Chapter 51
“Yeah, but it was a bit cold. I guess I should have worn a thicker pifong-ui,”
Argana observed as she touched it—it was indeed too thin for this season.
She glared at the maidservants attending Bogatena and scolded them harshly.
“Why did you dress the princess so thinly that she might catch a cold? Are all of you from the Northern Territories or what?”
The Northern Territories were far up north in the Dar Empire, the homeland of the Fifth Prince Yetekerid’s mother, Lyroslav Vi. It was said to snow all year round there, and the windows were always frosted.
The maids, struck by her words, shivered and knelt. One of them bowed her head and spoke.
“We’re sorry, Your Highness! There are several pifong-ui available, but the ones with thick padding were taken by Princess Soya…”
“What?”
Bogatena interrupted the maid.
“It’s fine, sister! I’m okay, don’t be angry.”
Then she glanced at the maid, feigning a scolding.
“Do not speak carelessly in front of Her Highness! All of you, leave!”
The maids hurriedly left. Argana seated the shivering Bogatena near the hearth.
“What do you mean, Tena, that Soya took all the pifong-ui?”
“Ah, it’s just… my sister gets cold easily. The capital is even colder than the west, so… she just took them. It’s not like she was being spiteful.”
In Argana’s eyes, it was definitely spite. She thought Soya, though always calm outwardly, had a sly side—sometimes subtly mocking or shifting blame. So this was probably just her way of teasing her younger sister.
“I’ll lend you a few of my pifong-ui. Wear them, or you’ll fall ill by tomorrow. Understood?”
“No way, sister. How can I borrow the princess’s clothes?”
“No arguments.”
With that single command, Argana cut off Bogatena’s protest and ordered a maid to fetch several thickly padded and lavishly decorated pifong-ui.
Each one was made of rare silk and densely embroidered—high-quality items that only royalty could even touch.
“I’ll give these to you as a gift. Take them, Tena.”
“What? No! I’ll just borrow one. And…”
“Oh? You won’t listen to me, sister?”
Argana narrowed her eyes, and Bogatena finally laughed shyly, her cheeks turning red. Though she had grown up, she was still like a delicate flower. She loved pretty clothes.
“Thanks, sister. I don’t have anything to give you…”
“Oh, just enjoy yourself. I’ll tell the cook to make some snacks—eat them here while you wait. Salty or sweet?”
“Sweet sounds good. But sister, where are you going?”
“I have someone to meet. Stay here. Understood? Let’s have dinner together later.”
“Okay, got it.”
Bogatena nodded obediently, and Argana gently stroked her head. After instructing that her sister’s favorite treats be prepared, she stepped outside with a determined expression.
Wearing a pifong-ui lined with otter fur, thick padding, and tiger hide, Argana looked as imposing as any royal procession. Though her entourage was small, her commanding presence drew all eyes.
“Summon General Hojak.”
Standing in the center of the barracks, Argana gave the order in a low voice, making all the soldiers swallow nervously.
Someone rushed off and soon returned with Hojak, who approached with a bewildered expression.
“Sir Hojak, I pay respects to Her Highness the Princess.”
“Stand.”
As Hojak rose, a wooden sword flew to his feet.
Confused, he looked at Argana, sensing something ominous.
A maid was helping Argana remove her pifong-ui, and in her hands was a brand-new wooden sword made of boxwood.
A well-crafted boxwood sword was sturdy enough to rival a real sword. Even in practice sparring, a poorly timed strike could be life-threatening.
“Your Highness… why…”
“There’s no time for complaints. Draw your sword. I hear you are skilled, General Hojak, so I came to learn a move or two from you.”
A chill ran down Hojak’s spine. He was confident in his swordsmanship, but he was no match for Argana.
“Your Highness, with my humble skill, I fear only to disgrace you. Please, spare me.”
“You talk too much.”
Argana lunged at him with the wooden sword, lightning-fast.
Startled, Hojak nearly fell backward and grabbed a sword from the floor. Instantly, a sharp pain shot from his elbow to shoulder.
“Use your skill properly. Otherwise, you might die by my hand!”
Argana didn’t hold back. She pushed Hojak ten steps back and continued an almost impossible flurry of attacks, growing even faster.
“Your Highness… ahhh!”
With a loud thwack, her wooden sword struck the joint between Hojak’s shoulder and neck.
His collarbone shattered. He dropped his sword in pain, and Argana pressed the tip against his forehead.
“Was this Prince Ishuder’s doing?”
“What… what are you saying! Aah… what do you mean?”
“Did Prince Ishuder order you to use such a cowardly trick? Were you pleased to beat Kartak? Did it make you happy?”
Hojak realized why he had been beaten like straw. It was revenge for the previous sparring with Kartak, where Argana had dirtied his face.
Unable to move from the broken collarbone, Hojak managed to roll flat on the floor.
“Y-your Highness… I… have no connection to Prince Ishuder… I… am pathetic…”
“Your patheticness speaks for itself. So Prince Ishuder has nothing to do with this? You serve your master well indeed.”
Hojak’s face turned dark.
Ishuder hadn’t ordered this. He had only told him to “win at all costs,” to humble that brat. But unlike rumors, Kartak was a formidable swordsman.
As Hojak began losing, he tried to follow his master’s orders through a sly tactic. He thought the matter was over since Ishuder had neither praised nor scolded him…
“Your Highness… please… forgive me…”
At that moment, Ishuder’s angry voice rang out from behind.
“What is all this commotion!”
He strode across the barracks and froze at the sight of Hojak sprawled on the floor. Seeing the indentation near Hojak’s collarbone, Ishuder’s face went pale as he gave orders to his servant.
“Summon the royal physician immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
The moment the servant ran off, Hojak fainted.
Ishuder looked down at his fallen subordinate, then whipped around to glare at Argana in fury.
“What is the meaning of this?”
