Listening to Hades articulate the crucial points, Latifa found herself fervently nodding in agreement, her initial hesitations dissolving.

“You once mentioned opening a shop in the Empire, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

“Even if you don’t know what kind of shop, this would be a valuable experience. Someday, even if I’m not here… No, especially if Caleb is not here, you will have to navigate your future on your own.”

“After all, especially if I’m not here,” Hades quickly corrected himself.

“I see. Hades is already thinking about a future without me.”

Understanding his words in that way, Latifa quietly nodded with a sense of fulfillment. At that moment, Hades subtly asked.

“I have a proposal now too.”

“What kind of proposal?”

“I hope you can play the role of Surya in the Harzept Heroic Play under the name of the great Basilii Dynasty. It will attract guests on the most glorious day of the parade. It’s the duty of my lady that elevates the honor of Luan.”

Excitedly, Latifa exclaimed, “Wow! Can I really play such an important role?! Really?! Me as Surya?!”

“I thought you would dislike appearing in a play.”

“Did you know that I’m already imitating the goddess and performing a play every day?”

Even when she was in the Empire, Latifa loved novels and plays. Moreover, Surya was her favorite protagonist.

Feeling more exhilarated than worried about the important role she would be playing, she exclaimed, “In addition, I’ll be taking on the role of Cahoque. I didn’t want to, but it’s inevitable as the role of the Pig Princess.”

“You as Cahoque?!”

Hearing that Hades would play the role of Cahoque, Latifa finally looked at him with a shocked expression.

‘Wait! If it’s Cahoque, there’s a kissing scene with Surya! Are you going to show that to people?!’

While they complement each other quite well, and there is a clear resemblance between Cahoque and Hades, the thought of them being suitable for the roles did not outweigh the shock Latifa felt. She sneakily asked Hades about the behind-the-scenes story of the Harzept Heroic Play.

“Hey, Hades. Did you happen to hear about the later part of the Harzept Heroic Play from Princess Asti?”

“No, I still don’t know anything. Why? Is there something awkward?”

“Oh, no!”

Seeing Hades, who was drinking iced spring water with an unchanged expression, Latifa quickly waved her hands.

At that moment, she thought, ‘I’ll deal with it when the time comes.’ with a heart that wanted to avoid it somehow.

**

That afternoon. Gate 8 of the livestock market.
Despite the scorching sun, Hades, who had flipped his robe backward, tied a beige scarf tightly around his face like a mask, making it impossible to recognize him. He descended from the camel, wrapped so securely that even Latifa couldn’t discern his identity, and struggled to breathe properly, exhaling loudly.

“Do we really have to do this?”

“But I’m curious. Who is Yaz, the guy who noticed your ability so quickly? We need to make sure it’s not a scam.”

Although Hades’ voice conveyed a somewhat subdued sense of caution, Latifa, unaware of it, looked around.

“Indeed, the Grand Bazaar’s market is amazing. The spice market was huge, and the livestock market is no less impressive.”

“There can’t be anything trivial associated with Caleb’s name. But this place is less developed. There are many small stalls, and the alleys are messy. This could lead to trouble.”

Hades looked displeased, observing poorly maintained roads and piled-up hay bales and boxes.

“It was called the Golden Armadillo Market. Ah, is that it?”

Latifa, reading the signs, discovered the Golden Armadillo sign and pointed there.

Kyaak!

Suddenly, a small bird flew out of a small market wall window, and Yaz, with his hair cut short like a man, opened the door and chased after the bird.

“Uwaah! Shan! Calm down! What’s the problem now!”

Kwa-crrash!

“Oops?!”

“Latifa!”

Yaz, running frantically, didn’t notice the stacked belongings against the adjacent wall and tripped over them, causing empty chicken coops to tumble down.

Hades quickly pulled Latifa into his arms, turning her around. The wooden chicken coops fell onto Hades’ back, creating a cascade over him.

‘Hades!’

In that moment, pressed tightly against Hades’ warm chest, Latifa could feel the male scent, accompanied by a loudly pulsating heartbeat.

“Yaz! Are you causing trouble again!”

The surrounding merchants scolded Yaz, their brows furrowed. As they were individuals accustomed to handling fierce and aggressive animals, they were physically imposing.

“Ahaha. Sorry, sir. I’ll clean up everything! Hey, are you two okay?! Any injuries?!”

Yaz, having hastily arranged the chicken coops, approached Hades and Latifa.

“H-Hades! Are you alright?!”

Taken aback by the sudden incident, Latifa, with a worried expression, anxiously tended to Hades’ shoulders and back.

With Hades momentarily showing a dazed expression in response to her touch, he soon smiled and whispered to Latifa while gently patting her head.

“Shh. This isn’t ticklish at all. Don’t call me by my name right now.”

“Because of me…!”

Despite the playful whisper, Latifa couldn’t withdraw her worried gaze, filled with concern, from him.

“Hey. Are you okay? Yes? Oh, wait, are you two having a good time together? Should I come back in an hour? Oh, are they Caleb’s people?! Come in, come in quickly!”

Yaz, sensing a strange atmosphere between the two, made a joking remark and hastily ushered them inside upon noticing Caleb’s emblem on their sleeves.

**

Yaz noisily placed tea cups in front of Hades and Latifa, swiftly tidying up the somewhat disheveled surroundings.

With her short hair, she could be mistaken for a man at first glance, and the clothes she wore were more reminiscent of men’s attire than what women typically wore.

“So, over there is Caleb’s prophet, Luqwan? The lady is Caleb’s goddess, Latifa. Did the general secretly come all the way here? You’re truly amazing, miss! You received my letter well, right? Oh dear, since you received it, you must have come.”

“How do you know me, Yaz?”

“There’s no one who doesn’t know the lady. I first saw you on Amira’s coming-of-age day. I was there too!”
“Sending a letter to such a young person like this?”

Although Hades grumbled discontentedly, he didn’t openly reveal his guard as he did a while ago. He simply sat quietly beside Latifa like a vigilant guard, concealing his identity.

“Does Yaz know the Imperial language?”

“Well, honestly, I don’t know the Imperial language well. I pretended to know a bit to get a response from the lady. The lady is excellent at the Desert language!”

Yaz, with a very lively personality, interacted with Latifa without reservation, appearing likable with his straightforward and witty manner.

“I heard you made a well-crafted pestle for Amira. Since then, I’ve been a follower of the lady! Amira is so unlucky, you know. I hoped she could get even with someone sometime.”

Having said that, Yaz rummaged through a pile of straw in the corner of the shop and pulled out something black, extending it in front of Latifa.

It was a fairly large black crocodile.

As the crocodile blinked its yellow eyes, creating a silvery spirit, Latifa couldn’t help but smile with joy, tickling its long snout.

“Wow! It’s been a while!”

At the same time, Yaz chuckled while looking at Latifa.

“As expected, my goddess is correct. Shall we talk about our business?”