The thing I need to tell Hades now, what I hope he would believe is…
‘The Demon King’s plan.’
I pressed myself against Hades and whispered in his ear.
“I must go with Altair to defeat the Demon King.”
As I pulled away, Hades’ face had completely stiffened.
“…Go on.”
Relief mixed with bitterness surged over me like a tidal wave.
‘I will really be leaving.’
If Hades believes my words, he will surely let me go.
‘…I don’t want to leave.’
That feeling, no longer new, sharply jabbed a corner of my heart.
“The Demon King is currently planning to destroy the empire. If winter passes, it’ll be too late. We must go now to defeat the Demon King to save the empire.”
Not a muscle moved in Hades’ face. Anxious, I continued to speak quickly.
“And if the empire falls into the Demon King’s hands, Donovan will not be safe either. The Demon King’s next target is certainly Donovan. And Hades is…”
Hades’ eyebrows twitched.
“You’re saying I would lose to the Demon King.”
“That’s not what I’m saying!”
I hastily denied Hades’ words.
“You know how much I trust you, Hades. But you’ll surely fight alone, and that’s too reckless, and the Demon King’s forces are too…”
“I get it.”
Hades’ expression softened very slightly.
“If the empire is swallowed up, how could I protect all of Donovan. It was just a rhetorical question.”
Hades laughed audibly, but there was no laughter in his eyes.
“I wondered if you disliked me that much.”
I pressed my body against Hades. Though both of us were wearing thick clothes, the warmth and scent felt close enough.
“…I know how powerful Your Highness is. More than anyone else.”
I could say it with confidence.
I had fought Hades several times.
In the game, Hades Croitner is the enemy, and the player is the protagonist. That means Hades can only lose to the player.
But still, Hades showed enough strength.
Hades stared into space for a moment.
“Yes, that’s what I mean.”
“Aren’t you curious how I found out?”
Hades’ gaze turned back to me.
“Do I have to say it ten times? I’m not interested in your past. The real you is the one beside me now.”
Suddenly, I was at a loss for words. My face flushed, and my body stiffened like a log at the faith and trust, and love, in Hades’ words.
“……”
“There’s something I’m a little curious about.”
Hades asked in a tone lost in thought.
“If, as you say, the Demon King is plotting something, and we need to kill him before he executes his plan with someone named Altair……”
Impossible.
I stared at him intently. He couldn’t possibly say what I was thinking. Hades Croitner was not that irresponsible. On the contrary.
Hades Croitner would never leave Donovan. He was the northern wall, the guardian of Donovan. If he left, the north would crumble.
“It seems the proper method is for you to defend the castle, and I kill the Demon King.”
I opened my mouth in astonishment.
On hearing it…… it made perfect sense.
I had defended Donovan’s duchy several times from demons, and I was confident I could do it without Hades.
Moreover, since Altair was also a player, he would know how to kill the Demon King. So it was better for Hades to join him than for a powerless saint like Angelica to go.
The problem was……
‘Then I can’t go back!’
My mouth went dry. This was one fact I couldn’t reveal to Hades. Therefore, I had no other reason to persuade him.
“I’ll have to talk to this Altair person. Right now.”
Hades moved quickly.
If I had just a bit more composure, I would have grabbed him right away. But I was panicking, and I could only watch him walk away leisurely.
I came to my senses a moment later. My head was spinning in the tangled situation, but one thing was clear.
‘I have to meet Altair first!’
If Altair was as I suspected, he would accept Hades’ proposal without a second thought and exploit it. I started running at full speed towards Altair’s room.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
