Wilhelmina woke up to see Hans Borge had changed his uniform. The black-bottomed silver-lined military attire was now a crisp navy blue suit. In a three-piece suit with his hair combed back, Hans Borge looked more approachable and added a refined young master’s elegance.
“You look like a butler,” the child remarked.
“There’s not much difference between a secretary and a butler,” Hans Borge replied, kneeling to put on her new shoes.
“Your grandfather, His Majesty, will be hosting a family dinner at the Carefree Palace. Do you remember the court dining etiquette I taught you?”
“At least I haven’t forgotten everything,” she answered mischievously, stepping on his knee.
Hans Borge smiled, “It’s okay if you make a few mistakes today.”
Wilhelmina kissed the large cat Lucy sleeping on the bed, then was led out by Hans Borge.
In the small dining hall of the Carefree Palace, the royal family sat at the long table. Wilhelmina sat to the right of her grandfather the Emperor, facing the Crown Prince’s family, with Princess Catherine on her right.
Wilhelmina struggled to spear a grape with her knife and fork, but it kept rolling away. Finally losing patience, she made a sudden effort. The grape bounced off the fork, tracing an arc and landing in the consommé in front of the Crown Princess.
The bright red soup splashed on the Crown Princess’s milky white evening dress, looking like a murder scene.
The Crown Princess screamed, causing immediate chaos. The Crown Prince looked at her indifferently, saying softly, “Why aren’t you more careful?”
“It wasn’t me,” she retorted, throwing down her handkerchief and going to change.
Annabelle’s sharp gaze swept over. Wilhelmina looked blank and innocent, making Annabelle hesitate, wondering if she had wrongly accused her.
Princess Catherine wiped her mouth, saying to Wilhelmina, “Darling, you must try this Milan veal. It’s delicious. Next time, you can come to my place; my French chef makes the best cream-baked snails in the entire empire.”
His Majesty took a sip of red wine, sighing contentedly as he looked at his children and grandchildren.
“Isn’t it wonderful that our family can gather for dinner together?”
Everyone smiled and agreed.
After dinner, everyone moved to the sitting room, preparing for a traditional evening with the Emperor.
