Chapter 9
“Who is that?”
Kartak was the first to rise, speaking in a voice tinged with caution.
Argana quietly observed the approaching figure and then stood up.
“It’s General Tu Hua of the Dragon Guard. Looks like he’s coming to see me.”
“The man you recommended for this expedition?”
“Yes. Kartak, I’m going to have a word with Tu Hua before going to see Father. In the meantime, could you ask Tatasui to check if any imperial treasures have gone missing?”
“All right, I’ll take care of it.”
Kartak gave Argana’s shoulder a fond pat before turning away.
Argana, standing tall in the middle of the wide field, stretched her arms once Tu Hua’s figure came fully into view and then stepped forward a few paces.
General Tu Hua of the Dragon Guard was a burly man.
Though his thick beard was neatly trimmed, a scar that ran from his right cheek down to his jaw gave him a fierce appearance.
“General Tu Hua of the Dragon Guard greets Your Highness, the Princess.”
Tu Hua’s deep voice brought a satisfied smile to Argana’s face as she nodded.
“Raise your head.”
She looked directly into his blazing eyes, without a hint of fear.
Tu Hua exuded the aura of a loyal warrior—someone willing to lay down his life for his master. Letting such a man go to waste would be absurd.
“General Tu Hua.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You came here because you had something to say to me, didn’t you? Speak.”
Tu Hua pressed his lips firmly together and dipped his chin slightly.
Though there was a good span of two hand-widths in height between them, the atmosphere made it seem as if the large student was frozen before a stern master.
“…I come bearing a command personally issued by His Majesty the Khan.”
“To serve as Orchai’s adjutant in the expedition?”
“Exactly, Your Highness. But His Majesty also said it was you, the Princess, who recommended me for this position.”
“That’s right. And?”
“Why did you recommend me?”
Argana looked up at Tu Hua for a moment without replying.
Though he was trying to remain composed, Tu Hua was visibly agitated.
He had no backing, came from humble origins, and had resigned himself to remaining a low-ranking officer no matter how capable he was—until everything changed overnight.
It was no wonder he was overwhelmed.
“Then let me ask you this instead—why are you questioning it? If you don’t believe you can fulfill your duty, now is the time to say so.”
“That’s not it, Your Highness!”
Tu Hua raised his voice without meaning to, then quickly recoiled in surprise at his own outburst.
His booming voice was so loud that it could shake even seasoned veterans—but Argana was unfazed. Her golden eyes sparkled as if daring him to do more.
Flustered, Tu Hua quickly bowed his head.
“I beg your forgiveness.”
“If having a warrior’s spirit is a crime, then the Dar Empire should never have existed in the first place, don’t you think?”
Though Tu Hua had seen Argana on the battlefield before, this was his first time speaking with her so closely.
So this is why everyone becomes speechless before this young princess. She’s only seventeen, but when she meets your eyes directly…
…it feels like facing a ferocious beast. A chilling shiver ran down his spine.
Only one other person Tu Hua knew—Khan Astrahan himself—had ever exuded such quiet yet overwhelming presence.
“Well? Are you going to answer me or not?”
“I apologize. His Majesty the great Khan and Your Highness have bestowed immeasurable grace upon this humble officer. Even if my head is cut off or arrows rain upon my chest and back, I will never retreat.”
At that, Argana suddenly burst into clear, ringing laughter.
Tu Hua, who had never dealt with a girl his age—never mind a princess—was utterly thrown off by the crystalline sound of her laughter.
“Tu Hua, I didn’t recommend you to be Orchai’s adjutant so you could throw your life away.”
“…Pardon? I don’t quite understand—”
“His Majesty will explain it to you and General Orchai soon, but the goal of this mission isn’t to destroy Jindan. On the contrary, the goal is to capture Tatulai alive.”
“Alive? Bringing that man back alive would be like offering your ankle to a desert scorpion.”
Argana nodded as if she understood and lightly patted Tu Hua’s massive shoulder.
“Tatulai is sly and treacherous. That’s exactly why we must capture him. General Orchai is an excellent commander and the pride of Dar, but he has a temper that he sometimes fails to control.”
“Then…”
“I recommended you as his adjutant because you are someone who won’t bend under pressure. Your role is to temper Orchai’s impulses and ensure that Tatulai is captured intact. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Tu Hua was genuinely shocked. It was an enormous responsibility—one he never imagined would be placed upon someone like him.
Just being chosen as Orchai’s adjutant had been a miracle in itself.
“I don’t know if I’m worthy to guide the General…”
“You can. Because your true superiors aren’t Orchai—but me and His Majesty. Understand? All you need to remember is this: Tatulai must be brought back alive.”
Tu Hua’s eyes lit with fire.
Argana’s voice held a strange power. A power that stirred something deep within the listener.
What was this force that made you want to follow her orders without question?
He didn’t know. But he began to understand—just a little—why the mighty Khan Astrahan treasured and loved his only daughter more than all his accomplished sons.
“I understand, Your Highness. I will obey.”
“If you fulfill your duty well, His Majesty will not forget you. Nor will I. Understand?”
“Yes, Princess!”
“And one more thing. If you end up staying in Jindan, seek out someone skilled in medicine or poisons. There’s something I want you to investigate.”
“Just give the word.”
Argana held up three fingers before Tu Hua’s eyes and folded them one by one.
“A poison that is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It’s highly likely to be extremely potent even in small amounts. Find out if such a thing exists in Jindan.”
“It shall be done.”
“You won’t disappoint His Majesty or me. I wish you good fortune.”
Tu Hua met Argana’s hawk-like gaze and gave a firm bow.
Colorful fabrics draped over red walls swayed gently now and then.
Each time dancers and actors appeared before the lavishly decorated curtains, the drunken shouting of slurred voices and women’s laughter echoed loudly.
“Damn, I was about to storm out again after another flop, but that actor playing the incarnation—he’s got a way of melting the heart.”
So said Anduhu, youngest son of General Orchai, to which Yoshmut, lounging crookedly with a drink in hand, scoffed.
“Pfft. He’s so country, I bet if you took off his boots, you’d still find desert sand spilling out. Learn to pick better, will you?”
“Heh? You’ll see. Once he’s offstage, I’m bringing him over.”
Anduhu was the complete opposite of his father, who had dedicated his life to the nation. A scoundrel who obsessed over drink and theater—making him a perfect match for Yoshmut.
The two of them had been holed up in this theater-slash-gambling den since yesterday afternoon.
“But seriously, I get why I’m here, but shouldn’t you be heading out soon? Those old geezers teaching the imperial heirs will be raising all kinds of hell.”
“Pfft! Like I care about those wrinkled fossils.”
