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.
