“If you become my Frau, I shall bestow upon you the glorious first bite.”

Could this be what receiving a proposal feels like?

Above the feast of red flower petals covering the middle of the desert, an endless blue sky stretched without a single cloud.

The sweet flower fragrance mixed with the shimmering heat haze warmed Latifa’s cheeks.

And in front of Latifa, Hades extended a flower with a charming smile and respectful manner.

Everything there felt unreal, like a dream.

‘Frau…..’

The fear from the unfamiliar word seemed to be buried by the beautiful scenery unfolding before her eyes.

No, could it be because of Hades rather than the scenery?

Come to think of it, it had always been like this since getting involved with Hades.

Whenever overwhelming fear rushed over Latifa to the point of taking her breath away, his large hand mixed with the scent of dense sand would brush it off as if it were nothing.

Hades’ characteristic prideful tone and actions transformed Latifa’s vague fears into strange excitement.

With his arrogant self, it felt like he could accomplish anything, no matter how impossible.

Even impossible things like turning herself, who was just a useless fugitive, into a person of utmost value.

‘If only this were a dream…..’

Latifa wished this moment were a dream. She thought that if this were a dream, she would have accepted Hades’ proposal without any hesitation.

Finding it difficult to answer right away, she mumbled and asked him back.

“First bite…?”

Then Hades approached right in front of her with a grin that could be called somewhat mischievous.

Having come close, Hades gently caressed her cheek, which had turned slightly red from the sunlight, with the back of his hand. Then he slowly slid his hand down to play with her flowing silver hair as he whispered.

“To have the very first, the very best, before anyone else. Something worthy of that. Something that must be so.”

He placed the red flower he was holding between Latifa’s lips.

“That’s what it means to become my happiness, my Frau, Latifa.”

His finger that placed the flower left a burning warmth as it quickly brushed past.

But the heavy sensation that still remained on her lips made her heart start to race.

She felt intoxicated by the dizzying fragrance of flowers and honey.

‘Why is my heart pounding so much…? This isn’t even a love confession.’

Moreover, the other party was Hades, the mad dog of the desert.

If there was one man whose presence should not make the heart of Latifa, who had been the imperial princess, race, it would be Hades Caleb.

Such a man needed her. Desperately so. To the point of doing such embarrassing things.

‘No. Get a hold of yourself, Lati. General Hades is a man who will kill me if he finds out my true identity.’

Latifa barely held onto her reason and thought realistically. She deliberately ignored her pounding heart.

‘But it might not be so bad if my identity isn’t revealed. He also said he would send me back to the empire later. And I don’t have any other options right now.’

Become Hades’ Frau. Then help with his work and return to the empire.

In the end, Latifa made up her mind like that.

Latifa met Hades’ black eyes as she slowly put the red flower held between her lips into her mouth.

‘He said it was the first bite offered to the Frau.’

Seeing that, Hades’ gaze seemed to burn even hotter. Feeling his gaze become even more intense, she carefully chewed the flower in her mouth.

The red flower was crushed in her mouth, exuding sweet honey. Her dry mouth was instantly covered with the bittersweet juice of flower petals.

‘…It’s sweet.’

Latifa desperately savored the fresh sweetness she tasted after a long time, moving her lips in a subtle way.

While she tasted the sweetness for quite a while, Hades just silently stared at her without saying anything.

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

Even after she had swallowed all the flower, Hades said nothing. He just stared at her blankly.

“Ahem!”

“…!”

In the end, when Latifa cleared her throat and gave him a look, he seemed startled and shook his head. And in an instant, he returned to his usual playful expression.

Latifa spoke to him in a small but clear voice.

“I will become your Frau.”

“I’ll make sure you won’t regret it. To the point where you won’t want to return to the empire.”

Hades smiled brightly.

**

Hades aimlessly pointed his scimitar at the voice coming from beyond the colonnade pillars.

The surroundings were completely dark, with visibility limited to just in front.

“Who’s there?”

Hades was on high alert. Soon, a young man with dark brown, soft hair approached him.

“Ruhan. You startled me.”

Hades grumbled and lowered his scimitar at the face of his closest friend.

The man called Ruhan was a handsome man with brown eyes and a gentle impression.

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

“Ruhan Basili. What are you doing here?”

Ruhan approached Hades with a slight smile.

Ruhan was wearing sophisticated cream-colored silk with an elegant silver belt, and on one ear, he wore an elaborate emerald ear cuff indicating royal status.

Looking delicate but equipped with royal dignity, Ruhan approached Hades and said.

“Hades Caleb. The time has come.”

Ruhan stood in front of Hades and spoke.

“What time?”

“The time for me to become Sultan, and take everything from you. Your subordinates, your wealth, your fame, all of that.”

“Fine. Take it. It was all for you anyway.”

Hades bowed his head without even resisting, as if he had expected it.

To that, Ruhan smiled slightly and lightly tapped Hades’ shoulder.

“Can I take this too?”

At those words, Hades quickly lifted his head to check what was in Ruhan’s hand.

It was a sparkling blue aquamarine.

A gem emitting a mysterious blue light so clear it was almost transparent.

It was a top-grade aquamarine that shimmered with a silvery shadow around the gem when it caught the light.

When did I ever have something like this?

Amidst the rising question, Hades unconsciously reached out his hand.

“Wait. Not this.”

