A group of women, wearing only ivory-colored towels, sat crowded together on the large marble platform in the bustling public bathhouse, gossiping.

“That woman was trembling.”

“Did she just tremble? She was crying and sniffling, clinging to the legs of the Confucians and begging. How can you not laugh and mock that?”

Even though the women in Caleb’s domain had access to a private bath for women, they often went to the public bath for the entertaining news it offered.

Of course, they could be the subject of that entertaining news.

“I should have seen Shadi’s youngest daughter getting beaten! Haha! I should have become Caleb’s maid too!”

An older woman chuckled and took a sip of her tea.

“Arsla. The position of Caleb’s maid pays well, but the conditions are too demanding. The lady is scary, and General Hades is even scarier.”

“But it’s such a strict place that if you become Caleb’s maid, you can marry well and he gives a generous dowry.”

Caleb’s girls laughed heartily as they shared amusing stories, reminiscent of their mistress and Latifa.

“In the end, even the mad dog of Grand Bazaar was male. A general who moves for women, this is like Amor, isn’t it?”

“But in the coming-of-age ceremony, Shadi’s youngest daughter won, right?”

When a lying woman asked, the maids of Caleb, with mischievous smiles reminiscent of their mistress, stood up cloud-like in front of them. Still, they sealed their lips heavily, just as the lady always warned them to “be careful with their mouths.”

But it was clear that something interesting would happen on the coming-of-age day.

Latifa, sitting on the soft wool carpet just below Hades’ bed, glanced through the military law books he had thrown on the floor. While browsing, she immediately responded to what he said.

“Childish.”

It was about Hades’ plans for the coming-of-age ceremony.

“Learn. It’s originally effective to act childish to effectively torment the other person. The more the opponent learns and is talented, the more annoyed they get with childish behavior.”

“Aren’t you scared of the repercussions?”

“Surprisingly, among the childish methods, there are many that do not violate the law. Responding in the same way will be more effective, worrying that one’s status will drop.”

“Hades, aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

Hades, lying on a high bed, reading the military law book with fixed eyes, spoke to her.

“Latifa. Interestingly, people feel more uneasy when a mad dog doesn’t show crazy behavior. A mad dog is expected to perform unpredictable actions without warning. Don’t you also know that well?”

Hades continued to read the book and said.

“That woman from Shadi won’t let go of me like a sand cave’s ant spirit no matter what she does. After the coming-of-age ceremony, she will try to insert day and night soul consultation into me. I have to give up before that.”

“Soul consultation?!”

“The General in charge of the spice market and the youngest daughter of the Grand Bazaar’s large market, there will be no more beautiful story than that. Even the Sultan secretly hopes I marry her, but ha, no way. Marriage is out of the question. Who will I bow to?”

Hades spewed out rough curses as if he was really amazed.

“But if you don’t get married, who will be the successor to this large Caleb?”
“Because that was my aunt’s duty, next time, Hagnu, when you meet her, relay that question exactly. Anyway, this is an opportunity to shake everyone’s nerves, so I hope you unleash your abilities without reservation.”

With a small sigh, Latifa nodded understandingly. If that’s what he wanted, there was nothing she could do.

“Phew… I can’t understand why Amira, who has everything, is so infatuated with you.”

“Why don’t you change, Hades? Still, only foolish questions.”

Hades put down the book he was reading, flipped his body at lightning speed, and rolled down to the lower bed where Latifa was.

Lying down, his well-balanced, firm chest was visible through the loosely draped splendid clothes.

Beside Latifa, lying down, Hades took her hand, leading it to his chest.

“We are desert people who worship the sun and flames. Desert people are instinctively drawn to strength. Naturally, that must be why she is attracted to me.”

Rather than a small, fluttering heartbeat, the loud thumping sound of his vigorous heart was vividly transmitted through the thin clothes.

“I see. I’m not a desert person, so I don’t quite understand.”

Quietly speaking, Latifa withdrew her hand.

With a seductive upturned tail of her lips, sharp yet well-defined intense eyes, a robust body reminiscent of an ancient deity, and the exotic aroma emanating from her body, including the scent of ripe fruit, jasmine, and the heated body temperature.

‘Actually, I know very well why Amira is so infatuated.’

There wasn’t a single unappealing aspect when dissecting Hades. However, Latifa deliberately ignored all his charms.

By doing so, if she didn’t turn away, her remaining life would be completely dominated by him.