“Phew. I should have shaken them off by now.”

The kidnapper who had fled into a very dark alley readjusted the leather pouch into which he had stuffed Latifa.

“Looks like a slave from a defeated country has escaped. I could make a lot of money selling this one. A white-skinned woman with silver hair. An ordinary price won’t do. Hehehe.”

After confirming no one was following, the kidnapper started walking slowly, even whistling.

But his joy was short-lived.

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

The kidnapper was struck in the head by a flying stone from somewhere and collapsed helplessly.

“I apologize for eavesdropping, but stealing private property is a serious crime in this Grand Bazaar.”

The owner of the voice emerging from the dark shadows of the back alley was Ruhan. Familiar with the geography, he had arrived ahead via a shortcut and was waiting.

Ruhan stepped over the unconscious man lying on the ground and approached the large leather pouch he had been carrying.

The pouch was twitching slightly, and a bundle of that mysterious silver hair was sticking out from its opening.

Ruhan gently stroked the silver hair with his fingers.

“It really is a person.”

-Twitch.

As if sensing Ruhan’s touch, the pouch convulsed even more violently. Someone’s groans could be heard from inside.

“S-sorry! I’ll get you out right away!”

Startled by the sounds coming from inside after admiring the silky soft texture of that hair, he quickly untied the pouch.

“Gasp!”

As Latifa burst out of the pouch, taking a huge breath, Ruhan was at a loss for words.

“Ah…! You. An Imperial…”

Ruhan stood dazed for a while, silently staring at Latifa who had sprung out like a pure white flower blooming luxuriantly under the moonlight.

Watching Latifa look up at him, blinking her silver eyelashes, Ruhan murmured softly.

“My goodness. Amor.”

Amor was the guardian deity of love.

**

“…!”

Latifa blinked her startled eyes and carefully looked at Ruhan, who was standing still in front of her as if rooted to the spot.

‘Who is he? Is he in league with the person who kidnapped me?!’

As she quickly looked around, clutching her frightened heart, she saw the kidnapper sprawled unconscious on the ground.

“Are you alright?!”

“Eek!”

Startled by Ruhan’s sudden question, Latifa hastily backed away. Her heart was still pounding, and everything in the Grand Bazaar looked frightening.

Seeing this, Ruhan also backed away, not knowing what to do.

‘H-he’s not in league with them…?’

Somehow, he seemed to be timidly backing away.

“I have no intention of harming you! I-I know you probably don’t understand our language, but I only chased after you to save you! I have no connection to that man!”

Ruhan desperately waved his arms, drawing an X in the air, to Latifa who was pale-faced and trembling.

Watching him sweat profusely while desperately trying to explain that he wasn’t in league with the thug, Latifa slowly calmed her rapid breathing.

Latifa swallowed dryly and checked Ruhan’s attire. The outer surface of the white silk robe Ruhan was wearing had refined, if not luxurious, patterns embroidered in gold thread.

‘The pattern on the clothes is quite intricate. He seems to be of high status.’

The man lying face down unconscious on the ground looked like a street ruffian, completely out of place with Ruhan.

Moreover, Ruhan, with his round eyes that showed signs of gentle upbringing and warm brown irises, kept politely asking Latifa if she was alright and if she had any injuries.

His desperate gestures and soft voice gradually calmed Latifa’s startled heart.

Ruhan was clearly a different kind of man from the rough and rugged desert men Latifa had seen until now.

Of course, she still needed to be cautious even if he didn’t appear threatening.

Finally, Latifa quietly asked him in the desert language with a trembling voice.

“You… you saved me, right…?”

As Latifa carefully began speaking, nervously rolling her eyes, Ruhan cleared his throat and stammered.

“That! Ah! A captive who can speak the desert language…! Oh, I mean, I’m not disparaging Imperials! No…! I mean, please forgive my rudeness!”

Tongue-tied, Ruhan suddenly apologized to her.

“What? For-forgiveness?”

Latifa took another step back from Ruhan, raising her guard again at his sudden strange apology. Ruhan then gave Latifa a very polite desert bow.

Bending one knee and placing an arm across his chest while lowering his head, he composed himself and asked her politely.

“Um, ahem. So, this is my first time meeting an Imperial who can speak the desert language, so I was flustered. I wanted to ask if you’re alright and if you have any injuries. I should have rescued you sooner, I’m truly sorry. Are you hurt anywhere?”

‘Such graceful manners.’

Latifa caught her breath a little at his impeccable etiquette and the refined vocabulary used by nobles like Hades.

At least someone this refined didn’t seem likely to use force and do terrible things like the thug from earlier.

“My, this must look suspicious even to me. I understand why you’re wary.”

“…”

Latifa stared blankly at Ruhan.

“Do you perhaps have companions? I doubt you came to the Grand Bazaar alone. And I don’t think your companions would let you wander alone.”

“I-I did have companions… but I lost them…”

As Latifa replied timidly, still not completely letting go of her wariness, Ruhan looked at her with genuine concern and said:

“The Grand Bazaar isn’t such a dangerous place. But it seems a bit risky for you to be wandering alone. Especially now… I’m sorry, but it’s not a good time for Imperials like yourself, is it?”

Ruhan’s sincere concern, pointing out objective facts rather than simply telling her not to worry with sweet words, gradually resonated with Latifa, and she cautiously spoke up.

“I got caught up in this incident when I lost my companions. The paths are too complicated. Gate 7 of the spice market, at the intersection.”

