Wilhelmina noticed she was spacing out, turned off the water, and started applying shampoo to her hair. Angela, selecting clothes, turned and saw Wilhelmina wrapped in a towel, glancing over her friend’s figure.
Wilhelmina was now a complete young girl with a slender, well-proportioned figure, the result of years of karate and judo training.
“Stop looking, I have everything you have. Yours are even bigger,” Wilhelmina said with a smile.
Angela waved clothes in front of her. “Red or blue?”
“Blue,” Wilhelmina replied. “The red one isn’t even a dress.”
“Darling, even if it’s just a piece of fabric, it’s been cut by a famous designer,” Angela said, whistling as she took a shower and tried on clothes.
Wilhelmina, now in pajamas, sat on the bed holding coffee and watching her. Angela was slightly taller than Wilhelmina, with smooth, alluring wheat-colored skin.
She was well-developed, with distinct curves, a striking appearance, and a lively personality. She had always been pursued by military school male students.
“That Blyton from Class B was chasing you earlier, what happened?” Wilhelmina asked.
“That waste, he was scared away by a little test from me. I’ve always looked down on logistics department guys; they’re either gay or spineless.”
“So, Miss Garcia, how did you test him? Did you show him another deformed fetal corpse?”
“I wouldn’t use the same method twice,” Angela scoffed. “I just had him download a few holographic images from the teacher’s website while doing my forensic homework.”
“What images were they…”
“You know,” Angela said carelessly. “Wax corpses, giants, and such. Just images, darling, nothing serious.”
Wilhelmina shook her head and laughed, “You’re definitely going to be an old maid, Angela.”
“I’m not a ‘maiden’ anymore, darling, if you remember that cute college senior from last Christmas,” Angela winked. “That was a wonderful night.”
“What wonderful night?” Kains’ head poked through the door crack. Seeing the two girls still in towels, he happily whistled, “Oh Frigg goddess, I’ve stepped into a fantasy paradise.”
Wilhelmina grabbed a book and threw it at him. Kains nimbly caught it and cheerfully pulled his head back.
“Hurry up, ladies. The party’s about to start, and we haven’t had dinner yet.”
The girls quickly changed.
Wilhelmina said, “Go buy our food. Angela wants a high-fiber salad, I want a meat sauce pasta and a rose milk tea.” “I’m your cousin, not your butler,” Kains grumbled but went anyway. Wilhelmina glanced at Angela, “What’s going on between you and Kains?” “Just good friends. You’re my BFF,” Angela replied. “Keep pretending,” Wilhelmina said as she dried her hair. “I don’t know about you two kissing behind the ivy curtain at Easter.” Angela screamed and swung a pillow at Wilhelmina, who laughed and dodged. “It’s too late to silence me now!” Angela threw down the pillow, “It was nothing. We were both drunk. If you were next to me, I’d probably kiss you too.” “I’m not buying that,” Wilhelmina said, changing clothes and tying up her hair. Angela removed the clip, “Honey, we’re going to a party. No nuns allowed.” Wilhelmina looked at her reflection, shook her silky blonde hair, and smiled confidently. She was young and beautiful, why shouldn’t she be happy? When people in the Galactic Empire talked about Wilhelmina, they would say, “Oh, she’s so sweet.” She gave the impression of an elegant girl who never spoke in the media, standing quietly to the side with a gentle smile.
Only in private on campus could people see her open and free-spirited side. In public, she always stood next to Kains, a handsome young man, creating a well-matched appearance that drew media attention.
Imperial law prohibited marriage between relatives within three generations, but this did not apply to nobility and royalty, leading to increased rumors about their potential union. Wilhelmina remained unaffected by these outside speculations, maintaining her close friendship with Kains and Angela, forming a famous “iron triangle” at the academy. In such a flashy society, a loyal friendship was precious.
The school bar was the venue for today’s party, with deafening music and colorful lights flickering in the darkness. Young people crowded the dance floor, eagerly responding to the DJ’s cues. Wilhelmina’s identity proved beneficial, as she and Angela were escorted through a less crowded back door by security.
Kains, who had arrived earlier, was chatting with a black-haired beauty in a silver-white short skirt that revealed her arms and shoulders. Angela and Wilhelmina navigated the crowded space, hand in hand. Angela patted the girl’s shoulder and made a dismissive gesture. Upon noticing them, the girl consciously turned and walked away.
“Wait…
Cairns tried to stop her, but the girl disappeared into the crowd.
Cairns shouted angrily, “Please, I was just about to get that girl’s phone number!”
“You should thank me, Viscount Franco,” Angela said, sitting next to him. “That wasn’t a ‘girl.'”
Cairns was stunned.
Wilhelmina laughed, “You really should get your eyesight corrected, Cairns. That guy’s Adam’s apple was like a walnut.”
Cairns slowly came to his senses, his face turning pale.
“Don’t tell me you kissed him,” Wilhelmina glanced at him sideways.
Cairns covered his mouth with a napkin and rushed to the bathroom.
The two girls burst into laughter.
The Phoenix team’s captain approached with several team members, shouting from afar, “Hey, there’s our female hero!”
Wilhelmina stood up laughing and hugged her teammates. She was casual and approachable in private.
“That was brilliantly done today!” The tall, burly captain raised his beer, “Hey, friends, to celebrate our Phoenix team maintaining the triple crown, I’ll buy a drink for everyone. Long live the Empire! Long live the Phoenix team! To Wilhelmina!”
“To Wilhelmina!” Everyone raised their glasses.
Wilhelmina downed a large beer in one gulp, earning loud whistles and applause.
The captain pushed a junior student forward, saying to Wilhelmina, “This is our new recruit pilot, who will replace you in the future.”
The tall, shy young man looked nervous as he bowed to Wilhelmina. “Your Highness.”
Wilhelmina chuckled. “This is a party, not a court. Just call me Wilhelmina.”
“Sorry,” Rosland von Hansberg said, scratching the back of his head.
Wilhelmina’s hand trembled around her cocktail. “What did you say?”
“Rosland,” he replied, “Your Highness.”
“No, your last name.”
“Hansberg,” he repeated timidly. “Is something wrong?”
Wilhelmina paused. “Who is Owen Hansberg to you?”
“You know him?” Rosland’s eyes lit up. “He’s my father’s cousin. We’re not close, only met at my grandfather’s funeral. I call him Uncle Owen. He seems to have gone to a distant star system on a mission, right?”
“Yes…” Wilhelmina’s voice was barely audible over the music. “Far away…”
Rosland didn’t hear her clearly and didn’t dare ask, staring innocently at her.
“Did this little fool upset you?” the captain returned, pulling Rosland aside and hugging Wilhelmina. “Don’t mind these rookies. Come, finish this drink. Then I’ll take the team to kick the Atlantis team’s ass.”
Wilhelmina was forced to drink another glass, laughing and crying. She twisted her head from under the captain’s arm and told his followers, “Keep an eye on him, no fighting.”
The alcohol-fueled captain strutted away with his team.
Cairns returned from the bathroom, pale and sipping juice painfully. “I was always confused, but now I finally understand. I’m a total straight man.”
“Congratulations,” Angela sneered, “I’m glad the part of humanity that escaped your clutches.”
“You should date your corpses, Angela,” Cairns retorted.
Wilhelmina sat beside them, absentmindedly sipping her cocktail. Several people who wanted to flatter her saw her expression and backed away.