Chapter 54
Argana stared blankly at Kartak for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
She laughed so heartily that the jeweled tassel at the side of her head jingled and clinked.
Kartak let out a sigh.
“I knew it. I knew you’d be like that.”
“No — you, hah, haha! You said something ridiculous!” she giggled.
After laughing for a long while and then gulping down the tea in one swallow, Argana finally stopped laughing. Kartak was once again at a loss watching her drink so eagerly — it was the rare, precious tea brewed from the season’s first dew, a beverage only available at this time of year.
“Kartak, when have I ever gotten along with Ishuder without pretending?” she said.
“Well, it’s not like that every time….”
“So why say that now? What does it matter now?”
Kartak hesitated, trying to find the right words. People like Prince Ishuder were dangerous. They put on a friendly face, but who could tell what they were really thinking. It was easier to deal with someone who wore everything openly like Yoshmut. Argana knew this as well as he did.
“If someone like Prince Ishuder took offense over this and used dark methods against you, that would be a serious problem.”
But Argana shrugged as if it didn’t matter and smiled, asking for more tea.
“Would it be worse than death?”
“Don’t say that.”
Kartak’s face immediately fell. Argana, realizing she’d overstepped, reached out and smoothed his brow — the same affectionate gesture she used to do when they were children. It was full of warmth, but certainly not intentional in any other way.
The instant she touched his forehead she thought it childish for someone their age, and her cheeks flushed. She tried to pull her hand away, but Kartak lightly caught her wrist.
“Why run? Let me comfort you. I deserve that.”
“Honestly. How old are you?”
“We’re the same age. Prime age for consolation — seventeen.”
Argana couldn’t win against his teasing. She rubbed his forehead and lightly tapped his cheek. Kartak had a masculine look, and his skin seemed cool to the eye, but when she touched it, it was warm. He rested his cheek against her palm as if it felt pleasant, then smiled and finally removed her hand.
“Don’t talk about dying. I’m here so you won’t die.”
“All right, I won’t say it anymore.”
“You’re good,” Kartak murmured, then smoothed her hair back from her forehead. As his large hand brushed her brow and hair, Argana felt a strange flutter in her chest.
‘Did I overeat at breakfast and get indigestion?’ she wondered, tilting her head.
After Kartak left, Argana headed to the Khan’s quarters. She had intended to discuss petitions about the western officials and have a few small talk exchanges, but before she even finished the stairs she heard whispering women’s voices from inside.
“Isun.”
Isun, who had been waiting by the door, noticed Argana a beat late and rushed over, startled.
“Princess, please kill me. This old one’s eyes and ears are failing and I did not come out to greet you properly.”
“Forget it. If I kill you, who will serve His Majesty? It’s all right.”
“Princess, I am grateful.”
“Who is here?”
Isun peeked past the closed door. Her expression was odd — she looked at a loss, as if unsure what to do, and also like she was forcing herself to swallow some unpleasant feeling.
“Isun?”
“I’m sorry, Princess. Lady Sukyo is inside.”
“Borsiya is here? For what?”
“She said she wanted to see His Majesty….”
“Then why do you look like that?” Argana pressed.
Isun didn’t answer. She bowed slightly and backed toward the door to announce them.
“Khan, the princess asks entrance to pay her respects.”
From inside came Astrahan Khan’s voice bidding them in, but it sounded drained. Combined with Isun’s strange manner, Argana hurried in, wondering what Soya had possibly said.
“Ah, Princess,” Soya greeted, but Argana noticed Soya had deliberately risen a beat late.
More disturbing was Astrahan Khan himself; he looked as if all his strength had been sapped and his face was full of sorrow. At that moment Princess Sukyo — that is, Borsiya — spoke lightheartedly.
“We were talking about Lady Wiran’s household to His Majesty. I was telling him how kind she was to me, how gentle she always was….”
Argana’s eyes flashed harshly.
‘Is she out of her mind?’
Argana was the only person who could freely speak about Ayl Wiran in front of Astrahan Khan. He was still mired in grief over his lost wife. He lived each day re-living Ayl Wiran’s death and memorializing her; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he mourned her afresh daily.
What on earth did this careless woman think she was doing? Argana grabbed Borsiya’s wrist without thinking.
“Ouch! That hurts, Argana!” Borsiya squealed and, flinching, turned involuntarily toward the Khan — and that only made Argana angrier.
“Argana!”
“Be quiet and come with me a moment, sister.”
Argana tried to pull her out of the room. The Khan, who had been silent, sighed heavily and spoke.
“That’s enough. Princess Sukyo, you have come and kept me company for a chat; you may return to your quarters and rest.”
“Ah, but Your Majesty….”
“Did you not hear your father? Return.”
When Argana stepped forward to block her, Borsiya could not stand her ground. She bit her lip in frustration, tried to compose her face, and bowed to the Khan. Seeing the red mark on her wrist, Borsiya’s eyes filled with tears of hurt and injustice.
‘What did I do wrong? It’s true Lady Wiran favored me most — I only told that story. Is that why this is happening?’
Wiping away her tears, Borsiya left the Khan’s quarters.
Argana, watching her back, rushed back inside and knelt at Astrahan Khan’s feet.
“Father.”
The Khan, head bowed, closed his eyes. His eyelids trembled thinly and a pathological flush had risen in his face. Argana urgently called for Isun.
“Isun!”
“Yes, Princess. Oh — Your Majesty!”
“Send for the royal attendant at once. Bring wet silk and calming tea.”
“Yes, yes.”
Argana touched the Khan’s cooling hand and held back tears that threatened to spill.
“Father, please wait a moment. The calming tea will soothe you.”
“….Yes.”
At his hollow reply, Argana felt the urge to slap Borsiya’s cheek. How foolish and stupid — to open one’s mouth without knowing what one was doing. She could not let it pass.
Wet silk and the calming tea arrived, and the royal physician’s aide Cha-ihan hurried in as well. After taking the Khan’s pulse, he said that sudden heat had settled in the chest and prescribed that His Majesty drink the calming tea and take the prepared pills.
“Everyone but the princess leave. It’s getting crowded.”
At the Khan’s words, everyone carefully vacated the room. Argana sat by her father and stroked the back of his hand for a long time.
“Father, if you grieve yourself ill like this, Mother will be sad too.”
