Chapter 15
“Will this really work? I don’t think she’s the type to open her mouth so easily.”
Kartak asked with a worried frown.
Argana stood with her arms tightly crossed, lost in thought, before finally speaking.
“Regardless, Turegen Bi is my senior. Without clear evidence, we can’t just recklessly drag up her underlings.”
Summoning them one by one? No—that, too, seemed odd.
Argana had almost no personal dealings with Turegen Bi. If she or anyone under her command approached, Turegen Bi would instantly grow suspicious.
And entrusting the matter to someone untrustworthy left an unpleasant taste. Argana was the sort of person who took a long time before allowing others her trust.
It was for this reason that even the lowliest attendants in her household carried pride in being “the Princess’s people.”
“It’ll be best if I go meet Turegen Bi myself.”
At Argana’s unexpected words, Kartak’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What? You mean to go to her in person?”
“The surest way to examine an enemy is to walk right into their camp. On the battlefield, you’d be greeted with arrows and swords, but luckily in Turegen Bi’s palace, that won’t be the case.”
“So… you plan to stay in her palace and observe things from within?”
“Exactly. And Kartak, you’ll come with me.”
Kartak visibly grimaced. He disliked Turegen Bi—perhaps even more than Argana did.
“I’d rather keep as far away from that woman as possible…”
“I know you don’t like people like her. But I can’t do this alone. Barta has to stay with me, and I can’t just send one of my maids wandering around Turegen Bi’s palace asking questions.”
“And you want me to play that part instead.”
“That’s right.”
Kartak gave a soft groan, brushing his hair back from his forehead as he closed his eyes.
“All right. I promised to help you, and I intend to keep that promise. I won’t make myself into some petty man who can’t even hold to his word.”
A smile spread across Argana’s lips.
Her expression was as bright and guileless as the summer winds dancing across the desert sands, striking straight into Kartak’s heart.
“Thank you. I’ll send for you soon—be ready.”
Flushing, Kartak ducked his head to hide his reddened ears. Only after taking a deep breath did he manage to return to a calm expression.
“Fine. I’ll be waiting.”
Turegen Bi paced in circles, agitation written all over her face, before snapping her sleeve in irritation.
The sharp crack made the maids flinch. They bent their backs lower still, trembling as though expecting a whip to fall at any moment.
“Why is he taking so long!”
Her red lips curled in anger.
Homuzha, her chief confidante and closest maid, soothed her in a gentle, steady voice.
“Please be patient, my lady. His Highness the Prince is simply… well-connected. With so many friends both inside and outside the palace, it takes time. Let’s wait a little longer.”
“But the Khan himself sent word for him to attend this meal! For him not to show is a disgrace—a shameful slight! The Khan has told us time and again: carry yourself with propriety, for his eyes are always upon you!”
Turegen Bi collapsed into her seat with a weary sigh.
Homuzha signaled to another maid to quickly bring a drink, then continued smoothly.
“My lady, there is nothing to fear. His Highness Yoshmut is more sociable and outgoing than the other princes. Look at the Fourth Prince, Tesiyed, or the Fifth, Yetekerid. Useless, the both of them, unable even to gather followers of their own.”
“Hmph! Don’t you dare compare my son to the likes of them.”
“That is exactly my point.”
Turegen Bi’s lips twitched irritably.
“But look at Ishuder and Ayur. From childhood, they were clever and favored deeply by the Khan. They are so well-mannered they would never mingle with those ruffians of the streets.”
“Even so, both of them pale beside Princess Argana, do they not?”
Turegen Bi’s expression darkened further.
Clenching her fist so hard it hurt, she pounded the low table with a sharp crack.
“That girl is a thorn in my eye! A woman should behave like one—marry where she is told and stay quiet! Even the princes don’t freely come and go from the Khan’s quarters. Yet she dares?!”
“She is the only daughter, the only princess. That is why His Majesty dotes on her so. But think, my lady. In the end, she is still a woman. No matter how high she climbs, she will be nothing more than someone’s wife.”
“So?”
“The Fourth Prince, the Fifth, and that green Sixth who still has bruises on his backside—we can dismiss them outright. If Ishuder and Ayur turn against each other, making turmoil in the palace, do you think the Khan will continue to trust them as he does now?”
Homuzha’s voice grew softer, honeyed, whenever she whispered schemes or slander. To others, it might have sounded like a snake’s hiss. But to Turegen, who only ever heard what she wished to hear, those words were sweet.
“Hmph. So you mean, in the end, our Yoshmut is destined to win the Khan’s favor?”
“Not just win it, my lady—he will become the only one.”
Because succession could never be spoken of openly, Homuzha let her words trail there.
Turegen laughed aloud, shrill and triumphant.
“Yes, yes! You are right. My son has both wit and charm, and his sociability puts the others to shame. When the Khan sees that the rest are nothing but shadows, he will finally recognize Yoshmut’s true worth.”
“Indeed, my lady. Without doubt.”
They were still laughing in their own discordant tones when the curtains at the far end suddenly snapped aside with a clatter.
Yoshmut entered with a sullen face, looking thoroughly displeased.
“We greet Your Highness, the Prince.”
Ignoring Homuzha entirely, Yoshmut gave only the faintest nod to his mother and slumped into a chair with all the grace of a sulky child.
“Mother, why send people scurrying after me like that? Men, women, all screeching and bawling in the streets—it ruined everything!”
“Prince, this is the imperial palace. Mind your tongue. Many ears are listening.”
But Yoshmut only clicked his tongue and looked away, caring nothing for her rebuke.
Strangely, Turegen did not press the matter. Instead, she adjusted her posture and stroked the rings on her plump white fingers.
“The Khan has summoned you.”
“Father has?”
Yoshmut’s voice rose in alarm, and a sly smile crept onto Turegen’s lips.
No matter how he plays the wastrel, when the Khan calls, his ears prick right up.
The thought reassured her. Her son had not yet abandoned hope of gaining his father’s eye.
But Yoshmut himself sat stricken with dread.
Had it finally been discovered—that he had stolen goods from the women’s treasury? The thought made his heart lurch and cold sweat bead on his palms.
