Distracted, she heard Albert say, “She urgently wants to get married to gain support from the nobility.”
“She has always had that support,” William Minna sneered. “It seems she still doesn’t understand the problem.”
“She understands,” Albert said, “but she has her insistence.”
William Minna narrowed her eyes at him. “Will you marry her?”
“Do you want me to marry her?” Albert countered with a warm smile.
William Minna bit her lip. “I hate your ‘this-has-nothing-to-do-with-me’ smile the most.”
“I’m sorry my smile offended you, Your Highness,” Albert said, smiling nonchalantly.
The car stopped at the Small White Gold Palace, and the guard opened the door. William Minna got out angrily and strode up the steps, while Albert laughed and shook his head, following her.
“Did you have a fight with Cairns?” he asked.
William Minna stopped and glared at Albert, “Are you spying on me?”
“Don’t be so excited, my lady. In the past, whenever I was with you, he would jump out and interrupt us. This time, I just guessed.”
William Minna shrugged and walked to the door, crossing her arms, “I won’t take up your investigation time, officer.”
“The escort mission is complete. Good night, Your Highness,” Albert smiled, bowed, and turned to leave.
As Albert’s car disappeared into the night, William Minna took a deep breath and walked upstairs.
“You could be a bit nicer to him, Your Highness,” Sir Wolf said, following her and helping with her bag and hat.
“He won’t go to the Queen to complain that I bullied him,” she replied dismissively.
“I’m not talking about that, Your Highness,” Sir Wolf continued, “I think he quite likes you. Your attitude might hurt his feelings.”
William Minna stopped and turned around, “Are you joking, Sir Wolf?”
“I haven’t even told a joke at my daughter’s wedding, Your Highness.”
“I can tell,” William Minna smiled bitterly. “So, you’re mistaken. Albert von Selleberg does not like me.”
“Why not let him like you?” Sir Wolf said before bowing farewell. “Rest well, Your Highness.”
William Minna paused while removing her earrings, placing them in the jewelry box before taking off her hair clip and sitting at the vanity.
She was about to turn eighteen in two months. Leaving the imperial capital for Roxton wasn’t a bad thing, but it meant being permanently under Annabel’s surveillance. Her life felt like clay in Annabel’s hands, and she couldn’t bring Hans Borg back to her side.
William Minna opened a drawer containing a familiar poetry collection, where a yellowing letter lay. For the past six years, Hans Borg had communicated with her monthly. His simple emails described his monotonous military life, along with photos.
The man in the air force uniform grew increasingly heroic and robust, holding a gun, covered in dust, and laughing freely.
William Minna never knew how many scars lay beneath that uniform or how many times he had been imprisoned.
On the back of a creased photo were two lines: “Although I am not by your side, no distance can interrupt the delivery of my blessings. To my princess, happy 17th birthday.”
“I promised you,” William Minna whispered to the photo, “the coming-of-age ceremony at eighteen… though it may be delayed, I will fulfill my vow.”
The next day, after breakfast, someone from the Carefree Palace came, saying the Queen wished to see her.
Accustomed to being summoned by Annabel, William Minna put down her bag and followed the chamberlain to the car. When she arrived at the Carefree Palace’s Golden Sparrow Hall, she discovered Annabel had invited many people, including her two aunts, Kerns, the Selberg father and son, and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Annabel had clearly lost weight, her skin dull, with dark circles under her eyes and a more rigid smile.
“After what happened, I have no reason to keep the Grand Duke here any longer,” the Queen said regretfully. “So I’ve asked everyone to come and bid farewell to the Grand Duke, especially William Minna.”
William Minna approached the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. “I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon. I hope yesterday’s incident didn’t leave a bad impression of the imperial capital.”
Such shootings don’t often happen in Odin.”
“That’s right, not every shooting is meant to assassinate a politician,” Kerns interjected.
Annabel’s expression darkened, and Aunt Catherine glared at her son.
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg looked somewhat embarrassed. “I’m not leaving because of yesterday’s incident, Princess William Minna. I just have urgent matters to handle in Luxembourg.”
“Oh, is your dog about to have puppies?” Kerns interjected again.
William Minna couldn’t help but smile. “Kerns always likes to joke, Your Grace.”
“Yes, I do too,” the Grand Duke of Luxembourg replied. “Actually, the latest results from my physics laboratory are about to come out, and I can’t miss that moment. Not having you accompany me is also a significant loss.”
Outside the palace, in the Byzantine-style corridor, Kains dragged Wilhelmina forward, agitated and indignant. His grip was strong, and she couldn’t break free. Along the way, they tugged, scaring the guards.
“Kains, stop! We need to talk!” Wilhelmina called out, hugging a column and refusing to move. “I’ll die under this pillar; don’t think about pulling me away!”
Kains finally stopped and let go, looking at Wilhelmina with soft, sad eyes.
This made Wilhelmina feel irritated.
“Don’t look at me with those eyes, dear, making me feel like I’ve done something wrong. You should apologize to me and explain.”
“What?” Kains shrugged.
Wilhelmina flicked his forehead, “Apologize for what you said yesterday! You’ve completely messed everything up.”
Kains shouted angrily: “Do you really want to marry that fat man? He’ll be bald before thirty, and he’s married to his work; you’d be his legal mistress.”
Wilhelmina gritted her teeth, “Thanks for your ‘kind’ reminder, Kains. Who I want to marry is none of your business. Why are you angry with me?”
“Why?” Kains nodded. “I’ll tell you why.”
He strode over. Wilhelmina instinctively wanted to dodge but was grabbed. Kains cupped her face and kissed her passionately.
For a moment, Wilhelmina felt the warm object pressed against her lips. It wasn’t unpleasant; she found it quite comfortable. But when his tongue tried to enter, she pushed him away.
“Kains…” Wilhelmina stood stunned.
“Don’t say anything.” Kains looked down and then ran away.
Alberg laughed and walked over, saying, “Have you heard how mantises reproduce? The female mantis always eats the male after mating.”
Of course, science shows that the female mantis is often in a state of hunger. But Anna Bell’s ambition is never satisfied. Once she gets what she wants, she’ll want more, like the entire Selberg family.”
Wilhelmina wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Why do you explain it so grossly? Why do you think I would be easier to satisfy or control?”
“No, you’re actually harder to control,” Albert replied. “You’re clear-headed, independent, good at disguising yourself, persistent, decisive, and patient. Power-seekers hate having someone like you as emperor, especially since you’re beautiful.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Wilhelmina said, restraining herself from rolling her eyes.
Albert smiled and moved a bit closer. “But fortunately, our political views are consistent.”
Wilhelmina glanced up at him; her eyes were like spring lake water—clear and sparkling. Albert paused, slightly stunned.
Wilhelmina continued, “You say political views are…”
“Constitutional,” Albert said easily.
Wilhelmina pressed her lips together, silent for a moment, staring into Albert’s crystal-like eyes, trying to read more. But the experienced young man had crafted his gentle scholarly mask so perfectly that no one could see through it.
“What do you want?” Wilhelmina asked in a low voice.
