An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2444

That night, two young men sat playing chess in a quiet mansion in the Inner City.

On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him was Matthias, a broad-shouldered man wearing richly decorated robes.

The game was exciting, with quick moves followed by moments of careful thinking. About ten minutes later, Anders finally admitted defeat.

“Anders, you’ve really improved since we last played. You almost had me,” Matthias said, stroking his beard in surprise.

“You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn’t gone easy on me, I wouldn’t have lasted this long,” Anders replied with a modest smile.

“You’re as smooth with words as ever.” Matthias laughed heartily, feeling pleased with himself. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, he refused to accept defeat.

“Well, we’ve eaten and played. Let’s get to business.” With a wave of his hand, he signaled for his men to clear the chessboard.

He wiped his hands and continued, “Anders, the situation in Oakvale is getting worse every day. The question of who will become crown prince is still unanswered, and it’s driving me mad. I can’t eat or sleep—it’s maddening.”

“You’ve pledged your support to me, so I need you to commit fully. We must secure my claim before it’s too late. Only then will I find some peace of mind.”

“Your Highness, we’re already doing everything we can. Half of the eight great families are on our side now, and we’ve also gained support from many key figures in the government. Simply put, Your Highness has the strongest influence among the princes,” Anders said, bowing his head slightly.

“This won’t be enough.” Matthias shook his head. “The old foxes in the government are nothing but opportunistic turncoats. They change sides whenever it suits them.”

Matthias looked at Anders, frustration clear on his face. “The eight great families are just for show. They won’t affect the outcome. The real power lies with the four ancient houses,” he said firmly.

He fixed Anders with a serious gaze. “Your family supports me, but what about the others?”

To become crown prince, Matthias needed the backing of at least two, preferably three, of the four ancient houses. If he could secure all four, the title would be his.

“I’ve talked to the Fallon and Ballard families,” Anders replied. “The Fallons are ready to form a marriage alliance with us, and that will happen soon. The Ballards, however, need a few more days to decide.”

“And what about the Spanners?” Matthias asked, knowing their importance.

The Fallon and Ballard families weren’t as powerful as the Spanners, so winning their support was crucial.

“It seems the Spanner family has grown close to Prince Nathaniel,” Anders said, shaking his head. “I’ve tried visiting them multiple times, but they keep turning me away. It’s tough to win them over.”

The Spanner family was well-established and influential. They didn’t rely on the Mosey family and were not swayed by threats or bribes.

“Looks like Nathaniel has some tricks to keep the Spanners on his side,” Matthias said thoughtfully. After a moment, he added, “Any word from Tristan?”

“Prince Tristan is keeping to himself and hardly interacts with anyone. Among the eight great families, only one or two are with him. The others are just smaller factions trying to play both sides.”

“They won’t be a big threat,” Anders said.

“He doesn’t have the brains or strength, and he’s sick. How can someone like him think he’s fit to be the crown prince?” Matthias scoffed.

A weakling like Tristan—who knew how long he would last? The idea of him fighting for power was ridiculous.

“Prince Tristan might not be an issue, but Prince Nathaniel is a different story. He has strong connections and a lot of influence, especially from the Spanner family. He will be a tough opponent,” Anders explained.

“Your main goal now is to win over the Ballard family. We can’t let them support Nathaniel, or we’ll be in trouble,” Matthias warned.

With the Moseys and Fallons already on his side, gaining the Ballards’ support would greatly boost his chances of becoming crown prince. But if the Ballards sided with Nathaniel, it would create a stalemate—two against two—with neither side gaining an advantage. This would lead to a fierce struggle for power.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll make sure the Ballard family is on your side, no matter what,” Anders promised.

“Good.” Matthias nodded, pleased. “Once it’s done, you’ll get all the credit, and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Anders replied respectfully.

“There’s one more thing I need you to watch.”

“Anything, Your Highness.” Anders lowered his head slightly.

“You’ve probably heard about the situation in West Lucozia. Rufus doesn’t have much time left, and the title will likely go to Logan. I’ve already reached out to him—he’s clever but hasn’t shown his hand yet. Find his weaknesses and see if we can use them to our advantage.” Matthias narrowed his eyes.

“Logan Rhys?” Anders said, surprised, but then he nodded firmly. “I will.”

“Understood. I’ll handle it,” Anders replied.

“Go, and don’t let me down,” Matthias said as he waved him off.

Anders nodded once more before stepping out. He realized that persuading Logan would be a lot harder than winning over the Ballards.