As it approached noon, when the sun was at its highest, Hades, dressed in a black robe, entered the tent. He held out a spare robe that he had tucked under his arm to Latifa.

“Throw away that rag you’re wearing and put this on.”

The black robe with silver trim had no outstanding patterns, but its soft sheen was enough to show it was a high-quality item at a glance.

When Latifa finally looked down at what she was wearing, she saw a dirty sackcloth that could hardly be called clothing.

How filthy must she have looked for him to prepare clothes for her? Latifa carefully accepted it and spoke in a voice as small as a mosquito’s.

“Th-thank you.”

She tried to stand up to put on the robe, making an effort not to make eye contact with Hades.

“Ugh!”

‘Ah, my legs!’

When she carelessly put her foot down, the pain that surged made Latifa stagger for a moment, and Hades quickly tried to grab her hand.

“N-no!”

But Latifa, frightened by the dark hand of the man who suddenly approached, unconsciously avoided it. Losing her balance, she ended up falling back onto the bed with a thud.

“Ugh!”

“You really are a troublesome woman.”

Latifa blushed at Hades’ light jab, as if mocking her. She felt embarrassed for reacting sensitively and falling on her own.

‘Wouldn’t it be more abnormal not to be scared in this situation?’

She hastily got up as if nothing had happened. Then she carefully stood up again to put on the robe, taking a step forward.

Hades let out a small sigh in front of her and slowly extended his hand.

“This time, don’t push me away. We don’t have much time.”

Looking at the man’s large palm extended before her, Latifa had to admit. That without his help, she couldn’t properly stand and put on clothes.

Finally, she slowly extended her small, delicate hand. Hades asked, noticing her hand trembling slightly.

“Are you afraid of this hand that crushed your homeland?”

“…It would be a lie to say I’m not afraid.”

“Honest. And bold.”

“And you’re trying to make an example of me, aren’t you?”

“An example?”

“Aren’t you keeping me separate to punish me because I deceived you?”

The most effective way to control multiple prisoners was to keep someone like her as an example beside them. Otherwise, there was no reason for Hades to accompany her, who was cumbersome and even injured.

Hades chuckled at her words and agreed.

“That’s right. So don’t you think you should follow my words well?”

‘As expected, a mad dog. That reason was correct.’

“If following you well means other prisoners can be safe, I have no reason not to follow.”

Her words were neither completely submissive nor defiant. Latifa, who had learned basic rhetoric in the imperial palace, even though she was a discarded princess, made full use of it.

Although she was a prisoner of a defeated country, she didn’t want to grovel even to Hades, the enemy general.

That was at least her last pride as a princess.

“Then can you hold this hand without trembling? We’re short on time.”

It was a question thrown as if testing her.

Hold it without trembling? Of course. For the sake of the empire’s people, this much is nothing.

Latifa took a deep breath.

“If that’s what you want. And if it’s for our people, gladly.”

Latifa stretched out her white hand and placed it on top of his dark one. Not content with just that, she grasped his hand tightly first.

Hades seemed not to have expected Latifa to grasp his hand firmly first, and a slight tremor was felt.

Feeling a bit of triumph at his trembling, Latifa raised one corner of her mouth in a victorious smile.

**

Outside the tent, many soldiers were already lined up in an orderly fashion, preparing for the march, while the rest were busy moving around, organizing the remaining luggage.

But when Latifa and Hades came out of the tent, some of the busy soldiers stopped in their tracks and stared at them blankly.

It was because Latifa came out limping while firmly holding Hades’ hand.

“Is that General Hades?”

“Who’s that the general is supporting?”

“I-isn’t that an Imperial?”

When Latifa’s white arms and legs were seen between the black robe with the hood pulled up, the soldiers gaped at them with their jaws nearly dropping.

“A-and it looks like a woman!”

“An Imperial woman?”

“No way. General Hades is said to detest women! Are we seeing things?!”

No matter how many times the soldiers rubbed their eyes and looked, it was indeed an Imperial woman next to Hades. Although her face and figure couldn’t be seen properly due to the robe being pulled down low, that alone was enough for gossip.

The Mad Dog of the Grand Bazaar was known for his outrageous behavior, but there had never been any scandals involving women. And now there was a woman next to him?! And they were holding hands tightly!

“Isn’t that robe the high-quality one specially presented only to General Hades?”

“My goodness. The sun will rise in the west tomorrow!”

At that moment, Manut, riding a horse, galloped over and shouted at the dumbfounded soldiers.

“You lot! What are you dawdling for? What if the general sees you?!”

“General Manut! Look, over there!”

At his subordinate’s words, Manut turned his head. And soon, he too could only gape at them with his mouth wide open. He saw Hades walking, supporting Latifa without even a hair’s breadth between them.

‘There was no mention of taking her along so conspicuously!’

Although Manut knew a little about Latifa, he never dreamed that she would be taken along in such a way that others might misunderstand. He had thought that subordinates would be ordered to take her separately.

‘If you keep up such eccentric behavior, you might even damage Prince Ruhan’s reputation!’

