“‘Syurya, I haven’t spent a day without thinking of you since I met you. It was a great pain, but if I could go back in time to the day I accidentally met you, I would gladly go to meet you again. So, beautiful one, stay there just as you were on that day.’”

“….”

Lohan stared into space with the pen in his hand, not writing for a long time.

‘He can’t help it. I cried for days at this part too.’

The past, spent with swollen eyes for several nights, while enjoying and crying together while writing the backstory of Harcept, how impactful the last part would be.

Lohan, being a desert person himself, said he couldn’t help but love the Heroic Saga of Harcept.

Even though the credibility of the back story is questionable, it doesn’t matter. Lohan’s eyes light up when he looks at Latifa, saying it’s a really interesting story, with his brown eyes shining, he looks quite cute, so Latifa had been enjoying her time for the past few days.

“Oh, Lohan. Are you crying?!”

Lohan’s eyes were red, his hands were trembling enough to be visible, and he suddenly got up and ran out of the room.

“Oh, my. Is showing tears so embarrassing? It’s okay to cry at a scene like this.”

Latifa, looking at his retreating back, approached his desk, tidied up the disheveled pen, and said, “At times like this, he seems like an ordinary young noble. It’s still hard to believe that he’s a prince from such a huge place.”

The handwriting on the scroll that he had written was neat and proper, quite different from Hades’ rough and wild handwriting.

‘Hades, the general’s is a bit more… wild.’

Latifa opened the note she had put in her pocket.
The rough handwriting, saturated with the scent of jasmine, made her nose twitch slightly, and she closed her eyes.

“I can return soon.”

Lately, she heard from Lohan that she succeeded in pressuring the Marcali family for a month, and Latifa, who had a good reputation in the Asti Palace, had nothing to worry about.

According to the story Lohan relayed a few days ago, it seemed that Karina would send her away without any issues.

“Latifa, Latifa! Karina is looking for you right now!”

At the urgent voice of Lohan coming from behind, Latifa opened her eyes.

It was finally time to return.

Latifa had never seen Karina until now.

Since the day she opened her eyes, she had been by Asti’s side, and Karina had never demanded anything from Latifa.

“Since she’s not as scary as Lady Eota or Lord Hagnu, don’t worry too much. It will be fine. If things don’t work out, what will you do?”

“Then, from now on, you can be in charge of Princess Asti’s snacks with us.”

“Or help her lose weight.”

The maids comforted Latifa with jokes.

They had been treating Latifa exceptionally well since Asti left for Madrasa, saying that she seemed different when she was with the crazy guy.

Latifa took a step forward on the red carpet laid in the grand bazaar, surrounded by maids preparing the atmosphere.

The maids on the left carried glass lanterns and lamps to prepare bright lights against the darkness, while the maids on the right carried a bronze pitcher with water, fruit baskets, and incense burners to prepare the soothing fire for the night.

The small lights changed into red and green through the colored glass of the lanterns.

There was nothing untouched by the souls of the desert people in the sound of water in the pitcher, the scent of fruit, and the moisture chasing away the desert’s dryness.

Swallowing dry saliva, Latifa took steps, one by one.

‘It’s no different from the trial day.’

Before the oak door with a pretty pitcher and grape pattern drawn on it, she took a deep breath, and the maids of Karina’s palace opened the door.

Latifa, leading the line of maids stretching out in two rows, entered the room, and from the long veil hanging down from the highest stone seat inside, the shadows of the two people were watching her.

Latifa politely kneeled, lowered her head, and the maids lit torches, lit incense, and left the room in the gap.

“Hades’ Frau. Greet and take your seat.”

In Sultan’s solemn voice she heard somewhere before, Latifa stood up, took a seat among several cushions below the highest seat, and sat down.

“I am the Sultan’s woman, Karina. Sorry for the late greeting.”

The somewhat dignified voice of a woman came through the veil.

However, her voice did not reveal any malice or goodwill, making it impossible to gauge what was inside.

“Now that I see you in person, how do you look?”

It seemed like the Sultan was asking Karina.

“To say that she is the famous Frau of Hades seems a bit lacking, don’t you think?”

Latifa slightly bit her molars at those words, and the Sultan started laughing as if finding something amusing.

She seemed to be smoking a water pipe as white smoke billowed mysteriously and unrealistically through the veil.

“I’ve been watching General Hades ignore the women of the harem for so long, wondering how great of a woman he would take. But it seems his heart is more inclined toward the golden princess.”
“Jim, at first, thought the same way. Wouldn’t gold be better than silver?”

The Sultan’s laughing voice sounded somehow mocking. Karina spoke again with a dry tone.

“But, Frau. Although I dislike Hades for the misdeeds he has committed, I want to make it clear that I harbor no personal ill feelings towards you. So, regardless of what judgment I make, do not complain.”

‘What on earth has Hades General done so far!’

Personally, Latifa had lived a good life, but for some reason, she felt a bit unjust that all the retribution for Hades’ misdeeds seemed to be coming to her.

Karina, looking annoyed, started exhaling smoke, and Rashid began to console her from the side.

“Karina, Jim dislikes those who remain neutral. Since you haven’t decided whether you will be on Lohan’s side or Tarek’s side, Jim has to act directly.”

“I don’t like politics.”

“Becoming the woman of an authority figure entails such things. Karina, duty accompanies power.”

Although the Sultan was speaking to Karina, somehow it seemed like he was talking to Latifa.

“My father was very angry. Your son, Shyrak, went wild for a long time.”

The smoke from the long water pipe exhaled a sense of irritation and annoyance.

“That’s quite regrettable. Hahaha! However, through this incident, the proud Tarek learned to bow his head quietly to get what he wants, and Lohan, who has a lot of respect, learned that sometimes he has to be firm to get what he wants.”

“And Marcali was used. I don’t feel good about it.”

“Curious about who will be the future Sultan. But for your despondent self, I’ll give you two boxes of diamonds and black onyx each.”

“May the protection of the desert god be with the Sultan.”

Karina’s voice, somewhat softened, reached Latifa, who sighed softly.

“So, Karina, whose hand will you raise?”

With a whoosh, white smoke billowed out again through the veil.

“No matter what, parents cannot beat their children. Your son, Shyrak, fell ill and lay dying due to Hades’ misdeeds. So, I believe Hades is not qualified to have his happiness.”