Kadelas was furious. He wasnāt angry because a young man had given his wife a flower and said she was the fairest elf of them all. No, he was angry because this flower had come from the son of a bitch who knocked up his only daughter.
This wretch had clearly come here with the sole purpose of provoking Kadelas.
He was using the Valtheron Empireās traditions as well as the eyes of the public to put Kadelas in a political chokehold.
What made this so vicious was the fact that Kadelas was fully aware he was being mocked and incited, but he was also put in two positions.
Swallow his emotions and act the part of a ruler, or commit a public and political blunder.
Either way, it was a loss for Kadelas.
What made this truly hateful was the fact that the reason Kadelas stopped wasnāt because of nonsensical traditions or the public eye. He didnāt care about those.
The real reason he stopped was because Damon had grasped at his one weakness.
His true weakness. The one reason Kadelas feared Damonās death.
Whatās to stop Sylvia from killing herself.
There, standing in front of Damon with her arms spread protectively, was his own daughter, his little girl.
No matter how much Sylvia grew, she would always be a child in her fatherās eyes.
Kadelas loved his daughter above all else, and that was why she was his weakness. The apple of his eye had been stolen by a wretch.
However, it seemed that wasnāt the only thing. He could feel a few auras pressing down around him. They would act if he did.
The emperor, Kronos, who controlled time with his attribute.
The Singularity, Godwin Corbin Ravenscroft, who was also watching.
The Golden Sun, Damian Brightwater, who was already revealing killing intent, except not at Kadelas. His target was Sylvia. If Kadelas killed Damon, Damian would also kill his daughter.
And he wasnāt the only one. Astranova, even Valefier, stood among them.
This boy had a few allies here.
"I got your attention now, your majesty... shall we have a chat...?"
Kadelas smiled coldly. He sighed.
"I have nothing to talk to you about, boy."
Damon smiled, walking forward from behind Sylvia.
"Hmmm..."
Daphne came between them, waving her hand. She dismissed the magic tech broadcasting to the outside world.
As soon as it was gone, Kadelas grabbed Damonās neck, raising him up, his hand threatening to crush his throat.
Damon let out a laugh.
This level of anger it was clear he had won.
Rage baiting
Kadelas released him at the behest of his wife.
She sighed, glaring at Sylvia.
"This is the man... you want to be with, Sylvia? You would turn against us for a person like this?"
Daphne closed her eyes dejectedly.
"You break our hearts..."
Sylvia bit her lips, feeling a little guilty.
Damon walked to Sylviaās chair, taking a seat.
"The thing about a forbidden fruit is the more you say no, the more you want it. I think because itās wrong, thatās why we want it."
Kadelas tilted his head in disdain.
"So Iām supposed to say yes... to the man who ruined my daughter?"
Damon crossed his arms.
"Ruined? Or showed her a life beyond your suffocating leash?"
"And you tried to kill me. Iād say weāre even."
"Are you open for a conversation?"
Kadelas closed his eyes. In his mind, he had killed Damon a million different ways.
His wife nodded at him with a slow, steady expression.
He sighed, walking back to his seat.
"Talk."
Damon glanced at Sylvia.
"Sylvia, mind giving us some space? Your parents and I have a very important topic to discuss, and I fear you are far too young."
She gave him a deadpan expression. However, her eyes lowered slightly to her journey book, which was floating in the air. Then she smiled.
"Hmm, fine."
Kadelas waved at Sylvia.
"Donāt go far, Sylvia..."
Sylvia didnāt object as they expected. She just left because Damon asked.
Daphne felt a pang in her heart at the sight.
"What do you want to talk about?"
Damon shrugged.
"Honestly, nothing. I just wanted to see the faces of the people who wanted me dead for no apparent reason."
Daphne chuckled, remembering he had ruined her daughter.
"It was a preemptive strike, among other reasons. And as an oracle, I have learned to nip problems in the bud."
Damon nodded, glancing outside. At some point, the ceremony had begun, and the emperor was giving a final speech before the arena truly opened.
"Fair enough. I like abusing my power as much as the next person."
He leaned back lazily, his tone mocking.
"Speaking of power, I brought you a little something. Didnāt think Iād visit my in-laws without a gift, did you?"
Kadelasās eyes narrowed coldly.
"We are not your in-laws."
Damon chuckled, spreading his arms. The shadows moved, and a group of severed heads began to fall, bringing with them the stench of death and decay.
"Iām not sure if you recognize them, but these are the heads of the assassins you sent to kill me. Unprovoked, I might add."
Kadelas leaned back in his chair.
"So what, youāre angry?"
"Iām not angry that you tried to kill me. Iām angry that you failed."
Kadelas clenched his fist. How could this young man make his hands seem tied?
"Iāll be sure to succeed next time."
Damon chuckled darkly.
"Thatās the thing. There wonāt be a next time. Iāll give you a warning. This is the first and last time youāll ever come after me."
Kadelas narrowed his eyes, a smile not quite reaching them.
"Are you threatening me?"
Damon shook his head slowly.
"Ooh, no. How dare I, someone so small, threaten the great Kadelas Moonveil. No... Iām warning you."
He looked at him firmly.
"I donāt want to come between Sylvia and her family. If you and I clash, sheāll be the one who suffers. I want to avoid that."
Kadelas glanced at his wife, then laughed.
"You think you are worthy of clashing with me? You, a brat at the second class?"
Damon didnāt laugh. His expression stayed the same, his dark eyes swirling with an unshakable calm.
"Iām here, arenāt I? You never thought Iād make it this far. Yet here I am. Iām still standing."
His deadpan expression silenced Kadelas.
"You cannot undo what you have already done."
Damon smiled, knowing Sylvia wasnāt here.
"What if I can?"
Kadelas tilted his head.
"It doesnāt matter. You can never have my daughter. I canāt allow that... ever."
Damon looked out into the distant sky.
"I trust we can come to an agreement."
Daphne frowned.
"And what is it you hope to gain, assuming you can deal with our little problem or undo it?"
This was what Damon was hoping for. He had already gotten his revenge by humiliating Kadelas and making him feel powerless before him.
Imagine hating someone so much but being unable to act against them.
Damon glanced at the clouds.
"Is... is that a dromedary?"
"What?" Daphne replied, confused. Then her expression contorted into horror.
"It... no, it canāt be."
The whole arena stopped.