“General, do you know who that woman is?”

“Don’t concern yourself with his affairs and focus on your own duties.”

Manut was greatly flustered but didn’t show it as he gave orders to his subordinates. Then he turned his horse towards Hades.

**

‘It’s one thing after another.’

Latifa sighed secretly as she looked at the magnificent black horse in front of her. She had heard that they would ride the same horse together, but she never really thought Hades would actually do it.

It didn’t make sense even from a common-sense perspective.

‘Why would a man who is the grand general of a country ride the same horse as a prisoner from a defeated nation?!’

Moreover, the gazes of the soldiers who kept glancing at her were piercing. Even without asking, their looks said, ‘Why are you there?’

She wanted to ask them back in turn. ‘Everyone, why do you think I’m here?’

“Well. Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

“…No.”

She had ridden a few times for ceremonial purposes in the imperial palace. But if she said she had ridden horses, there was a possibility her identity would be exposed, so Latifa shook her head and said no.

“Do you prefer the front or the back?”

Latifa tilted her head at Hades’ sudden question. Front? Back? What did he mean?

“If you ride in front, you can have the honor of being in my embrace, and if you ride in the back, you can have the honor of putting your hands on my waist.”

‘What?!’

“……”

There was no hint of playfulness or laughter in Hades’ tone, so it didn’t sound like a joke at all. If it had been said in a joking tone, she wouldn’t have been so flustered.

“Choose quickly. Front? Back?”

He urged her as he placed a large saddle on the black horse.

It was embarrassing either way. It was already taking an enormous amount of willpower to hold his hand without trembling, and now he wanted her to ride the horse with him?!

And either be in his embrace or put her hands on his waist?! That was practically asking her to die.

Latifa had no immunity to men. Having lived alone in a secluded palace in the imperial court, she had seen men her age only a handful of times in years, and the only men she met were servants or librarians.

‘And the man in front is a mad dog…’

While Latifa’s mind was being colored with confusion, Hades’ urging voice was heard once again.

“Why have you become a mute again?”

Just then, as if a savior, Manut jumped down from his horse and ran in front of Hades.

“General! General Hades!”

“The preparations for the expedition are complete. Manut, shouldn’t you be at the rear?”

“General, about that woman.”

‘Me?’

Latifa perked up her ears as it seemed they were talking about her.

“Yes, Manut. It’s fortunate you came. Front or back. Choose one of the two.”

“Pardon?”

Hades completely ignored Manut’s words and spoke first. Latifa understood Hades’ intention.

‘He’s going to make this man choose!’

She looked at Manut pitifully.

Please, back. Back. Back.

It’s better to hold the waist than to be in his embrace, please. Back, mister!

Manut frowned and asked.

“Front and back? Are we reorganizing the army?”

“No. Choose quickly. Front? Back?”

Latifa was not only looking at Manut desperately but also opened her small lips to give him a hint.

“Ba… Ba.”

But unfortunately, Manut didn’t seem to catch Latifa’s hint and said boisterously.

“For a man, of course, it should be the front! Front! I choose the front!”

“Aaagh!”

‘It’s ruined!’

Both Manut and Hades were startled by the sudden scream and looked at Latifa.

She was covering her mouth and looking at Manut with reproachful eyes. Flustered by that gaze, Manut turned his head back to Hades.

“Hahaha!”

Suddenly, Hades burst into loud laughter.

“The front, he says! Front! That’s right! For a man, it’s the front indeed!”

“Wh-what’s the matter?”

Hades, who had finally stopped laughing, approached Latifa’s side and grabbed her waist, lifting her onto the saddle in an instant.

“Hup!”

Latifa inadvertently took a deep breath when his hot hand touched her waist. But the hand on her waist was nothing.

Hades jumped onto the horse in one leap and took his place behind Latifa. Soon, the hefty man’s arm wrapped around her thin waist, and his firm chest touched her back.

‘I’d rather faint!’

Thump, thump, the fast heartbeat transmitted from the horse’s back seemed to make her own heartbeat faster for no reason. Unnecessarily, a heat rose from under her robe, and her hands trembled.

Hades’ hands appeared on either side of her waist and soon grasped the horse’s reins.

“G-General! What you’re doing now is un-unbecoming…!”

Manut, who had been watching the whole scene, couldn’t finish his words. Looking at such a Manut, Hades replied nonchalantly.

“Manut. You said front, so I respected your wish and put her in front, but is there a problem?”

Hades’ low voice resonated right next to Latifa’s ear. That’s how close they were. Feeling a strange palpitation she had never experienced before, Latifa quickly leaned her upper body forward to create some distance.

“G-General…!”

Manut looked up at them on the horse with a tearful expression. But Hades paid no attention and looked at the soldiers behind, while Latifa made the same tearful expression to Manut and muttered softly.

“That’s why I said back, mister…”

“Ah, mister…?”

“Well, if we dawdle, the sun will set. Come on, let’s go.”

The black horse began to move at its master’s command. Latifa let out a big sigh, feeling the hot heat on her back.

‘Desert people are really strange people.’