The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne - Chapter 293

293: A Witch (2) 293: A Witch (2) “What is your relationship with that witch?” Nolan and Malverna froze at the sudden question, clearly surprised.

They exchanged glances before turning to face the speaker.

It was a middle-aged woman, around fifty, her face marked with faint wrinkles.

Short in stature, her sharp gaze bore into the two of them.

Nolan set aside his surprise and replied, “I don’t know why you’re calling her a witch, but she’s the one I’m looking for.

Can you tell me where she lives?” “Humph!” The woman let out a cold snort.

“Don’t ever mention that witch again.

We won’t tell you where she lives.

Leave now, or you’ll regret coming here.” Her voice dripped with hatred and threat, making Malverna uneasy.

Just as Malverna was about to step forward, Nolan quickly stopped her.

“Alright, I understand.

Sorry for troubling you,” he said politely, turning to leave.

As their figures slowly faded from view, the woman and the other villagers simply shook their heads and returned to their conversation.

*** “Why are you holding me back?

It’s obvious they were insolent,” Malverna protested in irritation.

The middle-aged woman was just an ordinary villager, yet her arrogance was infuriating.

If Nolan hadn’t restrained her, Malverna would have killed them all.

She didn’t know these people, so she had no reason to feel any sympathy.

Nolan gently patted her shoulder and said, “You need to stop trying to solve everything with violence.

Otherwise, you’ll never grow stronger.” His words made Malverna flinch.

If anyone else had said that, she would have brushed it off as nonsense.

But this was Nolan, and she dared not take his words lightly.

“They’re just ordinary folk.

There’s no need to be so harsh.

What matters now is why that woman called Claire Horven a witch.

I need to find out before meeting her so I can prepare the right way to speak with her,” Nolan remarked calmly.

Malverna only nodded, choosing not to argue further.

As they walked through the village, a group of children suddenly came running toward them.

Judging by their laughter and shouts, they were playing tag.

Nolan noticed that the one chasing them was a little girl.

Her small body made it hard for her to keep up with the others.

“Hah… hah… hah…” she panted, puffing out her cheeks.

“You guys are cheating!

You’re older than me, but I’m the chaser.

That’s not fair!” One of the boys stuck out his tongue and taunted, “It’s your own fault for having short legs!

Hehehe!

Catch us if you can!” Having said that, he ran off again, leaving the little girl looking disgruntled and upset.

Just as she was about to chase after them, Nolan quickly stopped her.

“Little girl, can I have a moment of your time?” Startled, she turned her head and saw a handsome man standing beside an extraordinarily beautiful woman.

At once, she grew nervous and took two steps back.

“Who are you?

Are you here to kidnap me?” she asked fearfully.

She had never seen a man so handsome-or a woman so beautiful-in her village.

To her, there could only be one explanation: they must have come to kidnap her!

Nolan gave a gentle smile as he walked closer.

He crouched down in front of her, pulled a lollipop from his pocket, and held it out.

“Don’t worry, little one.

I just want to ask you for a favor,” he said, shaking the candy slightly in his hand.

The girl swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the lollipop.

She had never seen candy that big before.

The temptation was strong, but her wariness kept her from reaching out.

In the end, curiosity won over fear.

She shyly took the candy and whispered, “Tell me what you want, handsome brother.” Nolan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“I just arrived in this village and planned to stay for a while.

But I heard from the villagers that a witch lives here.

Is that true?” The girl gasped.

She quickly glanced around, then pressed a finger to her lips.

“Shh!

Don’t mention the witch, handsome brother!

Otherwise, you’ll be in danger!” Instead of being frightened, Nolan only grew more curious.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out three more lollipops, and said, “Tell me everything.

Don’t worry, no one will hear you-not even the witch.” The moment she saw the extra candies, the girl’s eyes sparkled like stars in the night.

She snatched them up quickly and nodded eagerly.

“I don’t know the whole story, but my mother said the witch appeared about twenty years ago.

She was blind, and her hair was as white as snow.

That’s why people called her the White-Haired Witch,” the girl explained while licking one of the candies in her hand.

“The reason she was called a witch isn’t really clear.

But they say the misfortunes that have plagued the village for years were caused by her.” “For example, the famine two years ago, and the floods, landslides, and other disasters about three years ago.

The village chief claimed those kinds of disasters had never happened before, so everyone blamed the witch.” But in truth, the girl doubted the chief’s words.

From what she remembered, the woman called a witch had always been kind and caring.

She even shared food with the villagers sometimes, though they only rejected and shunned her.

Nolan took in her words and let out a long sigh.

Looking at it more closely, it was clear to him that Claire Horven had been misunderstood.

Whether it was natural disaster or famine, everything had its own cause.

Curses and bad luck did exist in this world, but that didn’t mean every misfortune should be blamed on them.

It was clear the village chief had deliberately pushed the blame onto Claire, giving the people a target to vent their anger on.

“I see,” Nolan murmured with a slight nod.

He gently patted the girl’s head and added, “Thank you for telling me.

Can you show me where the witch’s house is?” Having received candy from Nolan, the little girl no longer saw him as dangerous.

But when she heard his request, she froze, staring at him with hesitation.

“This…” Before she could say more, Nolan cut in.

“I understand your concern, and I appreciate it.

But I truly have important business with the witch.

Could you guide me there, just for a moment?” Once again, he reached into his pocket and pulled out two lollipops, each a different flavor from before.

The girl’s round eyes sparkled at the sight.

She quickly snatched them up and puffed out her chest with pride.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you there, handsome brother!” Behind them, Malverna, who had been silently observing, pulled out a small notebook and scribbled a line: “How to persuade people without violence: use bribes.”