully, without any problems.

Unfortunately, the gods seemed to hate him. Instead of being born into an ordinary family, he was born into the imperial family, where intrigue and evil intentions were commonplace.

What’s more, his younger sister was involved in the struggle for the throne, and inevitably, he had to do his best to help her.

"All right, I understand."

Despite her disappointment, Elina still supported her brother’s decision to return. After all, it was only a month—not that long.

Nolan smiled and patted her head affectionately.

"Please take care of Eira for me," he said.

Elina clenched her fists tightly and promised, "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her until she finishes her awakening!"

Eira was adorable, and she could keep Elina company whenever she was bored and had no one to talk to.

She already considered Eira part of her own family.

Nolan nodded in satisfaction, looked to his right and left, then asked, "Where’s Rafine?"

"Rafine? I think she’s working in her room. Do you want me to call her?"

"No need. I’ll go there myself. I have something I want to talk to her about."

Elina didn’t answer right away. After a moment, she seemed to remember something and looked at her brother with an uncertain gaze.

"Brother, there’s something I want to talk about."

Nolan was slightly surprised and turned to her curiously. "What is it?"

Elina paused and was about to open her mouth when a panicked voice suddenly came from the hallway on the right.

"Nolan, help me! There’s a rat! Kyaa!"

Nolan: "..."

Elina: "..."

Nolan let out a long sigh and got up.

"Wait a minute. That muscle woman is really unreliable."

Without saying anything else, he walked toward Evalyn’s room.

Elina just sat silently with a conflicted expression. A sigh escaped her lips as she whispered, ’Maybe it’s better if I don’t get involved. Just let everything run its course.’

At first, she wanted to ask her brother for confirmation about Rafine’s feelings.

She was completely sure that her brother was aware of Rafine’s feelings for him.

But she was afraid that if his answer didn’t match her expectations, the relationship between the three of them could be damaged.

***

Rafine was working seriously, sorting through a pile of documents on her desk.

They contained cooperation agreements between the nobles and Elina.

Most of the nobles wanted to join Elina’s side. As Elina’s right-hand man, Rafine was responsible for screening which noble families were worthy of cooperation and allowed to join.

This action might sound arrogant or excessive. While Cedric, Aldric, and Adalen welcomed many noble families with open arms, Elina did the opposite.

However, Rafine did not think there was anything wrong with that. The battle for the throne was not just a fight among princes and their factions; it was far more complicated than that.

Intrigues, hidden agendas, and strategies lurked behind every move. Rafine understood this well because her father had taught her these things many years ago.

Those who wanted to join a candidate’s faction could be spies, placed there by other princes to monitor the candidate’s movements.

This had always been a common part of the history of the battle for the throne.

That was why Rafine had to make sure that everyone who came truly supported Elina and was not a spy or an opportunist taking advantage of Elina’s fame for their own gain.

"Ugh..."

Rafine put the documents down on the desk and stretched her stiff body.

The curves of her voluptuous figure became more noticeable. After feeling a little relieved, she glanced down at her breasts and touched them.

"I feel suffocated by the size of my bra now... Could they be getting bigger?" she thought silently.

A year ago, her bra size was a C cup, but it could no longer accommodate both of her breasts. It had probably increased to a D or maybe even an E.

Pushing that thought aside, she sipped her coffee and continued her work.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door from outside.

Knock!

Rafine’s hand stopped in midair as she was about to pick up a document. She turned toward the door and asked, "Who is it?"

There was no answer, leaving her doubtful and confused.

"Could it just be my imagination?" She furrowed her brow.

Just as she was about to continue her work, the knocking sound came again—this time twice.

"Who is it?" Rafine called out louder, but strangely, there was still no answer.

"Is someone playing a prank on me?"

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. She got up and walked toward the door.

When she opened it, there was no one there except a dark and quiet hallway.

She looked left and right, making sure she hadn’t misheard. But indeed, there was no one there.

’Did I really mishear? But it all felt so real... Could it have been... a ghost?’

Once that thought entered her mind, her heart began to race. She remembered the horror story Nolan had told her a few days ago.

The story was about a female ghost with a disfigured face who would knock on the door of anyone she targeted.

As a realistic person, Rafine usually didn’t believe in such things. But now, her confidence was shaken.

It turned out that ghosts really did exist!

Without hesitation, she tried to close the door. But something was holding it from the outside.

She mustered her courage and pushed with all her might, yet the door refused to close.

Suddenly, a hand appeared from outside, holding the door open.

"Hiks!" She jumped in fear and let go of the doorknob.

With a pale and panicked face, she turned around and ran to her desk, then hid under it while panting.

’It’s an illusion... it’s just an illusion!’

She kept chanting those words so she wouldn’t be afraid, but the more she tried, the more her fear grew.

Thud!

She heard slow footsteps behind her. Her breathing became labored, and she quickly covered her mouth with her right hand.

The more uneven her breathing became, the closer the footsteps got. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and her body shook violently.

"Woaa!"

A face suddenly appeared in front of her, and Rafine screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Kyaa! Don’t eat me!"

But the next second, a joking voice came from in front of her.

"Pfft! What’s wrong with you?"

Rafine was startled. When she opened her eyes, she saw Nolan peeking at her with a playful expression.

"Nolan!?"