An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2526

“You’re wrong, Tristan,” Matthias said, giving him a pointed look.

He went on, “Sure, I’ve got the Moseys behind me, but that doesn’t mean the throne is mine. Nathaniel has strong support too—this won’t be an easy win. But if you backed me, I’d say my chances would jump to 80%.”

To Matthias, Tristan’s support outweighed even the power of the Ballard family.

If he could win Tristan over, his odds would rise from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question was whether Tristan would set aside his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias.

“You know me, Matthias. I’ve never chased ambition or glory. Power struggles like this just aren’t my thing. I hope you can understand that,” Tristan said.

After careful thought, he ultimately turned his brother down. He knew his chances were slim—but he still couldn’t walk away.

As the eldest legitimate son, he was the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his frail health, he had no serious flaws.

Every step he’d taken had been deliberate. He had waited in silence for years just to get this far. There was no chance he would give up now.

Even if he had only a few years left, or ruled for just a single day, he would fight for the throne with everything he had.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Tristan, but it’s wise to know your limits,” Matthias said with a tight, insincere smile.

He added, “If you’re not after the throne, you can live comfortably with your title, and no one will trouble you. But once you step into this fight, walking away won’t be easy. I hope you’ll think about that.”

Matthias could see the ambition still burning in Tristan, even if he lacked the support to act on it. A man like that wasn’t dangerous—unless he got in the way. And if he did, things would turn messy. Matthias made sure to say it plainly—not just for clarity, but as a quiet warning.

“You’re absolutely right, Matthias. I understand,” Tristan replied. He returned the smile, but there was a flicker in his eyes that didn’t match his words.

“Well, that’s all I wanted to say. If you ever have time, drop by. It’s been too long since we shared a drink like the old days,” Matthias said, still smiling.

“Yeah. Next time,” Tristan said with a nod. He didn’t decline the invitation.
“Tristan, I’ve got things to take care of. I’ll be going now.”

With that, Matthias turned and walked away.

Tristan narrowed his eyes, remaining still for a long while. His expression shifted subtly as thoughts stirred beneath the surface.

Of the four ancient houses, the Moseys had already pledged their support to Matthias. The Spanners—the most powerful of them all—stood behind Nathaniel. The Fallons were closely aligned with the Moseys, making it likely they would follow suit.

That left only the Ballards—the last neutral family—and Tristan’s final hope.

Without the backing of an ancient house, a few scattered nobles wouldn’t be enough to claim the throne. He had to win the Ballards over, no matter what.

After the three princes departed, the Ballard estate received another distinguished guest: Grace Linsor, Princess of Ariella.

As always, she wore a veil that concealed her features, yet her noble bearing was unmistakable—something no words could fully capture.

Unlike the three princes, each driven by personal ambition, Grace had come simply to mourn Jovian. That alone brought Simon some comfort.

It seemed not everyone in the royal family was cold and calculating. At the very least, Grace was different.

Valon had often said that if Grace had been born a man, he wouldn’t have had to worry about choosing an heir. With her capability, she was more than fit to rule.

But the throne had always passed from father to son, not daughter. Even if Valon wished to change that, he couldn’t defy centuries of tradition.

After offering her condolences, Grace departed quietly. She didn’t linger long enough to draw attention.

Before she left, she glanced at Dustin as if she had something to say.

Not long after, his phone buzzed. She had sent a message: “Important. Meet me at Soluna Hall tonight.”

Dustin remained at the Ballard family’s funeral hall for the rest of the day. Once night fell, he found a reason to slip away.

Outside the estate, he flagged down a cab and headed for Soluna Hall.

About forty minutes later, he arrived at the location Grace had mentioned.

Soluna Hall wasn’t well-known in Oakvale. Most days, it was nearly deserted. Yet despite the lack of traffic, it pulled in serious revenue—because Grace had transformed it into a hub for intelligence.

Anyone with the right contacts could buy or sell information there. The range of intel was vast, but the price was steep.

Still, it was worth every coin to the high-stakes players who relied on quality information. The intel from Soluna Hall had saved more than a few lives in critical moments.