Chapter 137 Breakfast Banquet Part II

"This is your seat, Your Majesty." The soon-to-be king shows his most important guest his seat. His eyes quickly move towards the ladies who come with me. Gracefully and courteously, he showed them their seats, "And this table on my left side is where your seat is, ladies."

Riz glanced at the tables arrangement in this section of the hall. The round table on the right is for the lords and the left table is for ladies. Each seat has its predetermined owner.

From the decoration to silverware, plates, glasses and a variety of breakfast items served on the table, he can't estimate how much effort the count put in to make it perfect. Everything is here. Once he sits down, he has no reason to stand up anymore.

Compared to the lords' side, the tables that belong to the ladies are a bit cold and tense. He shuddered,

'Noblewomen is sure scary. Their eyes already start scanning Theodora and Charlotte from top to bottom. I hope they survived this banquet.'

Inwardly, he prays for their safety.

He sat down at his seat. At the table, there are already two people sitting, curiously taking a peek at him.

"So, you are the famous King of Ryntum. You are very outstanding for someone of your age. When I was young, I couldn't think it was possible to rake so many achievements like you did. I have to admit, you're very quick with your head unlike your mother. Leaving intelligence aside, you inherit your mother's face and personality a lot. Especially, her cunningness and ruthlessness."

"Huh?" As he sat down, he was baffled by a sudden commentary. The person on the opposite side of him began to talk. Riz looks at the man with a face full of confusion as if there are question marks hanging on his head. 'Who the hell is this guy? Why did he talk about my mother?'

The man in question seems to accurately pinpoint Riz's thought, "Oh?! I'm sorry, it is rude of me to not introduce myself to you. Although I heard a lot about you, I don't think you heard a lot of news about me. This will be our first time meeting face to face, I am the President of the Republic of Cerdeauxia, Matthew Milan. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Matthew extended his hand and offered Riz a handshake. However, Riz stares blankly at the kind gesture offered to him.

Hearing that name evoked a strange feeling inside him. All of the sudden, his chest felt heavy. As if his blood boiled, his entire body feels hot. His body trembles for an unknown reason. His doesn't look very good. If a glare can kill a person, Matthew will die within a second.

"Cerdeauxia..." Riz slowly said. He doesn't know whether Count Naharog deliberately arranged his seat this way or it was simply a coincidence. He'll figure it out later.

More importantly, several questions popped up in his head. Why did he become angry? What with all of these emotions? Do these emotions belong to me?

Among his friends on Earth, he was known for someone with a high level of patience and high degree of control over his emotions. That is how it is supposed to be.

'No, this must be the remnants of the original Riz. I'm not an emotional person.' He tries to convince himself. But, another thought emerged, 'Or maybe I too have a part in this anger. This man caused a fair share of trouble for me a couple of years ago. From assassination plot by Gyalcakes to war against the entire Bagyarosia's nobility.'

Everyone in the hall fell silent. They secretly watched the unfolded drama before them.

Rumours about Riz as the last descendant of the Cerdeaux Dynasty from his maternal side are well circulated among the nobles.

There is nothing he can do to block it.

When you become a well-known person, it is inevitable to hide your personal information from the public.

Matthew retracted his hand after sensing hostility from the opposite side. He sighed as if he already expected this kind of response from Riz. To quel Riz's anger, he solemnly said, "I know you hate me. I understand you had an emotional connection to the family member you never met. But, the fault lies with Cerdeaux Royal Family. They indulge themselves in lavish lifestyle and disregard the well-being of the people. As a respected commander of the army, I had a responsibility to put an end to such practice."

Riz sneered, amused by Matthew's reason. "Responsibility? What a joke! You can tell that story to the peasants in your country. They'll believe it but not me. I am not buying it. I know everything about you, Matthew. Everything."

He had done an extensive background on this man. Matthew's words are inconsistent with his actions. Thus, Riz flatly opposes, "You don't have to justify yourself. It only makes you look more guilty than it already was. One day, you'll receive the punishment. If no one did, I'll do it myself."

It's a lie to say Riz doesn't have the ambition to take Cerdeauxia. After all, it supposedly belongs to him.

To see his rightful territory in the grasp of someone else makes his stomach churn. Not to mention, that someone is the former instructor of the royal family.

Matthew is basically his mother's teacher.

It basically 'to bite the hand that feeds you' in the truest sense.

As for his maternal family members, the original Riz might care about it because of his yearned for family affection.

But, the current Riz did not care about such an abstract concept.

He sees no reason to care for a dead family member he had never seen.

"Are you declaring war on Cerdeauxia?" Matthew's voice grew colder. The kid in front of him doesn't give a speck of respect.

Riz chuckle, "War on Cerdeauxia? Do you think I would wage a war only because of that? I won't needlessly drag my people or Cerdeauxian to the battlefield just for the sake of revenge. There are many ways to knock you from the seat of power. I hope you know your place, Matthew. You have tricked yourself into thinking you're qualified as a monarch. Perhaps you should stay in the military. Considering the current turbulence in Cerdeauxia, I see you have no ability to govern properly."

Every single person in the hall hissed as they heard the really young king insult the old president.

"I see...It seems you also inherited that foul mouth of yours from your mother as well. However, I have to tell you that you shouldn't be proud after two or three years of ruling. The hard time is yet to come for you."

Riz clicked this tongue, annoyed by Matthew pretending to be a good old man advising the youngster. "Worry about yourself instead. I heard your presidential position is not stable for the past couple of years. Maybe it's about time to deliver the promise you made to them, no?"

Matthew smirks, "They want me to fulfill my promise simply because I made the promise. While at the same time rejected the idea of presidency and election. How could they be so greedy? I'll after they become completely loyal to me and forget about the idea of restoring monarchy. Once I capture the supporter of the monarchy, everything will be under my control."

Thanks to Riz and Matthew, the hall has grown colder even though the day is nearing noon.

On one side, it's the kingdom with the best military prowess. And the other one is a republic with wide trade networks.

Nobody dares to speak a word and interrupt the two strongest nations. They're merely ants stuck between two elephants.

Well, except for one person.

"My, my, my...Your Majesty, President Matthew, let us put our discontent behind and not ruin the joyous day for Naharog today," said another man at the table.

He has been silently watching the two of them bickering this entire time. His face looks like someone in his mid-thirties.

"Who the hell are you?" Riz asked.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm the President of the Republic of Vofors' Commoner, Metternich Henderson." The man introduces himself with his hand on his right chest.