“I hope it’s not about the time I splashed Italian meat sauce on Professor Rona’s back in the cafeteria. That was just an accident. Later, when I accidentally released the fire mouse during a biology experiment and burned the vice principal’s pants, that was intentional.” Wilhelmina’s words prompted laughter from everyone.
“I’m so happy to see my former juniors. Are you all Park’s classmates?”
“Yes, we’re all in Class 2A.”
“Class A, not bad. It seems you’re the elite of the academy, the pillars of the future empire.”
“You’re too kind, Your Highness,” the excited juniors replied.
“Don’t be so formal. If you’re Park’s friends, you’re my friends too.”
An attendant walked over and whispered something in Wilhelmina’s ear. Her expression showed slight surprise.
“Really?”
“I’m afraid so, Your Highness.”
“Alright. Thank you, Rod.” Wilhelmina smiled at her juniors, “I must take my leave now. Enjoy yourselves. Don’t take a boat after drinking. And Park, don’t come home too late.”
“I’m seventeen!” Park protested.
“It was nice meeting you.” Wilhelmina returned to the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, took the reins, turned to wave at the children below, and galloped away.
Watching her ride away, Park’s girlfriend sighed, “She’s so beautiful, elegant, and gentle. She’s a true princess.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard Duchess Roxston speak,” another girl said. “She seems more cheerful than on TV and doesn’t have any airs about her.”
“I love her blonde hair,” a male student exclaimed. “No wonder ‘Empire Times’ always calls her the ‘Empire’s Sweetheart.'”
“Give it a rest, Zack,” a girl mocked. “You’re only good for drooling over her hologram.”
“She’s so friendly and humorous,” his girlfriend told Park. “And she seems to like you. Who’s that guy she was with?”
“Probably some nobleman,” Park sneered. “How nice does it matter? The Queen can’t wait to send her back to Roxston. She’ll marry some mediocre noble and live a boring life.”
“You don’t like her?”
“She doesn’t care if anyone likes her,” Park shrugged. “Don’t be fooled by her angelic appearance, Louise. In the royal family, the pure either weren’t born or are already dead.”
Wilhelmina rode her horse to the stables, quickly changed out of her riding clothes, and boarded a hover car back to Rose Palace. The Grand Duke of Luxembourg had to say goodbye in advance.
“This is my private number. You can contact me if you need anything, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Wilhelmina accepted the business card. “I’m sorry our date ended so abruptly. I’ll definitely make it up to you in the future.”
By the time she returned to Rose Palace, the sky had darkened.
Rose Palace was heavily guarded, with both land and air on high alert. Outside, protesters and sensationalist media were packed together, holding signs like “Severely Punish the Culprit – Protest Cover-up” and “Life for a Life.”
Although her car was escorted by police, it was still pelted with eggs and tomatoes. Flashlights created a bright light, and reporters’ microphones banged against the car windows.
“What are your thoughts on the Queen’s abuse of power?”
“Will you use your Senate voting rights early?”
“Do you support the new constitutional amendment?”
Knowing they couldn’t see inside, Wilhelmina put on sunglasses.
In the parking lot of White Buckingham Palace, Secretary Wolf was waiting. He draped a thin shawl over Wilhelmina to shield her from the cool evening breeze and accompanied her up the palace steps.
“Her Majesty hopes that all the princes and princesses will stay in their residences and await her summons.”
“What is she doing?”
“She’s summoning ministers.”
“Who has come?”
“The Prime Minister, Finance Secretary, State Secretary, Military Secretary, and Justice Secretary. The Minister of Internal Affairs is also present.”
“Just as I expected,” Wilhelmina entered the sitting room, handed her cape back to Wolf, “I need to know every detail.”
The butler served hot tea and snacks, and Wolf handed Wilhelmina a reader.
“You’ll understand after reading these news items.”
Wilhelmina held her teacup, methodically drinking the hot rose milk tea. After reading three lines, her expression changed, and she put down the cup.
Chapter 30
The political scandal later known as the “Red Castle Incident” erupted at twelve forty-three noon that day. The “Navigator News,” originally a small newspaper, gained fame after this event, becoming one of the Empire’s most notable newspapers. It was often at odds with “Wheat Field,” each supporting different political parties.
The “Red Castle Incident” dealt a heavy blow and brought indelible shame to the royal family, particularly to Queen Annabel.
The incident began in Princess Barbara’s family. Her nephew, Lord Stanford, was portrayed in media as a handsome playboy, known for frequenting nightclubs and dating models and actresses. However, reporters couldn’t have imagined his true self behind closed doors.
The princess’s brother had an unhappy marriage, attributed to the mother’s promiscuity and the father’s [censored], which warped the children’s psyches. Severe schizophrenia and delusions were cited by psychiatrists in court later.
In short, after his mother died when he was 17, this playboy began kidnapping prostitutes from the red-light district, imprisoning and toying with them before brutally killing and burying them in the family estate, “Red Castle.”
By the time he was twenty-two, his father, who had abused him, died of cancer, and Lord Stanford became even more unrestrained. He began targeting ordinary girls, killing forty-one women over eight years with the help of his devoted butler. The victims included white-collar workers he had one-night stands with, party girls, actresses, models, and four female students under eighteen.
Three years ago, during an investigation into a missing person case, this serial killer had surfaced. However, his powerful political background and substantial assets allowed him to escape prosecution. Princess Barbara personally called the judge, suppressed media coverage, and used considerable money for bribery. Lord Stanford was released on bail and continued his heinous acts.
No one expected that the ordinary middle-class family, silenced by money, would not give up. The victim’s sister had been secretly collecting evidence for three years with the help of a justice-minded police officer.
Today, with support from a political force, she accused the royal family of abusing power and protecting a serial killer. The questioning of royal privileges and the incident’s financial aspects became a focal point for democratic protests.
In the video, the victim’s haggard sister and parents held photos during a press conference, expressing deep grief.
“…Jenny was a kind, pure girl with a warm heart. But she was young and could not escape the serial killer’s clutches. The photo was taken at her seventeenth birthday, and she will never celebrate her eighteenth. She was still a child, never having the chance to go to university or develop her life. Each time the killer walks out of the police station, I wonder: in this empire, on this planet, how many girls like Jenny will never open their eyes again…”
“Poor girl…” Wilhelmina felt indignant. “Have they arrested him, Sir Wolf?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Sir Wolf replied. “But approximately an hour ago, Lord Stanford was released on bail.”
“That’s hardly a wise approach,” Wilhelmina said. “How much is the bail?”
“Five million Imperial pounds, Your Highness,” Sir Wolf said, looking amazed. “It was originally only supposed to be a thousand. But the Special Investigation Bureau dug up bodies from the basement and garden of Red Castle.”
