William Minna turned around, her sharp gaze sweeping over the two men.
“Should I applaud your collaboration, gentlemen?”
“Of course you should be sorry. What disappoints me most is you,” William Minna strode up to Albert and stared at him. “What made you think you could do whatever you want, override me, and plan such a major event? For God’s sake, Albert, you are so bold.”
Albert endured his wife’s anger and spoke in a calm voice: “I know hiding this from you was wrong, but it was also for your own good. Annabelle will be a great threat to you as long as she is alive.”
“So you let her lie dead on the courthouse steps, letting all media and people see this scene? How will scholars evaluate this incident? How will my descendants view me?”
I said I didn’t want to be the first to commit fratricide in the Osenberg family’s history—well, now I’m not just the first, but the most first, because it’s obviously your Selberg family that rules now.”
Albert’s face turned blue. “I did this to clear obstacles for my descendants.”
“You could have just locked Annabelle up for a few years and waited. Maybe she wouldn’t have lived long and would have died of illness.”
“Time waits for no one, Willy.”
“I don’t need you to lecture me,” William Minna shouted. “Less than half a year after the constitution was established, my rights have been completely nullified, and my instructions have become empty words. Should I abdicate and let you completely take over?”
“You are simply unreasonable,” Albert replied, angry. “You know very well that with Annabelle’s death, many hidden dangers will be resolved. Why are you still so stubborn? I kept this from you because you cannot be persuaded.”
“I cannot be persuaded because I oppose it.”
“Your opposition is wrong. As your husband, I cannot watch you continue this error, so I would rather bear your anger and make the correct decision for you.”
“You cannot replace me,” William Minna said steadily. “You are just a queen’s husband.”
Albert turned pale, closing his mouth as he stared at his wife’s flushed face.
“Thank you for reminding me of my position, madam,” he said, turning toward the door.
William Minna was stunned, unable to say anything.
