Arga raised his hand, signaling them to sit back down. "Calm down. ningning , how much does the imperial treasury currently hold?"
ningning quickly opened the records in her hands. "One hundred million gold coins, Your Majesty."
Arga exhaled deeply. His fingers massaged his temples as his mind raced. Suddenly, he stood up, his eyes blazing with newfound resolve.
"Alright," he declared firmly. "The empire will proceed with building the fourth district."
Arpi and Ayato's faces shifted slightly, revealing their disapproval.
"However," Arga continued, his voice resolute, "there will be no additional taxes on the people of Kashgar . Twenty percent of the construction cost will come from the imperial treasury. As for the rest… I will find a way."
The council members looked relieved. Quiet murmurs began to spread among them, hinting at satisfaction that the people would not bear an extra burden.
Arga then turned and walked out of the hall, followed closely by ningning . Outside, the evening breeze carried the soothing scent of the mountains. Though he had managed to ease the council's concerns, his mind remained preoccupied with a pressing question: How would he find the remaining funds? Yet his determination remained steadfast. For the people of Kashgar , he would find the answer.
In the distance, the slowly setting sun bathed the entire city in hues of golden orange, offering a faint warmth, as if signaling a glimmer of hope amidst the lurking shadows. The sky transformed into an endless canvas, and over the rooftops of Kashgar , elongated shadows draped over grand buildings that stood tall like guardians of time.
Inside his chamber, Arga sat with a posture that seemed upright yet bore an invisible weight. His face betrayed a weariness he could no longer hide. His thoughts wandered far beyond the palace walls. A soft knock on the door shattered the silence, pulling him back to reality.
"Come in," he said curtly, his voice deep but still exuding authority.
ningning stepped in with swift, respectful movements. Her sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Arga's strained expression, though the Emperor tried to mask it. "Your Majesty, thank you for understanding my intentions and sending the troops. Without it, the villagers in the Kashgar mountains would have perished, and we would have lost that strategic area," ningning said, her voice firm yet laced with gratitude.
Arga gave a small nod, his hands folded in front of him. "I was merely following Your Majesty's orders. I will always support your decisions," ningning replied, her head slightly bowed.
Without further delay, she handed over a stack of documents. "Your Majesty, here are the reports," she said briefly but respectfully.
Arga took the documents, flipping through the pages quickly yet attentively. His eyes scanned the numbers and reports written on the papers. "Our finances... one hundred million coins," he murmured softly, almost to himself. "The troops currently stationed in the city number thirteen thousand five hundred, with an additional fifteen hundred deployed in the Kashgar mountain valleys."
He slowly closed the report and placed it on the table. The sound of paper meeting wood echoed faintly in the room. "Alright," he finally said. "I want all the commanders to gather in the main hall tonight. Also, summon Sana and Nico. I'm sure they're worried about my condition."
"Yes, Your Majesty," ningning replied, bowing respectfully before stepping out to relay the orders.
Several palace aides approached ningning in the corridor, nodding respectfully before going about their duties. Not long after, ningning returned to Arga's chamber. However, she paused at the doorway. Her eyes caught sight of Arga pacing beside the large table. His fingers tapped against his temple, while his left hand supported the elbow of his right arm. That clenched fist moved slowly between his forehead and chin, accompanied by a bowed head. This was his habitual gesture whenever he was deeply entangled in an unsolvable problem.
From behind the slightly ajar door, ningning observed him with a faint smile. She recognized that habit—the tapping fingers on the temple, the vacant gaze that seemed to pierce through walls, and the long, heavy but steady breaths. This scene reminded her of Arga's childhood, when he would stubbornly find ways to get permission to watch the World Cup at the orphanage. His determination had been unyielding, especially when his country hosted the event. Now, she saw that same spirit but on a far grander scale. Arga thought of his people with equal, if not greater, intensity.
ningning stepped in slowly, bringing a sense of calm to the heavy aura that filled the room. "Your Majesty," she called softly, almost a whisper, as she approached Arga, who was still lost in thought.
Her steps nearly halted when Arga suddenly turned quickly. They almost collided. "Ah, ningning !" Arga exclaimed, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Are you alright?" His voice carried a hint of concern, though he tried to mask it with a firm tone.
ningning merely gave a small smile, bowing her head slightly. "I'm fine, Your Majesty."
Arga nodded and walked back to the large table in the center of the room. He gazed at the neatly arranged documents on it, his mind racing to find solutions. ningning stood not far from him, watching the back of her leader—straight yet burdened with unspeakable weight. In her heart, she vowed always to be his loyal supporter, no matter what.
" ningning ," Arga suddenly said, his voice softer. "What do you think they will make of my plan?"
ningning looked at him for a moment before replying. "Your Majesty, I believe they will support you if you are confident this is for the empire's greater good. However, sometimes the greatest conviction comes from small actions that show you care."
Arga let out a long sigh, then looked at ningning with a deep gaze. "Thank you, ningning . You always know what I need to tell myself."
The evening sun hung low on the horizon, casting golden-orange hues over the palace and the city beyond. In that fading light, the room felt silent, though the burdens within it weighed heavily.
"Your Majesty..." ningning 's cautious voice broke the nearly oppressive silence. Arga turned slowly, his dark eyes meeting hers with full attention.
"I know this might be uncomfortable to bring up, but if the financial strain for developing the fourth district is becoming too much for Your Majesty..." ningning hesitated, carefully weighing her next words, "…I want to help, even if only a little."
The words hung in the air, leaving behind a silence that felt even heavier. Arga's eyes sharpened, studying ningning as if to confirm he had heard correctly.
"Go on," Arga said shortly, though his tone carried a hint of intrigue.