The administrative council could only permit title increase by purchase up to the viscount level. Above that needed the seal of the one in charge and that was the second highness.
The third prince had left the city but is bent on ruling the Eternal Imperial City, causing him to gather forces.
Meanwhile, during the two days Asher had to wait, he heard that the emperor died due to old age 5 months ago and since his first highness was killed during a skirmish with some barbarian clans, the second highness was the right heir to the throne.
But the entire family was split. The empress whose talent made her remain young despite her age had her own plans contrary to her son’s, causing a rift. The two princesses supported the second highness, while the third highness was the empress’ favorite.
Currently, there was tension in the capital and their neighboring empire, the Sacred Flame Empire, which grew stronger every year, might see their internal conflict as an advantage and launch a great attack on the empire.
Finally, on the third day, he received a letter from the administrative council that the second highness had accepted his request for a meeting and that he had been summoned to the imperial palace.
……
Boom!
Tapk! Tapk!
Footsteps fell into the ears of two beautiful figures seated on golden chairs in the palace made of beautiful stones and coated with gold. On the throne was a 40-year-old man who had a well-trimmed anchor beard, long black hair, and purple eyes.
This was His Second Royal Highness, Prince Aaron Nethaneel!
By his left and right were his sisters.
When they saw Asher walk in with crisp steps, their pupils constricted.
“Indeed, it’s an Ashbourne.”
Aaron narrowed his eyes.
When Asher reached the middle of the hall, he looked at the pure white floor, exhaled softly, and bent one knee.
“Greetings, Prince Aaron. It’s been a while since our houses met.”
Aaron got to his feet, descended from his throne and lifted Asher up with a broad smile. “Your house was loyal to my house until it fell. That was unfortunate.”
Asher smiled.
“Indeed.”
His eyes veered to the princesses. The one on the right was Ruth Nethaneel, a famous researcher and scholar who once explored with a researcher from Nightfire Kingdom and discovered the green vine.
A precious plant that produces green glue, an ingredient crucial for the creation of green clay. Green clay was like the cement of earth but it was stronger when dry.
A barrel of green glue is worth about 10 gold coins! For this reason, people preferred alternate methods but rich lords bought the glue to prepare green clay, which in turn both beautified and strengthened their walls.
However, it would take over 40,000 sacred gold coins to plaster the walls of Nineveh with green clay!
Green clay was one of the reasons the imperial family was still so wealthy when most nobles had stopped paying taxes.
On the left was Sylvia, a captivating beauty who, despite being almost 30, had not gotten married despite having marriage proposals from all over the continent. Asher was taken aback by her enticing looks and demeanour.
She was truly a rose.
But Asher knew that roses had thorns!
Their eyes met.
‘Not as vibrant as they say.’ Sylvia said inwardly. She referred to the rumors of Duke Zenas’s golden eyes being so radiant and bright that it was like burning golden flames!
She had expected his descendants to possess a similar trait.
“What brought a descendant of the great Zenas to our palace?” Sylvia suddenly asked.
Asher looked at her.
“I came to ask for a favor on behalf of our past relationship. Count William takes no heed to the imperial rule and has been expanding yearly. Lately, he has landed nobles in the southern region of the wastelands and I believe he will soon take over the entire wastelands. Once that happens, he will become a duke.”
“But that land is dead.” Sylvia tilted her head.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t be used to nurture troops.”
“So you want to reclaim that land then?”
Ruth spoke with a calm tone.
“No, I only seek empowerment from His Highness so that I can be able to face the creatures in the depths of the north and restrict his expansion. Beyond the border lie remnants of the old races and I believe they are gathering their forces for another racial war.”
All of them frowned.
“You crossed the barrier?” Aaron asked.
“I have.”
“That’s quite brave.” He responded to Asher.
“Since it’s the empowerment you need, I shall grant you the title of Count.”
Asher frowned.
It was simply too easy. The game of nobles was at work here and Asher instantly discovered that Aaron wanted him to be a thorn in Count William’s flesh, causing them to fight against each other, gradually weakening each other.
If he was this intrested in damaging nobles far away from the imperial city, then the prince wasn’t simple. Asher instantly knew Prince Aaron planned on reuniting the empire. A grand ambition, almost as crazy as his.
However, Aaron did not give him the Northlands, which were the wastelands and the desolatelands included. This meant that they refused to give him what his ancestors fought for.
This didn’t shock him either.
“Such a favor, I shall dutifully protect the borders and defend your domain!” He faked a grateful voice and bowed deeply.
Aaron delivered a rolled-up paper to his court servant, and the servant came down and gave it to Asher. It was the deed of his new domain. It had spread outward, covering the territories of Baron Tyre, Baron Scarlet, and Baron Flameheart.
The northern part of the wastelands was his!
This also solidified his proof that Aaron knew what he wanted all along.
‘He’s cunning.’
Such a man was dangerous and Asher noted it in his heart to tread carefully when it came to dealing with Prince Aaron.
…
After a while, Asher could be seen walking down a broad staircase, heading down for the carriage where his BloodBlades were.
Although the imperial family still thought of using his house once again, he gained what he wanted. It would be broadcasted by the administrative council that a new count has appeared.
Count Asher Ashbourne!
