TRPAT 26

Chapter 26

At the same time, in the Hall of Illusions where Lady Turegen resided, the sound of a shattered vase and furious shouting echoed loudly.

“Dare! Dare! Dare!”

Letting out a scream, Lady Turegen flung the expensive rouge case in her hand. Unable to suppress her rage, her whole body trembled violently.

Her hair had come undone, her ornaments scattered across the floor, and she looked every bit the image of a madwoman.

“Your Ladyship, please—please calm yourself! At this rate, you’ll harm your health.”

“Calm myself? Did you just tell me to calm myself?”

Lady Turegen shot to her feet, jabbing her finger at Homuja.

“Do you think I care for my body right now? My son—my precious son whom I carried in my own womb—was humiliated in front of all those people! What mother wouldn’t be seething with rage?”

“Your Ladyship…”

“This has to be the work of that wretched girl, Argana! Argh! How infuriating!”

Her wild swing toppled an ornate stool inlaid with iris patterns, splintering it to pieces. Along with it went a refined side table sent from the northern provinces, and another priceless vase shattered to the floor.

“Your Ladyship!”

Homuja was at a loss, terrified. If Lady Turegen wasn’t quickly pacified, word of this uproar might reach the Khan’s ears.

“All of you, get out! Can’t you see Her Ladyship is tired?”

He decided first to dismiss the maids from the room.

The frightened maids hurried to leave, but Homuja’s voice caught them by the scruff.

“If any of you so much as dares to wag your tongue about what you’ve seen, I’ll split your tongues into three. Do you understand?”

“We—we saw nothing, sir!”

“Good. Now, out with you!”

Once the room was empty, Homuja guided the fuming Lady Turegen into an intact chair.

He carefully removed the ornaments from her disheveled hair, let it down, and quickly fetched a silver comb to tidy it.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Your Ladyship, please hear me out. In my humble opinion, this is not a matter for you to vent your anger solely upon the Princess.”

Lady Turegen whipped her head around so sharply that Homuja nearly tore out a handful of hair with the comb.

Had he been an inexperienced maid, he would surely have received dozens of slaps by now.

“Then what? If not that girl, who else would dare to pull such a stunt in front of the Khan?”

“Your Ladyship heard it yourself. Yes, the Princess did act brazenly in pressing down on our Prince Yoshmut. But using—of all people—Prince Tirsalan as her pawn?”

Lady Turegen’s finely drawn brows furrowed.

“What are you getting at?”

“Is the Princess an ordinary young lady? Would she dote on her youngest brother—who isn’t even a full brother—for no reason? There must be something more. No doubt it was that woman, Sorcate, whispering lies and flattery into the Princess’s ears.”

“Sorcate, you say?”

“Yes indeed, Your Ladyship.”

Homuja, ever cautious, continued combing her hair, then twisted it up into a neat bun. He swept aside the ornaments that had fallen and replaced them with untouched, more splendid pieces.

“Sorcate… Yes, that sly fox of a woman—it’s just the sort of scheme she would concoct.”

Bang!

Lady Turegen slammed her fist onto the vanity table, sending trinkets toppling and clattering. She paid them no mind.

“I won’t let her be! To think she dares to use that weakling child, not yet dry behind the ears, to climb over my head? Fine—let her try. They say her dancing so bewitched the Khan. Then let her try dancing atop my head as well!”

As she sprang up from her chair, Homuja quickly restrained her by the shoulders.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

“Your Ladyship, please. If you storm off to the Empress now, all of the palace will know of this.”

“Then what am I to do? My insides are burning!”

“Bear it just for today. Tomorrow—tomorrow, find her and teach her a lesson. If you reprimand her where no one can see, what could she do? Run crying to the Khan?”

Empress Sorcate would not dare. She was too soft-hearted, too timid—enduring slights in silence even when wronged.

Lady Turegen knew this well, which was why she could torment her without restraint.

Though her fury still roiled, Homuja’s reasoning made sense. With a huff, she sat back down, feigning to simmer.

“That woman frequents the gardens, doesn’t she?”

“Yes. She makes it her habit to walk in the Silji Garden around midday.”

“Good. The Silji Garden is secluded. Just wait—tomorrow, I’ll put that arrogant wench in her place.”

The next day.

“A sudden stroll in the gardens?”

Kartak tried to hide his smile as he looked around the flowers of the Silji Garden.

Though the season was cold, the palace attendants tended the gardens day and night, keeping them warm, so that blossoms of all seasons bloomed as if in a dream.

“This isn’t so bad. It has its charm.”

“Charm? Don’t you think your clothes are too shabby to be talking about charm?”

Argana glanced at the training garb she wore for sword practice, then scoffed.

“This is fine. It’s not like I’m wearing rags. You’re just picky, as always.”

“Hey, I meant me, not you. Look at my clothes—they’re all dusty! What a mess.”

Argana giggled and lifted her head.

“The earth was dry and dust clung to my robe. Ashamed, I paused, but then a plum blossom came walking toward me. I thought it a flower, but it was a maiden. She handed me her handkerchief to wipe it off, and the fragrance of her wrist was exquisite.”

She recited the old poem in a sing-song rhythm, mischief glinting in her eyes as she looked at Kartak.

“No maiden here is going to run up with a handkerchief to wipe your dusty clothes, so keep dreaming.”

“Wha—hey! That’s not what I meant!”

“Isn’t it though? Really, isn’t it?”

Kartak’s face turned red as he tried to protest.

But just then—smack! A sharp slap and a cry rang out.

“What was that?”

“Let’s go see.”

Argana immediately pushed through the bushes, Kartak following. He didn’t notice the gleam of hunting thrill in her eyes.

“Your Ladyship! What are you doing! Her Majesty the Empress is above you—ahhh!”

“What was that? Above me? Do you want to die?”

A scene of chaos met their eyes.