Amira, who had fainted, woke up and cried for a while. Unable to resist the persuasion of friends who were comforting her, she, like Latifa did before, went to the altar and was dancing with the Muhi.

Of course, due to the well-intentioned lies of the desert people, no one mentioned the fact that while Amira lost consciousness, Latifa had danced the coming-of-age dance at the altar first.

Those at the coming-of-age ceremony knew that she was not an adult who knew how to control her anger but rather a girl with a still youthful mind.

It was different from Latifa.

Luhan, leaning back against the slightly tilted sun in the west, was sipping tea and chatting with the dignitaries attending the grand gathering.

Although he heard conversations about this year’s Mercatus being more splendid or the decrease in the number of thieves attacking caravans on the southern trade route, Luhan kept recalling memories of another day.

‘Yes, that was a mistake.’

Luhan repeated it in his mind as he sipped the refreshing mint tea.

‘Even if it was a mistake… Did Latifa understand my feelings?’

He didn’t wish for something grand like receiving love from Latifa in return.

‘Expressing oneself is just… It’s not stealing from Hades, right?’

Quoting Harcept’s lines in front of the altar and recalling himself expressing his feelings, Luhan shook off the reminiscence.

Then, thoughts returned to square one.

‘Yes, that was a mistake. Hades.’

When he heard the news that the book had been found, Luhan felt a subtle emotion. It was the moment when Luhan’s feelings for Latifa, which he had hidden, surfaced.

Caught in subtle tension, Luhan still couldn’t understand why he had gone out in front of everyone and done such a thing.

As a prince, there was nothing he couldn’t handle right away.

For example, he could make excuses like helping the palace maid who liked Hades write a letter or accidentally spilling a tear while writing a poignant love poem.

‘It’s because of Hades…!’

Because Hades forcibly tried to take Luhan’s bracelet. Because Hades broke the connection to the secret bond Luhan had secretly told him about. Because Hades told him to abandon his crush with embarrassment.

The precious secret was exposed, perhaps all because Hades provoked Luhan.

He came to his senses when Latifa looked at him and called him ‘Harcept.’

In her desperate eyes, Luhan felt like the murky confusion in his mind was gradually clearing.

‘Nearly putting her in danger! This isn’t any different from Hades, who pierced her shoulders!’

“Your Highness, you look very tired.”

People around him asked Luhan with worried eyes.

‘But, the lives of these desert people also depend on me. For the people of the Grand Bazaar, I have to fold my feelings for her…’

That’s the right thing to do.

That was all for Luhan.

“Thank you for worrying, but I’m still lively. What are you doing? My cup is empty.”

Luhan extended the empty cup to them with a smile, and the people gladly filled it up again for the kind and affectionate prince.

But no matter how much they filled it, how would they quench this endless thirst?

Only for a moment when his heart was dampened as if stealing the color of the galaxy and making a thread with it.

Silver hair of Latifa swaying like a white wave, cheeks and lips tinted with peachy hues.

As if wearing a white silk draped with white waves and swaying between the white veil that made them seem dizzy, even small hands and feet looked strangely dizzying.

It was only when recalling the perplexed Latifa trying to dance that he thought about it.
It was only when recalling the perplexed Latifa trying to dance.

“Hup!”

Latifa suddenly woke up, startled by a strong force stabbing her side. Looking around, she was already at the main gate of Caleb’s estate.

The gatekeepers guarding the large oak gate opened it wide at the owner’s return, and a few servants were holding bright torches around the massive sand walls that surrounded Caleb’s estate, under the twilight sky.

“Ugh! I slept drooling. No one must have seen it.”

Seemingly too tired, Latifa, who had fallen asleep on the way back, quickly wiped her mouth and straightened her back as if nothing had happened.

“The master has rushed back riding a camel, and you slept comfortably. Hades!”

After leaping down from the high back of the camel, Hades, the servants of Caleb, rushed forward to greet him.

“Goodness, gods. You must have enjoyed yourself until your dress was covered in mud! Where’s your robe? Oh dear, did you lose it?”

Seeing the disheveled figure of Latifa sitting on the camel in front of the large oak gate, Yannan, who stood in front of the large oak gate, was surprised, and the servants accepted Hades’ sword and robe, indicating that there had been no major incidents on the estate.

“I’ve really come home.”

It finally felt like Latifa had returned to Caleb’s estate, as her body and mind relaxed with the peaceful sunset scenery.

The air of the bustling Grand Bazaar was more familiar and comfortable than the cool breeze by the riverside.