“Hehe. You’re right. Princess Asti is smarter than me.”

“And I heard that mad dog is also rummaging around everywhere to take you back.”

“Really?”

The news of Hades’ effort ignited a flame in one corner of Latifa’s heart, spreading warmth throughout her body.

“Yes. Mom told me. But there’s no way that would happen!”

Hanging on to Latifa’s back, Asti wore a cheeky grin. She clung tightly to Latifa and lovingly rubbed her head against her, smiling innocently.

“I’m really glad you came as a doll. You don’t make fun of me for being chubby, and you’re pretty and nice.”

Latifa chuckled as she tickled Asti’s waist that was snuggled up to her.

“I am General Hades’ Prow, you know?”

“Noooo. I will never, ever, ever let you go. Especially not to that mad dog! Okay? Latifa? I’ll treat you even better. Don’t leave.”

“Maybeee.”

“Latifa, stay and play with me forever.”

“Let’s live together!”

When Latifa ambiguously smiled without giving a clear answer, Asti began to nag her annoyingly.

But Latifa couldn’t dare say, even jokingly, that she would stay by Asti’s side.

Because she was Hades’ happiness.

The heat of the Grand Bazaar was as intense as ever today, and it wasn’t until the red twilight descended that people could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Unlike the lively shopkeepers preparing for the next day’s business and those who ended their long, hard day with a refreshing fruit liquor, ‘hahaha’, everything beyond the sandy walls of Caleb’s territory was still.

“Should I just kill one? Then whether he likes it or not, that old Makali will have to show his face.”

Seated on the large windowsill in his bedroom, Hades muttered.

He had tried to visit Grand Duke Makali several times, but it had always been in vain. Even when Prince Luhan went, the old owllike duke used the excuse of being unwell to refuse the visit.
Karina refuses to meet Haghnudo right now. There’s no doubt that Iota and Tarek are behind this. I am currently in contact with the manager of the cloth market. I have to meet with Lord Makali somehow.

The paper with Luhuan’s prophecy was beside him but got swept away by the wind and flew somewhere in the room.

The red duskladen wind from the Grand Bazaar also reached Khaled’s bedroom, signaling that night was approaching, but Hades didn’t even think of lighting any lamps.

He simply stared blankly as the creamcolored cotton fabric attached to the window fluttered in the wind.

“……”

Hades began to slightly twist the fluttering cotton fabric with his index finger.

The woven fabric’s texture was both coarse and soft, but neither its color nor texture pleased him in any way.

It wasn’t just the fabric.

“Damn it. That feeling again……”

Lately, whenever he touched something, the sensation of stabbing Latifa’s shoulder with a dagger in the palace a few days ago suddenly came to mind.

“Damn it!”

Annoyed by the resurgent unpleasant sensation, Hades ripped the cotton fabric from the window in one pull.

The wooden crossbeam from which the fabric was hanging broke and fell haphazardly to the floor.

“Damn! Nothing… Nothing’s right! Everything’s a mess!”

Golden incense burners, purple cushions and pillows richly adorned with tassels, sunshades stretched across the ceiling, marble sculptures resembling hunting dogs, golden goblets studded with red gems, and even the premium fruit wine inside them.

Everything around him was as perfect as always, but it all appeared ashcolored to his ragefilled eyes.

Hades continued to wander restlessly around the room, throwing or kicking everything he could get his hands on.

“Lord Hades.”

Yanan’s voice came from the doorway as Hades was making a commotion in the room.

“…Leave.”

Hades looked toward where Yanan’s voice came from and spoke grimly.

“It’s a mess. I will tidy up the bedding for you.”

Yanan entered the bedroom slowly, undeterred by his menacing tone.

“I told you to leave!”

Hades, like a madman, screamed and threw a small dagger beside her.

The dagger whizzed by, narrowly missing Yanan’s face, embedding itself firmly in the bedroom wall.

Yanan took a step back, swallowing hard, but then clenched her lips and regained her composure.

“How can you call yourself a chief steward of Khaled if you can’t even handle this?”

“I’ll give you one more chance to leave, Yanan. Out, now.”

Hades inhaled sharply in the dark as a warning to her. At his words, Yanan spoke urgently.

“Actually, I have something to deliver to you. It’s from Miss Latifa.”

“……!”

At the mention of Latifa’s name, Hades stiffened.

Upon hearing his sharp intake of breath, Yanan cautiously stepped further into the room and struck a flint to light the oil lamp.

With a flicker, a small flame illuminated the room, revealing its disarray.

“……Really, Lord Hades. The only thing that should happen in the dark between men and women is—”

Yanan spoke politely as she slowly approached him.

Then she knelt and held something out to him with both hands.

It was a small jewelry box, strangely fashioned for a desert dweller.

“What is this……”

Hades recognized it. On late nights when everyone was asleep, he had seen Latifa intently caress this box in a corner of her room.
Even when compared to the supplies prepared by Caleb, what the empire provided was nothing more than a worn and dirty ship. Yet to Latifa, it was as if it were a treasure, always cherished.

“Master of Caleb, Yanan. I have a lifelong request for the great Hades Caleb Ignite.”

Hades silently eyed the jewel box.

“I would like you to give that to Lady Hades.”

Hades flinched, finally meeting Yanan’s eyes directly.