Chapter 3
Kartak Vidar was Argana’s one and only precious childhood friend—and also the crown prince of the Kingdom of Tahijin.
Among the many vassal states that had sworn loyalty to the Dar Empire, Tahijin, Kartak’s homeland, was the most prosperous.
A vassal state that possessed capabilities across multiple areas was bound to be a subject of caution. As such, Astrahan Khan summoned the heirs of several such states, including Tahijin, to stay in the empire.
Kartak, too, arrived in the Dar Empire at the tender age of seven as Tahijin’s successor and crown prince.
Though it was essentially a hostage situation, Kartak was able to grow somewhat fond of life in the empire after becoming close to Princess Argana.
“I’m fine.”
Gently brushing away Kartak’s hand, Argana looked at him with renewed eyes.
Having grown up together, practically like siblings, Argana was willing to do anything for Kartak—and the same went for him.
Argana thought back to the time before her death, when she had been this exact age.
The crown princes from the vassal states who came to the empire at seven could only return home after turning nineteen. But Kartak had been allowed to return to Tahijin at seventeen.
“It’s February now… which means there are about three months left before the King of Tahijin falls ill.”
When Argana heard the news of Kartak’s father becoming bedridden, she had personally secured permission from Astrahan Khan to send her dear friend home two years early.
“If I leave now… when will I get to see you again, Argana?”
Back then, Kartak had expressed more sadness about leaving Argana than joy about returning to his homeland.
“What did I say to him then?”
Did I joke that once he became king of Tahijin, I’d be the Khan—and that he should bring me a bunch of gifts?
Though she was overcome with a distant wave of nostalgia and regret, Argana didn’t have time to dwell on her emotions.
In this situation where she couldn’t trust anyone, the only person she could rely on was Kartak.
Since he had returned home before her death, there was no possibility whatsoever that he could have been the culprit.
Still, even Kartak might not believe something as absurd as “I died and came back to life.”
“Kartak, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it? Just say it.”
“Do you remember the promise we made when we were little?”
When Argana asked, Kartak burst out laughing.
“We made so many promises! But I remember most of them. Which one are you talking about?”
“The one where we promised to believe each other—no matter how unbelievable the story sounded. Do you remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. Why? Do you have something shocking to tell me?”
I do, Argana thought. Something really, really shocking.
After hearing everything Argana had been through, Kartak remained silent for a long time.
If it had been the usual Argana, she would’ve already told him to say something, but this time she waited quietly for him.
It’s not like it isn’t a ridiculous story.
A person dies and comes back to life? Travels back into the past?
Even the person who experienced it can barely believe it—how could someone else?
Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything after all.
It was rare for Argana to regret anything, but now she clicked her tongue in frustration.
How much time had passed?
At last, Kartak looked at Argana and opened his mouth.
“I understand what you’re saying, Argana. To be honest, I can’t really wrap my head around it. But I know you’re not someone who would ever make up something so foolish. That much, I know better than anyone.”
His words left Argana blinking in surprise.
“…You believe me? You believe what I said?”
Kartak smiled gently, his eyes softening.
“Didn’t we promise? That we would? Then of course I believe you.”
It was such a simple, straightforward answer that it almost felt anticlimactic.
But Argana was deeply grateful that Kartak had said those words.
Ever since she had returned, she had felt like a lonely bird with nowhere to rest.
It was actually a relief she was physically unwell—otherwise, she might have lost her mind from overthinking everything.
Kartak’s simple, unwavering trust—“I believe you”—was all she had ever wanted.
“I told you because I think you’re the only one who can help me. I’m going to find out who tried to kill me.”
“Of course you should.”
Kartak’s expression briefly turned fierce.
Though he was always gentle when he was with Argana, that wasn’t his true nature.
“There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
“Go ahead, anything.”
“Before I died… I was the one who got permission from my father to send you back to Tahijin. We were both seventeen.”
“Seventeen…”
Kartak murmured quietly, then widened his eyes.
“That’s this year, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. In about three months, an official from Tahijin will come looking for you. He’ll bring a message that your father is sick.”
Kartak’s fingers twitched slightly.
“My father’s going to fall ill?”
“No, not necessarily. As far as I remember, when I died, your father was still healthy. But at the time… we didn’t know what the future would bring. And it was hard to watch you worry every day.”
“So you asked the Khan directly—for my sake? Just so you could send me home two years early?”
Argana nodded slowly, then finally spoke the words that had been sitting on her tongue for so long.
“…If it’s for you, I’d do it again. But this time… I want you to stay in Dar and help me. You’re the only one I can trust now.”
It was the first time Kartak had ever seen Argana so desperate.
Since meeting at age seven, they had spent nearly every day together for ten years like siblings—but not once had Argana ever begged or pleaded with anyone.
If what Wihui said is all true, then the culprit is likely one of the Khan’s other children. It makes sense, especially when I think about how the palace reacted when the principle of primogeniture was abolished.
Just a month ago, Astrahan Khan had gathered all his officials and children and declared that the rule of inheritance by the eldest son would be abolished.
Everyone had been stunned.
Even before Astrahan ascended as Khan, the predecessor state—the Kingdom of Kaimdal—had always passed the throne to the king’s legitimate firstborn son.
If no legitimate heir existed or if the heir died, the oldest among the illegitimate children would inherit instead. That rule had been absolute.
Astrahan Khan, who hated disorder and deviation, wouldn’t have broken tradition like that for no reason. There’s only one reason—and one person—for it.
Kartak realized quicker than anyone that Astrahan Khan had defied dozens of officials just for Argana.
And from the way she spoke, Argana seemed to be vaguely aware of it, too.
“There are at least six people with motives to kill you. The other princes, I mean.”
“You’re right. But Kartak, two of them… definitely aren’t the culprit.”
Kartak raised a brow in curiosity.
“Two? Who do you mean?”
“First, Tirsalan. You might not know since you returned to Tahijin then, but… he died in an accident when he was thirteen. He drowned.”
“Tirsalan dies? That’s absurd!”
Tirsalan, the son of the Fourth Queen Sorkate, was the Khan’s youngest son, born later in life. He was twelve years old now.
“If he dies at thirteen, then there’s only a year left…”
Argana nodded gravely and raised her second finger.
“And also, my brother Ayur. He’s practically my real brother. The First Queen—my mother—was the elder sister of his mother. So he can’t be the culprit.”
