Disbelief flickered across Nephis' face, but it soon changed to scorn the moment the realization dawned on her that this man was the same Asher.
He also died in that building, and it wasn't as if she hadn't thought of it several times, but that thought had died away with time.
Suddenly, Nephis began to laugh.
"It seems you were born to be lesser than my true choice. Here you are—a mere count with a pathetic county under your rule, and he is a king of a kingdom respected by every duke of the north."
Asher raised an eyebrow.
"Wyvern killer?" She scoffed. "Humph! You managed to kill one wyvern, but House Wyvern has over a thousand more!"
A cold gleam flashed through her eyes. "The pain will forever plague you because you'll never have a woman like me."
A proud smirk graced Nephis's beautiful face. Her tone was audible for the count and those close, such as the count's relatives, to hear.
Asher knew she wanted to humiliate him publicly.
Looking at her proud face, Asher simply smiled. "Welcome to the north."
His smile widened a bit. There was no rage in his eyes, just a condensing look and a tinge of disgust.
"I assume Reuel is your king," he continued. "Send my greetings, I appreciate his effort. Without his actions, I wouldn't be who I am today."
For some reason, Asher felt a strange relief settle in his heart. An emotion that came from nowhere but was firm in its presence.
He was truly lucky that this woman was taken away from him.
Had she remained by his side, he wouldn't have discovered this part of him. Her betrayal, though heartbreaking, had given him a chance for rebirth.
After uttering those words, Asher's oppressive aura came down. Many who were on the ground, slowly dying, found life returning to them once more.
Nephis lunged at him, but a sword light flashed. Nephis's eyes focused on the young, curly-haired young man standing between her and Asher, both his swords drawn.
Asher gave her a sidelong glance. That look alone sent a surge of fury through her.
She felt as if she had lost something, and it made her feel empty. At least his hate kept him bound to her, but without it, Asher was truly walking away from her.
That shouldn't be possible.
"If we march at your walls, it will surely fall."
Such a heavy threat carried weight, but it only made Asher's eyes grow cold once more.
"Come, then." His voice was soft, almost amused. "I shall return the heads of all your generals to you in beautiful boxes. And in the end, that of your beloved king's."
Asher replied with a soft smile that made Nephis scream inwardly. She wanted nothing more than to rip the flesh out of Asher's face, but she couldn't afford to lose her decorum in front of so many.
"I swear it. Ashbourne will burn," she hissed. "And with it, your pride and your sister."
Finally, with a maddened smile, Nephis felt at peace when she saw that intense fury in Asher's eyes.
She couldn't be more happy that he had a weak point.
"And I swear it. As long as Vale stands, Mormonts shall stand by House Ashbourne."
Duke Ohad declared strongly, causing Nephis's eyes to dilate.
"You would dare go against Intis?" she demanded. "Don't forget we are the only ones that can guarantee you victory against House Nubis."
"That was in the past, Lady Nephis," another voice answered, calm and unwavering.
Eric Adamos retorted calmly.
"House Adamos stands with House Mormont. Their enemies are our enemies."
"Y… You fools!" Nephis spat.
Duke Ohad frowned. "I believe you are no longer welcome, Lady Nephis," he said coldly. "Greet Duchess Nyx and inform her that she has failed in training her daughter."
Nephis glared at Asher, hatred oozing from every fiber of her being.
With a swift turn, she stormed out of the hall, her bodyguards hastily following her.
Duke Ohad led Asher and Eric out of the hall as the healers were sent in to rescue some nobles in dire situations.
The Duke was certain that after this incident, almost every noble in the north would be afraid to hear the mere mention of the name Ashbourne.
As it would make them remember this ball forever.
He even brought war into a ballroom!
Maybe next time, no one should introduce him as War Bringer.
While this went on, the three lords stood in a balcony, gazing at the cityscape as the breeze caressed their hair.
Asher's action of clearing his throat broke the silence. "Reuel is now your enemy."
"I wouldn't keep a brat who murdered his father in his sleep as an ally either," Ohad Mormont said with a chuckle.
Asher's gaze turned cold. "He killed his father!"
He had been too busy with his own problems to notice the details of the power shift in Intis.
"Oh, you weren't informed?" Eric raised a brow. "That brat murdered not just his father but the rest of his family. Only his sister remains, and she's currently fighting against him with a group of rebels. Intis isn't exactly united anymore."
Ohad's voice was laced with a measured tone as he cautioned. "I will not intrude into your past with Countess Nephis Nyx, but I'll advise you to watch your back after provoking a woman able to stand against an ancient-ranked mage and survive."
Asher responded with a small nod.
Gazing at the city below, he breathed out. "Why support me?"
Duke Ohad's face became solemn. "The inevitable is coming."
Asher furrowed his brows. "What?"
"War." Eric sighed heavily. "The peace we've enjoyed has come to an end. Everyone is preparing their forces, and so is His Highness, Prince Aaron. Once he marches out with Count Wyvern at his side, every noble will have two choices: either fight to the death or pledge their loyalty to him."
Asher frowned. "He wants to recreate the empire."
"There are three empires, four kingdoms, two independent dukedoms and two independent counties which hold power in this world. One out of the four kingdoms, the two independent dukedoms and counties were once united as one empire. Which means there are now two empires… and one broken one."
"The empires are ready to let out the devourer and split the world into three parts as it once had been."
Asher's eyes narrowed deeply. Was this what Lord Winter had warned him about?
The war his brothers were about to start… was this the war that would bring the end of this age?
Throughout history, whenever war consumed the entire continent, it signified the death of an age and the birth of another. But each war costs a lot.
Both for all races and for their world itself.
"This is the reason we three must form an alliance to fight back," Ohad suggested. "Lord Asher, what do you say?"