Heinrich had been restored to the status of an ordinary prince but was allowed to keep his territory, now the Prince of Turangel. When Annabel ascends to the throne, one of her children will inherit this title.
The ceremony was held in the Hall of Spirits, where guests disembarked. Various vehicles, including hover cars, passed by, making brief stops in front of the media cameras. Dressed in glamorous attire, men and women posed and smiled before walking the red carpet into the hall.
William Mina was pulled by Cairns to watch the commotion in the bustling lobby, unnoticed by the guests. A familiar silver-gray land vehicle stopped in front of the red carpet. A man in a marshal’s uniform descended, standing tall and straight, followed by a tall, handsome youth in a black uniform with gold embroidery, who exuded refined elegance and a warm smile.
He brushed his collar and slipped his cane into the belt pouch.
This reflected the unique confidence and nobility of an aristocratic young master, with a composure that other young masters lacked.
“Albert,” Cairns said through gritted teeth, “the girls like this guy. Don’t let his smile fool you—he broke the military academy’s shooting record.”
“Georgiana says Anna Belle will marry him,” William Mina said.
“Maybe. He’s the marshal’s only son, the heir to ‘War God Tyr’. Anna Belle needs to impress the Selerberg family, and Albert is quite handsome. I thought she liked your secretary.”
“Owen?” William Mina looked unhappy. “She was just teasing me.”
“Don’t be careless, Willy,” Cairns warned. “Anna Belle likes to pursue whatever catches her eye. If she thinks your secretary is talented, she’ll go for it. Remember, she’s about to become the crown princess.”
“I’ll be careful,” William Mina said.
In her line of sight, the handsome Selerberg young master followed his father up the hall’s steps. The marshal greeted acquaintances while the youth remained composed beside him.
William Mina felt a prick of discomfort and shrank back slightly.
Albert withdrew his gaze, smiled faintly, and followed his father into the hall.
The Emperor crowned Anna Belle.
The young crown princess wore a golden embroidered robe and held the scepter, her spirited smile and bright, fiery eyes radiating excitement.
Though some media later mocked her for being overly excited, it was understandable for a fifteen-year-old girl ascending to the crown princess position.
After the succession ceremony, William Mina and the others returned to school, with Anna Belle joining them to add a few courses on governance.
Wilhelmina stepped into the snow, leaving a trail of light gray footprints. Intrigued, she looked back as she walked but wandered away from her path. When she realized it, she was lost.
The bare trees and snow had transformed the familiar campus. Wilhelmina estimated she was near the middle school section but was unsure which way to return to the junior section.
As she took a few more steps, she heard voices from behind the bushes and hurried over.
Several middle school boys surrounded a small boy stripped of his outer clothing, wearing only a thin shirt, his face turning blue from the cold. They pushed him to the ground, where the snow had been trampled and mixed with mud from previous scuffles.
The boy was covered in dirt but remained silent.
Chapter 16
Wilhelmina walked forward, and the others stopped, surprised.
The boys moved aside, and Georgiana stepped forward, glaring at her.
“How did you end up here?” she demanded.
“I got lost,” Wilhelmina replied, looking at the boy kneeling on the ground. “Who is he?”
Georgiana sneered, “Don’t you know him? He’s that woman’s child.”
Wilhelmina understood. This boy was the son of her uncle Heinrich and his mistress, seemingly around nine years old. She hadn’t expected them to send him to Odin Academy. This was hardly good for a child in such an awkward position, having lost his mother and with an unreliable father.
Wilhelmina looked up at Georgiana and asked, “Does Uncle know you’re doing this?”
“Mind your own business!” Georgiana said. “He has nothing to do with you, got it?”
Wilhelmina shrugged, “I understand you, Georgiana. But you’re making this look too ugly.”
Georgiana’s face reddened. “I don’t need you to lecture me!”
Wilhelmina smiled, “If he goes back like this, the whole school will know what happened and who did it. I don’t think such a dishonorable act will give people a good impression of Annabel.”
“What does this have to do with my sister?”
Wilhelmina shook her head, “We’re in this together. How can you still not understand? We’re on the same boat.”
I bet if Annabel finds out, she’ll be furious. So don’t embarrass our family anymore. Let this kid be!”
Georgiana pressed her lips together, her face pale and eyes fierce. But Wilhelmina wasn’t afraid; she knew Georgiana would think it through.
After a moment, Georgiana stepped back and told the boys, “Let’s leave.”
Watching her cousin and her followers walk away, Wilhelmina looked down at the boy still kneeling on the ground.
“Isn’t the ground cold?” she asked.
The boy looked up and glared at her, showing no gratitude. He tried to stand, but his leg gave way, and he fell again.
“Injured?” Wilhelmina frowned, her tone cold. “Shall I help you to the school infirmary?”
The boy stared at her like a wounded leopard, unappreciative of her offer.
“Shut up!” he said angrily.
Wilhelmina smiled wryly. A car horn sounded behind them. The two children moved aside as a silver-gray vehicle passed by. The familiar color and logo surprised Wilhelmina. “Isn’t that…”
Before she could finish, the car stopped, and the young master of the Selberg family stepped out.
“Did you encounter any difficulties, Your Highness?” Albert said, shaking out a large cape as he approached.
“My cousin… my friend fell, sir,” Wilhelmina said with a smile, using court language. “Your arrival is truly timely.”
Could you help take us to the school infirmary? Or perhaps take him to the infirmary and then take me to the cafeteria?”
Albert listened to the girl’s words and smiled warmly. His driver helped carry Patrick, and he wrapped Wilhelmina Mina in his cape.
“Of course, I’m happy to serve you, Your Highness. It’s so cold; you mustn’t catch a chill. Let’s talk in the car.”
In the spacious car, Patrick huddled in a blanket, his eyes wary and cold, while Wilhelmina Mina drank a cup of hot milk tea and sighed, “I don’t know how to thank you, Young Master Albert.”
“There’s no need to be so polite,” Albert replied gently.
“Are you here to see a friend?”
“I’m visiting a professor and was about to return.”
“I hope we haven’t disrupted your schedule,” Wilhelmina Mina glanced at her watch. “I wonder if you’d like to have lunch with me in the cafeteria.”
“It would be my honor,” said Albert, his eyes clear and gentle.
Patrick suddenly snorted in contempt. Albert’s gaze turned to him, and although he smiled gently, his eyes were sharp, making the boy shiver involuntarily.
The vehicle took only three minutes to reach the school infirmary. The adjutant carried Patrick to see the doctor while Wilhelmina Mina and Albert continued to the cafeteria.
The Fourth Cafeteria was a four-story building with three floors of public dining areas and a fourth housing a coffee house, tea shop, book bar, and small independent restaurants.
In the Italian pizza restaurant, Albert ordered a bacon and bell pepper double cheese pizza, two fruit juices, a plate of fries, and two salads. Wilhelmina Mina watched him elegantly pick up a knife and fork to cut the pizza, then decisively grab it with his hand and take a big bite.
“This chain pizza always tastes good,” Albert said. “There are two branches in the military school, and they’re quite popular. Aren’t you eating?”
