Maybe a bold lie could work. After all, the affection from Hades hasn’t fully sprouted yet. If I end it here, I can stop it.

“Your Grace.”

A stiff voice flowed out.

“I believe you wouldn’t force me to stay by your side.”

Confusion flitted across Hades’ face. I hurriedly continued, not wanting to lose the gap I had barely created.

“I do not love you, Your Grace. Regardless of what feelings you have for me, I can’t reciprocate them.”

“Do not say things you don’t mean.”

For the first time, a wavering tone was heard in Hades’ voice. I decided to push further. Even if Hades has caught on to my feelings, he won’t have full confidence.

Who wouldn’t be affected when directly told they are disliked?

Even Hades Croitner would be no exception.

“Heh.”

I audibly chuckled.

“Words I don’t mean? This conversation itself is very burdensome to me.”

I took a deep breath for a moment. A good lie contains a grain of truth.

“Yes, it’s true that I had… more than affection for you. But I’ve quickly sorted that out. Do you know why?”

With every word, something pricked deep inside my heart. Is it because I’m lying to Hades? No.

It’s because I’m shattering what I’ve desperately wished for.

I looked directly at him.

For the first time since this conversation began.

“As long as I’m by your side, I’ll always be just a shadow. No matter how hard you try to elevate my status… I will always be your favored consort, and that’s all.”

Hades couldn’t say anything.

Of course, he couldn’t.

He couldn’t kneel and propose to me.

I was a saintess from a poor village, of unknown parentage. Even if Iscariel, the Grand Duke, was my relative, my social status was far too low to become a Duchess.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I have many wishes.”

“And if I grant what you wish for?”

I blinked in surprise. Hades Croitner’s voice was filled with intense emotion.

Something I had rarely seen in him.

“Everyone has something they desire. What I desire is you.”
My face flushed and my eyes stung at the blunt words. I blinked rapidly, trying to hide my tears, but he was close enough to feel my breath, so he must have noticed by now.

“What they want is the Holy Sword.”

My mouth was dry. When had he noticed that?

Hades spoke softly.

“But you, who are so confident that you know well… I’m not so sure.”

His hand lightly overlapped mine. He didn’t grasp it, so I couldn’t feel the warmth, but it was close enough to send tingles.

“What do you want? What should I give you, what should I take… to make you stay by my side?”

My heart pounded madly. What I wanted was to go home. If Hades was with me, defeating the Demon King would make the suspicious Altair and his companions unnecessary.

If, Hades loved and cherished me to that extent…

But the fantasy was brief.

I quickly returned to reality.

Hades Croitner wants me to stay. There’s not a single word in his dictionary about leaving the North, and even if he grants my wish, it will be on the condition that I return to the North someday.

It was obviously impossible.

‘…I can lie.’

It would be easy to deceive him. I intend to defeat the Demon King. If I defeat the Demon King, I’ll stay by his side for life.

But as soon as Hades defeats the Demon King, I will leave him forever and return to reality.

‘That’s betrayal.’

I tightened my lips. A betrayal of that magnitude could turn Hades into a new Demon King.

And he would be consumed by revenge against me.

That couldn’t happen.

The decision wasn’t made for this world of Delatora, which was merely a game.

It was for Hades Croitner, the Duke of Donovan.

“……Hades.”

I opened my mouth slowly.

“What I want is…”

(This is a time separator.)

Never in Hades’ entire life had his senses been so open. All his senses were focused on Angelica, every nerve reacting to her movements and the sounds she made, ignited.

Her voice, soft and sweet as cotton, hung in the air.

“What I want is to leave the North.”

It was a statement that Hades had not anticipated at all.

“With Altair.”