Captured by the Desert Tyrant (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
Latifa raised her head and, seeing the dark-skinned man standing before her—Hades—was so startled that her mind went completely blank.
‘……A bandit!’
Beneath raven-black hair, unseen among Imperials, sharp black eyes stared directly at her. He took a step toward Latifa and gently ran his hand through her hair.
Yet even that gentle touch couldn’t ease Latifa’s tension and fear.
“An Imperial?”
An exotic desert tongue reached her ears. Perhaps it was fortunate amidst misfortune—she had learned the desert language before. But understanding the language didn’t lessen her fear of desert dwellers.
Unconsciously, Latifa pictured a bleak future in her mind.
‘I’ll be taken as a slave…… It’s all over now.’
Hades’s hand brushed past her bangs and traced the corner of Latifa’s eye, which trembled faintly. His hand carried a strong scent of sand.
“You have the most unusual coloring I’ve ever seen among Imperials.”
“Huh.”
As his face drew slightly closer, Latifa flinched and stepped back in fear.
He closed his eyes briefly and sniffed. His lashes, long and thick enough for her to see clearly, cast shadows over his shut eyes.
“This scent is the right one.”
‘What is he looking for……?’
Oddly enough, for someone who had boldly stormed their hiding place, the man seemed troubled. Yet his gaze remained fixed on Latifa, who sat hunched on the floor.
Under his intense, unwavering stare, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was prey caught in the trap of a black predator.
“Waaah!”
“……!”
At the sudden cry of a child, Hades’s eyes snapped open, and only then did he turn to look at the people huddled in the corner.
Realizing he hadn’t noticed so many people until now, he muttered blankly for a moment.
“Was this intentional? If so, it’s a strategy I’d almost praise—it’s that clever. I was completely entranced just now.”
He chuckled softly and scanned the area carefully.
“How did so many of you remain undetected? There must’ve been more than enough hunting dogs to give you away.”
Hearing Hades’s muttered words, Latifa swallowed hard again.
‘He’s definitely a bandit. He might kill us all for mocking him!’
Though trembling with fear, she quickly glanced around. Behind a woman clutching a crying child and shaking violently, others stared at her with eyes full of despair.
Their gazes seemed to say, ‘Because you kept fidgeting there, we’re all about to be discovered.’ Crushed by guilt for causing trouble yet again, Latifa felt overwhelmed.
At her sigh escaping between her small lips under their sharp glares, Hades—who had been surveying the surroundings—approached her once more.
And at that moment, behind the approaching man, Brenda’s face came into view.
“……?!”
Brenda was frantically gesturing, sending Latifa a silent message.
‘She wants me to distract him…… so everyone can escape?’
Understanding Brenda’s intent, Latifa glanced sideways at her surroundings.
Indeed, since the man had burst into their hideout and shattered all the surrounding walls, if she could just draw his full attention, the others might scatter in all directions.
But that would mean offering Latifa as a sacrifice. Still, seeing Brenda’s signal, Latifa steeled her resolve and bit down hard on her lip.
‘If sacrificing myself lets everyone live…… I have to do it. I’ve caused enough trouble already.’
It was the last shred of duty left in her as an imperial princess.
Thinking she might finally be of some use to her people, Latifa clenched her fists tightly.
‘If I sacrifice myself like this, perhaps the imperial family’s karmic debt will lessen a little.’
With that thought, Latifa moved her unresponsive legs and slowly rose to her feet.
“Wait, just a moment……”
When Latifa called out to Hades in the desert tongue, he was startled and moved even closer to her.
Fear surged over her like a tide at the strong scent of sand once more, but she had no choice but to stand her ground.
“You know the desert tongue?”
“Yes.”
Trembling violently, Latifa barely managed to stand face-to-face with Hades.
Desert dwellers were generally larger than Imperials, but this man seemed even bigger than the average desert man.
“If an Imperial knows the desert tongue, you must be one of two things.”
“……”
“Either a lazy noble with so much idle time you rotted from boredom… or a wretched commoner who smuggled goods to sell.”
His sharp insight made Latifa’s heart sink. Being exposed as an imperial princess to a bandit wouldn’t improve her situation.
“If I were a noble, as you say… I wouldn’t be suffering here—I’d have already fled abroad by ship.”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”
Fortunately, Hades seemed fascinated by her—shaking yet still speaking her mind—and paid no attention to the people behind her.
Gaining a bit more confidence, Latifa posed a question meant to capture his attention.
“Are you curious how we avoided detection?”
**
Manut stared in the direction Hades had vanished on horseback. Though it was one of Hades’s many habits to disappear abruptly after giving orders, this was no time for leisure.
“We need to return to the Grand Bazaar quickly.”
Subduing the Empire hadn’t been difficult. Ravaged by civil war, the Empire was already a disorganized rabble.
Yet it had still taken considerable time to bring them to ruin—solely because the Empire of Tania’s territory was absurdly vast.
“Ugh. Crossing the desert is more trouble than war itself.”
Moreover, a massive desert lay between the Empire and the Grand Bazaar—traversing it alone took a full month.
‘We should hurry to join the main force at the border and prepare to return.’
Having been born and raised in the desert, they knew better than anyone how perilous it was. Thus, despite mountains of preparations needed, Hades’s impulsive actions kept delaying their departure.
Manut pulled a recently arrived letter from his chest and skimmed the opening lines.
—Prince Tarek recently held his coming-of-age ceremony. He’s swiftly expanding his influence by courting the market’s wealthiest magnates and gaining the Sultan’s and the people’s trust. If the Grand General doesn’t return soon, Prince Luhan’s support base will falter.
