Wilhelmina tilted her head and thought, “Pain and hatred would probably have overwhelmed my reason. I would have sought revenge. It seems grandfather’s approach was right; he made me turn setbacks into training.”
“I believe justice will prevail,” Albert said. “If not now, then in the future.”
“Yes. People must have such a belief, right?” Wilhelmina smiled faintly. She paused, then asked: “Albert, if you were in my position, would you have still tried to win Amelia or Georgiana over back then?”
This question made Albert laugh. “Believe me, only you could have fought your way out from this position. If it were either of them, they would have been eliminated by Annabel long ago.”
Wilhelmina chuckled. “You flatter me, my lord.”
“Just the truth,” Albert said. “Emperor Alexander did not misjudge you, Willy. And Lord Hans Berg helped you a lot.”
“Yes, Owen…” Wilhelmina sighed. “He taught me a lot. There’s one sentence I still remember: ‘Find the toughest kid in the playground, and then become friends with him.'”
“Makes sense,” Albert said. “You are the toughest kid in the playground. So I chose to be friends with you.”
Wilhelmina’s mood had largely recovered. She sat up laughing, turning to face Albert. “Don’t tell me this is some military school motto. I’ve been admiring him for this very sentence.”
“You can continue to admire him,” Albert kissed her hand. “Just don’t ignore me.”
“Oh, Albert!” Wilhelmina sighed. “Why are you so good to me?”
“I don’t know,” Albert said softly. “Maybe because I like you, maybe because you need me. Or perhaps it was all destined.”
“For a long time, I thought you were an arrogant, aloof, and annoying playboy.”
“A playboy?” Albert raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, you weren’t very nice to me before.”
“That meal still makes you hold a grudge?”
“I’m a woman, what can I do?” Wilhelmina shrugged.
They looked at each other and laughed.
“I have a question, Willy.”
“What?”
Albert asked seriously, “Why do you trust me so much?”
Wilhelmina replied, “Because I feel you are trustworthy.”
“You’ve never doubted your decision.”
