Hans Borg paused, “There is such a rumor.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Not for now, Your Highness,” he replied with a meaningful smile. “We must wait for another incident.”
Wilhelmina looked up, her azure eyes reflecting the handsome face of the young secretary. “I trust you, Owen,” she smiled innocently.
The incident Hans Borg spoke of did not take long to wait.
Just after Wilhelmina finished her entrance exam at the Odin Imperial Academy, she received some news from Hans Borg, who was waiting outside the venue with iced milk tea and lemon mousse cake. He reported that the Crown Prince had brought his lover and son out of the epidemic area to Loki Star, but the ship carried the virus, which subsequently broke out there.
Loki Star was less than three hours’ flight from Odin, one of the imperial hubs. Despite timely rescue and vaccinations, the virus claimed nearly three thousand lives, including the Crown Prince’s mistress. The flight ban was still in effect, indicating the specially authorized ship’s ownership.
Wilhelmina rode a hover car back to Rose Palace, passing several protest sites. By the time she reached the Rose Gate, it was crowded with protesters. Small private cars hung banners, while crowds shouted from the decks of medium-sized ships. A leaflet flew over and stuck to her car window—a white background with a large black skull wearing a crown, and the word “Massacre” printed in bright red underneath.
“We can’t get through,” the adjutant contacted the palace guard and anxiously turned to Hans Borg. “The protesters have blocked all roads. All gates are surrounded by people. His Majesty has not yet issued a dispersal order.”
Hans Borg frowned at the crowd outside. “Then let’s leave. Keep a low profile and don’t draw their attention.”
The hover car lowered its altitude and began to turn. Sunlight glimmered on the car body, and the golden rose lion emblem on the black paint caught everyone’s eye.
“It’s a royal car!” shouted the rioting crowd. “Stop it, don’t let them escape!” Almost instantly, the small royal car was surrounded by hundreds of private hover cars.
