Ruhan hurriedly approached the bed prepared in the royal infirmary.

“How is her condition?”

“The pole arm was extracted cleanly without damaging other muscles, so there’s no large torn wound. The subsequent treatment was perfect. However, the penetrating wound to the shoulder blade is critical, so she won’t be able to use her left arm well for a while.”

“I see. Don’t look down on her just because she’s an imperial. Treat her with sincerity so as not to shame the name of the Basili dynasty. She is my friend’s happiness.”

“We are well aware that General Hades is fearsome. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best. By the way, hasn’t the general come?”

“He probably feels too ashamed to face her after causing her injury. He’s a man who lives and dies by his pride. He would probably fiercely compete even in a bet with a child.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

Ruhan comforted the tense physician with a joke as he approached closer to the bed.

“…Ugh.”

Latifa let out a small groan and lay unconscious with her eyes tightly closed, just as Hades had predicted.

“She’s currently unconscious due to the medication.”

Ruhan spoke to the physician standing nearby.

“You, go outside and tell someone to call Irgos from the prince’s palace.”

“Ah, then I’ll call another physician.”

At those words, Ruhan waved his hand.

“There’s no need. I’ll keep watch, so don’t worry and go quickly. If anything happens, I’ll call another physician right away.”

Of course, there was no real need to go ‘quickly’.

As soon as the physician’s footsteps faded, Ruhan immediately approached her side and firmly grasped her small white hand.

“Ah, Lati. If I had insisted on bringing you to the palace right away without delay, would this not have happened? How can your hand be so cold?”

Ruhan carefully rubbed her small hand against his cheek.

As her soft hand brushed against his cheek, it felt as if all the complicated and confusing thoughts in his mind were wiped clean like a lie.

“Please don’t curse my selfishness for being glad that Hades didn’t come.”

Ruhan let out a small sigh-like breath as he gazed at her side profile lying down.

Indeed, her delicate silver eyelids were pitifully trembling slightly, but beneath them, her white, high-bridged nose and soft skin made his heart seem to crumble dizzily.

Meanwhile, his dark brown eyes were brimming with tears as if they might fall at any moment, but how could he shed tears so undignifiedly in front of the woman he loved?

“Lati, today is exactly the third time I’ve seen you. Perhaps you’re becoming more beautiful with each passing day. When I faced you in the audience hall today, I truly thought I was going blind. Even the white pearl, treasure of the sea, was nothing compared to your beauty.”

Ruhan slowly stroked her soft hand, moving his fingers.

“Lati, you could never know how I feel inside. And you shouldn’t…”

His dark fingers moved past her dimpled wrist to her slender forearm where faint red and blue veins were visible, when he suddenly stiffened.

“Oh my. The physicians tore her clothes while treating her shoulder…!”

The fluttering sleeve of her shoulder was roughly torn, and as the inside seemed to be glimpsed, he quickly turned his head away.

“Ugh!”

Ruhan hurriedly grabbed the silk blanket and pulled it up to her neck.

Feeling his face starting to flush red, he quickly fanned himself to cool the heat in his face.

“…Perhaps it would be better if I really went to the men’s quarters.”

Ruhan pressed his slightly flushed cheeks, then quickly rummaged through his pocket as if he had remembered something.

“I wanted to give it to you directly, but I don’t have a justification like Hades. If you fan the flames too much, you’re bound to get burned. So I’ll just… be content with seeing your face.”

He slowly stood up and approached the foot of the bed where Latifa was lying.

Her feet, as white and small as her hands, had only one leather shoe on, showing how urgent the earlier situation had been.

Ruhan bent his upper body as if taking a reverent posture before a goddess, then carefully caressed her small bare ankle.

With a clinking metallic sound, something white and shiny was soon placed on her foot.

“Lati needs to eat a bit more. She’s too thin.”

Ruhan gently smiled as he touched the peony pattern attached to that small ornament, which was now an anklet instead of a bracelet, placed on her foot.

Rising from his seat, Ruhan continued to hold her hand that lay motionless.

“Is the prince inside?”

At that moment, hearing Irgos entering, he quickly kissed her white hand lightly.

“We will meet again someday.”

The soft touch and light sound disappeared in an instant as the door opened.

“Prince Ruhan!”

At the sound of Irgos calling him, Ruhan composed his expression and turned around with a solemn face.

“Have you finished your business? Did General Hades return without even escorting you back to the prince’s palace?”

“That’s not what you really want to say. I thought you’d first ask ‘When will you let me off work?'”

Ruhan chuckled as usual, teasing Irgos as if nothing had happened.

“I, Irgos, have never thought about wanting to get off work early. It’s my honor to serve you, Your Highness.”

As a couple of physicians entered carrying medicine and ointment, Ruhan took out Hades’ gold bracelet from his chest and handed it to them.

“This belongs to Hades. It’s being bestowed upon Hades’ Frau, so place it on her wrist. Who would dare covet something belonging to my dear friend and loyal subject Hades, but if such an impudent incident should occur, I will not forgive it by my own hand.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The physicians bowed their heads, receiving the bracelet with respectful postures.

