After the communication signal was cut off, Hans Ge exhaled and loosened his tie. He felt his eyes dry and his forehead slightly sweaty, but compared to his inner pain, this was nothing.
He opened the drawer and took out a worn leather notebook, casually flipping it open to a photo of an angel-like girl.
The girl had golden hair and wore a dark gray school uniform with a tie, looking serious at the camera. Her blue eyes resembled the sea.
Turning the page, a girl in a floral dress sat on a young secretary’s knee, whispering in his ear.
Another page showed the girl in pajamas playing with a cat, while the secretary held a pair of socks, trying to convince her to put them on.
Most photos featured the girl alone, laughing, silent, making faces. The child was small, as they had only been together for a short two years.
Hans Ge closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer. During his years stationed abroad, he spent time looking at these photos and reminiscing.
He loved her, he knew—and he had always thought it was like a child’s love. He never expected this child to grow into a beautiful, charming woman who could tempt him to the brink of losing his reason, all while smiling like the child from back then.
Albert returned to Odin two weeks after the counterterrorism peacekeeping force’s operation was nearing completion. Public affairs had accumulated, so he returned to the palace early to assist the Queen.
Seeing the royal couple in public, people felt relieved. The Prince’s return signified a smooth and stable front-line situation.
The royal couple attended various opening ceremonies, cocktail parties, and meetings, drawing public attention primarily to the Queen’s attire and jewelry, while interest in Anne waned.
William, reading the news on his device while drinking coffee, remarked, “At yesterday’s cocktail party, Duchess Li wore the same dress as me. Today, all the newspapers report that, yet there’s no coverage on the new medical structural reform measures.”
Albert responded with a laugh, “People are already tired from work, so they likely prefer not to engage with politics in their spare time. By the way, I chatted with Hans at the cocktail party yesterday.”
“Oh?” William looked warily at his husband. “You didn’t discuss front-line matters, did you?”