“Hades, weren’t you able to give me anything for my sake?”

Ruhan asked, but Hades quickly reached out to snatch the gem.

But Ruhan swiftly hid his hand holding the gem behind his back.

“That’s my aquamarine. I can’t give it to anyone. Not even to you, Ruhan Basili. Hand it over now.”

Hades growled a warning to Ruhan.

“It’s just a gem, isn’t it? I like this one… If you don’t like it, I’ll give you another gem.”

Ruhan teased him with a slight smile.

“Ruhan Basili. I said hand it over!”

“It’s mine now.”

“That’s a gem I discovered!”

Hades shouted loudly and lunged at Ruhan.

And in that moment, the darkness disappeared and the floor seemed to fall away, causing Hades to open his eyes wide.

All of that had been Hades’ dream.

Outside the tent, only the sound of sand storms whistling could be heard.

“Phew. What a ridiculous dream.”

Although the warm brazier was still blazing beside him, Hades slightly curled up from an inexplicable chill.

“…Mother. I don’t want to be trapped in the imperial palace. Let’s go live on our own.”

Hearing Latifa’s mumbling in the imperial language from right below his bed, Hades uncurled his body and looked down at the floor.

Latifa was sleeping on the carpet, wrapped in a silk blanket and several cushions, sleep-talking in a language he couldn’t understand.

Although he couldn’t understand what she was saying, it didn’t seem to be a pleasant dream as she was frowning deeply.

“…You’re having nightmares too.”

Hades reached down one hand from the bed and wrapped Latifa’s long silver hair around his finger.

“How can you have such a moonlight-like color when you’re not even a white-haired old person?”

“…Mmm.”

“Did your parents have the same hair color?”

“Mm….”

“What kind of person were you in the empire?”

“…”

“Did you live with your family?”

“Mother….”

“…Did I kill your family too?”

Hades’ voice asking that sounded very tired somehow.

“Latifa. Am I the cause of the nightmares you’re having?”

Hades quietly asked the sleeping Latifa, but he couldn’t get an answer from the sleeping woman.

“Since I can’t protect my Frau even in dreams, at least you shouldn’t have nightmares….”

Hades, who had muttered quietly, fell back asleep while caressing her silver hair wrapped around his finger.

**

As if it had never rained, the desert began to torment people again with sweltering heat.

However, thanks to the collected cacti and rainwater, there was plenty of water and food, so the soldiers’ expressions didn’t look as miserable as before.

Except for one person.

Latifa, that is.

“Ugh. General Hades….”

Latifa pushed him away while dry heaving from the rising nausea.

Besides the hot and dry desert climate, Latifa had an even bigger problem, and that was the smell.

As supplies became plentiful with the rain in the desert, the soldiers occasionally made real food instead of just dried fruits or jerky, but there wasn’t a single dish they ate that didn’t contain strong spices.

Strong vinegar or spices were invariably added to all meat dishes, vegetables, and bread dishes, and even those were often cooked into thick stews, causing Latifa to vomit or feel nauseous just from smelling them.

If it were her normal physical condition, it would have been fine, but the poison Brenda had used had weakened her stomach to the limit, and her nerves were doubly sharp as her body grew increasingly tired.

So meals with General Hades were bound to be an ordeal every day.

“Urgh! Could you, move a bit away….”

She was barely managing to survive by eating yogurt, dried cactus flowers, and jerky, but the problem was Hades. The smell of the food he ate clung to him, making her nauseous just by getting close to him.

“You should be used to it by now. You’ll probably faint at the spice market in the Grand Bazaar.”

“The, the food smell is really… nauseating, no, unique. I’ll go outside.”

Latifa stood up with a sad expression, feeling unnecessarily apologetic. She didn’t want to ruin someone’s appetite by vomiting in front of them while they were eating deliciously.

But Hades stopped her and stood up himself.

“No. It’s fine. I’ll go eat outside. Rest here.”

“Urk.”

Latifa found it difficult even to answer, so she buried her face completely in the silk blanket. Beside her, a small desert fox timidly sniffed, checking on Latifa’s condition.

Hades let out a small sigh and left the tent with the meat stew and bread on a ceramic plate.

Treading on the black sand covered in darkness, Hades quietly moved away from Latifa.

“Oh, you’ve been kicked out again?”

Seeing Hades come out with the plate, Manut quickly spread a blanket to make a place next to him. Hades plopped down on it and quietly began eating.

Unable to contain his itching mouth, Manut finally spoke.

“Just like a pregnant wife’s−”

“Shh.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Hades’ cold word, Manut instantly closed his mouth. Only after the meal was finished did Hades speak.

“The medicine doesn’t seem to be working at all.”

“The medicines used by the soldiers are mostly unrefined. Also, the military doctors say it’s difficult to use medicine recklessly because the constitution of desert people and imperial people is completely different.”

“Those so-called doctors have good excuses.”

“They are doing their best too.”

“If we’re to show her in the victory parade, she can’t be this weak.”

“Victory parade? Ah, you’re planning to appoint her as your Frau then.”

“Yes. I will appoint her in front of all the royals and the entire nation. So tell the military doctors. They must restore her health by the time we reach the Grand Bazaar.”

“Yes, General.”

“Also tell them that military doctors who cannot heal patients are not needed in my army.”

“Your words are most wise, Ignite.”