“Oh? I didn’t expect both of you to be here, “Nathaniel said.
He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, “Hello, Tristan, Matthias.”
Truthfully, he wasn’t surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.
The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn’t about to miss the chance to make an impression.
“I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back,” Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning.
“It wasn’t anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian’s passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person,” Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.
He brushed off Tristan’s subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects.
“Don’t just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your respects to Mr. Jovian,” Matthias said calmly.
“Sure.” Nathaniel nodded.
He stepped forward and set a small bouquet beneath the portrait, then lowered his head in silence. His eyes reddened, and his face was filled with sorrow.
“Mr. Jovian, your passing is a tremendous loss to us and to the entire nation. I remember how you always led from the front and never hesitated to throw yourself into the fire. You won battle after battle, not just with tactics, but with courage and sheer will.
“The peace we now enjoy in Oakvale and the safety of our people-your legacy is etched into every corner of this land. Your bravery inspired generations of patriots to rise and serve their country.
“Today, as I stand here, I am filled with deep respect and sorrow. May you rest in peace. Your achievements will not be forgotten. They will be remembered for generations and forever be part of our nation’s story.”
Nathaniel placed a hand on the casket’s edge and lowered his head in a long, solemn silence.
His words moved many of those present. No one had expected him to be so openly heartfelt. He looked like a man mourning a trusted comrade, and the grief in his voice was almost contagious.
Even the Ballards, fully aware it was all for show, couldn’t help but be moved. Whatever his true intentions were, Nathaniel had made his stance clear.
“Nathaniel really knows how to put on.a show. That move made us look cold by comparison,” Tristan said with a frown.
It was a classic case of one-upping. He’d already made a public appearance, offered his condolences, and said all the right things. As the eldest prince, he was already going above and beyond.
But Nathaniel had taken it to another level.
The grief in his voice, the way he looked like he was on the verge of tears-anyone watching would’ve thought he’d just lost his own parents.
Even if Tristan wanted to, he wasn’t sure he could pull it off that convincingly.
“Hmph. All smoke and mirrors.” Matthias scoffed. “Anyone with half a brain could see he was putting on a show. The Ballards aren’t naive. They know when someone’s feeding them lines.”
“Matthias, there’s a reason people say flattery always lands even when it’s obvious. Sure, everyone knows it’s just for show with all the nice words and theatrics, but people still eat it up. That’s what makes Nathaniel so damn good at it,” Tristan said thoughtfully.
Flattering words might not change the world, but they could tip the scale at the right moment.
When two people were neck and neck-one with the gift of persuasion and the other dismissing it-the one who played to the crowd always came out ahead.
As Tristan and Matthias murmured to each other, Simon stepped into the mourning hall, dressed in black, and leaned on Natasha for support.
The moment he appeared, all eyes turned to him.
“Greetings, Duke of Lachshire.”
Everyone bowed respectfully.
Even the three princes followed suit and offered the gesture as expected from juniors to a respected senior. In the government, they were royalty. But here, they were simply guests paying their respects.
“Thank you all for coming to honor my son,” Simon said hoarsely as he nodded to the gathered crowd. “I truly appreciate it.”
“You honor us, Duke of Lachshire,” Nathaniel said.
He was the first to step forward. His voice was low and tinged with sorrow as he continued, “Mr. Jovian gave everything for this country. It’s only right that we come to honor him. And if your family ever needs anything in the future, I will do everything in my power to help.”
Tristan and Matthias exchanged glances, then stepped forward to say their piece. Their words differed little in substance.
They could afford to keep up appearances around most people, but not in front of Simon. As a senior figure and a duke of the highest rank, Simon’s status far outweighed that of Jonathan and the rest.
Whether any of the three princes had a real shot at the throne would depend heavily on where Simon cast his support.
“Your Royal Highnesses, it means a great deal that you came to pay your respects.
But as you can see, my house is in disarray. We may not be the best hosts today, and I ask for your understanding,” Simon said with a sigh.
Polite as it sounded, there was a clear subtext. His family was going through a delicate time and wasn’t interested in getting involved in the power struggle at the moment. Any matters could be addressed later.
