“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ll create sounds in the room to avoid suspicion.”
“Thank you, Cynthia. I’m sorry to drag you into this,” William Mina hugged her maid.
“You are my master, Your Highness,” Cynthia solemnly curtsied.
William Mina nodded firmly, “I’ll return as soon as possible. If Kazman discovers anything, tell him you were coerced.”
She adjusted her cap, activated her wrist watch, and opened the bedroom closet. William Mina was now taking a secret passage not recorded on the castle map.
She smoothly navigated to the servants’ stairs. The attendants were either entertaining guests or in the kitchen. Over a year of intelligence training allowed William Mina to avoid passersby, then she jumped out from the window at the corner hidden by ivy.
Walking close to the castle wall, she quickly reached the warehouse. By the woodpile, an old gray ground hover motorcycle was parked. She jumped on, put on her helmet, and activated the auto-navigation.
The vehicle started silently and flew low over the bushes, diving into the forest. Two minutes later, William Mina had passed through the castle’s guard line and left the surveillance perimeter.
Anxious and racing against time, the vehicle accelerated towards its destination – the west coastline two miles from Eaton Castle.
The sky grew darker, and homing birds circled above the forest. Gradually, William Mina spotted seagulls skimming over the high cliffs by the coast in search of nesting spots.
The sound of waves crashing against rocks was especially clear in the evening, as rising tides swallowed exposed rocks and beaches. The “moon” of Rockston Star was an artificial satellite, a military base now stationed with the Rockston Self-Defense Air Force.
Tonight, with no clouds, the “moon’s” light scattered across the land. Ahead, a coastal highland featured a large oak forest extending to the middle of the slope, with one old oak tree at the top, facing the sea breeze.
The vehicle stopped, and William Mina jumped out, running to the oak tree.
Twilight enveloped the land, with the damp sea breeze bringing a salty taste. She held her cap, looking up to see seagulls calling as they skimmed past the treetops.
William Mina had only seen this place in Rockston tourism documentaries. She marveled at the vast ocean and the dazzling sunset.
In the vastness, something seemed to touch her.
William Mina turned and saw an inconspicuous land vehicle driving up the mountain road, stopping at the edge of the forest.
The car door opened, and a man in casual clothes stepped out, half-bathed in warm golden light, half in blue-gray shadows, like someone walking out of memory.
The sea breeze ruffled his black hair, and a seagull’s shadow passed over his face. He wore gray dress pants and a white shirt, his physique athletic and upright, with a gentle, warm smile that remained unchanged.
William Mina felt dizzy, recalling warm evenings spent reading in the garden, looking up to see him walking around the rose bushes, telling her that the light was getting dark and reading would affect her eyesight.
“Owen—”
She smiled brightly and ran down the slope towards him.
The man stood still, arms spread wide, catching the girl who flew towards him.
William Mina’s cap was blown away by the sea breeze, her loose hair brushing against Hans Borg’s face. He smelled the rose fragrance he hadn’t encountered in years, just the same as in his dreams. Her laughter rang in his ears like silver bells.
But in his arms was no longer the child who reached his waist. This was a mature girl, slender and soft, pressing tightly against him in a deep embrace.
How long had it been since he’d held her like this and heard her laugh?
Six years of separation and harsh border conditions had passed in the blink of an eye. Only by holding her in his arms again did he feel the difficulty of being apart.
William Mina clung tightly to Hans Borg’s neck. His body was solid and warm, just as she remembered. That embrace, even the heartbeat, felt so familiar.
“You’re here?” she called joyfully, releasing her grip to examine him.
“Yes, I’m here,” Hans Borg answered gently, looking at the girl’s face, marked by growth.
“My God!” Wilhelmina Minna jumped excitedly like a child with a new toy, tightly holding Hans Borg’s hand. “How did you come? Does anyone know?”
“I was transferred under Selberg. Captain Selberg sent me to replace you as a guard, secretly.”
“Yes, Albert told me,” she suddenly realized. “Oh, my goodness, you are my birthday gift! Albert really has some tricks!”
The young girl laughed happily. Hans Borg hugged her waist, also laughing.
“Are you okay, Owen?” she asked with concern, noting the weathered lines on his thirty-year-old face. This filled her heart with deep emotion.
She reached out to touch Hans Borg’s face, her eyes burning.
Hans Borg felt her cold hand as if she had grasped his heart.
She had grown taller, her face still carrying a childlike quality, but she was now a young woman.
“Everything is fine, Your Highness,” Hans Borg said, “I’m sorry to worry you.”
“How was your last injury?”
“I’ve recovered,” Hans Borg wiped the corner of Wilhelmina Minna’s eye, “Don’t cry. I’m back, right in front of you. I will protect you. Don’t be afraid of anything anymore.”
Wilhelmina Minna sniffled and laughed, “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“This is my mission, Your Highness,” Hans Borg whispered, “You are my mission.”
Wilhelmina Minna sighed softly, “Then I will never disappoint you.”
The young girl’s face before him overlapped with memories of her childhood. Her features had changed somewhat, but the determination and courage in her eyes had never changed.
Hans Borg stroked Wilhelmina Minna’s golden hair, hugged her tightly, and kissed her forehead.
Wilhelmina Minna let out a satisfied sigh, hugging his waist and resting her head on his chest.
For the first time in many years, she felt safe and at ease.
The wrist communicator suddenly beeped, breaking the moment.
“I should go back,” Wilhelmina Minna said, frustratedly grabbing her hair, “I sneaked out and haven’t been downstairs for too long. Captain Kazman will come looking for me.”
Hans Borg took down the hat from the tree branch, put it on Wilhelmina Minna, and helped her tuck her hair back into it.
He cupped her face and instructed, “I’m responsible this time. You don’t need to take risks, understand?”
Without questioning, Wilhelmina Minna nodded, “Do you need my help?”
“Protect yourself,” Hans Borg replied. “Did they confiscate your gun?”
“I’m not even allowed to have a gun,” she laughed, “but I’ll find a way.”
“Then wait for my message,” Hans Borg said.
Wilhelmina Minna brushed her lips against Hans Borg’s cheek, jumped onto a hovering motorcycle, waved to the person behind her, and sped away.
Hans Borg watched her disappear into the forest before mounting his vehicle and leaving, aware that this separation would not be long.
Captain Kazman, having finished arranging the shift change, returned to the rest room after eating a piece of toast. He noted with surprise that Wilhelmina Minna had not yet returned, just five minutes before dinner.
His soldier’s instinct prompted him to call the guard by the rest room door, “Has Her Highness not come down?”
“No, sir. But Cynthia came down earlier and asked someone to iron a dress.”
“Has Her Highness not appeared?”
“No, sir.”
Kazman’s brow furrowed as he turned to walk upstairs, ordering, “Pull out the surveillance video from the last half hour!”
The adjutant followed closely, operating a handheld computer. “Sir, nothing unusual…”
Kazman snatched the device and rushed to Wilhelmina Minna’s bedroom door. Music and faint laughter of girls came from inside.
He asked the guard, “Has Her Highness come out?”
