“You are just like my psychologist,” Wilhelmina Wilna said with a wry smile. “So, are you going to give me a candy now?”
Albert smiled and produced a chocolate wrapped in gold paper from his palm.
“Oh my!” Wilhelmina Wilna laughed happily. “How did you do that?”
“I have eight cousins and am good at entertaining children.”
“This is a trick for coaxing girls,” Wilhelmina Wilna said, peeling off the wrapper. “How many girls have you used this trick on?”
“Only one,” Albert replied, cupping her head with their foreheads touching. “Just you.”
A knock interrupted their moment. Sir Wolf entered, saying in his rigid voice, “Mr. Hans Borg requests an audience, Your Majesty.”
“Please let him in quickly!” Wilhelmina Wilna hastily swallowed the chocolate and stood up.
Hans Borg strode into the conference room, eagerly searching for Wilhelmina Wilna. When he saw her, his expression relaxed.
Wilhelmina Wilna gave him a comforting smile and extended her hand.
Hans Borg took her hand and kissed it. “Seeing you safe, I can finally rest assured. Mr. Schneider is not in Odin; he asked me to convey his regards.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to have worried you,” Wilhelmina Wilna replied. “Did you come as soon as you received the news? How is it outside?”
“There is slight unrest and anxiety, but nothing serious. The court news office released a statement saying you and Lord Albert are fine. They claim it was just a small accident due to student crowding. I think the unrest will subside quickly.”
The statement satisfied Wilhelmina Wilna.
“Willy,” Albert interjected, “I should go home and report my safety to my parents, so I must take my leave.”
“Please give my regards to the Duke and Duchess,” she replied.
As Albert walked towards the door, he nodded slightly at Hans Borg.
Watching him leave, Hans Borg asked Wilhelmina Wilna, “Was it he who saved you?”
“His reflexes were much more flexible than mine,” she admitted, looking embarrassed. “I realized today that I have too little actual combat experience.”
“You are the Queen; we should protect you.”
“Indeed…” Wilhelmina Wilna sighed. “By the way, Owen, I want to ask you something.”
A distant memory momentarily dazed Hans Borg.
A flash of inspiration made him understand why Wilhelmina was asking him this.
“Do you think today’s incident is related to your father’s matter?”
