Even without the king’s involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.
If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.
At that moment, he didn’t know what to choose. This was a critical decision-one mistake and the entire family could be ruined.
“Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can’t give you an answer just yet,” Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious.
“I understand,” Anders replied with a faint smile. “This isn’t an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.”
“Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren’t limited to your family alone,” Zack added coolly. “Don’t think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out, and your family’s options are limited.”
“Take your time to consider it. We won’t keep you any longer. Farewell.” Anders rose to his feet. After giving a polite nod, he left with his group.
As soon as the Moseys left, the three Ballard brothers could no longer hold back.
“Dad, the Moseys are so arrogant! How dare they threaten us like that? They’ve gone too far!” Jovian’s face darkened, clearly upset.
His military background made him quick- tempered. If he hadn’t been holding back, he would’ve lashed out earlier.
“The Moseys might be unbearable, but they weren’t entirely wrong. The fight for the throne has always been a national issue. Given our family’s current status, staying out of it would be nearly impossible.” Jensen shook his head.
Though he was a businessman, he knew enough about court politics to understand they had no choice but to get involved.
“Dad, what do you think?” Jonathan asked tentatively.
Simon rubbed his temples and sighed deeply. “This is giving me a headache.”
The fate of the Ballard family was at stake. Even someone as decisive as him couldn’t make a rash decision.
“Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well throw our support behind the prince most likely to win,” Jensen suggested.
“Out of all the princes, Prince Tristan, Prince Matthias, and Prince Nathaniel are the strongest contenders,” Jonathan explained.
He continued his analysis, “By tradition, Prince Tristan should be the obvious choice -he’s the eldest and the legitimate heir, so it would make sense for him to be the crown prince. But with his poor health and short life expectancy, he’s not the ideal candidate.
“As for Prince Matthias, he was trained in the military from a young age and had become an exceptionally skilled martial artist. He is well-respected by the soldiers. He’s brave and strong but lacks the ability to govern.
“Prince Nathaniel, on the other hand, is well-rounded. He excels in both civil and military affairs. But his biggest flaw is his stubbornness and extreme jealousy. He lacks the generosity that a king needs.”
Jovian felt his head start to throb. ”
Jonathan, you’ve laid out the options, but who do you think is the best choice?”
“You’re asking me? Who should I ask?”
Jonathan replied irritably.
If there were an obvious choice, the civil and military officials in the court wouldn’t be so divided. In the end, the struggle for the throne seemed unavoidable. As for who would come out on top, no one could say.
