"Welcome His Lordship!!" A guard bellowed as the massive doors swung open. The officials seated behind him immediately rose to their feet.
They were gathered around a rectangular table inside the war council hall—the smallest hall in Nineveh's castle.
At the far end of the hall was a platform with a stone throne dominating its surface. All eyes turned away from the throne and toward the door.
Their eyes narrowed at the sight of the tall man clad in a fur-padded cloak. His snow-white hair threw them off for a split moment—it didn't match the portrait hanging above the throne.
But they still recognized him.
However, none of them expected to receive a wave of such oppressive aura flooding into the room.
"We hail the return of His Lordship!!!"
To Asher's right stood Katarina, a small smile playing on her lips. On his left was Adam, his face showing no obvious expression.
Behind Asher, however, the massive wolf made the officials raise their guard.
Eritrea, clad in a flowing black gown, blinked several times as she took in Asher's new look.
Aquila, dressed in a gradient one-piece ocean-blue gown, parted her lips slightly in surprise.
Compared to the princely man walking in the hall, she remembered that Asher had been an average-looking young man. Now, his once-soft features had expression hardened, and he looked someone else entirely, his presence unmistakably that of a seasoned ruler.
One look, and she knew—this was a man who wouldn't hesitate to take her life if she tried to act what she once did to save her father.
Aquila sighed. Unbelievably, the icy Mage's lips curled up into a rare smile as she watched him walk into the hall, his steps echoing against the stone floor.
Seated closest to the throne, Kelvin let out a gasp. He recognized the pure, familiar smile Asher flashed him—something he had known since he was young, but something had changed.
Asher walked past him and took his seat on the throne.
The old Asher would have definitely hugged him.
Kelvin smiled faintly. 'He's like his grandfather.'
Eritrea, Aquila, Kelvin, Baron Flameheart, Katarina, Adam, Paul, Lambert, Ark White, Alec, Nero… and an empty seat!
Asher's gaze lingered on the seat. The chair belonged to the Ashbourne Grand Priestess.
For a brief moment, his eyes darkened, but he cleared his throat.
Just as officials moved to take their seats, the doors were pushed open again.
Asher's eyes settled on the enchanting woman clad in an elegant white gown that accentuated her womanly figure.
Their eyes met. Golden and violet!
In that instant, Asher realized why this otherworldly beauty wasn't his.
It was his own doing.
Unlike other men, he had never put in the effort because of his past trauma holding him back.
He shook his head and clenched his jaws before shaking his head.
Sapphira saw all this and quickly dropped to one knee.
"I apologize for my late arrival, My Lord. I was delayed by urgent matters in the Olive Expanse."
"Urgent matters? What is more urgent than this?" Kelvin raised an eyebrow. Although he was fond of Sapphira, he wouldn't let go of any form of disrespect toward the Count.
If General Alec was in his seat, she should have been here before the Count's arrival.
Sapphira's fingers trembled slightly. No one else noticed—but Asher did. His eyes widened slightly.
Sapphira was no ordinary woman who would lose her voice or demeanour because of a question or pressure. She was a fighter.
Her gaze flickered toward the table, laden with several expensive wines, roasted meats and many other lavish delicacies.
"His lordship has been away for a long while…" she said softly. "I'm sure no one has prepared his calming drink. The matters of the county are bound to weigh on him even more, so I made sure to bring green tea."
Everyone in the room was stunned, some officials glanced at Asher, as if trying to decipher the spell he had cast over a woman who could bring kings to their knees—one who had gone the extra mile to bring him tea.
Beneath the table, Eritrea clenched her fists.
Asher blinked before his voice cut through the silence.
Sapphira stepped aside as Cynthia walked into the hall, carrying a tray. On it sat the tea in question.
Without hesitation, Sapphira went straight to her seat, joining the other officials in watching Asher take a sip.
Noticing that gleam, a beautiful smile spread across Sapphira's face.
Lambert leaned toward Paul, his voice low, trying to reason why Asher kept staring at the tea like a man frozen in time.
After a pause, Asher took another sip—this one slow and deliberate, as if to satisfy himself, before facing the gathered officials.
He took a deep breath, feeling more like himself again. The calming effect of the green tea was miraculous, as always.
Kelvin rose and whispered something into his ears.
Asher nodded. "I have heard of your efforts in my absence—and the pressure the county now faces at the hands of an old foe, House Tigris."
Everyone's attention rose.
"I propose a full-scale war. So far we have already lost over 4,000 men and over 400 diamond-ranked Aegis soldiers to the barbarians in this so-called battle of attrition. Resources are being wasted and the county's treasury is dwindling by the day."
"My Lord…" Baron Claude began carefully. "Count Tigris might be trying to bait us. He has many nobles on his side."
Asher raised an eyebrow. "A lord without a domain has more allies than us? Is that what you're telling me, Lord Claude?"
"Where has your expertise gone?"
"The nobles I reached out to are demanding an exorbitant share of our domain's products."
"Is that so? Remember their faces, because they shall come to beg."
Baron Claude could only stare at Asher in shock for his unwavering confidence.
"What about the closest noble household? The Mormonts?"
"They've remained silent. Clearly, they want to see us prove if we are worthy of being their ally, but…"
Asher glanced at Kelvin. "But what?"
Kevin hesitated. "They've made their intentions clear… by sheltering Lady Mary these past months."
Asher's pupils shook.
"Mary has returned from the Sacred Flame Empire."
"Yes, but she has been threatened by many nobles, both within and outside of Mormont lands, all seeking to marry her. Their eyes are on the county."
A chilling aura spread through the call, causing everyone to breathe out thick white mist!
Asher's voice was colder than anything they'd ever heard… Even Aquila's icy demeanor was nothing compared to this.
This frost… it felt like death!