Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill Chapter 573:The Emperor's Decision

A strange pressure filled the entire hall, and the air itself felt heavy as if it was being pressed down by something unseen, while silence stretched across the vast space without a single disturbance.

At the far end of the hall stood a golden throne, raised above several steps, and it was carved with intricate patterns that reflected authority and power, while the floor beneath it shone like polished glass and reflected the dim light from the high ceiling.

Tall pillars lined both sides of the hall, and each one was engraved with ancient symbols, while long banners hung down quietly, and the faint glow of magic lamps gave the entire place a solemn and imposing presence.

On that throne sat a man.

He leaned back slightly in a relaxed posture, and his expression looked calm, almost indifferent, but the aura around him was anything but that, and it spread silently through the hall while making even the strongest feel uneasy.

Despite his age, which spanned several centuries, his appearance still held a trace of youth, and his features were sharp and refined, but his eyes were cold and deep, and they carried a weight that could shake anyone who met his gaze.

Before him, placed neatly on a table, was a letter.

Beside it were preserved heads, arranged carefully as trophies, and the faint scent of preservation magic lingered around them.

His eyes moved over them slowly, and he observed them for a brief moment without any visible emotion, and then his lips curved slightly.

"What a clever lad!" he said.

A voice came from beside him, calm and steady.

The man turned his head slightly and looked at the old figure standing nearby, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"It seems even you are impressed, Prime Minister Deus?" he asked.

Deus stood with his hands folded calmly, and his expression remained composed as he lowered his head slightly.

"I am, Your Majesty," he replied. "Still, I think it would be a hassle for you, isn't it?"

The man let out a quiet breath, and his gaze returned to the table.

"I thought I would pin the blame on him and make him a scapegoat, but with this, he has put me in a difficult situation," he said.

His tone remained calm, but there was a faint sharpness beneath it.

Such a clever move was a double-edged sword, and it could easily disrupt any plan if handled poorly.

Deus remained silent and listened.

The man leaned forward slightly, and his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of the throne.

"However, I am not a narrow-minded fellow," he continued. "Rewards are rewards, and punishment is punishment."

His gaze shifted again, and this time there was a faint glint in his eyes.

"For all the pain, let's reward Marquise Blanks with magic potions and resources to recover," he said.

He paused briefly, and then his expression changed slightly.

"But as for punishment…"

His eyes grew colder, and the air around him seemed to tighten even more.

"I heard he has several sons and quite a strong army," he added.

Deus's expression shifted slightly as he understood the direction of his words.

"Your Majesty… are you perhaps…" he began.

A wide grin appeared on the man's lips.

"Isn't it useless seeing so many strong people rotting away?" he said. "Why don't I make good use of them?"

The words were calm, but they carried clear intent.

"Craft a decree," he said.

His voice was firm now.

"Order Marquise Blanks to return and recuperate, but in exchange, he is required to send his children to enlist in the army."

He paused briefly and then continued.

"Also, he needs to pay a fine for the loss, and if he does not comply, then let his rank be lowered to count, and the territories granted to him should be snatched."

Deus lowered his head immediately and bowed deeply.

"This servant obeys," he said.

The hall returned to silence once again, but the weight of the decision lingered heavily in the air, and the fate of one family had just been decided with a few calm words.

...….

While the decree was being crafted far away, Ethan received a message ordering him to return to his estate, and although the message sounded simple on the surface, he could clearly sense that there would be hidden conditions attached to it later.

Still, he did not question it.

He knew this was coming.

After informing the Grand Commander and bidding farewell to the troops, Ethan prepared to leave, and without delaying further, he set out on his journey back home.

The road was long and tiring.

He passed through several provinces, and each place showed signs of war in different ways, while some areas were tense and guarded, and others were quiet but carried a strange unease.

Days turned into weeks.

And after nearly a month of travel, he finally reached the land of Blanks.

The moment he appeared near the outskirts, people began to notice.

At first, it was just a few.

Then more.

And in the next moment a wave of noise erupted.

"Lord Ethan!"

"He is back!"

"He is safe!"

Voices rose one after another, and people rushed toward the streets while leaving their work behind, and their faces were filled with relief and joy as they saw him.

Some of them even had tears in their eyes.

"Thank heavens you are safe…"

"We prayed every day for your return…"

"We thought… we thought something had happened…"

Their voices trembled as they spoke, and many of them pressed their hands together while offering silent prayers of gratitude.

Others called out loudly.

"We missed you so much!"

"Without you, this land felt empty…"

"There was no life… no strength…"

Their words came one after another, and the emotions behind them were real and heavy.

Ethan slowed his steps slightly as he looked at them, and for a brief moment, the tension that had been sitting inside him eased a little.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He raised his hand slightly and greeted them calmly while nodding.

"I am fine," he said. "You don't need to worry."

His voice was steady, and it helped calm them slightly, but the joy in the crowd did not fade as they continued to follow him with their eyes while he moved forward.

Step by step, he walked through the streets, and the people parted for him while still watching with relief and admiration.

Soon he reached the mansion.

The large gates opened, and he stepped inside.

But the moment he entered, a figure rushed forward suddenly.She moved fast, and her body leaped toward him without hesitation.

Ethan reacted instantly, and he extended his hand and caught her mid-air, and he pulled her into his embrace smoothly.

The next moment she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

Her face pressed against his, and she kissed him without holding back while tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Ahhh!"

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"Ethan… you were gone for so long… Do you know how much I missed you?"

Her grip tightened as if she was afraid he might disappear again, and her body shook slightly while she held onto him.

Ethan did not push her away.

He simply held her, and his hand moved gently to support her back while letting her stay close.

The warmth of the moment lingered quietly.

After a long while he was finally at home.