“No, sir,” replied the guard nervously, “Only Miss Cynthia has come out.”
Kazman glanced at the surveillance report marked “normal,” threw the computer back to the adjutant, and knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, this is Kazman. Request an audience!”
The laughter stopped. After a moment, Cynthia’s voice replied, “Please wait a moment, Captain.”
Kazman knocked again, “I want to see you now, Your Highness!”
“Her Highness is changing!” Cynthia explained. “She asks you to wait a moment.”
“Is Her Highness inside?” Kazman shouted. “Let Her Highness speak to me.”
“Are you alright, sir?” Cynthia asked from behind the door. “What’s the emergency? Can’t you wait five minutes?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Kazman said, signaling to the guard. The guard saluted and took the key from his waist.
Kazman held the key, aimed at the keyhole. “I’ll say this one last time, Your Highness, please open the door immediately!”
“Captain Kazman,” Cynthia shouted angrily, “watch your words. She is a duchess, not your prisoner!”
Kazman used the key to open the door and rushed in with the guards, finding only Cynthia in the room, surrounded by scattered dresses. Wilhelmina was nowhere to be seen.
“This is outrageous!” Cynthia yelled, “Do you know what you’re doing, Captain Kazman?”
“Of course I do,” Kazman said, pushing Cynthia aside. “Where is she?”
“Who?” Cynthia was dumbfounded. “Are you bandits? Her Highness is changing—oh, stop! You can’t enter the dressing room!”
Kazman’s cold gaze fixed on the female attendant blocking his path. “Move!”
“No!” Cynthia shouted. “You’re a man; you can’t enter a lady’s dressing room! Her Majesty gave you authority to protect the duchess, not to harass her!”
“No more cover-ups.” Kazman grabbed Cynthia’s wrist, pulling her aside as he reached for the dressing room door. Before he could touch the doorknob, it opened. Wilhelmina walked out wearing a bathrobe, her wet hair hanging, barefoot.
Kazman was stunned, and the two guards quickly saluted. Wilhelmina calmly walked to the center of the room, appearing just bathed, her face flushed and misty.
“I heard everything just now, Captain,” the duchess spoke softly, “I hope it was indeed urgent that you couldn’t wait to break in looking for me.”
Captain Kazman’s face shifted from white to pale blue, then to a pig-liver color. He stood straight and saluted.
“I apologize for my impropriety, Your Highness. I was worried something had happened when you hadn’t come out for so long.”
Wilhelmina let out a cold laugh, “I don’t suppose you’re married, Captain?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“No wonder,” she said, “You don’t know how much time a woman needs to change and put on makeup.”
“I’m very sorry, Your Highness!” Kazman hung his head.
“It’s alright, sir,” Wilhelmina said, “I just hope this doesn’t happen again. I don’t want to worry about someone breaking in while I’m in my dressing room.”
Kazman solemnly saluted and left with the guards.
Cynthia quickly locked the door and exclaimed, “Good heavens, he actually had a key!”
Wilhelmina rolled her eyes, “Let’s not say anything to be able to sleep tonight.”
She stood up and took off her bathrobe. Her jeans were already off, but she still wore a T-shirt. Wilhelmina removed the T-shirt and casually grabbed a dress. Cynthia stuffed the discarded clothes into the bottom of the wardrobe.
Once everything was sorted, the two girls took a deep breath and laughed at each other.
“I owe you, Cynthia.”
“Don’t say that, Your Highness,” Cynthia combed Wilhelmina’s hair. “I’ve never done something this exciting in my life.”
“There will be plenty more excitement if you stay with me,” Wilhelmina laughed.
Cynthia studied her. “You seem very happy, Your Highness.”
Cleverly, she avoided mentioning the previous half hour.
“Of course,” Wilhelmina patted some powder on her face, gazing in the mirror, whispering, “This is a brand new beginning.”
Chapter 44
Amelia and Georgiana walked into the morning room. Annabelle was eating breakfast while watching reports about riots and strikes on the hyperlight TV.
The queen was in a bad mood, obviously. It wasn’t the best time to discuss matters, but some things couldn’t wait.
Amelia and Georgiana exchanged a glance and approached Annabelle.
“Have you had breakfast?” Annabelle asked. “Have some with me. How’s Dad doing?”
“Much better,” Georgiana said. “I spoke to Mom last night. She said Dad can now walk in the garden.”
“I don’t know how he, who has always lived in luxury, got rheumatism,” Annabelle muttered.
The news showed a protest gathering of tens of thousands of people. An angry crowd clashed with riot police, with stones, eggs, and smoke grenades flying across the screen.
As soon as the news ended, a report on the Roxston Star Flower Festival followed. In the sunlit racecourse, Wilhelmina, wearing riding attire, sat heroically on a horse, opening the equestrian competition with a beautiful hurdle. The scene was filled with flowers and smiling faces, creating a happy atmosphere.
Annabelle snorted, “She’s really treating it like a vacation.” She turned off the TV and looked at her twin sisters. They exchanged glances, fearing Annabelle’s authority more than ever, resulting in their estrangement.
“What’s going on?” Annabelle demanded, “If there’s nothing urgent, you wouldn’t come to me after half a month.”
Georgiana pushed Amelia from behind. Amelia took a deep breath and trembled, “Annie… about our marriage…”
“Is it about this?” Annabelle interrupted, “I had the Palace Ministry show you the notice two days ago. The marriage announcement will be published tomorrow. If you have questions, ask the Palace Ministry officials.”
“Yes, we know,” Amelia said. “You want me to be engaged to the Viscount of Olsheim…”
“The Viscount is the heir to the Olsheim Marquess. He’s six years older than you, a decent young man, and not bad-looking. What are you dissatisfied with?” Annabelle asked aggressively.
Amelia’s face turned bright red. She bit her lip and said, “I can’t marry him, Annie. I have a lover.”
Annabel glanced at Amelia and sneered, “My dear Ami, I want you to marry him, not to love him.”
“But I can’t marry him if I don’t love him,” Amelia protested. “I know this is absurd for someone of our status. If I hadn’t fallen in love, I wouldn’t mind marrying anyone. But I’m in love, and he loves me too…”
The sound of a coffee cup slamming on the table interrupted her. Annabel stood up, radiating a cold aura.
“Do you know what you’re saying, Amelia?”
Amelia shivered but insisted, “I can’t marry the Viscount of Olsheim. I won’t accept your arranged marriage. He’s a playboy; everyone says he’s slept with half the models in the capital.”
“I think I’ve made myself clear, Amelia,” Annabel said, staring into her sister’s eyes. “You just have to marry him. No one’s asking you to love him.”
“But marriage shouldn’t be like this!” Amelia shouted. “You can’t destroy my happiness! I have the right to choose my marriage!”
“How stupid are you to say such things?” Annabel replied harshly. “The Marquess is on our unified front, and we desperately need his support. Marriage is the most secure win-win method of cooperation.”
“Then why don’t you marry him yourself?” Amelia shouted through tears. “Why is it okay to sacrifice my happiness?”
“Oh, please,” Annabel coldly watched her sister lose control, “He’s not even worthy of me.”
My royal husband isn’t someone of his status, but you’re different, Amelia. The title of Marquess’s wife doesn’t dishonor your birth, and you too, Georgiana. I’ve been good to you and selected young men of comparable age and talent as suitors, not just old widowers or drunkards.
Georgiana trembled, “Yes… yes, sister.”
