Valon slowly rose to his feet. He looked vigorous and spirited, with no trace of his earlier fragility.
“As expected of the immortal essence tablet. It’s truly miraculous,” he said with a smile, his gaze sweeping past Grace before settling on Dustin. He nodded slightly and added, “Dustin, thank you for your hard work.”
He knew perfectly well that without Dustin’s help, he would never have been able to retrieve the immortal essence tablet.
“You’re welcome, Your Majesty. Seeing you safe and sound means I’ve fulfilled my duty,” Dustin replied calmly.
He went on, “This journey to Elysium Isle was perilous. Princess Grace went to great lengths to find this medicine and nearly lost her life in the process. Now that Your Majesty has recovered, you should recognize both her devotion and her accomplishments.”
As a ruler, Valon understood exactly what Dustin was implying. When he looked at Grace again, his expression had softened with unmistakable approval.
His daughter was talented in both civil and martial affairs, and now she’d shown him devotion and courage. She’d even ventured across treacherous seas to bring back an elixir of immortality for him.
By comparison, his three sons were utterly useless. Valon had harbored reservations before, but seeing Dustin support Grace so openly had swept away every last doubt. The time had come to make a decision that would break with centuries of tradition.
At the base of the white marble stairs outside Galene Palace, Tristan, Matthías, and Nathaniel stood beneath the covered walkway. Their faces were a mosaic of conflicting emotions.
Valon’s robust voice echoed from within the hall, along with the rich, medicinal scent that radiated vitality. At that instant, the three brothers knew that their father had fully recovered and was healthier than before.
Their feelings were complex, with a tangled mix of relief and dread. Their father’s recovery should have been cause for celebration for both the nation and the family. Yet, the credit for this monumental achievement fell squarely on Grace’s shoulders.
“Ten years… Father has at least another yten years to live…” Tristan’s voice was low, tinged with a bitterness he barely tried to hide as he stared at the closed palace doors.
That meant the succession struggle they had hoped to settle quickly was now stretched into uncertainty. And Grace, bolstered by this monumental achievement, had instantly become their most formidable rival.
Matthias snorted coldly and clenched his fists. “It’s just good luck and having a powerful ally. Without Dustin, how could she possibly have obtained that elixir of immortality?”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed. His soft features betrayed nothing as he lowered his voice.
“Matthias, you’re wrong. Luck is part of one’s strength. Our sister has returned bearing the merit of saving Father’s life, and she has the backing of a terrestrial immortal cultivator like Dustin. Her momentum is building. If we continue fighting separately, we’ll lose everything.”
The meaning behind his words was clear. The air grew heavy with tension. All three were smart enough to understand the situation.
In a one-on-one fight, none of them were confident they could suppress Grace, who was currently at the height of her power and had powerful allies by her side.
After a long silence, Tristan said decisively, “Nathaniel is right. Grace is no longer the sister we could overlook. If we wish to remain contenders, we have no choice but to join forces temporarily.”
“Join forces?” Matthias asked with a frown. “How? And what happens after?”
A sharp gleam flashed in Nathaniel’s eyes as he explained, “First, we work together to remove our sister from the game. As long as we join forces, we can leverage the court bureaucracy and public opinion, find her missteps, and gradually marginalize her influence.”
He paused, then swept his gaze across his two brothers. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
“As for what comes after… Once the situation is settled, we can compete fairly on our own merits. What do you think? At least, it’s much better than standing here watching that throne slip further away from our reach.”
Tristan pondered for a moment before nodding firmly. “I agree. The immediate priority is stabilizing the situation. We cannot allow Grace to leverage this achievement to expand her influence further.”
Matthias was reluctant, but he knew this was their only option.
“Fine,” he growled. “We’ll do it your way. Let’s deal with her first.”
In the shadows of the Galene Palace, three hands came together in a brief, silent pact before quickly parting. An alliance forged in jealousy and ambition, targeted against their own sister, was born in the very heart of power.
Inside the hall, Valon’s heart swelled with pride for his daughter. Outside, conspiracy took root, and treacherous undercurrents began to flow.
