Matthias's Ambition

"Matthias, let me tell you, my preferences are perfectly normal. If you dare get any ideas about me, I wouldn't mind letting you experience the pleasure of being scorched by flames."

Roland's helpless voice echoed through a hidden secret chamber.

Today, when he had suddenly received word that Matthias wished to visit him in secret, he had been genuinely surprised and had taken it very seriously.

After all, Matthias was the ruler of the Storm Kingdom, equal to him in status. What matter required him to cross hundreds of miles of war zone and come in person?

Yet who would have thought that from the moment they met, the smile on Matthias's face had never faded? His eyes were filled with greed and heat as he stared at Roland, as though he wished he could swallow him whole. It disgusted Roland terribly.

"..."

Matthias restrained his smile and replied irritably,

"Roland, my preferences are normal too."

"Then why are you staring at me like that?" Roland said, suddenly realizing something.

"Could it be that my handsome appearance has reached the point where I appeal to both men and women?"

Waves of nausea rose within Matthias, and he snorted irritably.

"Stop disgusting me."

"Hey, who disgusted whom first?"

Matthias shot Roland's indignant expression a sidelong glance, then suddenly smiled. Though the two were trading barbs and needling each other, this feeling made him feel unexpectedly relaxed—far more at ease than when he had faced Freddy before.

"Pour me a drink."

Roland's eyes widened as he briefly wondered whether he had somehow not yet ascended the throne.

Kid, who the hell gave you the courage to order me around like that?

"This concerns the life and death of your Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom's six hundred thousand troops," Matthias added.

Oh, then that was