This year in Odin saw an unprecedented cold that hadn’t been experienced in fifty years. By mid-October, the mountains were already snow-covered, and by November, when it was usually autumn, the imperial capital was blanketed in white snow.
Due to lack of preparation, the heating systems in the Northern Hemisphere were under strain.
The drought and plague caused by extreme heat in the Southern Hemisphere exacerbated the disaster.
The Emperor was critically ill, spending more time unconscious than awake and losing weight, sustained only by nutrition. The New Year’s Eve party was hosted by Crown Princess Anna Bel in his place, leading to speculation that the Emperor might not survive the winter.
Anna Bel, rarely seen at school, still appeared for her final exams, completing her papers quickly before leaving with her guards and secretary.
Wilhelmina’s seat by the window allowed her to see Anna Bel being surrounded and escorted away. The young woman appeared proud and self-satisfied, seemingly unaffected by the capital’s disasters, leading one to imagine how the media would sensationalize her appearance.
With the Emperor ill and Anna Bel handling state affairs, she was effectively the country’s de facto ruler, justifying her pride.
Preparations were underway for the Emperor’s death, with the Palace Province ordering mourning clothes and rehearsing funeral procedures. Luxurious decorations had been removed, and everyone moved and spoke softly.
This atmosphere created a suffocating discomfort for Wilhelmina.
It was as if the Emperor’s death was predetermined, and everyone anticipated the relief it would bring.
The children were unaffected by the political atmosphere and enjoyed their time in the manor. They had snowball fights, rode sleds, soaked in hot springs, and played the latest version of “Big Landlord” by the fireplace.
Princess Catherine and her husband were an enlightened couple who doted on their children without spoiling them. They tolerated the children’s mischief, did not urge them to do homework, and shielded them from the gloomy politics of the capital, making the holiday feel like paradise.
Sometimes, when the children watched TV, they saw reports about the Elder Council. Annabel and the Liberal Party leader stood on the steps in front of the Senate, shaking hands and smiling. That friendly appearance seemed unlike her.
