“Her Highness is tired and has gone to rest. I was about to bring her for dinner.”
“Poor Wili,” Anna Belle smiled, her elegance and charm gradually revealing themselves. “I hope she can tell me if she needs any help.”
“Your care will surely be remembered by Princess William Mina. Thank you.”
Anna Belle let out a light laugh and walked away.
Hans Borg’s expression darkened after she left. Clenching his fist for a moment, he turned to continue searching for the missing young master with his subordinates.
As time passed, William Mina was still nowhere to be found. With guests starting to leave, if William Mina didn’t come out to see them off, it would be inexcusable.
What if she wasn’t hiding, but had been kidnapped?
Hans Borg broke out in a light sweat in the cool spring breeze. The news of the child’s disappearance finally reached the Emperor’s ears. The fact that Cairns had also disappeared with William Mina made it more complicated.
“I am very disappointed, young man,” Emperor Alexander said, looking regretfully at Hans Borg. “You failed to take care of her.”
“I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. This is my negligence. I will do my utmost to find Her Highness and accept punishment,” Hans Borg bowed, appearing both panicked and respectful.
Anna Belle, standing by the Emperor’s chair, looked relaxed. “If Wili were missing alone, it would indeed be worrying. But if she’s with Cairns, I probably know where they’ve gone.”
At this moment, the two children were struggling through a narrow tunnel, emerging from a place dense with ferns. Both were covered in mud and leaves, with William Mina’s hair completely disheveled.
“Where are we?” William Mina looked around.
It was dusk. Dense birch trees surrounded a small pond with a dilapidated white marble pavilion by the water. Most of the Roman columns had fallen, and the roof lay scattered among the grass.
The area was overgrown with weeds, desolate and silent, emanating a strange atmosphere.
But this atmosphere excited William Mina.
“Oh my God! This looks just like the treasure entrance in ‘Charlemagne’!”
“Looks like? Girl, this IS a treasure entrance!” Cairns boasted, “I checked the history books. This is a real treasure entrance! I bet even the palace guards don’t know about this location.”
“Are we still in the palace?”
“Of course! We’re about a kilometer west of Stanmann Palace.”
“How amazing,” William Mina marveled, “So, have you found the entrance?”
Cairns scratched his chestnut-colored hair, “It’s probably in the pool. See that statue in the middle? It should be underneath.”
William Mina looked skeptical, “So you’ve never actually been here?”
The challenge to his dignity made Cairns blush, “A wise man never adventures alone. He usually has an assistant.”
“Coward,” William Mina scoffed.
“If you’re not a coward, go check it out!” Cairns shouted. “There’s a small boat; you can paddle over.”
“I’ll go!” The childish pride couldn’t stand such provocation. “If I find the treasure, it’s all mine!”
She strode to the pond’s edge and jumped onto the boat, which was actually a children’s toy that Cairns had secretly dragged from home.
The lightweight children’s boat was very small, and Wilhelmina barely managed to sit steadily as it wobbled towards the center of the pond.
The cool evening breeze blew across the water’s surface, causing Wilhelmina to shiver. The silent surroundings were occasionally interrupted by birds’ calls.
Cairns watched the little boat approach the statue, revealing a mischievous smile. He cupped his hands and shouted, “Watch out! Snake!” Wilhelmina screamed and instinctively stood up, causing the boat to sway and her to fall into the water.
“Idiot! Fool!” Cairns laughed, but soon his amusement faded. Wilhelmina couldn’t swim; the cold lake water surrounded her, and it felt like a hand was pulling her down. She cried out, struggling, but slowly sank.
Cairns stood there, dazed and fearful. Just then, he was pushed aside as Hans Borg rushed towards the pond, his face ashen. He tore off his suit jacket, threw it on the grass, kicked off his shoes, and leaped into the water. Annabel followed with her attendants, seeing only a splash. She picked up the suit jacket on the ground, looking somewhat dazed.
Wilhelmina swallowed mouthfuls of water, feeling weak as it covered her face. She kicked her feet, struggling as cold lake water poured into her mouth and nose.
In despair, a large hand grabbed her, lifting her up. As she surfaced, she began to cough and breathe.
“I’ve got you! I’ve got you.” Hans Borg embraced her, patting her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s okay!”
Wilhelmina coughed violently, clinging to his neck. Hans carefully carried her, swimming back to the shore.
Annabel shook out the jacket for them. Hans, soaked and with broad shoulders, took the jacket from her and draped it over Wilhelmina, wrapping her tightly. The little girl’s lips were blue with cold, her azure eyes wide with fear. She nestled in Hans’s arms, shivering.
“It’s okay, it’s already okay.” Hans felt a dull ache in his heart, pressing his lips to her cold forehead. “You’re safe, Willy. I’m here.”
Annabel shivered in the evening breeze, her blush hidden by the darkness. By the time Wilhelmina had taken a hot bath, drunk hot milk, and fallen asleep, a disciplinary order for the incident had been issued.
Due to negligent supervision, the nanny and several attendants would be transferred. The secretary, having rescued the child during a meeting, was only ordered to stop pay for a month and write a reflection. Young Master Cairns would be confined for a day, required to write a reflection, and must guarantee at least five B grades by the end of the term to receive Christmas gifts this year.
“All this trouble caused by Willy,” the Crown Princess said to her husband. “They even transferred the nanny. That woman was carefully chosen by my brother. I expected the secretary to be dismissed, but the Emperor only required a reflection. Are we dealing with elementary school students? Your father is biased. And foolish Catherine, despite her son being reprimanded, acts like nothing happened.”
“What’s the use of saying this?” the Crown Prince replied disdainfully. “She’s just a ten-year-old child.”
“Don’t be naive. Not everyone is kind and upright like you,” the Crown Princess retorted. “Her mother was a liberal democrat. These people shout about constitutionalism. This child is their trump card.”
“What influence can a long-deceased mother have on her?” he asked. “Now she lives under the Emperor’s protection. She won’t forget her roots.”
” “She won’t forget her political capital,” the Crown Princess said. “When she realizes the power she can use to influence the political situation, she’ll find it hard to resist. And she doesn’t seem to be a smart child, making her easier to manipulate. By Hans Borg or someone else.”
“Then we’ll manipulate her,” Annabel suddenly spoke up. “She just arrived in a foreign place, lonely and isolated. It’ll be easy to win her friendship.”
“My clever Annie!” her mother said, kissing her daughter excitedly. “You’re such a smart little angel, I’m so proud of you!”
Wilhelmina had a slight fever at midnight, but after an antipyretic injection, her temperature returned to normal by dawn. The first thing she asked upon waking was, “Where is Owen?”
“Mr. Hans Borg is undergoing new staff training at the Internal Affairs Department today due to yesterday’s negligence,” the maid said softly.
Wilhelmina drank her honey milk, feeling dejected. Just then, Annabel entered her bedroom with flowers and a plush toy.
Chapter 9
