The band was ready, and the guests had found their dance partners. Although no one dared to urge her, inquiring glances fell on Wilhelmina, who remained motionless.
Angela approached Wilhelm Minna and whispered, “Your Majesty, I’ve inquired, and Mr. Hans Borg is still handling official business and has not returned. I cannot contact him, and the democrats refuse to help. When I mentioned your order, they thought I was joking.”
Wilhelm Minna smiled helplessly at Angela’s frustration. She knew Schneider would make such a move to ensure that her marriage to Selerberg would not falter. This was crucial for the complete dissolution and reorganization of the Selerberg military, allowing the family full control of the army.
Onlookers were curious why the queen had not yet announced the start of the ball. Wilhelm Minna recognized that she could not act impulsively. She could not overthrow the autocratic Anna Bel and then become a vacillating queen herself; that would bring disgrace to both her and the Osenberg dynasty.
“My dear,” Wilhelm Minna said, extending her hand to Albert, “let’s dance.”
Albert bowed and took her hand, whispering, “Won’t you wait any longer?”
“Time no longer allows it,” Wilhelm Minna replied with irony. “He waited six years for me. But I realize that I cannot even wait six minutes for him. Perhaps Schneider is right.”
I am still too young; victory has clouded my mind, making me lose perspective and almost do something unreasonable.”
Albert did not know how to make up for Wilhelm Minna’s regret; he could only hold her hand and walk with her to the dance floor.
“Happy birthday, Wilhelm Minna,” Albert said sincerely. “I hope you will be happy.”
Under his tender gaze, Wilhelm Minna laughed, “Do you know, Albert? I believe you will make me happy.”
The waltz began. The young queen and her fiancé bowed. Albert held Wilhelm Minna’s hand, embraced her waist, and danced to the music.
“What a perfect couple!” Madame Schneider said to Princess Catherine.
“Oh, please, I know what tricks your husband played,” Princess Catherine waved her fan. “But I think he did the right thing. Royal power cannot accommodate a young girl’s naive love.”
“Isn’t it good that she has come to her senses?” Madame Schneider admired the couple. “By choosing the most suitable husband, she will not be lost in unrealistic fantasies.”
“I thought your husband was quite fond of that person.”
“Of course he was fond of him!” Madame Schneider replied. “But we would not let an insignificant private affair hinder his future. What she can offer him—a political future—is far more valuable than a little attachment.”
“Politicians…” Princess Catherine snorted.
As the first section of the music ended, guests began leaving the dance floor hand in hand.
As a lady-in-waiting, Cynthia could not dance freely. Feeling thirsty, she stopped a waiter and took a glass of champagne. In that moment, she saw Hans Borg, dressed in evening attire, standing in the shadow of a pillar in the ballroom, watching Wilhelm Minna on the dance floor.
Wilhelm was laughing with Albert, clearly amused. Their eyes never left each other, as if in their own world. The young queen was radiant, and she and Albert were the most dazzling couple on the dance floor.
“Sir…” Cynthia approached Hans Borg. “You’ve finally arrived?”
“Miss Steiman,” he nodded. “I apologize for being late.”
“It’s okay,” Cynthia said, wanting to offer comfort at the sight of his hidden forbearance.
“I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble,” he replied.
“No, not at all,” she laughed awkwardly.
She took a few steps back, then turned to him: “She waited for you until the very last moment.”
Hans Borg was stunned, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Cynthia curtsied and took her leave.
Chapter 57 Author’s note: If you want to hear the dance song that Wili and Cairns danced to, you can click below. This song is quite rural, but its joyful rhythm is suitable for group dancing.
After one dance, Wilhelm Minna and Albert chatted as they walked back to the royal seat. Albert helped Wilhelm Minna sit back on the throne, then took two glasses of champagne from a servant and handed one to her.
The next dance was a quadrille, which Wilhelm Minna was originally going to dance with Albert. With Hans Borg’s absence, the order was advanced, and Cairns, who was in the third position, approached and bowed.
“Thank you for this honor, Your Majesty.” Wilhelmina laughed and extended her hand, “I hope you won’t step on my toes this time, Lord Kerns.” “I swear, Your Majesty. Even if I trip myself, I will not touch a single one of your toes,” Kerns winked.
A cheerful dance tune soon began to play. Young people lined up, holding hands, their dance shoes tapping on the marble floor. Wilhelmina, holding her skirt, twirled under Kerns’ guidance. Her radiant smile was charming and eye-catching. If one ignored her recent rise to power through a coup, many present would see her only as a beautiful figure, not perceiving any threat.
Later novelists’ fondness for writing about Wilhelmina I stemmed from this.
A seemingly naive and pure girl with extraordinary courage and determination was highly dramatic.
Wilhelmina finished a partner-changing dance step and turned, her gaze sweeping to a figure by the doorway. She paused, her hand holding her skirt.
Kerns grasped her hand, and she suddenly regained her focus, lifting her skirt and spinning again.
Looking again, Hans Boge bowed to her from afar.
Wilhelmina’s absent-mindedness caught Albert’s attention. Following her gaze, he saw Hans Boge.
The two men’s gazes collided. Hans Boge humbly nodded in greeting.
“Do you know him?” Angela asked.
Albert chuckled softly, “No, Miss Garcia. What about you?”
“Probably a bit more than you,” Angela said. “Before you appeared, he was Wilhelmina’s protector. Gentle, meticulous, powerful, and generous. Wilhelmina was very dependent on him.”
“Yes,” Albert said, looking at Hans Boge, then at Wilhelmina on the dance floor, who seemed distracted. “But Wilhelmina has grown up.”
“She’s just eighteen,” Angela replied. “Rationally, she knows she can’t depend on him anymore, but her actions are always a beat behind.”
Angela raised an eyebrow, “Can you?”
Albert laughed, “Miss Garcia, now I understand why Wilhelmina likes you so much. You’re a friend who dares to speak frankly, which is rare.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Angela replied. “But I’m not a busybody. Wilhelmina has decided to marry you, and she will keep every promise. I just hope you can give her some time to say goodbye to her past.”
Both turned their gaze to the dance floor. The music reached its climax, with Wilhelmina joyfully spinning with Kerns, as if her previous hesitation had never existed.
The dance ended with laughter, bowing, and applause.
Angela finally became angry, “Wilhelmina is marrying Albert of her own choice. Even if you’re jealous, don’t take it out on me. You men are so narrow-minded and pitiful, always blaming women for being vain.”
“I’m not…” Cairns protested, lowering his voice.
“Enough,” Angela said imperiously. “If you don’t want to dance with me, I’ll find someone else.”
“Wait!” Cairns grabbed her gently, “Shall we dance?”
Angela’s expression softened, and she placed her hand in his.
Chapter 58 Hans Berg avoided the whispering couples and walked to a corner of the terrace. Just as he lit a cigarette, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
Hans Berg removed his glasses and turned to look at Wilhelmina, leaning against the railing without moving.
“Sometimes during border patrol, the pressure was too great, and I gradually developed the habit,” he said, turning the cigarette between his fingers. “Don’t worry, I’m not addicted.”
Wilhelmina slowly walked over and leaned against the railing, two steps away.
