“Of course,” Wilhelmina said. “I’m truly grateful to him. To be honest, our relationship began with cooperation and mutual use. That we’ve developed to this point makes me very happy.”
Hans Borg gazed at her slightly bashful face, feeling an unfamiliar emotion expanding in his heart.
“Tell me about him,” Hans Borg softly pleaded. “Do you like him?”
“Yes, I really like him,” Wilhelmina said frankly. “He’s not as hypocritical as I imagined. He’s passionate, patient, and quite talented. We have many things in common, like how we both enjoy fantasy novels. Can you imagine? This noble young master of the Seleberg family, so elegant and aloof, actually likes reading stories about dragons and knights.”
Wilhelmina laughed, almost completely immersed in joy.
Hans Borg watched her silently. Clearly, she liked her fiancé very much. This would at least avoid a dull marriage and allow for some worldly happiness.
“So, Willy,” Hans Borg asked, “why don’t you share your thoughts about your father with him?”
Wilhelmina stopped laughing, seemingly confused.
Hans Borg gazed deeply at his beloved girl, “You’re about to get married and will become the closest people to each other. Share your troubles and worries with him, enter his life, and let him enter yours.”
“Have you become a marriage counselor again?” Wilhelmina teased.
“Willy…”
“Okay, I promise,” Wilhelmina squeezed his hand. “Marriage needs honesty, doesn’t it? I’ll talk to him.”
“Mom,” Albert said with a wry smile, “Wilhelmina is a woman, not a telephone pole.”
“Oh,” the Duchess calmly adjusted her hair, “I’m sorry, son. I actually wanted to compare her to a castle. But never mind. Dinner is ready. Let’s all sit at the table!”
The Duchess strode towards the dining room, followed slowly by father and son.
“You did well today,” the Duke of Seleberg said, “What does Her Majesty think?”
“She has ordered a thorough investigation, but I feel she seems to be hiding something,” Albert replied with a bitter smile. “Perhaps the time is not right yet.”
“No need to rush, child,” his father said. “Entering a woman’s heart is not easy, let alone a queen’s.”
The family sat down at the dinner table, where the cook had prepared goose liver stew, and the Duchess had instructed the butler to open a good bottle of wine.
Halfway through dinner, the doorbell rang in the front hall.
“Who would visit at this hour?”
The Duchess looked at her husband and son, “Nothing bad has happened, has it?”
“Perhaps a report from the palace,” the Duke replied unconcernedly.
Moments later, the butler returned, visibly excited. “My Lord, it’s… Her Majesty. She wants to see the young master.”
“Good heavens,” the Duchess exclaimed, “She’s actually come in person? To see Albert?”
The family put down their cutlery and stood up.
“Quickly clear these away,” the Duchess ordered. “Escort her to the sitting room, tell Molly to prepare tea and snacks, and keep the dogs from running around. What if she wants to dine with us?”
The servants sprang into action.
“Mom, calm down,” Albert said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I think she just has something to discuss with me. She won’t be dining here.”
“Who knows,” the Duchess replied. “Go greet her quickly. I wish I had worn that blue-gray dress.”
“You look wonderful, my dear,” the Duke said, embracing his wife. “Don’t be nervous; it’s not the first time you’ve met.”
“But this is the first time she’s visited so suddenly!” the Duchess lowered her voice. “I don’t want to be discourteous during the reception.”
“She’s here to see Albert. This isn’t a formal visit.”
“Very well,” the Duchess reluctantly agreed.
Albert hurried into the sitting room. Wilhelmina was examining a portrait above the fireplace.
She saw Albert still wearing his dinner napkin and burst out laughing.
“I’m truly sorry. I forgot it’s dinnertime,” Wilhelmina said, helping Albert remove his napkin. “Have I interrupted your meal?”
Albert laughed, tucking the napkin into his pocket. “What brings you here?”
“Actually, it’s not urgent,” Wilhelmina replied, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I’ll leave right away. Please continue your dinner.”
“Please, Willy,” Albert insisted, pulling her back. “You can’t seriously think we’ll continue eating after this?”
Wilhelmina rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Albert. I don’t know what came over me…”
Albert helped her sit on the sofa, kneeling before her and cupping her face. “Look at me, Willy. This is nothing. After adrenaline subsides, people go through a phase. You’re just recovering from today’s excitement.”
“But this isn’t my first life-or-death experience,” Wilhelmina said.
Albert placed his hand over her mouth. “Shh…” he whispered. “This isn’t the palace.”
Wilhelmina nodded, taking a deep breath. “Thank you, Albert. I was really out of sorts today.”
“It’s okay, dear,” Albert replied gently. “About Rockston, I’ve regretted it. It should have been done by someone else. Your noble hands shouldn’t be tainted with such filth.”
“Overprotection will only make me more fragile. Next time I encounter something like today, I’ll probably scream.”
Albert chuckled, “You won’t. You’re tough enough to withstand half a regiment.”
“That’s not a compliment,” Wilhelmina laughed, lightly pushing him.
“So, would you like to dine with us?” Albert asked.
“Another time. I actually came to ask for your help.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I want to check some materials in the intelligence bureau’s archives. I need a male companion, and I thought of you.”
“Sounds interesting. Shall we go now?”
Wilhelmina nodded. Both young people’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Albert pulled Wilhelmina to her feet, and they rushed out of the sitting room. The Duchess was leading the maid in bringing tea and snacks.
“Your Majesty, oh, Albert. Are you leaving already?”
“Sorry, Mom, we have an urgent matter.” Albert took the coat from the butler.
“Duke, Duchess,” Wilhelmina greeted warmly, “I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner. I promise to bring Albert back before ten.”
“No problem. Be careful on the road…” Their voices faded away.
“I didn’t expect this,” Duke Selberg said, exchanging glances with his wife.
“Come on, as if you’ve never been in love,” the Duchess replied, turning back to the dining room.
Chapter 62 The night shift director of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau’s archives received orders from his superior regarding two important guests coming to review documents, likely related to the queen’s assassination attempt. He instructed the night staff and security to be ready in the garage below.
When the golden-haired young girl stepped out of the car, he almost thought he was hallucinating. His deputy had to push him from behind to remind him to salute.
“Your Majesty! Good evening, Your Majesty!”
“Thank you for receiving us, gentlemen,” the Queen smiled and nodded, appearing even more elegant and approachable than on ultra-light TV or holograms.
The director sent his deputy back to work and accompanied the Queen and her fiancé through the VIP passage to the A-level encrypted archives door. He stood at a distance as Wilhelmina used a complex password and various biometric scans, taking two minutes to unlock the archive room.
“Thank you, sir. My guards will be outside and will notify you if needed.”
“I’m at your service, Your Majesty,” the director said warmly before tactfully withdrawing.
Wilhelmina and Albert entered the archive room.
Although it was an A-level encrypted room, it looked like an ordinary archive. It was about half a basketball court in size, filled with combined metal cabinets and neatly stacked high-polymer boxes, each labeled with a number.
“Do you remember the number?” Albert asked.
