Chapter 38
“Is that true?”
Astrahan Khan’s expression brightened at once. Others followed suit, and especially at Argana’s lips spread a triumphant smile.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Tatullai of Jindan bows before Your Majesty’s shining renown, and has sworn henceforth to place nothing above obedience to Your Majesty’s command. Congratulations, Your Majesty!”
The Khan threw his head back in booming laughter and turned to his daughter, Argana, with a proud expression.
Since she had been the one to first seize the thread of this war, his eyes were full of the desire to lavish praise upon her.
But Argana, quick to sense it, spoke first.
“Father, congratulations. Thanks to Your Majesty’s mercy, Tatullai has at last fallen into our hands.”
“It is your merit, Wiwhi. By your resourcefulness, the people of the East are safe from the vicious hordes of Jindan.”
“You praise me too highly.”
Smiling faintly and bowing her head, Argana caught sight of the Empress Ayulshiran’s darkened expression. It was obvious she disliked that only Argana had been praised in Auyur’s presence.
Argana quickly noticed the Empress’s displeasure and, smiling toward the Khan, bowed again.
“Father, I shall take my leave now. I promised to show a painting to Tirsalan.”
“Very well, go.”
Astrahan Khan, seemingly having forgotten all about Yoshimut and Lady Turegen, sent her off with a cheerful face. Then he ordered Isun to have the palace cooks prepare some treats to be sent after her.
Isun, too, smiled warmly.
“Your Majesty must still see the Princess as a little child. You always send her rice cakes or sweets.”
“What child is ever grown in a father’s eyes?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
“Wiwhi likes them with honey. See that they are made so, and choose something with a fine fragrance.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After that, Astrahan Khan only cast a fleeting glance at Empress Ayulshiran and then returned to his chambers.
Rising demurely to see him off, Ayulshiran pressed her lips tight and swallowed a sigh. At this, Auyur spoke.
“Mother, what troubles you?”
“……Does not His Majesty go too far?”
Looking in the direction the Khan had gone, Auyur gave a short laugh.
“Why so? It is only natural he praised Argana. It was she who told him Tatullai must be captured.”
“Do you think I do not know? I know well. But there is also the Prince’s merit in uncovering the tyranny of Yoshimut and Lady Turegen. Yet His Majesty does not say a single word of it……”
“Come now, Mother. Most of that was Argana’s doing as well.”
The corners of Ayulshiran’s eyes sharpened in irritation, then softened again in resignation.
“Prince, have you no ambition?”
“What ambition should I have against my younger sister? Come now, Mother, don’t be upset. Let me pour you some tea. Now that I think of it, we received an excellent tea not long ago, but I’ve yet to taste it. Please, let me try it with you now.”
At Auyur’s smooth talk, Ayulshiran finally eased her heart a little, smiling as if unwilling but unable to resist.
Supporting his mother as they walked slowly, Auyur spoke again.
“Still, Yoshimut having incurred such debts is a disgrace to the royal house.”
Ayulshiran gave a derisive snort.
“Not a single coin of the royal treasury can be wasted. The Turegen clan must bear the responsibility.”
“Will they, though? Lord Turegen……”
“If His Majesty commands it, would they dare refuse?”
Even so, Auyur tilted his head with a doubtful look. Suddenly, Ayulshiran stopped in her tracks and looked up at her son.
“Auyur, don’t even think of pleading with His Majesty for Yoshimut’s sake. Do you want to see this mother’s heart burn away entirely?”
At that, Auyur’s eyes flickered guiltily, slowly shifting to the side.
“As if I would.”
“Truly! Do you think I don’t know your nature, my son? If you keep covering for him, it will only bring harm upon you!”
“I know, Mother, I know.”
“I’m already furious enough because of the mistress of Hangchun Palace……”
By that she meant the Second Empress, Marata, mother of Ischuder.
For the first time, a trace of hostility showed on Auyur’s usually relaxed face.
