Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

Chapter 232: 232:Those who aim for greatness must be ready to face the storms that follows

The mood in the room became more relaxed after the earlier tension. The air felt lighter and the conversation flowed more easily.

Duchess Emma still had matters weighing on her mind. As a soon-to-be mother-in-law, she felt it was her duty to make everything clear before anything was decided. She leaned forward a little and her gaze rested firmly on Ethan.

“Ethan, I will be direct,” she said. “Since Julia was born from the main wife and holds the title of a Duke’s only daughter, what status will she receive after marriage?”

Ethan’s brows drew together at once. The question pierced straight into a sensitive place.

He felt as if he were sitting on a pin. His back stiffened slightly and he shifted in his seat. He knew this topic could strengthen his bond with them or damage it in a way that could not be repaired. Avoiding it was not possible. The memory of a promise he had made to Sophia surfaced in his mind and his heart tightened.

And in truth, none of this would even be possible if Sophia had not chosen him in the first place.

He inhaled deeply to steady himself. “Ma’am, I do not differentiate between legal wives and concubines. I marry them all before the Goddess as witnesses. My main wife will be Sophia. Unless something drastic changes, she will remain my main wife until the end.”

Duke Phillips and Duchess Emma exchanged a glance. Their expressions held a faint frown.

“Sir Ethan,” Duchess Emma said slowly, “forgive me if this sounds impolite, but do you truly believe she deserves that position? She is only an Intermediate rank while you have already reached the level of a King’s. She might be capable now, but what about in the years to come?”

Duke Phillips added, “By doing this, you may be putting her directly in the path of storms she cannot weather.”

Ethan did not take offense. His voice remained calm and his eyes steady, but his words were firm. “She deserves the title of main wife not because of her ability to manage my lands and it has nothing to do with strength or social standing. As I said, all of my wives are equal in my eyes.”

His gaze sharpened as he spoke the next words. “The reason she holds the title of main wife is because she is my first wife. She was the first to take vows with me. She supported me when I was just a commoner with nothing to my name.”

He paused and his tone softened. “The others came after I had already gained strength. Sophia gave me my first child. It would not be an exaggeration to say that what I am today is because of her. Without her, I don’t know where I would be now.”

His emotions were clear in his voice. Ethan respected Sophia deeply and loved her with his whole heart. He was not saying this to impress them. It was the truth. Sophia’s support had been the key that opened the door to his greatest chance in life. She was a blessing he believed the gods themselves had placed in his path.

Duchess Emma studied his face carefully. She saw the unwavering determination in his eyes.

She realized he would not be swayed. It was obvious that this woman mattered to him far beyond titles or power. Her lips pressed together with a hint of worry and she looked at her husband.

Duke Phillips reached over and took her hand gently. “Let us not interfere too much in the affairs of the young. As long as they are happy, that is what matters most.”

Then he turned back to Ethan. “How many wives do you have, Sir Ethan?”

“I have four at present,” Ethan answered without hesitation.

He spoke about each one. He described their qualities and their strengths. He even spoke about the skills of his children. Duke Phillips listened politely, though at moments his gaze drifted as if lost in thought.

But when Ethan mentioned a particular name, Duke Phillips froze. His eyes widened.

“Wait. Did you say Countess Rina?” he asked sharply.

Ethan did not hide anything. He trusted them and he also knew that sooner or later they would learn the truth since Julia would become part of the family.

Duchess Emma’s brows pulled together and she glanced at her husband. She too had heard the name before.

“Wife,” Duke Phillips said, his voice dropping a little, “that’s… how did you woo such a fine—”

A sharp deadly glare cut him off. Duchess Emma pressed her foot hard on his shoe. Duke Phillips groaned under his breath.

“Cough. So where was I?”

“Countess Rina. She is a shrewd businesswoman, and more than that she has quite good skills.”

Recognition lit Duchess Emma’s eyes. She turned to Ethan again. “Sir Ethan, how did you manage to woo her?”

Ethan’s lips curved into a small, confident grin. “It was just a lucky encounter, nothing more.”

Duke Phillips leaned back and let out a slow sigh. “What a misfortune. She had such promise, but it seems the gods did not take mercy on her.”

Ethan felt a tug of curiosity.

“Lord, do you know what happened to Count? He asked for a clearer picture.”

The Duke nodded. “I don’t know every detail, but I do know she was given a mission by the King himself. He was to deal with a certain target, but the person he encountered turned out to be far beyond the danger they had expected and this ended up with his death.”

Ethan’s expression turned serious. A faint heaviness settled in his chest. The circumstances matched what Rina had told him. But something still felt off.

“I do not know much,” the Duke continued, “but the King seemed to hate the Count. It was quite blatant.”

Duchess Emma added quietly, “Now that she is with you, you must be cautious. The Second Prince and Third Prince both fought to have her as their wife, but she refused them. She wanted no part in political power.”

She hesitated for a moment. “Especially the Third Prince, who seemed to be a bit obsessed with her.”

Ethan understood the meaning behind their words. There were hidden warnings. There were hints of danger that could come later.

“However,” the Duke said, “I don’t think it will be a problem now as not many know what she was doing.”

He paused. “Just ask her to disguise her red hair and none would know it was her.”

Ethan nodded slowly. But the glint in his eyes showed he was not fully convinced. He knew troubles like this did not fade easily. The Duke’s tone sounded reassuring, but Ethan already imagined the challenges ahead.

People who once fought for Rina’s hand were not the type to forget their desires or their grudges.

And could this secret even stay hidden for long?

Inside, he let out a quiet sigh.

’It seems I really can’t avoid what’s coming. Those who aim for greatness must be ready to face the storms and winds that follow.’