An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise. Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan.” Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile.
“No need to apologize. I’m happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it’s rare for us to meet.” Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.
Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink- this wariness had become second nature.
“You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?” Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point.
“Both,” Nathaniel replied, still smiling.
“Oh?” Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it, then.”
“Given how things have unfolded, there’s no need for me to hold back anymore.” Nathaniel sat up straighter, and his smile faded into seriousness.
He continued, “Our father’s health is deteriorating by the day, and the succession question remains unresolved. There are few viable contenders and even fewer with the real ability to claim it.
“As the eldest son and heir by birth, the throne should rightfully be yours. But there’s a growing unrest in the government, particularly from Matthias’ camp. He doesn’t seem fully supportive of the idea.”
“The throne is within reach. Given his ambition, it’s only natural for him to take a shot.” Tristan’s expression remained neutral.
If Matthias had ambition, so did Nathaniel.
“If this were a fair competition between the three of us, we’d each rely on our own abilities. But the problem now is, someone’s trying to interfere and take what belongs to us.” Nathaniel made a startling statement.
“Huh?” Tristan frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You probably haven’t heard yet, but the Mosey family has allied with several factions to support Matthias for the throne. Right now, Matthias pretty much has everything under his control.” Nathaniel explained.
“Matthias gaining the Mosey family’s support speaks to his own ability.” Tristan kept his expression neutral.
“Support?” Nathaniel shook his head. “If you think that’s the case, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“What do you mean?” Tristan asked, puzzled.
Nathaniel began explaining, “Based on my investigation, Seamus is a master schemer with an insatiable hunger for power. His support for Matthias isn’t born from true loyalty-he’s merely exploiting him for his own ambitions.
“We both know what Matthias is like. He’s exceptional when it comes to leading armies and fighting wars. But when it comes to playing dirty or scheming, he’s no match for Seamus.
“Right now, Seamus is using Matthias’ name to form alliances and further his own agenda. If Matthias truly ascends to the throne, Seamus will pull the strings and become the true ruler.
“At that point, not only will Matthias become Seamus’s puppet, but the entire Linsor dynasty will crumble.”
His face was grim as he spoke, and his voice rang out like thunder.