Still not knowing exactly who Ruhan was, Latifa answered vaguely without mentioning Hades’ name. Since Hades had said he had many enemies, it seemed unwise to carelessly say she was with Caleb’s people.

“Ah, that intersection is a bit dreadful for first-timers.”

“It wasn’t just dreadful. It was like people were… um… you know, that thing.”

For a moment, Latifa couldn’t remember the desert word for ‘flowing’, so she slowly extended her white fingers to mimic the movement of flowing waves.

Ruhan’s dark brown eyes busily followed the movement of her thin wrists and small fingers, moving softly like white butterflies.

“So what was that word… like water…”

It was such a simple word, but Latifa kept getting frustrated as it seemed just out of reach. Finally, Latifa glanced at Ruhan as if asking for help, feeling annoyed with herself.

“It’s like silk sliding…”

“Silver silk…”

Ruhan murmured, repeating her words so quietly that she couldn’t hear.

“When music plays, you know… Oh, what is it, really…”

As she kept pondering, Ruhan smiled gently and answered.

“You mean ‘flowing’?”

“That’s it.”

‘Flowing! Ah, why couldn’t I think of something so simple?’

It seemed her mind was in chaos, probably from getting lost and then facing a dangerous situation.

“People were flowing. Everyone in the Grand Bazaar was flowing busily. I was just standing still, but I got pushed around and then…”

Latifa shuddered as the fear of when the kidnapper snatched her came rushing back.

‘I need to get back to Yanan quickly. This person might be dangerous too. The only one I can trust right now is General Hades.’

“I’m sorry. I have to go. Thank you for saving me.”

Latifa quickly pulled her robe over her head and turned her back.

“W-wait a moment! Do you know the way out?”

Ruhan called out to her urgently. At his call, Latifa stopped in her tracks and looked straight ahead. The winding back alleys branching in multiple directions gave her no clue which way to go.

Latifa glanced back nervously.

There stood Ruhan, showing both his hands. He seemed to be demonstrating that he had no intention of harming her.

“My lady. There’s a saying in the Grand Bazaar that even brushing sleeves creates a connection. Foreign lady, if you don’t consider this connection guided by our guardian deities trivial, would you grant me the honor of showing you the way?”

“Uh…”

‘What should I do? Can I trust this person?’

Latifa looked back at the chaotic alleyways ahead.

‘I definitely can’t get out alone…’

Finally, Latifa cautiously spoke to Ruhan.

“You walk first. I’ll follow a bit behind. Please take me to the main intersection. I need to go to the administration building at Caleb’s Gate 9.”

“You are wiser than I, my lady.”

Ruhan smiled and began to walk. Latifa quickly pulled her robe deeper to hide her white skin and followed him slowly, keeping about ten paces behind.

In the quiet, deserted alleyway, only the distant sounds of merchants calling for customers and their footsteps could be heard. Then, breaking the silence, Ruhan casually dropped a comment.

“My name is Ruhan.”

“…”

“And your name is?”

“…Lati.”

Latifa made up a nickname for herself.

“As beautiful a name as your appearance.”

“…”

Though Ruhan’s voice was pleasantly smiling, Latifa’s mind was filled with nothing but worry.

‘What if I can’t find Yanan? Should I ask that man where Caleb’s private property is? Ah, I should have just sent Yanan on the errand.’

“Lati.”

‘Ugh. I shouldn’t have come out…’

“Lati?”

“Ah, yes?!”

Startled by Ruhan calling her again, Latifa answered. Up ahead, Ruhan showed both his hands again and spoke to her gently.

“Just ahead is the main intersection.”

Indeed, when she craned her neck to look, she saw the bustling, chaotic intersection from before.

“Oh, you’re right! Thank you!”

“You said you were going to Gate 9, right?”

“…”

“Would you mind staying close to me? I promise to take you there safely. There are too many people up ahead, and you might get swept away. I’ll help you find your companions. I’d be worried to let you go like this.”

After staring at Ruhan, who had indeed safely brought her to the intersection, Latifa slowly approached him.

As she came closer, Ruhan smiled and reached out to adjust her robe. Latifa flinched slightly and backed away, but the man’s warm hands simply tucked her robe in securely.

“Lati. The heat of the Grand Bazaar is intense. Once it flares up, it never cools down. Please be careful.”

“Ah…”

“This is a place where everything is hot and intense.”

After adjusting her robe, Ruhan offered her his elbow. Latifa hesitated before taking his arm, and they stepped into the crowd.

Ruhan seemed to know the way well, walking without hesitation. But he wasn’t walking fast. He seemed to be trying to match Latifa’s pace, slowing down to guide her.

‘He’s completely different from General Hades, who just walks ahead on his own.’

Noticing his attentiveness and consideration, Latifa inwardly compared Ruhan to Hades. Ruhan was the opposite of Hades in every way, from head to toe.

‘His tone is gentle and polite. He seems to be from quite a noble family, but he’s not arrogant. He must be popular with women.’

While thinking this, Ruhan asked Latifa:

“By the way, Lati. What brings an Imperial here?”

“Oh, I came to get gaebaekha.”

“Gaebaekha?”

“I need to find Yanan quickly…”

“Wait! Did you say Yanan?”

Ruhan tilted his head, changing his expression curiously.

“Yes. I came here with Yanan. She’s my companion.”

“Yanan… Oh my! Could it be Caleb’s Yanan?!”