[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce":3,"chapter-the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},396657,661,"Chapter 21: The Official Announcement of Succession! (2)","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>On the stage, Ragan stood silent and indifferent, nodding with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you all for coming,\" he said calmly, his voice carrying clearly to the farthest reaches of the palace square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know many of you are confused and wondering why you've been called here,\" he continued. \"So, I'll tell you right away. I have summoned you for one reason—to announce the start of the succession!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words hung in the air, and immediately, an eerie silence fell over the square. Everyone—especially the commoners—stood frozen in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took a full minute for them to recover, and then the atmosphere exploded in a frenzy of voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Succession to the throne!? Is this really happening? How can it be?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Emperor said it, it can't be a lie!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why announce something so huge out of nowhere? The Emperor should know how this will affect us common folk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square was filled with a chorus of shock, confusion, discontent, and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some still struggled to believe the announcement, while others were growing increasingly angry and upset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The succession to the throne heralded a profound shift in the political order of the Great Velmora Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no ordinary event—it was monumental!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many noble families would rise and fall, and countless lives—both noble and common—could be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, there would be grim news: the death of noble A or the murder of noble B—events that would destabilize the territories they ruled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, hunger, crime, and chaos would escalate dramatically throughout the succession period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst-case scenario would be if an evil, scheming prince emerged victorious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, the people would have to brace for wave after wave of suffering, trapped in an unstoppable disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Emperor's position was absolute—beyond the reach of public criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faces in the square grew pale with panic, and an uncontrollable uproar spread through the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the common people were gripped by fear, the noble families remained calm and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the commoners, they had been aware of the announcement since yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already endured the shock and panic now overtaking the public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, their thoughts were consumed with choosing which prince to support in the battle for the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The decision was crucial—one wrong move could bring disaster, even threaten the future of their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ragan stood unfazed, observing the chaos below the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had anticipated this reaction and deemed it best to allow them time to settle down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, five minutes later, the noise in the square gradually faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then that Ragan spoke again. \"I know many of you may feel anger or dissatisfaction, but this is a decision that must be made. I have ruled for decades, and now it is time for me to pass the throne to my successor. I hope you can understand my position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was soft, without the slightest hint of arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a statement, how could a commoner argue or resist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Emperor made a decision, there was no option but to accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I won't keep you any longer,\" Ragan said, his voice rising. \"Though you are all familiar with the princes, I will reintroduce them. These are the ones who will contend for the throne.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Ragan moved to the side of the stage, as if to make room for the spotlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, a tall, muscular man stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing over two meters tall, he wore a black robe that highlighted his powerful physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blonde hair was short, and his striking red eyes stood out with intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the First Prince of the Great Velmora Empire—the one most favored to inherit the throne: Aldric Lorian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His appearance immediately drew the attention of everyone in the square. No one there failed to recognize him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His position as the first prince, combined with his illustrious military record, made him admired by both the people and the nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Aldric's entrance, another figure appeared on the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Aldric's tall and imposing frame, this man was leaner, with a more average height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His green hair was slightly long, brushing his ears, while his sea-blue eyes were calm and striking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the thin glasses perched on his nose, coupled with the slightly sharp shape of his eyes, gave him a cynical air—as though a sly intelligence was concealed behind his composed demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Cedric Lorian, the second prince of the Great Velmora Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although not as famous as Aldric, many recognized and admired him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Cedric was one of the Empire's few true geniuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He achieved the highest rank while still at the Imperial Academy and was hailed as the most outstanding student in its history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Cedric, another figure stepped onto the stage, quickly capturing everyone's attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was tall and slender, yet his muscular arms were clearly defined beneath the elegant white robe he wore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was strikingly handsome, almost perfect, framed by short golden hair that glistened softly in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His golden-yellow eyes were breathtakingly beautiful, their mesmerizing depth impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A charming smile played on his lips, so alluring that it left any woman—noble or common—spellbound, unable to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that Prince Adalen, the one famous for his looks?\" One of the commoner women asked, her excitement evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two women beside her nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it's Prince Adalen! Oh my god, he's so handsome! If I could become his concubine, I'd give up a hundred years of my life!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pfft! Your dreams are too big! Forget being his concubine—even being a maid who serves him would be a blessing you'd never earn in ten lifetimes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalen's arrival shattered the silence of the palace square, turning the atmosphere lively and chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was all thanks to the women who were completely captivated by his extraordinary appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the women were overjoyed, the men couldn't help but feel irritated and disgruntled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In unison, they muttered silently,\"Damn! Is being handsome really a privilege? This is ridiculous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1015,"2026-05-30T06:57:16.060Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.828Z",1,"novelbin.me","cd962d0353f1094e993c17481fe77dce13971e072222a2cba0579a6c48bdbc2e","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-22","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-20",748,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-cover.jpg"]