Their lives had been intertwined all along.

Anywhere in the Grand Bazaar, if Luhann was there, Hades was there, and if Hades was there, Luhann was there.

Hades sweated for Luhann in the Grand Bazaar and shed blood for him on the battlefield.

All of that had to happen for Luhann to become a sultan.

When Luhann lost his queen and had only Caleb left as a support when his niece Iota supported Tarek’s power, Hades and Luhann had been together.

Hades and Luhann were different kinds of people in terms of personality and taste, but the bond between them was so strong that no one could break it.

“We were so different… How can you now covet what is mine?”

Hades, leaning on the gold-embossed paisley patterns of the window frame, closed his eyes.

When he closed his eyes, the lingering shadows of darkness that approached were no longer the distressing and gloomy past but the night time with Ratifa.

Within that darkness that would engulf everything, Hades threw in everything that surrounded him, and she, too, agreed to throw in everything, according to that rule.
“However, even in the dimness, when they whispered sweetness and became one, as soon as darkness retreated and light appeared, it was as if they were returning to their origins, shedding the accumulated sins, like a promise made.”

“Ratifa…”

Yet, how thrilling was that darkness.

A sweet, juicy fragrance incomparable to that of pomegranate or lychee.

A skin that was more fragrant than a rose garden or a bed of violets.

A breath hotter than the sun pouring down in the middle of the desert.

Hades unconsciously licked his lips slightly, savoring the taste again.

It was all Hades’.

Chirin.

With the sound of bronze bells ringing again, his consciousness returned to the bright light.

“Hades.”

“Luhan. Is the trial over?”

Without turning back, Hades asked at the sound of Luhan’s voice from behind.

Luhan approached slowly, leaving the splendid and comfortable sofa in the reception room behind, and awkwardly sat beside him on the large windowsill.

“Yeah. If I borrow your words, there really wasn’t a separate X disease.”

At Luhan’s words, Hades smirked, moving a bit to make room for Luhan to sit comfortably.

“When you become a sultan, you won’t have to deal with such trivial trials.”

“Hades. It’s unlike you to deflect the subject.”

“Going straight to the point is also unlike you.”

Hades glanced sideways at Luhan, subtly turning his pupils.

The brown hair and brown eyes illuminated by the sunlight were exceptionally bright and twinkling softly.

And the imperial dignity that was faint before now seemed a bit deeper, like a flower bud about to bloom.

“Isn’t that right?”

Despite Hades’ question, Luhan’s expression remained unchanged.

If it had been some time ago, the fragile Luhan would have been surprised and tensed.

“That day, I made a mistake, Hades.”

Luhan said calmly to his long-time friend.

“A few days ago, one side of the copy of the Harcept Hero Epic that Latifa begged me to transcribe flowed away. It must have been Iota’s doing to sow discord between us. Whether it was a real love letter or not didn’t matter to her.”

“So, did you definitely discard it?”

Hades asked, caressing the Ignite gold bracelets on his wrist.

“I definitely discarded it. But there was something I couldn’t discard because I couldn’t.”

Though Hades’ black eyes gleamed sharply, he silently began to listen to Luhan’s words with the deep resonance.

“Because I couldn’t discard it, I just tried to keep a little. But, Hades, I swear to the guardian gods, I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

‘Are you calling that an excuse now, Luhan?’ ‘I’ve been doing crazy things to make you a sultan.’ ‘Are you trying to shatter everything I have in a single moment?’

Many words rose to the tip of Hades’ tongue, but he couldn’t say anything.

“This all happened because you appointed Latifa as a mistress.”

“Now you’re openly blaming me.”

“…….”

“Originally, I couldn’t be connected with a failing empire that had white and fragile skin. You’re destined for the noble fate of welcoming a desert woman praised by the Grand Bazaar.”

In response to Hades’ words, Luhan responded aggressively.

“Then what about you? You’re in the same position as I am. The noble lineage, Hades Caleb Ignite, is falling for a woman from a failing country, not even marrying, trying to cut my support by saying that you’re infatuated with a woman from a desperate nation.”

The always gentle curve of Luhan’s upturned mouth looked a bit cruel today.

“I originally didn’t plan to marry. And me, Ignite Hades, falling for such a woman from a desperate country? Ha. Nonsense.”

Hades suddenly leaned on the windowsill, his anger seeming to surge.
“I know you well, Hades. It’s not just empty words when I say you’re not a trivial man who appoints any woman as a Frau for no reason.”

At those words, Hades tightly sealed his lips.

“But Hades. Isn’t the blood of a defeated nation’s woman lower than that of Tarek, who is a descendant of Iota? Yet you appointed her as Frau? For no reason?! It’s time to admit it!”

“The only reason I appointed her as Frau is because it benefits you becoming a sultan!”

“Hades, please, just be honest with your feelings so I can gracefully give up!”

Crash!