[{"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-615":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},397073,661,"Chapter 615  Date and Surprise (2)","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-615",615,"\u003Cp>\"Monopoly?\" Shion was shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan nodded. \"The Blue Moon Trading House has established several restaurants across the empire. Each one is well-known and always crowded with visitors. In my father's eyes, that means we've officially grown rapidly in this field.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you shut down other businesses through takeovers or investments, it's not impossible that the palace would see it as an attempt to create a monopoly. If that happens, Blue Moon could be in serious trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A saying from his previous world flashed through his mind: \"The poor should not challenge businessmen, and businessmen should never challenge officials.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a reminder of how powerful the government was in any country or kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his own Frey family had never dared to defy the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, his grandparents had placed his uncle and aunt in government positions to ensure the Frey family could grow safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might sound distasteful—using power to protect a family business—but in reality, it was common, practiced by many other influential families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although this world was different from his previous one, the system was the same: the emperor and the palace were extremely powerful, far above anyone else, including the trading houses operating under their rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion considered his words carefully and found them reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're right. I didn't think of that,\" she admitted softly, lowering her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan waved his right hand casually and smiled. \"It's alright. Don't worry—I'm here. My father won't touch the Blue Moon Trading House or White Lotus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had his reasons for persuading his father to award the Kingdom of Kaldarion project to Blue Moon and White Lotus—as a guarantee of their safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, the Blue Moon Trading House had operated independently, without any direct ties to the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had collaborated with families of Marquises and even Dukes through the Silver Dragon Bank, but it still wasn't enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct cooperation with the imperial palace was the most important and decisive step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan hadn't yet found the right reason to connect the two—until, by chance, the Kingdom of Kaldarion project presented the perfect opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results were clear: the empire and Blue Moon were now bound by mutual cooperation and shared interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he was confident his father would think twice—maybe even a hundred times—before harboring any ill intentions toward the Blue Moon Trading House.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the trading house employed millions of workers, both directly and indirectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as his father was smart, he would surely realize that interfering with Blue Moon would be like destroying the empire's economy overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Blue Moon's products had become a part of everyday life—from cheap shampoo and soap to agricultural and livestock technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion felt a wave of relief at his explanation. A soft smile lingered on her face as she said quietly, \"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stepped out of the restaurant. Shion gazed up at the dark sky and let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's already night. Looks like our date is about to end,\" she muttered sadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today had been the first time she had truly enjoyed herself—and it was also her first date, especially with the man she loved so deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you say? Over? Who said that?\" Nolan's playful voice came from beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Not over yet?\" Shion exclaimed, covering her mouth with her right hand in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan smiled. \"Remember the surprise I mentioned? I haven't even shown it to you yet. Come on, let's go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took her left hand and led her across the restaurant. Outside, a horse-drawn carriage waited, the coachman standing at attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good evening, Your Highness. Everything is ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan gave a thumbs up and gestured for Shion to get in. Confused but silent, she climbed aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He followed her in, and the carriage immediately began moving toward the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About three kilometers from the capital's walls lay a small forest. Dense and untouched by humans, it had a quiet, natural beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse-drawn carriage carrying Nolan and Shion moved through the dark woods. Shion, curious, peered out from behind the window into the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Master want to show me?\" she wondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had wanted to ask aloud but quickly held back. She knew it would be pointless—Nolan wouldn't answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later, the carriage came to a stop. The coachman's voice rang out from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're here, Your Highness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Let's get out,\" Nolan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion nodded and stepped down slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once on the ground, she took in the darkness around them. Crickets chirped, and night birds flitted through the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan took her right hand and led her along a narrow path, just wide enough for the two of them side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion glanced at their joined hands, and a smile slowly spread across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two minutes, Nolan stopped and pointed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look—this is the surprise I mentioned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion followed his gesture and gasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's so beautiful...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before them stretched a lake. Not wide enough to obscure the view, yet stunning in the moonlight, it seemed almost magical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water was a clear, crystal blue, with lotus leaves drifting gently across the surface. At the center, pink-white lotuses bloomed in quiet perfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moon shone brightly above, its light shimmering across the lake and turning the entire scene breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan pulled Shion closer and stopped at the water's edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This lake is a secret place I discovered with Evalyn and Elina long ago. Do you like it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion nodded eagerly. \"I love it. Just looking at it makes all my fatigue disappear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan gazed into her sincere eyes and couldn't help but smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most women liked expensive things—jewelry, rings, and the like. But that was only for ordinary women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a woman like Shion, such luxuries held little importance. With her status, any extravagance could be obtained with a single command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Nolan hadn't bought her jewelry or lavish gifts. Instead, he had brought her the view of this serene lake—and, as he expected, she loved it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's not all. Let's get on that wooden boat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to a small wooden boat just five meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eh? Get on that?\" Shion hesitated. \"Is it safe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nolan smiled and reassured her. \"Relax. I prepared it. Come on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion didn't argue and followed him immediately. Nolan stepped in first, then extended his hand to help her aboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held his hand tightly and stepped carefully onto the wooden boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they sat across from each other, Nolan took the oars in hand and began rowing. The boat drifted slowly toward the center of the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion dipped her fingers into the water, enjoying its refreshingly cool touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How deep is this lake?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not exactly sure… maybe ten meters,\" Nolan replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shion: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1132,"2026-05-30T06:57:31.684Z","2026-06-01T04:30:35.482Z",1,"novelbin.me","ae91cb61b71f6a57ef3ebb0d0fdbb46b32e8663d42f80e310145a21553be1806","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-723","the-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-chapter-722",748,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-hidden-extra-the-lazy-prince-refuses-to-asce-cover.jpg"]