Chapter 27
In that instant, every face present turned deathly pale.
Not only the raging Turegen Consort, but even Empress Sorcate, who had seemed dazed until then, bit her lip as if to rise.
‘Oh dear.’
It would be better if she didn’t. That was what Argana thought.
Just then, Sorcate’s maid pressed firmly down on her shoulder, forcing her to remain seated.
‘Huh?’
Argana’s expression shifted into one of amusement.
Arriving with Ayur, his close aide Isoon, and a train of attendants, the Khan of Astrakhan could hardly restrain his anger—veins bulged blue across his forehead.
“Y-Your Majesty…”
The ashen-faced Turegen Consort belatedly scrambled to offer her respects, but the Khan ignored her and strode straight to Empress Sorcate.
When left behind, Turegen Consort ground her teeth in frustration, only for Argana to nudge Kartak in the side.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Are we just going to keep crouching here? We need to slip in and pretend we just arrived.”
Pretend they had just shown up? Still, Kartak obediently followed her lead.
Meanwhile, the Astrakhan Khan helped the weeping Fourth Empress Sorcate to her feet. His touch and expression were gentle.
Choking on her sobs, Sorcate began to shed great, pearl-like tears.
“Isoon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Fetch the Imperial Physician. The Fourth Empress must be treated.”
“At once.”
Normally, the Imperial Physician attended only the Khan himself. For a mere Fourth Empress—hardly even among the principal wives—to be treated was an extraordinary matter.
Sorcate quickly withdrew a step, clasping her hands to her chest, and bowed.
“My Khan, it is utterly improper. This concubine is well. Please withdraw the order.”
“Pay it no mind.”
Reassuring her, the Khan then whipped his head around toward Turegen Consort, his eyes blazing with fury.
At that moment, Argana and Kartak appeared, as though by coincidence.
“Father.”
Avoiding Ayur’s look of I knew it, Argana greeted the Khan with wide eyes and feigned innocence.
“Father, what has happened here?”
“It is nothing. And you—why are you here?”
“After finishing a spar with Kartak, I thought we’d take a leisurely walk….”
The way Turegen Consort and even Homuja glared at her, as if to kill, was quite amusing. Argana did not bother to hide her smirk as she turned back to the Khan.
“It seems something serious has happened.”
“Serious? Indeed, a most serious matter!”
The Khan turned toward Turegen Consort and thundered.
“Kneel!”
Startled, Turegen collapsed to her knees as if her strength had left her. Her maid Homuja followed, bowing low.
“My Khan, please look kindly upon us as the sun itself. Her Highness meant only—”
“How dare a maid speak first, before the Khan has said a word?!”
At Argana’s icy voice, Homuja trembled violently. The chill of it seemed to freeze her very bones.
“Turegen Consort.”
Bewildered, Turegen raised her head—only for her golden ornaments to tumble down from her hair.
Her face stricken, she stared at them, then bit her lip.
“Do not let your maid make excuses. Speak for yourself. What exactly happened?”
“Y-Your Majesty, it was…”
Argana interjected.
“Could it be that Lady Consort’s anger toward Mother Sorcate was because of my brother Yoshmut?”
Turegen Consort gasped audibly.
Only then did she realize she had made a grave mistake. Instead of flatly denying it, she had reacted with shock, as if to say how did you know?
“Outrageous!”
The Khan’s roar shook the hall. Turegen Consort prostrated herself, trembling.
“Your Majesty, no! It—it is not that!”
“Not so? Then tell me—why did you raise your hand against Empress Sorcate, your superior? I cannot comprehend such insolence. If you have a tongue, use it!”
“Your Majesty, I have been wronged! I only…”
At that moment, Isoon returned with the Imperial Physician, Chaihan.
The physician, seeing Sorcate’s cheek swollen and scratched, was aghast. He immediately opened his medicine chest and withdrew what he needed.
“Ah…”
“It will sting, but I must disinfect the wound. Please endure it.”
Tears welled once more in Sorcate’s eyes. The Khan, frowning with pity and displeasure, asked:
“How is she?”
Chaihan bowed.
“Since you ask, Your Majesty: Her Ladyship’s cheek is badly swollen, and she has claw marks that bled. For several days she must be thoroughly disinfected and treated with ointment. Even after the wound heals, she must apply the salve I prescribe three times daily, or it will scar.”
“See it done.”
Chaihan silently inclined his head and continued treatment.
As the Khan turned his furious face back toward Turegen Consort, Argana spoke again.
“Homija—such fine shoes you’re wearing.”
The maid, who had been lying flat as if dead, flinched.
At Argana’s words, not only the Khan but also Turegen Consort and Ayur examined the soles of the maid’s shoes peeking from beneath her hem. Ayur frowned.
“Guards, remove that maid’s shoes.”
“N-no! How could you—”
“Do it!”
Attendants rushed forward, pinning Homuja’s struggling limbs and tearing off her shoes.
Flung to the ground, she covered her face, shaking violently.
Her mistress, Turegen Consort, turned just as pale beside her.
Ayur examined the shoes closely, then clicked his tongue.
“What is it?” the Khan demanded.
“Father, these shoes are excessively lavish. They imitate the red silk shoes of the western provinces. The embroidery is done with silver thread, and the soles are carved with plum-blossom patterns. They are extremely costly.”
Argana added,
“Last time, she was wearing an expensive jade bracelet. Now, these red silk shoes?”
“Th-that…”
“Even imitations of such shoes are far too costly for a maid. They are gifts fit only for consorts or empresses of the inner court.”
The Khan’s brows twitched. Homuja’s face turned a sickly green.
“How very fine indeed.”
The Khan glared at Turegen Consort, voice simmering.
“Very fine! If the mistress of this palace is so arrogant and presumptuous, is it any wonder her maid dares indulge in such luxury as well?!”
Only royalty and certain nobles were permitted gold-threaded garments or shoes; violators were harshly punished. Silver thread was treated somewhat more leniently, but it was still strictly forbidden.
And jade bracelets? How could a mere maid possess such treasures unless they were bribes?
“Guards!”
The Khan’s soldiers stepped forward. Pointing at Turegen Consort and Homuja, he gave his order in an icy, merciless voice.
“Take Consort Turegen to her quarters! She is to be confined, and no one is to enter or leave without my permission. As for this maid—send her to the Penal Office and give her thirty lashes!”
“Your Majesty! Forgive me, please! I will never again—Your Majesty!”
“Take them away!”
The soldiers moved without hesitation.
Crying and pleading, Turegen Consort and the struggling Homuja were dragged out of the pavilion in an instant.
