“For the first time, I prayed that the warm sunshine, not the kingdom’s well-being, would avoid you, and I prayed that your lips wouldn’t dry in the dry wind.”

Despite the soft tone, Latifa’s face began to blush under Luhann’s intense and warm gaze.

Luhann’s sweetness irresistibly attracted her, regardless of what he felt about her.

An uncertain future. That was a fateful word for Latifa in the desert.

Her uncertain situation and Hades’ actions and emotions, which could shoot off in any direction, were bound to follow.

Even if Hades made a firm resolution, their relationship would crumble like sand in a storm. Latifa couldn’t help but think so.

However, the hand that Luhann firmly held now seemed like it wouldn’t let go, no matter what winds blew in this uncertain place.

In this place of uncertainty, if there was one thing that firmly clung to her, it was his hand.

“But I… I am Hades’ Frau.”

Latifa murmured desperately, as her trembling lips tried to justify herself.

However, Luhann’s hand tightened more firmly around her.

“Latif, do not hide behind Hades’ name cowardly. Please do not think that showing sincerity to you was an easy thing for me.”

“Luhann. It’s not that I don’t like you. But we haven’t been together for so long, and… everything is too sudden.”

Luhann’s stiff face gradually softened as Latifa said that he was not disliked.

“When you count all the days we spent together with Harcept and Surya, it was only a little over a decade.”

“That’s…”

“When I saw you desperately imitating Kahork during adulthood, I already understood your feelings. But, you didn’t even give me a chance.”

Smiling wryly, Luhann pulled Latifa’s hands gently, lowering his head.

“Hades opposed you going back to the Empire… I’ll tell you everything.”

‘Opposed by Hades? Could this mean he already knows Luhann’s feelings?’

Looking up at Latifa’s wavering blue pupils, Luhann’s chestnut eyes were full of excitement.

“How wonderful the country I will rule is, how thrilling it is, how lovely it is.”

Prince Luhann of the Grand Bazaar.

“And how wonderful a man I am.”

Who said he was weak like that?

“I will tell you everything, so please seize the opportunity to be with me.”

Luhann looked at Latifa with shy eyes and pressed his lips to her hand.

Prince Luhann’s palace.

Takan, exhausted by the afternoon heat and idleness, folded his wings and bowed his head, dozing off.

Asti, who had been spending time flipping through the elaborate golden patterns on the red-brown carpet on the reception room floor, finally got annoyed.

“Hades!”

“…”

Hades, who had come to the palace with Asti, was lying down as if relieved by some magic, like a thin cushion.

“Hades Callep!”

Thinking he might not have heard her, Asti raised her voice and called him again.

Hades, without lifting his head, replied in a dying voice, “Yes, Princess. I’m Hades Callep Ignite. Please stop making the sound of skinning a pig, unlike a donkey that has eaten ears.”

“When will Iridos come!”

Asti stood up abruptly, approached Hades, and tried to pull out his arms and face.
“The former Asti couldn’t even stand properly in front of the crazy Hades because he was so frightening. However, since the day he handed her a snack box, and after spending some time with Latifa, she quite shamelessly surrendered to Hades.

“I don’t know.”

Hades waved his hand with a somewhat disrespectful attitude, as if telling her to go away.

The gold bracelet of Ignite on his arm made a clinking sound as it collided with each other.

“I told you Iridos is coming…! If that’s the case, you should be having more fun with Latifa!”

Asti finally failed to lift the sulking Hades and, with an annoyed face, started tapping his back with her fists.

“She probably ran away at the news of the princess coming.”

Tap, tap, tap. Despite hitting his back quite strongly with her plump hands, Hades continued to lie motionless.

Normally, he would laugh loudly and make the atmosphere more tense, but for some reason, he sounded powerless and his voice fell flat. Seeing him like this, Asti stopped hitting him and sighed, letting go of her strength.

“Sigh. Unrequited love is tough.”

“…Is it.”

Hades, perhaps finding it bothersome to respond, gave a half-hearted reply.

Upon this, Asti, still grumbling, began to play pranks on his back, gathering Hades’ hair with various-colored ribbons and giggling.

“You see, Hades. Have you heard the back part of the Heroic Tale of Harcept?”

“…”

“Even the infamous Kahorc got everything, but he couldn’t win the heart of Surya, who had a crush on him. Oh! By the way, you look just like the description of Kahorc!”

“Is that so.”

Kahorc was the villain in the Heroic Tale of Harcept. He was a malicious man who, even though knowing that the female protagonist Surya liked Harcept, took everything from Harcept and even took Surya away.

Asti pulled out Hades’ black hair and tied it with colorful ribbons, laughing.