The atmosphere between them was intense, making it clear no one could intrude. The guards quietly moved away.
Jealous?
Albert turned back, sighed, and smiled lightly while sipping his coffee.
“You haven’t changed at all, Owen,” Wilhelmina said softly. “With you by my side, I feel much more at ease. You have no idea how much courage you’ve given me.”
“I know you’ll do better, Willy,” Hans Borg replied. “If you believe in Selleberg as you say, I will support you and trust him too.”
“Thank you.”
“However,” Hans Borg continued, “I want to know what you promised him.”
Wilhelmina’s heart raced, feeling caught. She could avoid the topic, but she knew the longer she delayed, the more uncomfortable everyone would feel.
She had nothing to hide, right? They were going to announce it to everyone in the Galactic Empire anyway.
“Yes…” Wilhelmina hesitated.
Her reaction made Hans Borg suddenly regret asking, but he wanted to know.
“He…” Wilhelmina licked her lips, “He proposed…”
Still holding hands, Hans Borg turned his face toward the busy living room, his gaze distant as he looked at the bustling crowd. Wilhelmina felt his line of sight had drifted toward an unknown abyss.
She watched his silent profile, and a thought emerged in her mind: if he opposed, she would call off the engagement. This thought ballooned within her.
Finally, Hans Borg turned back, smiling gently and happily, his gaze full of love. “I’m truly happy for you.”
The balloon burst. Wilhelmina came to her senses. What thoughts had she just had? It didn’t matter; they were gone. He hadn’t even asked if she had accepted the proposal.
But what did it matter? Everyone knew that a political marriage was the best path for her. Their tightly clasped hands were sweaty. Wilhelmina instinctively let go, and Hans Borg also withdrew his hand.
Sir Wolf’s words broke the silence: “Your Highness, Mr. Schneider’s car will arrive at Eton in two minutes.”
Wilhelmina took a deep breath and stood up. “Thank you, Sir Wolf. Let’s prepare to welcome him.” She touched her temple and walked outside, with officials and Albert following her to the courtyard.
The heavy summer rain had somewhat subsided, but lightning continued to streak across the sky, with thunder rumbling faintly.
This summer downpour would probably cause trouble for tomorrow’s Flower Festival.
But that no longer mattered. Once her television speech was broadcast, any festival would pale in comparison.
“I feel sorry for those participating in the flower competition,” Wilhelmina said to Albert. “They came to appreciate beauty, and I’m destroying their joy with dirty politics.”
“Then when you succeed, you can make it up to them,” Albert replied. “Believe me, flowers will still bloom next year.”
Wilhelmina smiled softly.
“Albert.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s announce our engagement during the upcoming TV speech.”
Albert glanced sideways at Hans Boge nearby. “But I haven’t given you a ring yet.”
“I’m an undemanding good girl, as long as there’s true love,” Wilhelmina teased. “Too bad I can’t see Annabel’s face when she hears the news.”
Albert laughed, enjoying the mischievous decision.
Chapter 49 After the press conference, Annabel sat down for dinner. The chaotic situation in recent days had suppressed her appetite. She also slept poorly and stubbornly refused to take medication.
The secretary’s advice had no effect. Annabel had grounded her two sisters and argued with Prince Heinrich and his wife over video call.
Her irritable temper had peaked, and no one dared to approach her.
Sitting alone in the silent dining room, Annabel cut the carefully prepared steak on her plate, eating reluctantly. The palace staff stood rigid against the wall, not daring to breathe.
At the large dining table, she was the only one.
She had refused the company of sycophants who changed sides with the shifting situation.
Annabel would sometimes miss Albert. She didn’t love him deeply; his companionship was something she enjoyed. Unlike the others, Albert would not fawn over her. He maintained a polite attitude, pointed out her mistakes, and stood his ground.
Thinking of this, Annabel stopped cutting her steak.
Why had he betrayed her?
She gripped her knife and fork tightly. What did he want that she couldn’t give him? They could get married; she had hinted at this many times. What was he dissatisfied with?
The secretary rushed into the dining room, his face pale.
“What now?” Annabel glanced at him.
“Your Majesty… I think you should see this…”
On the three-dimensional holographic ultra-light TV, a program was playing featuring William Minna, dressed in a pearl white suit, delivering a speech. Her makeup was exquisite, and she looked vibrant and full of energy, with the scarlet velvet curtain in the background highlighting her hair.
“…This is a decision we have made after careful consideration. The monarch should not hold absolute power and enjoy the people’s offerings without giving anything in return. The current situation is caused by this decaying system. What we need to do now is change it…”
“What is she saying?” Annabel’s voice trembled with uncertainty.
The secretary replied stiffly, “Duchess Roxston is giving a television speech…”
“Of course I know she’s on TV!” Annabel roared. “I’m asking what she means!”
The secretary, feeling the weight of his profession, answered, “I think, Your Majesty, she wants to overthrow your rule…”
Annabel blinked in shock. Her calm reaction made the secretary repeat himself.
“I’m not deaf!” The queen snapped, glaring at the TV.
At that moment, Albert, in military uniform, appeared on screen, smiling and holding William Minna’s hand.
“What is he saying?” Annabel murmured.
She saw Albert’s mouth moving, but not a single word reached her ears.
The secretary looked at Annabel with pitying eyes.
“Your Majesty, they are announcing their engagement.”
Annabel stood like a statue for half a minute. The radio broadcast had ended and returned to normal programming, but she remained unmoved.
Just as the secretary hesitated to call her name, Annabel suddenly grabbed the desk lamp and threw it at the TV.
The TV toppled to the ground with a loud bang, and the lamp shattered.
Guards rushed in at the sound, witnessing the queen’s outburst. She swept everything off the desk, smashed vases and decorations, overturned chairs, and tore at the curtains.
The proud and cold queen let out a sound like a wounded beast, instilling fear in everyone present. None dared to stop her or leave.
Finally, the secretary took a sedative from the emergency first aid kit and injected it into the queen’s arm. A few seconds later, Annabel calmed down, collapsing into the arms of her attendants.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged panicked glances.
“His Majesty is just tired,” the secretary said. “No one is to speak of today’s events.”
The maids quickly carried Annabel away as the guards tidied the messy room. At this moment, the head guard walked in.
“Minister Wu requests an audience with His Majesty.”
The secretary smiled bitterly, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible tonight.”
“But…”
“We all know what just happened, sir,” the secretary sighed. “Believe me, His Majesty’s current mental state is not suitable for further stimulation. If more officials want to see him, please ask them to return tomorrow. For now, please summon the imperial physician.”
The secretary gazed at the starless night sky and sighed softly. Under the weight of imperial destiny, they were all mere specks of dust.
Due to the time difference, Roxton’s dawn arrives two hours earlier than Odin’s. Last night’s heavy rain had washed the sky clean, with thin white traces drawn across the pale blue canvas, left by ships and patrol spacecraft.
