章節 12: Repercussions

Aryan's actions in the midst of the chaotic battle had indeed created a moral dilemma. While he had successfully created an alibi for himself and helped restore order to the palace, he couldn't escape the realization that he had played a significant role in triggering the conflict in the first place.

The palace guards, who had come to view him as a savior, remained unaware of his true intentions. To them, Aryan was a hero who had helped protect the palace from the Udra intrusion. But he couldn't help but feel the weight of his deception bearing down on him.

Aryan's thoughts briefly turned to Bhanumati, whose gentle face had appeared in his mind during the heat of battle.

He had embarked on this treacherous mission to get recognized as the sin of greed by the system and receive yet another powerful ability, but the moral cost was becoming increasingly evident.

One fact lingered in his mind— Why hadn't the system recognized his actions yet?

The system notification he had been anticipating still hadn't arrived. It was clear that he hadn't met the conditions for activating the sin of greed. But Aryan still had a hope that may be it's because the stollen treasure is still in the palace, that's why the system hasn't recognized it yet.

Meanwhile, in the emergency meeting convened by King Chitrangad, strategies were being discussed to address the crisis. The situation had taken a complex turn, with most of the Udra soldiers killed and captured.

And Bhanumati's hanging heart also calmed down at this time as someone relayed the news about Aryan.

Her anxiety had been steadily growing as the chaos within the palace intensified, her thoughts constantly returning to Aryan's well-being. It was only now that she took a sigh of relief.

The news of Aryan's involvement in quelling the Udra intrusion spread like wildfire among the ministers.

Many began to view him as a courageous hero who had stepped in to protect the palace when it was under attack. Bhanumati's heart swelled with pride, but beneath the surface, a sense of unease remained.

King Chitrangad, sitting at the head of the table, listened to the various strategies being proposed by his ministers. It was a complex situation with significant implications for the kingdom.

On one hand, the Udra soldiers had been repelled, but on the other, the moral high ground now appeared to favor Paundraka Vasudeva and his kingdom. The deaths of the Udra prince and the peace delegation sent to rescue him could be used as justification for war.

The king's eyes flickered with concern as he weighed the consequences of the situation.

He knew that Aryan had played a crucial role in restoring order to the palace, but the broader political implications of the incident could not be ignored. The delicate balance of power in the region hung in the balance, and a misstep could lead to disastrous consequences.

Within the meeting, discussions continued on how best to handle the captured Udra soldiers. Some ministers advocated for their immediate release as a gesture of goodwill, while others argued for a more cautious approach, given the potential for backlash from the Udra kingdom.

Bhanumati, still anxious but now relieved to hear of Aryan's actions, listened to the debates with a keen interest.

She had faith in Aryan's intentions, but she also understood the gravity of the situation. The fate of Kalinga and its people was at stake, and every decision made within that room held weight.

Outside the palace walls, the chaos had subsided, but the city remained on edge. News of the conflict within the palace had spread throughout Kalinga, and the citizens anxiously awaited updates on the situation. The uncertainty of what lay ahead cast a shadow over the kingdom.

At this delicate time, another bad news came knocking at the door as a soldier anxiously came running into the meeting hall.

"Maharaj, Maharaj, it's bad. It's a disaster. "

The soldier said anxiously with his hands and feet trembling in fear and face pale.

"What happened now? "

King Chitrangad asked irritably.

So much has already happened, he didn't think anything worse than this could happen now.

But the soldier's next words proved him wrong, horribly wrong.

"The treasury, someone has robbed the treasury, your majesty. All the gold coins are gone. It's all gone. "

Almost instantly, there was pin drop silence in the hall, followed by cries of shock and fear.

Yes, fear. With the sword of war hanging on top of their heads, if they don't have the money to support the war then their kingdom is not far from the verge of destruction.

King Chitrangad, who finally regained his bearing quickly asked the soldier to explain what happened in detail.

The soldier, still trembling with fear, began to recount the events surrounding the treasury's robbery.

"The alarm was raised when a guard on duty noticed that the treasury door was ajar," the soldier explained. "Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the entire treasury had been emptied of its gold coins. There was no sign of forced entry, and the guards stationed nearby claimed to have heard nothing unusual during the night."

The news sent shockwaves through the room. It was as if a dagger had been plunged into the heart of Kalinga's defense and stability. The stolen gold coins were not just wealth; they were a vital resource that could have been used to support the kingdom's defense in the looming conflict.

Bhanumati's heart sank as she listened to the soldier's account. Her thoughts raced back to Aryan, who had been absent from the meeting. The timing of the treasury robbery, following the chaos caused by the Udra soldiers, seemed far too coincidental. Had Aryan been involved, or was this the work of a different intruder?

King Chitrangad, realizing the gravity of the situation, turned to his ministers and advisors, his voice stern and determined.

"We must act swiftly. Find out who is responsible for this theft. There is no way he could have escaped far with so much gold hidden from everyone. Our kingdom's future hangs in the balance, and we cannot afford to lose any more time."

The ministers nodded in agreement, their faces etched with concern. It was clear that Kalinga faced a multi-faceted crisis—one stemming from both internal and external threats. The stolen treasury had weakened their ability to defend against an impending war with Paundraka Vasudeva's kingdom.

At this time, one of the ministers raised a rather troubling question.

"Your Majesty, could this theft be related to the events of the night? Perhaps the chaos and the intrusion of the Udra soldiers were meant to distract us from the real target—the treasury."

The room immediately fell silent as they contemplated the possibility.

If the chaos within the palace had indeed been orchestrated as a diversion, then their enemy had executed a cunning and coordinated attack. The treasury robbery was no random occurrence; it was a strategic move that threatened the very foundation of Kalinga.