“Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information,” Natasha began. “But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away.”
She shook her head slightly. “They’ve always stayed out of the government’s political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn’t achieve anything. He’d likely just be turned away.”
Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn’t really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other’s affairs.
“I know, but it’ll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia’s support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we’ve maintained for years will collapse. That’s why I need to be ready for whatever happens,” Simon replied.
It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political struggle, but if they ever stepped in, Oakvale would be thrown into chaos. With hundreds of thousands of cavalry under their command, even the slightest movement on their part could send shockwaves through the region.
“Grandfather, what if… I mean, what if they do decide to interfere in the battle for succession? What happens then?” Natasha asked hesitantly.
“If the West Lucozian monarchy truly intends to intervene, then that’s actually good news for us,” Simon replied. “At least we won’t have to keep second-guessing. Whoever they support, we will as well. That way, we can be sure we’re on the right side.”
The four ancient houses and the eight great families paled in comparison to the West Lucozian monarchy. If the Prince of West Lucozia decided to act, he could install a puppet ruler and control the outcome.
Natasha quickly understood. “So, you’re sending Uncle Jovian to see if the West Lucozian monarchy plans to interfere with the royal family?”
“My main concern is whether he’ll even be able to get into the castle. Our family’s influence doesn’t carry much weight there.
“Simon sighed.
The Ballard family, one of the four ancient houses, had a commanding presence in Oakvale. Their influence was so strong that everyone followed their orders-even the royal family had to show them respect.
But in West Lucozia, it was an entirely different matter. It was a place where not even the royal family could interfere. All the connections, power, and prestige the Ballard family held in Oakvale meant nothing in West Lucozia. Simply put, in that land, the Prince’s word was law.
“Mr. Ballard, if you’re interested in visiting the West Lucozian monarchy, I can help with that,” Dustin said suddenly.
Typically, he wouldn’t have spoken up, but given Natasha and her family’s future, he knew he had to step in.
“Oh?” Simon raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Do you have connections in the West Lucozian monarchy?”
“Sort of.” Dustin nodded. “I can arrange for someone to meet Mr. Jovian in West Lucozia. That should make things a lot easier.”
He didn’t reveal his identity because he didn’t want to get caught in political struggles, nor did he want special treatment.
“That sounds great! If we have a connection to help us, everything will go much more smoothly.” Simon smiled and nodded. “I’ll leave this to you, then.”
“No problem. It’s a small favor. I’ll make the call now,” Dustin replied with a faint smile. He pulled out his phone and dialed Austin’s number.
As soon as the call connected, an excited voice came through. “Logan! You finally called me.”
“Do you know how miserable I’ve been these past days? You’ve got to come back and help me. Without you standing up for me, that old man is driving me crazy.” Austin started venting right away. He complained so much that one would think he had been through some kind of unimaginable torture.
“Okay, stop playing the victim. He’s just been a bit strict with you. It’s all for your own good,” Dustin said before going straight to the point. “I’m calling because I need you to take care of something. You can’t mess it up.”
“No problem. Just say the word, and I’ll handle it, no matter the cost-even if it means facing danger head-on,” Austin declared confidently.
“There’s this man, an uncle of sorts, Jovian Ballard, from the Ballard family in Oakvale. He’ll be going to West Lucozia soon to handle some matters. Make sure to take care of him,” Dustin instructed.
“Oh! I thought it was something big, and it got me all fired up. Turns out it’s just this?
“Austin sounded a bit disappointed.
In his mind, Dustin was always involved in monumental affairs, so he figured any task given to him would be something major.
But in the end, it was just to welcome someone, which was disappointing.
“Just do what I said. No need for all this chatter,” Dustin grumbled.
“Okay. I’ll take care of it. What else can I do? You’re my brother,” Austin replied with a resigned tone.
“Oh, by the way, how’s the old man doing?
“Dustin asked out of nowhere.
“Not great. He may look fine, but he’s been coughing blood every night. He’s relying on panacea to hold on, but I don’t know how long he can last.” Austin sighed.
Dustin fell silent. Though he had resented Rufus in the past, everything he had been through had given him a new understanding of his father’s struggles. But hearing that his father might not have much time left left him feeling heavy-hearted.
“Take care of him. Don’t let him worry about anything else. That’s all. Call me if anything comes up,” Dustin said after a long pause. Then, he ended the call.
