“If you will be my Frau, I grant you this glorious first taste.”

Could this be what it feels like to be proposed to?

Above a feast of red flowers that blanketed the desert, the cloudless blue sky stretched endlessly.

In the mirage that embraced the sandy heat, a sweet floral fragrance mixed in, brushing against Latifa’s cheeks.

And there, Hades, presenting a flower with an enchanting smile and a respectful demeanor, stood before Latifa.

Everything about that place approached her like an unreal dream.

‘Frau…….’

The foreign word’s fear seemed buried by the beautiful scenery spread out before her eyes.

No, was it the scenery or was it because of Hades?

Thinking back, ever since becoming entangled with Hades, it had always been this way.

Whenever an overwhelming fear that made her breath ‘catch’ would rush towards Latifa, his big hand, mingled with the dense scent of sand, would dismiss it as if it were trivial.

Hades’s unique prideful tone and actions turned Latifa’s vague fear into a strange thrill.

If it were that fearless man, he seemed like he could accomplish even the most impossible tasks.

Even the impossible task of transforming herself, who was no more than a fugitive, into someone of the highest value.

‘If only this were a dream…….’

Latifa wished that this moment were a dream. If it were a dream, she thought she would accept Hades’s proposal without any hesitation.

Finding it hard to answer right away, she stammered and asked him.

“The first taste……?”

Then Hades came closer, with a smile that could be called slightly mischievous, and stood right in front of her.

Hades, who came close, gently touched her sunkissed cheek with the back of his hand. Then he slowly slid his hand down, playing with her cascading silver hair, and whispered,

“Having the first and the best of everything before anyone else. Being worthy of that. It must be that way.”

He placed the red flower he had been holding against Latifa’s lips.

“My happiness, being my Frau, that’s what it means, Latifa.”

His finger, after leaving the flower, quickly brushed by, leaving a hot warmth behind.

But her heart began to beat faster, still feeling the heavy touch on her lips.

She felt as if she was intoxicated by the dizzyingly fragrant scent of the flower and honey.

‘Why is my heart pounding like this……? This isn’t even a confession of love.’

Especially when the other party was Hades, the mad dog of the desert.

If there was one man who should not make Latifa’s heart, the former Imperial Princess, beat, it was Hades Caleb.

That man needed her. Desperately. Enough to do something this embarrassing.

‘No. Get a hold of yourself, Lati. If General Hades finds out my true identity, he’ll kill me.’

Latifa barely managed to hold onto her sanity and thought realistically, doing her best to ignore her pounding heart.

‘But it might not be bad if my identity isn’t revealed. He even said he’d send me back to the Empire later. And I have no other options now.’

Become Hades’s Frau. Help him with his work and then return to the Empire.

In the end, Latifa hardened her resolve.

Facing Hades’s black eyes, she slowly took the red flower held to her lips into her mouth.

‘He said it’s the first taste dedicated to the Frau.’

Hades’s gaze seemed to burn a little hotter at the sight. Feeling his gaze become more intense, she cautiously chewed the flower in her mouth.
The red flower wilted, spewing sweet nectar in her mouth. Her parched mouth was quickly covered with the sweet and bitter juice of the petals.

‘……Sweet.’

Latifa Glaesia moved her lips strangely as she relished the fresh sweetness she hadn’t tasted in a long time.

All the while she savored the sweetness, Hades Caleb Ignite just stared at her without a word.

Gulp. Latifa’s white throat moved as she swallowed the last petal, and his black pupils followed.

Though she had swallowed the flower whole, Hades Caleb Ignite said nothing, just staring blankly at her.

“Cough!”

“……!”

Eventually, when Latifa coughed to signal him, he suddenly shook his head as if surprised, and in an instant, returned to his usual mischievous expression.

Latifa spoke to him in a small but clear voice.

“I will become your Frau.”

“I won’t make you regret it. Enough so that you won’t want to go back to the empire.”

Hades wore a bright smile.

Hades abruptly aimed his scimitar at the sound of a voice coming from beyond the pillars of the gallery.

The surrounding area was pitch dark, with visibility just enough to barely make out what was in front of him.

“Who’s there?”

Hades was on full alert. What soon approached him was a young man with dark and smooth brown hair.

“Luhan. You scared me.”

At the sight of his best friend’s face, Hades grumbled and put down his scimitar.

The man called Luhan was a handsome man with brown eyes and a gentle appearance.

But rather than possessing the robust beauty that Hades had, he was a man endowed with a delicate beauty.

“Luhan Basil. What are you doing here?”