“……Is it enough just because of the royal bloodline?”

Latifa’s hand, stroking the desert fox, stopped.

“The royal bloodline must pay the price, all of them. The responsibility for not taking care of the country is great.”

At the words that all must pay the price, Latifa closed her mouth.

“Worried about the princess of ruin? But you and she are now people of another world. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“……I see.”

Is it really nothing to worry about?

What if my true identity is revealed?

‘Aris won’t know that I was a princess. It’s okay. Nobody knows.’

She tried to reassure herself, but her surprised heart did not calm easily. Yet another night was waning in the Grand Bazaar.

Just as dawn was breaking, when the yellow sand walls of the Grand Bazaar palace were still tinged with purple.

“Luhan, brother.”

Luhan turned at the sound of his name being called.

“Tarek.”

Iota’s stepson, that is, Luhan’s halfbrother Tarek, was leaning against the wall, calling him.

“It’s rare to see you early in the morning. I know you like to sleep in.”

When Luhan responded somewhat coldly, Tarek retorted playfully.

“It’s tough for me too, but what can I do? Lately, I’ve started to learn how to look at the accounting books. Since I can’t move while reading books every evening, I have less time for sword practice, so I’m getting up early.”

The fact that Tarek was studying accounting, that is, deeply studying economics, was not very pleasing news to Luhan.

Being the origin of the Grand Bazaar, the most significant task the sultan had to do was undoubtedly managing commerce.

Stabilizing exports and imports, and the flow of currency, and resolving the conflicts and complaints of the merchants, was the main job of the sultan of the Grand Bazaar.

Showing interest in studying it was almost the same as openly revealing ambition for the sultan’s position.

“Ah. There’s no need for my little brother Tarek to work on such things. I know well your martial arts skills. I’ve heard you wield the sword very well, just like your mother, right?”

‘Your mother is nothing but a sworddancing concubine, isn’t she?’ With these words wrapped elegantly, Luhan laughed, causing Tarek to frown momentarily.

“The sword my mother and I use is a completely different sword. I don’t want to, but you never know, right? Perhaps I may suit the next sultan better than you, brother Luhan.”

Luhan smirked and carefully approached Tarek. Then he pushed Tarek against the wall and warned him in a low voice.

“The current sultan is alive and well, and yet you dare to blurt out such disrespectful words.”

Unfazed by Luhan’s sudden change in attitude, Tarek calmly whistled.

“Brother, you suit this look much better than pretending to be naive? I didn’t exactly disrespect the sultan. I’m just…… preparing well.”

Tarek grinned and pushed Luhan’s shoulder away.

“Your mind may be good, brother, but aren’t times changing a bit too much to become a sultan based only on ability?”

“Isn’t it embarrassing for you to say such things when all you are good at is that paltry swordsmanship?”

Although Luhan’s eyes sharpened, Tarek was undaunted. It was a clear provocation, but Luhan couldn’t lay a finger on him.

Being the first prince sometimes hampered Luhan’s actions.

“…….”

“If the mad dog of the Grand Bazaar is gone, you are just that much, brother.”
“Tarek. Poor fellow. Does your mother make you talk like that to me? At least I hang around with the mad dog of the Grand Bazaar, but you, wrapped up in your mother’s skirts, have no choice but to do what she tells you. I can’t help but pity you.”

At Luhan’s mocking words, Tarek’s face finally began to harden. Luhan turned his back, delivering the final blow.

“The longer I talk to you, the more it lowers my standards, so I can’t be with you. I’d rather converse with your mother; it’ll be more enjoyable.”

Luhan came out from around the corner of the wall, and behind him, there was a metallic sound as if Tarek had nervously thrown his scimitar to the ground.

From early morning, the Grand Bazaar’s livestock market was bustling with many people going about busily. But for some reason, they seemed even busier and more tense than usual.

It was because General Hades himself was coming, and the manager and merchants of the livestock market were tense, as if they wanted to make a bad impression on him.

“General Hades is seen.”

“Such a fuss. Just the manager should come out; why have all of you come out?”

Hades asked mischievously, aware of the trembling merchants.

“General, you’ve come; how can we lie down and stay still?”

“Indeed. This place is as busy and energetic as always. Nothing happened while I was gone, did it?”

Hades spoke in an utterly ordinary tone, but suddenly he began to check if his scimitar was sharp enough.

The manager stammered that nothing had happened at all in the face of Hades’s threatening behavior.

Hades smiled indifferently and said,