‘A letter written half a year ago only arrives now…… I wonder how Prince Luhan is faring.’
If Luhan Basil—the first prince of the Basil dynasty, whom Hades fully supported—lost his power and the second prince, Tarek, became the next Sultan, both Hades and he himself would be left utterly abandoned, like gourds with their stems cut.
“Again, only I’m anxious—only me!”
“General! A group is approaching from this direction. They seem to be remnants of the bandit gang we just eliminated.”
At his subordinate’s report, he tucked the letter back into his robes, drew the scimitar at his waist, and issued orders.
“Hold your positions and minimize casualties. Finish this before the Grand General returns—he’s been in a foul mood lately.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Ugh. I wonder if the Grand General even realizes how hard I’m working.”
He let out a quiet sigh and readied himself for battle.
**
Latifa grew impatient as she watched Hades, who remained silent despite her intriguing question.
“……”
Hades was still stroking his chin, surveying the area—including her.
For the others to escape, he needed to focus entirely on me……!
She glanced at Brenda, who wore an exasperated expression, clearly furious that Latifa couldn’t even manage to hold his attention.
At that intimidating look, Latifa’s lips grew even drier, and her head began to spin.
What do I do……! I must’ve messed up again. Oh, please pull yourself together, Latifa! This is your last chance to save them!
She forced strength into her legs, steadying herself. But the excruciating pain in her ankle—so sharp it brought tears to her eyes—tormented her anew.
‘It hurts so much! I’m going to collapse.’
But she couldn’t back down now. Anxious, Latifa darted her tear-filled blue eyes around, keeping them fixed solely on the man before her.
Finally, the man in black robes, as if deep in thought, replied in a slightly haughty tone—apparently having seriously considered Latifa’s question.
“Yes. You sent away the hunting dogs that came looking. Though I don’t know how you did it.”
He’d hit the nail on the head. But she had no intention whatsoever of revealing she could speak to animals.
“……No, that’s not it.”
Latifa denied it in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
Hades, seeming slightly offended, furrowed his brow and slowly stepped toward her.
“That’s impossible. I’ve considered every possibility, and that’s the only answer.”
Yes, you. Come just a little closer to me.
“Shall I tell you the answer?”
“It had better be convincing.”
“It’s like this……”
Latifa drew another sharp breath as his face came within arm’s reach. She could feel his warm breath, and his black pupils reflected her own image clearly.
“Ah. I understand now.”
At that moment, Hades smiled as if struck by sudden realization, meeting her blue eyes directly.
“You’re trying to distract me again—so they can escape.”
“……!”
He’d struck the mark once more.
Was it even possible to deceive this man?
No matter how she thought about it, it seemed utterly impossible.
“I won’t be fooled twice.”
Seeing him smile so calmly, Latifa felt certain it was truly over.
Yet she had to hold onto this man at all costs—otherwise, her guilt would only grow heavier.
Finally, she gritted her teeth with firm resolve.
“Everyone, run now!”
Latifa leapt onto Hades’s arm and shouted toward the others. She squeezed her eyes shut, threw her full weight onto him, and even wrapped her legs around his to cling tightly.
She squeezed every last ounce of strength from her exhausted body to coil around the struggling man. Though weakened from days without proper food, she held on with all her might.
After all, with her ankle so badly injured, there was no way she could flee anyway.
Resigned to her fate, she shouted once more, louder than before.
“Everyone, run!”
Seizing the opportunity, the people hiding behind her scattered in all directions. Hunting dogs barked noisily, and many rushed out in panic.
“Hah?! Let go of me! Hey, running out now is dangerous! Do you want to reveal our location to the bandits?!”
Though Hades shouted in panic, waving his arms wildly, she clung to him like a demon possessed, refusing to let go.
“Damn it!”
Watching people scatter in every direction, Hades muttered a quiet curse.
“Haa…… Well, Manut’s on guard, so he’ll handle it somehow.”
Now gazing at the empty clearing, he swept his sweaty bangs back with his free hand.
“My arm’s starting to go numb—mind letting go?”
But she clung to him as if the world would crumble if she released him, gripping Hades so tightly that blood couldn’t flow.
“Hey. We can’t stay here. The remnants will swarm this place soon.”
Latifa didn’t seem to hear him at all. She kept her head bowed deeply, trembling violently.
Finally losing patience, he tapped her head lightly with his fingertips. Instantly, her grip around his arm loosened and slid away, and she collapsed forward heavily.
She’d truly used every last drop of strength just to hold onto him—now utterly drained.
“Guh!”
Hades swiftly caught her waist as she lost consciousness and fell. A faint jasmine scent drifted from her fluttering hair.
“What on earth is going on.”
His tone sounded annoyed, yet a small smile lingered at the corner of his lips.
“If you were going to throw yourself into my arms anyway, why go to such lengths to put up a fight?”
It was absurd—she’d trembled in fear while defying him, only to collapse right into his embrace. He couldn’t help but chuckle repeatedly.
Perhaps it was because he hadn’t seen anyone dare confront him—the so-called mad dog of the Grand Bazaar—head-on in so long.
“Are you foolish or brave?”
Murmuring to the hunting dogs staring blankly at him from the side, he gently gathered the limp Latifa into his arms. Then, his eyes caught sight of her ankle—swollen grotesquely beneath her slightly lifted skirt, its skin dark red from injury.
“Good heavens. How did she manage to stand in that state?”
Careful not to aggravate her injury, Hades adjusted his hold on her and quietly murmured,
“Haven’t met an interesting woman like this in a while.”
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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