CHAPTER 289  WAR COUNCIL

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Boom!

"Welcome His Lordship!!" A guard who stood before the opening doors bellowed and the officials behind him, all rose to their feet.

They sat around a rectangular table inside the war council hall which was the smallest hall in Nineveh's castle.

At the end of the hall was a platform with a stone throne dominating its surface. All of them turned away from the throne toward the door.

Their eyes narrowing at the sight of the tall man clad in a fur padded cloak. His show white hair threw them off guard for a split moment because it didn't match the drawn picture 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!!!"

At Asher's right and left were Katarina and Adam respectively. Katarina had a little smile on her face while Adam's face had no obvious expression.

On the other hand, the wolf behind Asher made the officials raise their guard. Eritrea clad in a black gown blinked several times as she took in Asher's new look.

Aquila, clad in a one piece ocean blue gown that got brighter as one looked from the top to the bottom, had slightly parted lips.

Compared to the princely man at the door, the former Asher was considered average. And now, his expression was hardened, no longer as soft as before.

A look and she knew this was an experienced lord. A man who would take her life if she tried to act what she once did to save her father.

'He's grown.'

Aquila sighed. Unbelievably, the icy Mage's lips curled up into a smile as she watched him walk into the hall, his steps echoing.

Kelvin, sitting closer to the throne gasped slightly as he watched Asher approach. He saw the young man flash a pure smile, one he always knew since Asher was young but…

Asher walked past him and sat on his throne.

The old Asher would have definitely hugged him.

Kelvin smiled. 'He's like his grandfather.'

Eritrea, Aquila, Kelvin, Baron Flameheart, Katarina, Adam, Paul, Lambert, Ark White, Alec, Nero and an empty seat!

Asher glanced at the seat. It belonged to Ashbourne's grand priestess.

His eyes lingered on the seat for a brief moment before he cleared his throat.

"You may sit."

Just as they were about to sit, the doors were pushed open again and Asher's eyes settled on the enchanting woman clad in a white gown that accentuated her elegant womanly figure.

Their eyes met. Golden and violet!

Unmistakably, at this moment Asher realized… he was the reason this otherworldly beauty wasn't his.

Unlike other men he didn't put in the effort because of his past trauma.

He shook his head, his jaws hardened as he clenched his teeth.

Sapphira saw all these and quickly fell on 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 would not let go of any form of disrespect to the count.

If General Alec was on his seat, she was supposed to be here before the Count's arrival.

Sapphira's fingers trembled. Only Asher noticed this and it made his eyes widen slightly.

Sapphira wasn't a woman who would lose her voice or demeanour because of a question or pressure. She was a fighter.

Sapphira glanced at the table filled with several expensive wines, roasted chickens and much more.

"His lordship has been away for a long while… I'm sure no one has served him his calming drink. The matters of the county is bound to task him even more so I made sure I brought green tea."

Asher blinked. Everyone in the room were stunned, some looking at Asher's face. Although he was their lord, he must have cast a spell for such a woman who could bring kings to her feet to go an extra mile to get tea for him.

Eritrea clenched her fists underneath the table.

"You have it?"

Asher asked.

Sapphira took a step to the side and Cynthia walked into the hall with a tray. On the tray was the said tea.

Sapphira went straight to her seat and along with every other official, watched as Asher took a sip.

His eyes gleamed. Upon seeing that gleam, a beautiful smile appeared on Sapphira's face.

"Is he flustered?"

Lambert asked Paul. The reason being Asher kept staring at the tea like a man frozen in time.

After a while, Asher took another satisfying sip before facing the officials.

He took a deep breath, feeling more like himself. The calming effect of the green tea was miraculous as always.

Kelvin rose up and whispered something into his ears.

Asher nodded. "I have heard of your works in my absence and the pressure the county is currently facing at the hands of an old foe, House Tigris."

Everyone's attention rose.

"I propose a full blown war. So far we have lost over 4,000 men and over 400 diamond-ranked Aegis soldiers to barbarians in a so called battle of attrition. Resources are being wasted, the county's treasury is dwindling by the day."

His eyes sharpened.

"My Lord…" Baron Claude began. "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 tell me, Lord Claude?"

Claude couldn't respond.

"Where have your expertise gone?"

"The nobles I reached out to are demanding heavily on our domains products."

"Is that so? Remember their faces because they shall come to beg."

Baron Claude stared in shock at Asher's 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 looked at Kelvin. "But what?"

"... They've shown their intentions by sheltering Lady Mary for these past months."

Asher's pupils shook.

"Mary is back from the Sacred Flame Empire."

"Yes and has been threatened by many nobles both within and outside of Mormonts to be married. Their eyes are on the county."

A certain chill spread out causing everyone to breath out thick white mist!

"I see."

Asher's voice was colder than anything they've ever encountered… Aquila was nothing compared to this.

This frost… it felt like death!