The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne-Chapter 145: News That Spreads Like Wildfire (2)

Inside his study, Ragan sat with a complicated, astonished expression. In his hands were four sheets of paper, each containing a report on the destruction of the Halveran Capital.

"I never imagined something of this scale would befall the Holy Empire of Valtanir," he muttered, setting the documents aside and leaning back in his chair.

His gaze drifted blankly toward the ceiling as his mind sank into a sea of unease.

The news had come too suddenly—he could barely process it. After all, the Holy Empire of Valtanir was a formidable power, no weaker than his own empire.

And above all, they had the Singularity of Light as their protector.

That was why breaching the Holy Empire of Valtanir should have been impossible—unless the Singularity of Light was no longer present.

But that belief crumbled with the arrival of the news. Halveran—the last stronghold of the Holy Empire—had been completely annihilated, reduced to nothing.

This proved that no matter how powerful a nation was on this continent, there would always be someone capable of bringing it to ruin.

"Still..." Ragan let out a small chuckle. "This is the punishment they deserve. They’ve been arrogant for far too long without ever facing consequences. This defeat will surely weaken them for a time... and give the Great Velmora Empire a chance to breathe."

If anyone asked whether he was pleased, the answer would be yes. The Holy Empire of Valtanir had long cast covetous eyes on the northern territories of his empire, even showing signs of mobilizing troops.

It had always been a concern—not because he feared war, but because of the devastating aftermath it might bring. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

But with this news, the Holy Empire of Valtanir would undoubtedly be overwhelmed and wouldn’t have the time to concern themselves with the northern region.

It was the perfect opportunity to fully fortify the borders.

Without delay, Ragan picked up a blank sheet and began writing his orders.

Once finished, he folded the letter neatly and placed it in an exquisite golden envelope.

"Orion," he called out coolly.

Whoosh!

Orion appeared instantly beside him, bowing respectfully.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

Ragan handed him the letter. "Deliver this to the Duke of Ashvale. Tell him to follow the instructions written inside."

Orion didn’t dare question anything. He accepted the envelope and responded with a respectful nod. "As you command, Your Majesty."

Without another word, his figure vanished from the room.

Ragan leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile and muttered, "Daniel, oh Daniel... looks like you’ve finally embraced your downfall. Hahaha!"

***

"Is this news true?"

Seated on the sofa, Aldric’s expression turned grave as he read the report he had just received.

"It’s true, Brother," Novaria replied grimly. "I got the information from our intelligence network. The data is accurate—I can guarantee it."

Aldric froze, speechless. His eyes remained fixed on the report in his hands.

"How is this possible? Is this... the power of a Singularity?" he muttered, tightening his grip on the paper.

The report detailed the destruction of Halveran—the capital of the Holy Empire of Valtanir—by none other than the Singularity of Chaos.

It was hard to believe, yet he knew the report was genuine. And more than that, he knew Novaria wouldn’t lie to him.

Just imagining a city the size of Halveran being wiped out sent a chill down his spine.

His mind drifted back to the day of the throne succession announcement—when he had mentioned the Singularity of Chaos and ended up provoking him.

Fortunately, the man hadn’t killed him—he’d merely knocked him unconscious.

Looking back, he realized just how lucky he had been. If things had gone differently, he might have been reduced to ashes by that terrifying figure.

Across from him, Novaria watched her brother’s pale face with a complicated expression.

She, too, had been shocked when she first read the report.

Never had she imagined that the Singularity of Chaos would go that far... for Elina.

How could she be so lucky? Is it fate? If so... why can’t I be the one blessed like that?

One question after another—each laced with envy and resentment—continued to swirl in her mind.

As a princess born of the queen, Novaria was raised with pride and a strong sense of self-worth.

However, as she grew older, she began to realize that her status wasn’t as special as she had once believed.

She possessed no remarkable talents or unique qualities—aside from her beauty. And in an imperial court filled with intrigue, beauty alone could be more of a curse than a blessing.

Her half-sisters, on the other hand, each had strengths that she lacked.

Seira, the eldest daughter, was exceptionally intelligent and deeply cherished by their father.

The third daughter, Sharon, was gifted in magic and currently studied at the prestigious Fallen Star Magic Academy—the most powerful magic institution on the continent.

The fourth daughter, Freya, was a brilliant strategist and had already earned the title of "young general" by the age of twenty-three.

Even the fifth daughter was far from ordinary. Like Cedric, she was a genius within the academy and was now attending the Imperial Academy.

And then there was Elina—no less remarkable. She had the courage to take over Nolan’s position and stand as an equal among the other throne candidates. It was a bold, risky move... but undeniably impressive.

The more she thought about it, the more chaotic her heart became. A growing dread crept in—the fear that one day she might be sacrificed for her brother’s victory.

Despite loving and caring for Aldric, Novaria had no desire to lose the freedom she still held onto.

"Novaria? Are you okay?" Aldric’s confused voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Novaria gave a casual smile and replied, "I’m fine, Brother."

Aldric eyed her suspiciously but said nothing. Instead, he shifted the conversation.

"The news you brought is truly shocking," he said, his eyes lingering on the report in his hands. "It’s also a warning—to be cautious around Elina. We mustn’t act rashly toward her. Otherwise, we could be next."

Novaria only nodded in silence.

"But actually, this could be good news for us," Aldric added with a chuckle. He turned to the window on his left and sneered, "The biggest loser in all this has to be Adalen. I bet he’s seething right now. Hahaha!"

Adalen was a rival who couldn’t be underestimated. His grandfather, the Singularity of Light, was a formidable and dangerous figure.

But fate had taken an unexpected turn. The very man meant to support Adalen in the battle for the throne had been humiliated last night—by a subordinate of the Singularity of Chaos, and in front of everyone at the party.

Now came the news of Halveran’s destruction—like a fresh ember falling onto an already burning forest.

Just imagining Adalen’s devastated expression was enough to lift her mood.

Still, Novaria remained quiet, watching her brother bask in his satisfaction. Yet her face betrayed a deeper contemplation.