The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 629 A Sweet Tongue (2)

"Hmmm…"

Alina humd happily as she watered a cluster of bright pink flowers in full bloom. Just looking at them made anyone feel at ease.

Footsteps sounded behind her, followed by a playful voice.

"Sorry to bother you, but what are you doing, Princess Alina?"

Startled, Alina turned around to see Nolan walking toward her.

"Prince Nolan!" Her eyes sparkled as she explained, "I'm watering these flowers. Look—aren't they beautiful?"

She pointed at the cluster with an expectant gaze.

Nolan looked at the flowers and smiled softly.

"They're very beautiful. Are they yours?"

"Um… more accurately, they belong to my mother." Alina's smile grew nostalgic. "She loved flowers dearly and tended these, hoping I would grow to love them too. But she passed away before she could see them bloom."

Her face darkened with sadness.

Nolan felt a pang of surprise. He knew Alina was likely the daughter of a concubine, yet he hadn't anticipated that her mother was gone.

Subconsciously, he raised his right hand and gently rubbed her head.

"You've worked hard taking care of them. I'm sure your mother must be watching over you happily from above."

Alina froze at his touch. Her face flushed, and a faint warmth seed to rise from her head.

Even so, she didn't pull away. She simply lowered her gaze shyly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Nolan smiled aningfully and withdrew his hand from her head.

"By the way, there's sothing I've been wondering," he said casually as he walked past her. "I've been watching this garden for the past three days, but I haven't seen you tending the flowers. Have you been busy?"

At the sa ti, Nolan bent down to pick up the watering can from the ground and began carefully watering the flowers.

Alina was silent for a mont before smiling. "You could say that. Ever since Brother Aldrian beca the heir, I've had to attend more noble classes. Mother lody said I'll be responsible for teaching Brother Aldrian's children in the future."

Despite her smile, a faint trace of loneliness lingered in her light green eyes.

Nolan noticed, of course, but he didn't press further. Their relationship wasn't close enough for that.

"I see. That must be tough. I've been through sothing similar too, though our situations are different."

"Huh? You've had the sa experience, Prince Nolan?"

Nolan nodded lightly, setting the watering can back down and letting out a small sigh.

"You've probably heard what people say about , haven't you? That I'm a worthless prince, useless, just a burden to the imperial family. But is that really true? I've always done everything I could, yet in my siblings' eyes, I'm still useless. Even my father thinks the sa. Honestly, being born into the imperial family isn't as wonderful as people imagine."

He sighed again and lowered his gaze, wearing a dejected expression.

Of course, all of that was nonsense. If there were an Oscar in this world, he would deserve it without a shred of doubt.

But Nolan didn't care. His only goal was to get close to Alina so his plan could proceed smoothly.

As for the lies he told, only the gods—and he—knew the truth.

His father and brothers would never find out, so he could rest easy.

If Ragan knew what he was thinking, he'd surely raise his fist, punch him, and shout, "Ungrateful brat! How dare you lie using my na!?"

Unfortunately, the old man didn't know—and would never know—that Nolan was using his na to deceive a young woman like Alina.

"Prince Nolan…" Alina covered her mouth with her right hand, her face filled with sadness and sympathy, as if she were facing soone who shared her pain.

"I never expected you to endure sothing so terrible at the imperial palace. I'm sorry for ever thinking of you as a worthless, good-for-nothing prince."

She bowed her head, heavy with guilt and sha.

Although Nolan remained outwardly calm, his face flushed slightly. He often used lies to manipulate others.

But this ti, he felt a deep, uncomfortable sha for deceiving a young, innocent woman like Alina.

"It's okay. I'm used to it all. In the end, everyone only judges what they see, not what's inside a person."

A wry smile appeared on his lips, making Alina feel even more sympathetic toward him.

Before she realized it, she stepped closer and hugged him tightly.

Nolan was taken aback—he hadn't expected this woman to hug him out of the blue.

Then he noticed her body trembling. She was probably very nervous, yet she had forced herself to hug him and offer comfort.

Truthfully, he found it a bit amusing. Nolan didn't underestimate her kindness, but since everything he said was a lie, he felt a pang of guilt for deceiving her.

He was about to return the hug when Alina pulled away first.

"I—I'm sorry, Prince Nolan. Don't get the wrong idea—it was just a reflex," she hurriedly explained.

Her face burned bright red, showing just how embarrassed she was.

Nolan smiled and gently ruffled her hair.

"It's okay. I should be the one thanking you, Princess Alina. This is the first ti anyone other than my mother and my sister, Seira, has treated so kindly. I'm truly touched."

He wiped away imaginary tears, pretending to be deeply moved.

Alina's embarrassnt gradually faded, replaced by a quiet, indescribable happiness.

"By the way, could I ask for your help? I'm not familiar with this palace. Would you show around for a bit?"

Coincidentally, he didn't have any aningful work at the mont. It was better to build a good relationship with Alina and gather as much information as possible about the structure of the Ancient Kingdom of Eron.

That way, in this ga, the advantage would be entirely his.

"Um! Of course!" Alina agreed without hesitation.

Soon after, she began showing Nolan around the royal palace.

What neither of them realized was that soone was watching from a distance.

One had a handso face, while the other appeared rather ordinary.

Yet the man with the ordinary face radiated a far stronger aura than the handso man beside him.

"What do you think, Alex?" Eldrin asked casually.

The ordinary-faced man remained calm. "Nolan Lorian seems… strange. His Majesty says he's a threat, but I don't see it. Could His Majesty have misjudged him?"

Eldrin fell silent. He felt the sa way as Alex.

"Even so, we must stay vigilant and observe him periodically. There's no doubt he intends to get close to Princess Alina."

Alex's words earned Eldrin's approval.

"You're right. Let's go."

In the next instant, the two vanished like a sudden gust of wind.