Chapter 365 Dinner With Albert Ferron
Riz ascended to the third floor, following the staff through the elegant interior of the restaurant.
As he reached this upper level, it became clear that it was designed with a different purpose in mind compared to the bustling dining area below.
The floor was divided into a series of discrete compartments, providing an intimate and private atmosphere for patrons who sought to dine away from prying eyes and ears. The partitions between the compartments were tastefully decorated, offering a sense of exclusivity.
The staff led Riz to one of these secluded compartments, stopping before it and announcing, "We're here, Your Majesty."
"Thank you," Riz replied. Before the staff could even inform the person inside, he stepped forward and slid the compartment door open, revealing the person he had come to meet.
He laid eyes on Albert Ferron, the person he had come to meet.
Albert appeared to be a man who exuded confidence, and there was a sharpness in his eyes that hinted at a keen intellect. His attire was impeccable, befitting the high-class setting of the restaurant.
Moreover, the way he held himself carried a certain air of authority around him.
It was contrary to the image of Albert that Riz had initially conjured, the one of a decrepit or overweight rich man.
lightsΝοvεl ?οm Albert appeared to be momentarily startled by Riz's sudden entrance. However, he swiftly regained his composure and greeted the king with a soft and respectful tone. "Welcome, Your Majesty. I have been waiting for your arrival."
Riz, in his characteristically frank and unfiltered manner, cut right to the chase. "You're Albert?"
Albert, maintaining his composed demeanour, replied, "Yes, I'm Albert Ferron, the one who invited you to this lovely restaurant. Please, take a seat."
Riz settled into his seat. The compartment door slid closed behind him. "So, Albert, I must commend your bravery in inviting the king to dinner. It's been a while since someone treated me as a friend."
His words carried a polite tone, but beneath them was a subtle way of saying that Albert had not shown the proper respect.
Obviously, Albert understood the message yet he feigned ignorance. "Hahaha...Your Majesty, it's my joy if you consider me as your friend."
Riz waved away the notion. "Well, there's no need to rush things. This is our first meeting. Let's discuss something more professional, like the cooperation you mentioned in your letter."
Albert straightened his posture, "As we all know, the food price is going through the roof and affecting many people in the kingdom. It's truly distressing to witness the hardship it's causing for the people in our kingdom. My heart aches seeing people struggle to obtain even a pouch of grain. So, I want to help you reduce the price."
His words carried a veneer of concern, though Riz couldn't sense any hint of sincerity in it.
Riz, maintaining his composure, inquired further, "In your opinion, what has been the cause behind this sharp increase in prices, Albert?"
Albert feigned a thoughtful expression before replying, "I think it happened because many business owners such as myself had to suddenly fire their child labourers and replace them with adult workers."
He continued, "Sigh...You see, Your Majesty, the wages for adults are substantially higher than those for children. We simply don't have an enormous reserve of money to make such a sudden change. There are hundreds of child labourers to be replaced with."
Albert lamented, his tone subtly hinting at the difficulties faced, with a touch of implied blame.
Riz sat and listened attentively. His piercing gaze scrutinised Albert's every expression.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A sudden knock at the compartment door interrupted their conversation, causing Riz's eyes to momentarily shift toward it.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty," a waiter's voice came from outside, "your food has arrived."
"Please, come in," Riz replied, gesturing for the waiter to enter as their discussion paused for a moment.
The compartment door glided open gracefully, revealing the waiter with a warm smile on her face.
She entered with careful steps to avoid any mishaps as she approached the table bearing the sumptuous dishes.
The steam rising from the plates hinted that the food had just been freshly prepared, and the tantalizing aroma filled the compartment.
Albert beamed with pride at his choice of dishes. "I hope you like what I've ordered for you, Your Majesty," he said with an air of satisfaction. "These are all highly sought-after dishes enjoyed by many visitors here at The Golden Cup."
The waiter couldn't help but blush at the praise that was being showered by Albert. The Golden Cup took pride in all the dishes they offered.
"Is that so? We will see about that." Riz picked up the tableware.
If there was one way to subtly flaunt one's status in Bideford, it was by dining on fish-based dishes at night.
In the absence of modern conveniences like refrigerators, maintaining the freshness of ingredients, especially fish, was a constant struggle.
The warmer climate of Bideford only exacerbated this issue.
Furthermore, the cost associated with preserving the freshness of fish, combined with its perishable nature, elevated it to a premium commodity.
As Riz savoured the dish, he couldn't help but appreciate the quality. After a few more bites, he nodded approvingly. "Not bad at all. It's delicious."
"I'm glad you like it, Your Majesty," Albert replied with a satisfied smile.
"So, Albert, what are you suggesting? What can you do to solve this situation?" Riz swiftly redirected the conversation back to where they had left it.
"I can help you by coordinating many people in the food industry to lower the prices. I believe they simply showed their dissatisfaction by resorting to this unnecessary price hike. While some may not listen to me directly, with your words, I'm sure they will comply. However..." Albert seemed hesitant to continue his words.
"What?!" Riz prodded.
Albert cleared his throat, "However, we also can't allow things like this to happen again. I suggest Your Majesty take one person from the business circle into your government. He can be an intermediary between us and you. Whenever you plan to reform something related to business, we can take note and prepare to heed your decree."
"Hmm..." as Riz chewed his food, he contemplated Albert's proposal.
It seemed to him that Albert was attempting to use his authority to unite all the people in the business circle into one faction, which didn't sit well with him.
Moreover, the idea of allowing individuals from their side to enter the government appeared to be excessive.
"Let me think about it first," Riz replied cautiously.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Albert responded with a respectful nod.
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