Chapter 41
Argana ground her teeth softly. Her clenched fists trembled.
Kartak realized that she was truly angry.
It was a side of her he had never seen before, and suddenly her words—about returning from death—felt startlingly real.
“Calm down, Wihui.”
As he reached out to soothe her, the tension in Argana’s entire body began to ease.
Some of the anger and pain she had been feeling escaped in a long exhale.
With a steadier composure, Argana spoke.
“I kept thinking over and over about what was said back then. I even tried to consider that maybe it was just poor choice of words. But no. Ishuder was smiling at that time.”
“Smiling?”
“Yes. He was smiling. So my real target is actually Ishuder. Yoshmuth is just a small fry.”
Kartak couldn’t argue with her.
It was an incomprehensible feeling that someone could laugh in front of a child whose corner of the world had crumbled.
‘He does have some hidden depths. But then, which of the princes wouldn’t?’
Those who returned victorious, including General Orchai, received the Khan’s commendation.
Every one of them who had distinguished themselves was promoted. Some even jumped two or three ranks at once.
Argana summoned Tu Hua to the Yeonseo Pavilion, which was a little distance from her quarters.
The pavilion rose above a pond, and during the season, hundreds of lotus flowers would bloom, creating a breathtaking sight.
But for now, not a single lotus flower appeared. Last year’s leaves floated on the water with a dark, faded hue.
Like fools clinging stubbornly to times gone by.
Still, there was a reason Argana chose this place.
At this time of year, no one came to the Yeonseo Pavilion intentionally, making it easy to have a private conversation.
Careful yet heavy footsteps approached, and from behind a towering golden osmanthus tree, Tu Hua appeared.
The moment he met Argana’s eyes, he dropped to his knees.
“Lieutenant Tu Hua, I greet Your Highness.”
“Stand up. The floor is cold.”
In this season, soldiers usually wore padded guards on their knees or elbows.
But Tu Hua had none.
It wasn’t that there was no one to make them for him—it was likely due to his family’s circumstances.
“Sit.”
“Your Highness, I am honored.”
Barta brought steaming hot tea.
Argana gestured for him to drink, and Tu Hua, unsure what to do, blushed and fumbled before gripping the cup with both hands and taking a sip. His hands were so large the teacup looked like a child’s toy in them.
Argana laughed and asked,
“Why so careful? It’s just tea.”
“I apologize. I’ve only trained in wielding a sword, not in proper etiquette, so I feared committing a breach of manners.”
“It’s just the two of us. Drink comfortably. If you like, you can gulp it down like liquor.”
Although she said that, it wasn’t truly just the two of them. Barta, the soldiers guarding Argana, and her maidservants were lined up at a distance.
Even so, Tu Hua knew that her words about ‘just the two of us’ were true. Without her command, no one would eavesdrop.
With ears closed, even if conversation occurred, no one would report it.
“In the palace, keep your mouth and ears shut and only open your eyes. That’s the basic rule for low-ranking soldiers like us.”
He recalled this from when he first entered the palace and became a ‘Bosa,’ the lowest rank among the soldiers.
Argana, with far more elegance than Tu Hua, took a sip of tea and let out a low sigh before speaking.
“You’ve been promoted to lieutenant. Normally, one would congratulate you for that…”
“……”
“I wonder if that’s really the right thing to do. What do you think?”
Tu Hua swallowed nervously.
His original rank was Yongbuwei, just one step below lieutenant.
Though his rank had been elevated to staff lieutenant, it was still an insignificant reward for someone who had assisted the general in an important war and earned distinction.
“If only I had known sooner, I would have petitioned His Majesty myself. What a pity.”
“No, Your Highness. I have made many mistakes, but I must offer infinite gratitude to the general for overlooking them, and to the Great Khan for his grace and generosity.”
Tu Hua was loyal. He did what he believed was right, without concern for rank.
Argana knew this very well, yet…
‘Still, I need officials on my side. Military men are easier to handle than civil officials. Lately, General Orchai has been acting strange. He wasn’t like this before…’
That’s why she chose Tu Hua, yet a subtle discomfort lingered—as if the first step had already faltered.
Khan Astrahan was strict about rewards and punishment. Considering Tu Hua’s achievements, he should at least have been granted the rank of Zhonglangjiang (a military post about 5–6 ranks higher than Yongbuwei).
“…Anyway, a promotion is a promotion. Congratulations. Today is just a modest cup of tea, but next time will be different.”
Her words carried weight. Tu Hua, overwhelmed with joy that such a distinguished princess trusted him so completely, bowed his head to the table as if ready to bury himself in it.
“I pledge my loyalty and faithfulness to Your Highness.”
Argana shook her head with a smile.
“Thank you, but it’s not the time for such words yet. For now, just focus on your duties.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Would he have grasped the deeper meaning in her words, “for now”? Being a simple man, probably not, but it didn’t matter.
‘When the time comes and I need him, he will come running without hesitation, even at the risk of his life.’
What Argana needed most now was people.
It was something she had never seriously considered before.
To create one’s own ‘people’—that was the foundation of power struggles. But back then…
‘I was laughably naive. Even knowing about the competition with my brothers, I never thought any of them could harm me. Even after seeing what happened to Tirsalan…’
The reason she now paid such attention to the child was out of guilt.
If she hadn’t completely separated the child’s death from her own situation, how could she have remained so carefree in the succession struggle?
This time, she would make no mistakes. Argana vowed again to do everything she could, to gather everything—people or spirits—to defend her position.
‘And I will also improve my father’s health.’
Emerging from her long, silent contemplation, Argana lowered her voice and asked Tu Hua,
“What became of the investigation I asked you to conduct?”
Before his deployment, she had instructed him to find out if the poison masters could handle poisons that were colorless, tasteless, and odorless.
Loyal Tu Hua carried out her orders faithfully, even in situations where arrows and swords could fly at any moment.
“I apologize, Your Highness. I was able to obtain some information from the poison experts, but I could not find anything regarding the triple ‘no’ poison you mentioned.”
