“Because of that woman, my men could’ve all died in the desert. Thousands of lives…!”

Hades’ seething anger was palpable.

Feeling a growing sense of unease, Latifa bit her lip and darted her eyes around.

‘Should’ve told him later, why did I say it now?’

“Whether she procured the lion or not, the responsibility lies with that woman. And due to the lion, Prince Tarek has been severely injured. I hope she is punished for disgracing the Basil family.”

Upon hearing Iota’s words, Hades let out a low growl that only Latifa could hear.

“It’s you who threatens the noble spirit of the desert warriors and shames the Basil family. That cunning woman should be punished immediately. Damn it!”

Hades seemed to barely contain his anger.

The Sultan spoke authoritatively to Latifa.

“Consort of Hades, your final argument?”

Latifa glanced at the irate Hades beside her, bowed her head quietly, and presented Tarek’s prescription to the Sultan.

“Your wisdom is great, Sultan. When you read Prince Tarek’s prescription, you will know that his injury is not severe enough to warrant a trial.”

“What, where did you get that…?!”

Seeing it, Iota’s face began to pale.

The Sultan gestured, and his aide read the scroll and gave an opinion.

“Following a prescription for good birch branches to stop bleeding and jujube juice to strengthen bones, no significant treatment is apparent. Only a few more herbs for restoring vitality are added, and it appears the treatment for the shoulder wound has long been completed.”
Everyone in the hall began to stare at Prince Tarek’s injured shoulder as they read the brief prescription.

“Is Prince Tarek being a crybaby? Well, he has always been strong; such a wound would be nothing to him.”

“If it were a serious injury, perhaps, but making a fuss over such a minor scratch…”

Prince Tarek, the focus of sudden attention, clenched his injured shoulder and bowed his head. Iota stepped forward as if to protect him and spoke on his behalf.

“Do you mean to say that the severity of the wound matters? Isn’t the important point that Prince Tarek was injured? Do not cloud the essence of the issue. If we let such incidents go unpunished, the people of the Basil family would have no one to turn to if they are harmed.”

‘He’s just spewing words as they come to mind!’

Latifa sensed that the trial had come to an end amid Iota’s sophistry and the murmurs of the crowd.

However, she couldn’t fully relax. Hades’ harsh breath still brushed against her ear.

Suddenly, cornered Iota began to shed tears like transparent marbles and pleaded with the Sultan.

“Is that how you would all speak if Prince Luhan were similarly injured? If Prince Tarek were the offspring of the Queen, you wouldn’t treat him so poorly! Oh, Prince Tarek, I am sorry. I, a mere concubine, have so little power to protect you!”

“Iota…!”

The Sultan tried to comfort Iota with a pitiful expression, but Iota firmly pushed the Sultan’s hand away.

“I don’t want your sympathy, Sultan. Prince Tarek is a noble member of the Basil family. Should he be compared so unfavorably with Prince Luhan?”

Upon hearing this, Luhan’s face darkened, and Hades, trembling with anger, abruptly stood up and shouted at Iota.

Latifa had no chance to stop him.

“How dare you, Iota! Comparing Luhan with him? Your vile and filthy bloodline tainted Prince Tarek?!”

Hades’ sudden change made his voice reverberate throughout the hall.

Iota’s disheveled hair flew about, her beautiful face soaked with tears, as she sobbed.

“I heard Prince Tarek was belittled at General Hades’ banquet for not being of royal blood. You have no idea how much that wounded him, how deep that mental scar is, Sultan, because all you see is a ‘minor’ shoulder injury!”

Hades’ veins bulged in his neck, and his eyes glowed eerily.

“You partook in this farcical trial, tainting the royal blood with your wicked body, and now you dare to threaten the Grand Bazaar, Iota!”

“Hades, this is the palace!”

Luhan, startled, reached for Hades, but Hades had already darted forward.

“Oh, the old vixen exudes musk and wreaks havoc in the noble palace! What were the guards doing? Catch and kill this fox immediately!”

“Ahhh! Sultan! Sultan!”

Seeing Hades charge like a beast, Latifa couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

“Gen… General Hades…?”

She wondered if this was a dream due to the suddenness of the events.

As Latifa tried to rise to stop him, Luhan grabbed her tightly.

“You can’t, Lati! Hades is dangerous right now! If you go, you might get hurt!”

“Lu, Luhan. Wha, what do we do?”

Latifa managed to open her trembling mouth.

“Ah! The mad dog of the Grand Bazaar is unleashed!”

“Damn it, mad dog Hades! Guards! Seize him!”
People scrambled to avoid any potential sparks, and Tarek ordered his guards to restrain him.

Eiota jumped in surprise at the sight of the frenzied Hades approaching her and hid behind the Sultan. She was blocked by the polearms of the guards protecting the Sultan and screamed loudly.

“Come out, you wretched wench! Get out of the way! How dare you block the path of an Ignite?! Move! I must execute that vixen with my own hands!”

Four or five armed guards rushed at him, but Hades effortlessly kicked them away with a single foot.

Even as she sobbed, Eiota yelled at the guards.

“What are you doing! Draw your scimitars and stop him! Do you intend to let the Sultan be harmed?!”

“Eiota, silence your impudent mouth! You’re not even worthy to mention the Sultan’s name! How dare you risk the lives of my soldiers as well? Are you even human? You’re nothing but a greedy vixen!”

In the very center of Sultan’s reality, the screaming Hades was truly a mad dog, nothing less.