“Idiotic. She’s currently in the harem. I can’t even get in, let alone expect them to allow her to meet me.”

Hades spoke with a voice that seemed barely able to contain his anger.

To this, Yanan responded courteously.

“However, with your current status, Lord Hades, it might be easier to visit her in the harem than to persuade the Makali merchants.”

“……”

At Yanan’s words, Hades rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache and questioned.

“What would I gain from meeting her?”

“To speak honestly at the risk of my life, it’s deplorable to see you suffer alone, smashing items in the chamber without reason.”

At the term “deplorable,” Hades’ eyebrows raised sharply.

“Ha! Deplorable?”

Given that Hades had been randomly throwing perfume bottles or breaking tables in recent days, no servants dared to linger near him, and the chamber’s atmosphere was turning increasingly sinister.

Yanan hurriedly offered a jewelry box to Hades, almost pushing it onto him. Hades reluctantly accepted it.

“I cannot question the Sultan’s wise judgment to dedicate Prau to the royal palace. However, what I wish to discuss is not that, but rather, the incident where you pierced her shoulder.”

Hearing this, the hand holding the jewelry box trembled slightly. Hades eventually turned his back on Yanan.

“Leave, Yanan.”

“Even though you pierced Prau’s shoulder yourself, Lord Hades, you haven’t lost all happiness yet.”

“No. I have.”

Hades firmly declared, shaking his head. After a moment of silence, he turned back and vehemently confronted Yanan.

“I told her I’d protect her, to trust me. She trusted me. But I almost killed her! What can she do other than resent me?!”

“Did you hear her resentment directly, Lord Hades?”

“Must she say it directly?! She’s my Prau, and I’m nothing but an incompetent master who can’t even protect his Prau!”

“Wouldn’t it be best, then, to hear her resentment directly?”

Yanan bowed respectfully as he knelt.

“I’m sure Miss Latifa also wishes to return to Caleb.”

“……!”

“I’d recommend you confirm it personally. This would also allow you to clear your head and find a better solution, Lord Hades.”

Hades didn’t speak for a while but finally let out a heavy sigh. He opened the small jewelry box with a clicking sound.

Inside was a single key made of gold. However, it looked more decorative than functional.

Hades grumbled at the sight.

“Is this all that’s inside a woman’s jewelry box? And she’s supposed to be Caleb’s goddess…!”

“To tarnish your honor, Lord Hades, is a great insult. We must fill it up with more value.”

Hades’ tone seemed to soften a bit, and Yanan finally broke into a small smile in response.

Eventually, Hades clicked his tongue dismissively, letting his usual arrogance show.

“You’re fearless to speak so candidly to your master, Yanan. You must have nine lives. Go on, clean up here and go back. I will grant your onceinalifetime request.”

“Yes.”

Yanan grinned, picked up the scattered hemp cloth and broken table pieces, and left the room.

Hades put the jewelry box into his pocket and stroked his chin for a while, contemplating. Then, a smile crept onto his lips as if he had thought of a brilliant idea.

“Right. To get into the harem, I’d need a ‘female’ accomplice.”

Chuckling, Hades leapt through the large window next to his bedroom.
On the sandy ramparts extending outside the arched windows, there were small wooden boxes filled with soft cloths and bowls of water; inside one of those boxes, a desert fox with lightcolored fur was grooming its tail.

This temporary dwelling had been prepared next to the window due to Caesar’s constant wandering.

Hades scooped up the desert fox by the scruff of its neck and held it in his arms.

“Are you female or male?”

The desert fox suddenly squirmed and whimpered as if dissatisfied with being held.

“Unlike that woman, I can’t understand your language, so let’s just say you’re female.”

Hades conversed casually with the desert fox while patting its head.

“We’ll go see your owner soon. Are you happy? Tsk, you’re as disobedient as your owner.”

Would it be a mistake to say that Hades’s voice sounded cheerful, like an excited child?

Under the bright full moon that had yet to wane, the night in the desert of Caleb’s domain was fading away.

The exterior walls of the harem palace, extending gracefully under a dome roof adorned with gentle curves, were stunningly beautiful.

If you stood in the courtyard for a moment and looked beyond, minarets and obelisks stood, and the eaves and arches also depicted elegant beauty.

“Wow. It’s much grander and more impressive compared to the Empire.”

“I see it every day, so it looks the same to me. I want to see the Empire’s palace too!”

With her shoulder injury significantly healed, Latifa was allowed to walk around a little; she was on her way to meet the Sultan with Asti.

“Look, isn’t that an Imperial? Could she be Hades’ frau?”

“Really, her skin is so pale. Is that some kind of skin disease?”