The next dance was a quadrille, which Wilhelm Minna was originally going to dance with Albert. With Hans Borg’s absence, the order was advanced, and Cairns, who was in the third position, approached and bowed.
“Thank you for this honor, Your Majesty.” Wilhelmina laughed and extended her hand, “I hope you won’t step on my toes this time, Lord Kerns.” “I swear, Your Majesty. Even if I trip myself, I will not touch a single one of your toes,” Kerns winked.
A cheerful dance tune soon began to play. Young people lined up, holding hands, their dance shoes tapping on the marble floor. Wilhelmina, holding her skirt, twirled under Kerns’ guidance. Her radiant smile was charming and eye-catching. If one ignored her recent rise to power through a coup, many present would see her only as a beautiful figure, not perceiving any threat.
Later novelists’ fondness for writing about Wilhelmina I stemmed from this.
A seemingly naive and pure girl with extraordinary courage and determination was highly dramatic.
Wilhelmina finished a partner-changing dance step and turned, her gaze sweeping to a figure by the doorway. She paused, her hand holding her skirt.
Kerns grasped her hand, and she suddenly regained her focus, lifting her skirt and spinning again.
Looking again, Hans Boge bowed to her from afar.
Wilhelmina’s absent-mindedness caught Albert’s attention. Following her gaze, he saw Hans Boge.
The two men’s gazes collided. Hans Boge humbly nodded in greeting.
“Do you know him?” Angela asked.
Albert chuckled softly, “No, Miss Garcia. What about you?”
“Probably a bit more than you,” Angela said. “Before you appeared, he was Wilhelmina’s protector. Gentle, meticulous, powerful, and generous. Wilhelmina was very dependent on him.”
“Yes,” Albert said, looking at Hans Boge, then at Wilhelmina on the dance floor, who seemed distracted. “But Wilhelmina has grown up.”
“She’s just eighteen,” Angela replied. “Rationally, she knows she can’t depend on him anymore, but her actions are always a beat behind.”
Angela raised an eyebrow, “Can you?”
Albert laughed, “Miss Garcia, now I understand why Wilhelmina likes you so much. You’re a friend who dares to speak frankly, which is rare.”