“What of Lady Marata? Did she show you disrespect?”
“I don’t even want to say. It vexes me too much……”
“Tell me, so I can set it right for you.”
“Enough. It is something I can handle myself. But in any case, not a single word must be spoken in defense of Yoshimut. Do you understand?”
“……Yes, I understand.”
He answered politely, but Auyur’s eyes now glinted with a harshness they had never shown before.
“Wiwhi, you’re eating too much.”
Kartak scolded as he watched Argana polish off her seventh pastry, fried in oil and drenched in honey.
But Argana, with crumbs on her lips like a child, only widened her eyes as if to say what nonsense was this.
“Yoshimut’s been cast out, and I feel so relieved—can’t I even eat sweets to my heart’s content?”
“I’m only worried you’ll upset your stomach.”
“I won’t, not from this.”
“All right, all right.”
Kartak gave in with a wave and beckoned her closer. When Argana leaned her face forward, he reached out and brushed away the crumbs at her lips.
His smooth, large hand touched her mouth and withdrew. She only grinned impishly, as if nothing unusual had happened, but Kartak’s heart suddenly grew restless.
“Thanks.”
Argana spoke, but Kartak mumbled vaguely, lost in thought.
As a child, with her round eyes and plump lips, Auyur used to tease that she looked like “a rabbit with claws.” Now those lips had grown softly red, curved in a graceful line, and the realization made his heart pound so hard his vision spun.
“You always eat meals so neatly, yet with sweets you always smear them on yourself.”
Wiping his hand on a clean cloth, Kartak quickly tried to change the subject before his wandering gaze was noticed.
But Argana had already caught it. He had stolen a glance at her lips—her lips, of all things.
‘What, did he think I wouldn’t notice?’
It was as childish as a child competing out of sheer stubbornness. Yet meeting Kartak’s face so close, she couldn’t help but feel strangely unsettled.
His elegant, jade-like features, the precision of his every gesture—suddenly none of it seemed ordinary.
‘And I used to wonder why girls squealed over him……’
Even when rumors spread that maidens fell ill from secretly pining for Kartak, Argana used to tease him: “What on earth do they see in you?”
But only now, without intending it, did she realize anew how strikingly handsome Kartak’s face was—one of the very finest in the empire.
What was this feeling? Not anger, yet not entirely pleasant either……
Ah.
‘Somehow, it’s irritating.’
Had Kartak known her thought, he would have been exasperated to no end. Argana pouted deliberately.
“I just want to enjoy my sweets in peace. Besides, you’re the only one here.”
“So in front of me, you don’t need to keep your manners?”
“Of course not. If I had to act like a princess even with you, I’d suffocate and keel over.”
“Hearing such words from you—I must be living long indeed.”
Kartak joked playfully, then suddenly stiffened, pressing his lips shut.
“What’s wrong?”
Argana asked. Kartak, looking as guilty as a child who broke a vase, hesitated before speaking.
“It’s just… I think I said something careless.”
“Careless? What do you mean?”
Her tone held no suspicion, only genuine curiosity. At last, after much hesitation, he confessed.
“You… didn’t live long, and yet I said ‘you must be living long’……”
“What?”
Argana burst into laughter.
Kartak, scowling, nudged her shoulder with his fist.
“What’s so funny?”
“Why worry about something like that? You’re a man, aren’t you?”
“It’s not about being a man or woman. I’m your friend… so I think of your feelings.”
Even as he spoke, Argana couldn’t stop laughing. Kartak sighed inwardly.
‘She’s so dull. I’m the fool for worrying.’
Then it happened.
As she laughed uncontrollably, her body bent forward, her laughter dwindling into silence. Her rounded shoulders hunched, and—
“What’s wrong?”
Kartak leaned down, puzzled. A drop of water fell from beneath Argana’s chin.
When he saw the tear spreading into a circle on the floor, Kartak leapt to his feet in alarm.
“Wiwhi!”
