He was a tall, slightly plump young man with fluffy curly hair, whose appearance was quite proper. Although she saw admiration in his eyes, Wilhelmina felt no stirring and sensed Annabel’s intent, leading to a wave of disgust.
Annabel maintained her insincere smile, saying, “The Grand Duke rarely appears at court, which is regrettable. I hope you like Odin and stay for a while. The imperial city is most beautiful in this season. Perhaps Wilhelmina can take you on a picnic in the New Loire Valley. Isn’t that right, Willy?”
Wilhelmina forced a stiff smile, “I would be delighted, Your Highness.”
The Grand Duke, hearing this, smiled joyfully, “I am most grateful, Your Highness. I believe with your companionship, my trip to Odin will be pleasant.”
“You can go horseback riding,” Annabel said. “Wilhelmina is an excellent horsewoman. And you, Your Highness, I remember your father was also an outstanding rider. May he rest in peace.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. My late father loved horseback riding, and we children were influenced by him.”
“How wonderful,” Annabel laughed and turned to Albert, “If I weren’t so busy, I would love to join you with Albert, wouldn’t I?”
Albert lowered his eyes, smiled slightly, and said, “Yes, Your Majesty. Most unfortunate.”
Annabel greeted a key member of the Progressive Party as if she had just noticed him.
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg extended his arm to Wilhelmina. After a brief hesitation, she placed her hand on it, and they took their leave.
“How many times have you been to Odin, Your Highness?” Wilhelmina asked.
“I have not been to Odin many times,” the Grand Duke replied. “My father would come to Odin alone to pay his respects.”
“I have never been to the Luxembourg Star Domain. Is it far from Odin?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It is much farther than the Roxston Star Domain. It takes nearly half a month to get here,” the young man explained, beginning to introduce the Luxembourg Star Domain to Wilhelmina.
The Luxembourg ducal family’s bloodline originates from the former Olbach Dynasty. After the Ossenberg Dynasty replaced it, the Luxembourg clan submitted. Although the Luxembourg Star Domain is not small and is rich in minerals, they have always remained low-key.
The Grand Duke was not talkative, yet his speech was not dry. When describing his homeland’s beautiful scenery, his vivid language revealed a profound inner world and abundant feelings—rare among noble offspring.
When that playful gaze swept over, Wilhelmina immediately noticed. She momentarily lost track of the Grand Duke’s words and turned her head.
Albert stood behind Annabel, looking her way. In his major’s uniform, he exuded capability and charm, appealing to many young female guests, yet his smile was directed at Wilhelmina. To her, it felt more like mockery than kindness.
Annabel was surrounded by handsome suitors and high-ranking officials, all vying for her favor. They came from noble backgrounds across different star systems, eager to gain the queen’s attention.
Though Albert was not among these noblemen, he was the most cherished by Annabel. The empire knew of her affection for him, yet they had not progressed in their relationship. The Senate and royal families pressured the Selleberg family for a union, but no one could compel a man to marry the queen.
“Have I bored you, Your Highness?” the Grand Duke suddenly asked.
Wilhelmina was startled. “No, no, Grand Duke. I’m very sorry. What you said was very interesting.”
The Grand Duke smiled, responding, “I know I’m rather uninteresting. My mother always said I could ignite a space sub-nuclear bomb but not a girl’s heart.”
“I’m very sorry!”
Wilhelmina took a deep breath and sincerely apologized, “I think you’re a gentle and approachable person, Your Grace.”
“No, no. I’m not complaining,” the Grand Duke replied, appearing serious yet gentle. “You are truly beautiful, Your Highness.”
“Thank you,” Wilhelmina said, shyly lowering her head.
“Perhaps you know my purpose for this journey is the same as those men surrounding Her Majesty. We are all here to propose.”
Wilhelmina was amazed by the Grand Duke’s frankness. “Yes, Your Highness. So… is it going well?”
“I have completely lost hope,” he laughed. “But Her Majesty’s actions seem to have brought you confusion as well. For this, I deeply apologize.”
Wilhelmina was touched. It seemed that the Queen’s actions not only insulted the Grand Duke but also herself. A mature person should not behave in such a manner.
With a sincere smile, Wilhelmina said, “To prevent Odin from leaving a bad impression on you, I would be very happy to accompany you during your stay in Odin.”
“Won’t this disturb you?” he asked.
“Of course not,” she winked. “Do you think I would miss such a good excuse to skip class?”
Frins von Olbach gazed at the young girl before him, feeling stirred. For the first time, he thought that the imperial capital Odin was a beautiful place.
Chapter 29
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg was an outstanding scholar, which William Minna had not anticipated. He was intelligent from childhood, enrolled in the Empire’s “Gifted Program” at 4, started school at 5, was admitted to the Odin Einstein Science Academy with excellent grades at 14, and entered graduate school at 16.
“Space Nuclear Physics Doctorate, Planetary Science Doctorate, Astronomy Doctorate, and Educational Psychology Master’s,” William Minna recited. “I looked you up a bit, Duke, and you truly surprise me. Compared to you, I feel quite inadequate.”
“You absolutely need not feel that way, my Princess,” the Duke of Luxembourg humbly smiled. “You have your own strengths that I cannot match.”
It was a beautiful spring day, and they were riding horses on the flower-strewn slopes of the Loire Valley. Below the hillside, the Saint Cosrola River flowed, and across the riverbank were dense forests with castles and estates appearing and disappearing.
“It’s so beautiful,” the Grand Duke of Luxembourg praised. “Actually, in the southern hemisphere of Luxembourg’s capital, there’s a similar valley, though much larger.”
“I know, the Babylon Grand Canyon,” William Minna said happily. “I’ve read about it. That canyon is magnificent, with over 40,000 indigenous residents living there. Touring the entire route would take more than a week. I truly hope I’ll get to see it!”
“I also look forward to such a day,” the Grand Duke of Luxembourg said, gazing enchantedly at William Minna, whose face looked especially radiant in the sunlight. “Anytime, Princess, as long as you come, I will personally accompany you.”
William Minna smiled. “But this might just be a dream. I don’t have many opportunities to travel. Once I turn eighteen, I’ll have to return to the Roxton Star Domain.”
“I thought Her Majesty would enjoy your company.”
William Minna shook her head at the Grand Duke’s naive expression. “She doesn’t lack my company, Duke. But if she gets married, I might be freer.”
The Grand Duke looked troubled. “If I could, Princess, I would like to solve this worry for you. But then, I might not be able to host you in Luxembourg.”
William Minna laughed. “Oh, no, Duke. That’s not what I meant. Don’t worry, Her Majesty will find her ideal consort. We need not concern ourselves with such matters.”
“Of course not, Your Highness, you haven’t disturbed us at all. On the contrary, we are the ones who have interrupted you,” said a young man excitedly. “Today is the last day of the National Day holiday, and everyone wants to have a great time. It’s lucky to meet you here. By the way, we are all from the senior section of Odin Academy, and we’ve heard about your stories during your time at the academy.”
