Hades acknowledged that his infatuation was profoundly intense.

The face that claimed not to understand even appeared endearing to him.

Certainly, if it had been him just three months ago, he would have considered it foolish.

However, Hades thought.

‘Wasn’t the mistake… in my eyes back then?’

Ignoring such an adorable being, describing it as pitiful and wretched, it was clear what had been wrong with him then.

Hades, unaware that his thoughts had changed just moments ago, opened his mouth once more.

“I thought I was quite charming, but it seems your standards are higher than the imperial mountains.”

“……!”

Angelica’s eyes widened, her small mouth trembling, her eyes becoming as round as her surprised face.

“That is……!”

“What is?”

Hades smiled gently.

The hand he had extended still awkwardly hovered in the air, but it didn’t feel annoying or unpleasant.

Rather, he would have been suspicious if Angelica had hurriedly grasped his hand.

Wondering what other tricks were turning in that small head of hers.

“I, I……”

Angelica trembled, taking a few steps back, only to bump into a wall.

Hades didn’t approach her any further. Angelica was bold and fearless but also had delicate tendencies. Pressing her further in this situation would likely not achieve his aims.

Finally, Angelica spoke coherent words.

“I can’t be with Your Highness.”

“I would like to know the reason.”

Expecting such a response, Hades calmly asked the question.

“But that would be difficult?”

“……Yes.”

Another important fact about Angelica. She had many secrets. Secrets that she hesitated to voice, secrets that startled her when someone noticed.

Hades didn’t plan on delving deep into those secrets. He had verified that she had no significant wrongdoing in her past; it was merely punctuated with abuse.

He didn’t want to blame the various events that had occurred from a small mining village to Donovan.

But if those secrets made Angelica unhappy, then that was another story.

“Is it something I can solve?”

“……”

“Can you solve it on your own?”

“……”

Angelica only stood there, her mouth firmly shut. Seeing this, another possibility crossed his mind.

“…Do you need the power of this Altair?”

For a brief moment.

A surprised look flashed across Angelica’s face—a more than sufficient clue for Hades.

He withdrew the hand he had extended toward Angelica. Seeing her somewhat relax was bittersweet, but all of this had been expected.

Except for one thing.

He closed the distance he had so far avoided with Angelica. Now with her back fully against the wall, Angelica had nowhere to go and simply stared blankly at Hades.

“Just say the word. I’ll help you use that man.”

(This is a time separator.)

Hades Croitner is… not in his right mind.

That was the conclusion I quickly came to.

What does he know about me to court me, and even offer to help me use Altair?

He didn’t even seem interested in prying into my secrets.

But why is it so hard to reject Hades?

I muttered to myself.

Hades is someone with the power and capability to move Altair. So, it’s natural to be tempted by his offer. It’s a way to easily solve a difficult problem.

But deep down, I felt differently.

Hades wasn’t merely extending a simple favor to me. His fondness had turned into affection, and he was courting me as a man.

To be honest, it’s burdensome.

However…

‘I can’t just say it’s burdensome.’
First, I was thankful. The fact that Hades thought of me that way. In a world where I couldn’t properly connect with anyone, achieving nothing, Hades, a massive and stable anchor, held me steady while I was struggling with the variable called Altair.

Secondly, I was happy. Hades Croitner was undoubtedly a charming man. If the circumstances were different, I might have already fallen for him.

In fact, once I got to know him, he was very similar to the real Leto of Leodel in character.

Of course, Leto wasn’t as noble as Hades, and Hades wasn’t as simple as Leto, but fundamentally, they both terribly disliked those around them.

What about obligation?

Leto knew that if he did not defeat the Demon King, many people would suffer and die. When the Demon King’s plans were revealed, Leto saved far more people than he initially thought.

The degree of Hades’ obsessive desire to protect Donovan was also similar to his.

The problem was…

‘How am I supposed to leave Altair like this?’

My face was flushed. Would Hades know? The ‘secret’ that I can’t talk about, that I need to leave with Altair.

And that his offer only hastens the day I leave.

At that moment, I realized.

‘…It’s not for any other reason.’

There was another reason why I couldn’t accept his offer.

I didn’t want to leave Donovan. I liked Donovan Castle with its cheerful and quick Amy and the deep William Duke, along with knights who followed me well.

Once you leave this place, it’s hard to come back. I would be pushed out from a comfortable life into a harsh world.

‘It wasn’t about Iscariel.’