"Your Majesty,"
Su Ye said, looking at him.
"Do you really believe him?"
Adrian fell silent.
After a long while, he spoke quietly.
"I don't. But I... have no proof. And Calvin's standing among the Winged Human Race is too high. If I move against him without solid evidence, our people will descend into civil strife."
He paused, his voice dropping lower.
"More importantly... in my current condition, I can't beat him."
That was the crux of it.
How could a gravely wounded Heavenly King challenge one at the height of his power—one who might even be stronger than before?
"So you chose to back down?"
Su Ye's voice carried a mocking edge.
"You'd rather watch the alliance between our races collapse and the Human Race be wiped out than touch that traitor?"
"It's not that I'm afraid!"
Adrian jerked his head up, anger flashing in his eyes, but it soon faded.
"I... can't. The Winged Human Race can't survive civil strife right now. If Calvin and I fight, no matter who wins, our people will be crippled. The Demon Race won't even need to attack. We'll finish ourselves off."
His reasoning made sense.
But Su Ye wasn't buying it.
"So you chose to sacrifice the Human Race?"
He spoke coldly.
"You'd trade the destruction of my people for a few more days of survival for yours? Your Majesty, even the Demon Race would be ashamed of that calculation."
The words cut deep.
Adrian's face flushed, but he could not refute them.
"However..."
Su Ye suddenly changed tack.
"What if we could deal with Calvin without a fight?"
Deep within the Winged Human Royal Court, in a side hall.
Light streamed through the Seven-Colored Glazed Window, casting mottled patterns across the floor.
A delicate fragrance of herbs and wood