Chapter 18
At that moment, Argana did not miss the flicker of unease that crossed Homuja’s eyes.
Though she didn’t show it with Turegen Bi right before her, Homuja was struggling hard to wrench her arm free from Argana’s grip.
What strength is this…?!
Having lived as the capricious Turegen Bi’s handmaiden, Homuja was seasoned in labor and surprisingly strong—strong enough to confidently arm wrestle most men and not lose.
Yet Argana held her fast without so much as twitching an eyebrow, smiling serenely all the while, leaving Homuja completely immobilized.
“Though I hadn’t meant to pry, that’s quite a fine jade bracelet you wear.”
“N-no, Your Highness, it’s just…”
Turegen Bi cut her off with a sharp, pointed cough.
“Homuja, what insolence is this? When the Princess takes interest in you, you should be grateful. Show it here.”
There was no way out now.
Biting the inside of her lips, Homuja carefully slid the bracelet from her wrist and laid it on the table.
“Indeed, a piece of the highest quality.”
Argana’s eyes gleamed with interest.
The bracelet Homuja had worn was of remarkably fine jade—a translucent pale green, like rainwater falling in summer.
Argana was not the only one to notice its value.
Turegen Bi stared down at the bracelet with a look of astonishment, then fixed Homuja with a sharp glare.
“Such clear jade is exceedingly rare and difficult to acquire…”
Argana began leisurely, then smiled sweetly at Turegen Bi.
“I suppose it must have been bestowed upon her by you, Mother.”
The words carried a barbed implication: how else could a mere handmaiden possess such a treasure?
Turegen Bi had been about to affirm it—uneasy though she felt at the trap laid before her—when she thought better of it and quickly amended:
“I appreciate that the Princess praises my generosity. Indeed, Homuja has often devoted herself to my service, and at times I’ve rewarded her. But… this, I did not give her.”
Homuja’s shoulders trembled. A tiny movement, but Argana caught it instantly—clear proof that she was deeply flustered.
Turegen Bi’s voice turned cold.
“Speak, Homuja. Who gave you this?”
“My lady, it was…”
“Answer me!”
At the harsh, almost screaming rebuke, Homuja lost her composure and gasped in fear.
“M-my lady, the truth is… it, it was a gift… from His Highness, Prince Yoshmut…”
“What?”
The color drained from Turegen Bi’s face.
Her son’s name—here, of all places?
Had her handmaiden merely hidden away a trinket too costly for her station, Turegen Bi could have smoothed things over.
But with Yoshmut’s name invoked, and Argana present to hear it, she could not so easily bury the matter.
Who knows what this wretch might whisper to the Khan… Homuja, damn you!
Turegen Bi shot her handmaiden a venomous glare, then feigned a sip of tea, speaking in a deliberately nonchalant tone.
“How curious. And why would Yoshmut give you such a thing?”
“My lady, the Prince… he told me to serve you more faithfully, and… bestowed it upon me…”
“And why did you not tell me? Did you think I would covet a servant’s trinkets?”
It was little more than baseless scolding, but Homuja dropped to her knees in fright, about to beg forgiveness—
—when Argana let out a soft “Ho,” as if cooling her tea.
The pretense was so brazen that it only deepened Turegen Bi’s irritation.
“Mother is ever generous and benevolent toward her attendants. My brother must have taken after you in that regard. Surely, thinking of his filial concern for you, we should not be too harsh on Homuja.”
Turegen Bi’s lips twitched violently as she glared at Homuja.
More than Argana’s mockery, it was her handmaiden’s betrayal that enraged her most in that moment.
“Spare me, my lady, I beg you…”
Homuja’s voice trembled.
Suppressing the urge to kick her then and there, Turegen Bi turned aside with a chilling look.
“Enough. Stop causing a scene and leave.”
“Y-yes, at once, my lady.”
Face flooded with relief as if reprieved from execution, Homuja scrambled away.
But in her haste, her long skirts flared, revealing the shoes beneath.
Argana’s eyes gleamed once again.
The shoes Homuja wore were not of the palace issue for handmaidens.
The leather was far finer, the heels embroidered with dyed silk threads.
Those must be worth a fair sum too. Turegen Bi would never have gifted such luxuries, and no servant’s wages could cover them… Yet she wears them so casually…
Argana sipped her tea, her thoughts circling as her gaze lingered on the direction Homuja had gone.
Could it be…?
“But anyway.”
Turegen Bi’s voice cut into her speculation.
“How fares His Majesty these days? He never visits me, and when I try to call, Isun turns me away at the door. How am I to know anything?”
Her tone was full of grievance, as though she were cruelly neglected.
Argana set down her nearly empty cup and smiled with a show of sympathy.
“Father is ever mindful of Dar’s peace. From early morning until late at night he never sets aside his duties. Naturally, it saddens me to think that Mother and the other ladies must feel slighted.”
“I do not deny he is busy. But surely he might spare a moment to see me. Is his health not important too?”
Argana only smiled politely, while Turegen Bi continued her childish complaints.
“Why, the other day I procured rare spirit mushrooms and made a nourishing soup for him. Do you know what Isun said? That His Majesty felt overheated of late and told me to drink it myself! Can you imagine?”
“Isun has long served Father. I’m certain he was only thinking of Father’s wellbeing. Please, do not take it too much to heart.”
“Hmph. Easy for the Princess to say, since you can see him whenever you please.”
Turegen Bi was just winding up into a full litany of complaints when Argana’s ears pricked toward the doorway.
By now, Kartak ought to have arrived…
“My lady.”
As expected.
Argana inclined her head slightly, smiling.
“What is it?”
“Forgive me, but the Crown Prince of Tahijin requests an urgent word with Her Highness.”
“From Tahijin?”
Turegen Bi’s plump lips curled as she stared hard at Argana.
“Are you still consorting with him?”
“Mother, you make it sound like some secret tryst. Kartak is my childhood companion. Gentle and wise, with much I can learn from him.”
“Hmph. He’s still only a prince of a vassal state. Do not spend so much time with him. Idle rumors could tarnish your future.”
Argana kept her face serene, smiling and nodding dutifully.
“Yes, I understand. I shall remember your words well.”
She offered a courteous bow to the dowager, who barely deigned to look at her, then turned away—her lips curving in a victorious smile.
Kartak was waiting where the palace courtyard began.
The moment he sensed her presence, he turned, glanced around quickly, then seized her hand and whispered urgently:
“I’ve found out. You won’t believe it.”
Argana continued walking as if nothing had happened, her voice just as quiet.
“Don’t tell me… the culprit is Homuja?”
