You need the support of the Seleberg family, but they are unwilling to unite with Annabel.
Wilhelmina and Albert exchanged a glance, both reading awkwardness in each other’s eyes. Albert let go of her hand.
“I have nothing else to tell you,” Emperor Alexander said. “All the evidence is in that box. How to handle it is up to you. I believe you will make a wise choice. I wish you happiness, Wili. Happiness for a queen has a special meaning, but I hope you can find the happiness I never had.”
The image ended, and the screen turned white. The reader automatically ejected the card, but neither of them moved to retrieve it.
Chapter 63 “Wili…” Albert called softly.
Wilhelmina sniffled, looking up at him, clearly trying to control her emotions.
“Are you okay?” Albert asked.
“I don’t know,” Wilhelmina replied, “Finding out that both my parents were murdered doesn’t feel good.”
Albert sighed sympathetically and embraced her.
Wilhelmina tried to keep her eyes wide open, but tears flowed from the corners, quickly absorbed by Albert’s clothing.
“They could have been alive now, Albert. If none of this had happened, I wouldn’t be an orphan, and I wouldn’t have had to…”
“I know, my love, I know,” Albert hugged her tightly, kissing her temple.
A ten-year-old girl is thrust into a cruel court, forced to mature rapidly and navigate her circumstances. If her parents were alive, she wouldn’t face these challenges alone or stain her hands with blood so young.
Perhaps it was the warm embrace and calming tone that comforted Wilhelmina as she pulled away from Albert.
“I think Annabel knew about this,” she said, holding the storage card. “From the beginning, she was wary and rejected me. I thought it was because I took away her grandfather’s attention, but now I see it was out of fear.”
Wilhelmina met Albert’s gaze, her smile bitter, “My family killed my parents, and my grandfather didn’t dare to speak out. This is the royal family, Albert. Are you ready?”
Albert looked at her with compassion, “This is just a special case.”
“Yes, of course, this can’t happen in every dynasty,” Wilhelmina sneered. “If my grandfather had shown half the courage in family matters that he did elsewhere, this wouldn’t have happened. If my mother hadn’t been so active and just, perhaps there wouldn’t have been conflict. Fundamentally, we were never a loving family.”
Wilhelmina tossed the storage card into the box. “Only telling me after I’ve taken power. What does this mean? Afraid I’d seek revenge if I knew earlier?”
Now that I’m queen, I must treat the deposed queen’s family kindly to show my generosity? My grandfather’s words sound noble, but he’s still protecting Uncle Heinrich’s family. Wasn’t my father his son?”
Wilhelmina angrily kicked the box, sending it flying.
Albert didn’t stop her; she needed to vent. Once she leaves this room, she’ll return to being the gentle and kind queen. She can only release her negative emotions at moments like these.
“It’s so unfair, Albert,” Wilhelmina said, sitting on the floor and hugging her knees. “What can I do now? Just after ascending the throne, launch internal strife and persecute the former queen’s family? I’m just like my grandfather, unable to make this public!”
Albert sat next to her and drew her into his embrace. Wilhelmina leaned against his warm chest, sighing and closing her eyes. He gently kissed her temple.
After a while, Albert asked softly, “So what do you plan to do?”
“Do nothing,” Wilhelmina replied weakly. “But I won’t show them any mercy again, I swear.”
She held Albert’s hand, interlocking their fingers. “Thank you…”
Albert was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Willy, if you had known earlier, what would you have done?”
Wilhelmina tilted her head and thought, “Pain and hatred would probably have overwhelmed my reason. I would have sought revenge. It seems grandfather’s approach was right; he made me turn setbacks into training.”
“I believe justice will prevail,” Albert said. “If not now, then in the future.”
“Yes. People must have such a belief, right?” Wilhelmina smiled faintly. She paused, then asked: “Albert, if you were in my position, would you have still tried to win Amelia or Georgiana over back then?”
This question made Albert laugh. “Believe me, only you could have fought your way out from this position. If it were either of them, they would have been eliminated by Annabel long ago.”
Wilhelmina chuckled. “You flatter me, my lord.”
“Just the truth,” Albert said. “Emperor Alexander did not misjudge you, Willy. And Lord Hans Berg helped you a lot.”
“Yes, Owen…” Wilhelmina sighed. “He taught me a lot. There’s one sentence I still remember: ‘Find the toughest kid in the playground, and then become friends with him.'”
“Makes sense,” Albert said. “You are the toughest kid in the playground. So I chose to be friends with you.”
Wilhelmina’s mood had largely recovered. She sat up laughing, turning to face Albert. “Don’t tell me this is some military school motto. I’ve been admiring him for this very sentence.”
“You can continue to admire him,” Albert kissed her hand. “Just don’t ignore me.”
“Oh, Albert!” Wilhelmina sighed. “Why are you so good to me?”
“I don’t know,” Albert said softly. “Maybe because I like you, maybe because you need me. Or perhaps it was all destined.”
“For a long time, I thought you were an arrogant, aloof, and annoying playboy.”
“A playboy?” Albert raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, you weren’t very nice to me before.”
“That meal still makes you hold a grudge?”
“I’m a woman, what can I do?” Wilhelmina shrugged.
They looked at each other and laughed.
“I have a question, Willy.”
“What?”
Albert asked seriously, “Why do you trust me so much?”
Wilhelmina replied, “Because I feel you are trustworthy.”
“You’ve never doubted your decision.”
“Of course I’ve doubted. I’m not brainless. Before success, I worried you might defect or change your mind. But once I chose to believe you, I persisted. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accepted your olive branch. Besides the reasons you gave, I later realized you’re honest and loyal. You and your family are wise and clear-headed. Now, do you understand?”
Albert stared at her. “What if you knew that my ancestors had once betrayed?”
“So you’ve been concerned about this,” Wilhelmina understood.
“How can I not be?” Albert said. “As a descendant of traitors, yet always at the center of imperial power. People won’t forget the mark on you. Even Annabel doesn’t trust me, right?”
“She doesn’t trust anyone. If you judge yourself based on her trust, that would be tragic,” Wilhelmina scoffed. “I don’t think this concern of yours is necessary at all. That person was your great-grandfather, not your father. One hundred and fifty years have passed; any stain should have been washed clean. Since Emperor Wolrich didn’t care back then, I certainly won’t care.”
“Even if our family has bad genetics?”
“That depends on what is inherited,” Wilhelmina said seriously. “Oh my God, your family doesn’t have any hereditary diseases, right? Heart disease? Hemophilia? Mental illness?”
“Wilhelmina!” Albert called out exasperatedly.
She burst into laughter, falling to the ground. At this moment, she looked like an ordinary girl who had successfully played a prank, innocent and happy. The previous gloom and pain seemed to vanish, replaced by her familiar playful and bright demeanor.
Albert looked at Wilhelmina’s laughing, curved blue eyes and was moved, leaning down to kiss her.
Chapter 64
Author’s Note:
Background music, very pleasant, quite fitting the scene~~
The Queen’s visit to the Intelligence Bureau’s archives was like a cool night breeze, passing without a trace.