“I will give a separate small token of appreciation to those of you working until night. Let’s go, Irgos.”

Without adding anything more, Ruhan left the infirmary with Irgos.

However, his steps were not as quick as when entering the infirmary, and were a little, just a little slower than usual, though even Irgos, his chief guard, failed to notice.

**

[Latifa.]

Latifa slowly raised her body at the voice heard in the darkness.

“Ugh!”

But the pain in her shoulder was too severe for her to properly raise her body.

‘Ah, right. General Hades threw a pole arm at me. So am I dead?’

Can I rest now?

As she rubbed her aching shoulder, she slowly recalled getting injured while trying to protect Iota.

The Sultan’s audience hall in chaos and people’s shocked faces.

Hades’ blank expression and Ruhan’s urgent face slowly came to mind as Latifa heard the voice again in her ear.

[My Frau.]

Though nothing could be seen in the pitch darkness, Latifa stared straight into the darkness with her eyes wide open.

[No matter what anyone says, stand tall and move forward.] [You have nothing to worry about.]

Quickly realizing who the owner of the continuing voice was, Latifa spoke towards the darkness.

“I trusted you, but look at me now.”

[Become a blazing flame and burn without regrets.]

“I don’t regret it. Even if I went back several times, I would have protected Iota.”

[……]

“Are you disappointed?”

[I thought I had picked up a young hare.]

“I’m doubting again. Whether I can meet your expectations.”

[Latifa.]

“If I hadn’t come to the desert, this terrible thing wouldn’t have happened.”

At that moment, a rough gust of wind carrying the scent of jasmine blew, disheveling her long hair.

“I’m not sure, General Hades. Am I really a person worthy of becoming a goddess?”

[If you say that’s all your worth is, then I have nothing more to say.]

“I was able to come this far because of you, but I’m not sure beyond this. What can I possibly do?”

[Latifa-.] [La-ti.]

The jasmine scent that had enveloped her was gone, and the distant call echoing in the darkness continued to ring in her ears for a long time.

[Laa-tii-fa?!]

Hades’ voice calling Latifa gradually mixed with a strange metallic sound, then changed into an awkward woman’s voice.

[Ti-fa?!]

Along with the awkward voice raising at the end, the ground where Latifa was suddenly gave way, and she flailed her hands in the air.

And finally, as a blinding light poured in, she turned her head away.

[Latii-fa?!]

“Aack!”

“Eeeek!”

As Latifa suddenly opened her eyes with a scream at the bird’s beak that appeared, something rolled over with a crash beside her with a piercing scream.

Flutter, flutter, with the sound of a small bird flapping its wings, Latifa was finally able to gather her wits and look around.

The first thing visible was the ceiling painted with harmonious pumpkin and walnut brown colors and dizzying intricate patterns.

Cream and crimson linen cloths were draped over large arched windows to block the sunlight, casting a soft-colored light throughout the large room.

Looking to the side, there were small cute copper kettles and lamps with pretty roses and hummingbirds painted on their surfaces, giving them more of a cute charm than elegance.

On the golden tray next to it were medicines with a strong herbal scent, but somehow white sugar-coated nuts and small animal-shaped candies were mixed in between.

“La-tifa! She opened her eyes!”

And in front of her view, a small black bird with white tail feathers was flying around, calling Latifa in a strange voice.

‘Is the bird really talking? Or am I using my ability? Where is this?!’

“Oh goodness. If you suddenly shout, you’ll startle me!”

With a ‘heave-ho’ sound, something hopped up next to the head of the bed where Latifa was lying.

‘A girl?’

What popped up right next to her face was a desert girl with slightly brownish black hair cutely disheveled, looking somewhat mischievous.

She looked very young, but was wearing an extremely luxurious golden and purple kaftan. She had plump cheeks that looked like they would sink in if pressed hard, and chubby arms.

‘She looks like a well-roasted marshmallow.’

She showed the back of her hand to Latifa lying down and thrust it out.

“I am Asti Basili. Princess of the Great Grand Bazaar.”

“……”

‘P-princess…?’

“She doesn’t know manners. Doesn’t know! Bird brain!”

As Latifa stared blankly, not knowing how to respond, the black bird perched on the girl’s shoulder and spoke in a woman’s voice, getting angry.

“Be quiet, Tatkan. You’re the bird brain. And that’s an unrefined thing to say.”

‘It’s not a spirit. A real bird is talking.’

Latifa stared at them, frozen stiff in bewilderment.

The girl who introduced herself as Asti Basili scolded the bird and stroked its head.

“Sorry, Asti. Sorry. Hehehe.”

The bird amazingly even imitated human laughter, chuckling, which seemed like it really understood Asti’s words rather than simply mimicking speech.

Asti smiled brightly as she tugged on Latifa’s long silver hair and said,

“Hello, Latifa. I heard you’re my new doll.”

Is it an illusion that the little girl’s innocent smile looks scary?