The girl’s eyes sparkled. “Okay, I’ve decided, I’ll follow you!”
“That’s my girl!” The chubby boy left a loud goodnight kiss on his cousin’s face, then climbed out the window and slid down the rope.
After Kerns disappeared into the bushes, a knock on the door sounded. Hans Borg entered.
“It’s getting late, you should rest.”
Wilhelmina turned around, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I want to go to military school in the future, Owen.”
Hans Borg sighed lightly, leading her to bed and covering her with a blanket. “Your Highness, military school is not a playground.”
“I know,” she replied. “I’m not afraid of hardship.”
Hans Borg gazed at her delicate face and shook his head. “Sleep. You still have three years before entering the intermediate academy. It’s not too late to make a decision then.”
Wilhelmina grabbed the secretary’s hand. “I’m not joking. I’ll also be good friends with Annabel.”
“I know, you’re doing well,” Borg said with a helpless yet doting smile.
“Goodnight, Owen. Won’t you give me a goodnight kiss?”
Hans Borg paused. “Of course. Goodnight.”
He leaned down and carefully placed a feather-light kiss on the girl’s forehead.
Chapter 10
Imperial Year 7375 was destined to be a busy year.
Just as Odin capital was experiencing a lukewarm summer, news of a plague outbreak reached the central government. This urgent document was quickly delivered to His Majesty.
The distant planet Memphis Cardan was inhabited by ethnic minorities who excelled in singing and dancing. The climate was hot, and fishing thrived. A mutated virus had reportedly arrived via a spaceship from another galaxy.
The plague broke out suddenly, causing body aches, breathing difficulties, lowered body temperature, and eye bleeding. Without timely treatment, patients could die of organ failure within 24 hours.
Emperor Alexander’s first order was an aviation restriction. Eight planets with reported cases, including Memphis Cardan, were blockaded. Imperial warships guarded the airspace, allowing entry but no exit. Research institutes focused on drug development while the entire empire entered a second-level alert state.
Wilhelmina held a history book, observing people in protective suits disinfecting the garden. Since the outbreak, the palace had been disinfected three times daily. Although no cases had been discovered in Odin, the nobles and wealthy were prone to panic.
