A hot spring stream flowed out behind the mountain villa, converging into a small creek with clear water. Albert fished by the creek while Wilhelmina sat nearby reading. The autumn sunlight was warm, and she occasionally fell asleep, finding herself back in bed under a soft blanket upon waking.
During rainy weekends, they lingered in bed, laughing together as the female servant brought meals, wrapped in their blanket.
An old orange tree by the villa’s main house still held a few of the largest oranges. Albert climbed up to pick them while Wilhelmina stood below, using her skirt to catch the oranges he threw down. They were as happy as children.
The housekeeper, passing by, saw their behavior, adjusted his glasses, and continued on.
In the evening, when it cooled down, they often stayed in wearing pajamas, sitting by the fireplace and roasting oranges with a fork. Wilhelmina fed Albert a segment, making him jump from the sourness.
She laughed and tried to escape, but he caught her and pressed her down on the carpet.
“Sir,” Wilhelmina said seriously, “Do you know what you’re doing? I am the Queen of the Galactic Empire.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I am well aware,” Albert smiled. “May I kiss you?”
Wilhelmina burst out laughing.
So Albert leaned down and kissed her.
At midnight, it started raining again. The couple fell asleep in each other’s arms, listening to the rain.
After a while, Albert’s military instincts awakened him. It was too quiet. The rain had stopped; there was no wind or insect sounds—dead silence.
Wilhelmina still lay in his arms, sleeping sweetly. Albert held her tight, alert to any sounds outside.
Someone ran to the bedroom and knocked on the door.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness!” It was the captain of the guard.
Wilhelmina woke up. “What is it?”
“Sorry to disturb you,” the captain said softly, “but we have some unwelcome guests who have entered the villa.”
The royal couple became alert. With military training, they exchanged a glance without speaking. They quickly got out of bed, changed into casual clothes and sneakers, then holstered their matching guns.
Outside the bedroom, the guards were on high alert.
The captain saluted, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, we recommend you temporarily move to the study. It’s the safest place right now.”
Wilhelmina coldly asked, “How many?”
“Security monitors count forty-two people, with seven in the advance team,” the captain replied.
These seven were mainly responsible for the assassination mission.
“How are they?” Albert inquired.
“Estimated to be retired special forces,” the captain said. “And from their method of breaching the security system, they’re not from our people.”
“You mean they’re from elsewhere?” Wilhelmina’s gaze sharpened.
The captain’s back chilled, “It looks like the typical method of the Earth Cult interstellar exiles.”
The mention of the Earth Cult made Wilhelmina’s face turn ugly. Understanding, Albert hugged her, silently comforting her.
Just as they entered the study, a massive explosion sounded from the east side of the house. Everyone was stunned, and the captain almost dragged Wilhelmina by the hand towards the study.
“Wait!” Albert suddenly shouted.
Wilhelmina abruptly stopped and turned back as he rushed over and threw himself on top of her.
In the explosion, rolling air currents threw everyone to the ground, with debris flying everywhere. Wilhelmina was kept tightly protected underneath her husband, feeling her ears ringing as sand and stones fell on Albert, making her heart tighten.
“Albert!”
Wilhelmina grabbed his clothes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Albert whispered.
They drew their guns as uninjured guards rushed to shield them.
The study was destroyed and no longer safe.
Recalling the villa’s layout, the royal couple almost simultaneously said, “To the pantry!”
Unlike the living room and salon, the pantry was safer because it was easily overlooked. The guards escorted them to the pantry.
“Your Majesty, please stay here,” the captain saluted. “We will clear the intruders. Support troops will arrive within five minutes.”
“Please be careful,” Wilhelmina nodded.
Four guards remained as the captain left with the rest of the team.
Wilhelmina looked at the time—it was 4:05 AM, the most vulnerable time of the day.
Intense battle sounds came through the pantry door. Despite sound and heat shielding, tension remained.
Wilhelmina took a deep breath.
They were deep in the mountains, facing well-prepared opponents with fierce intent. If they couldn’t resist, if she were captured?
Just over a month after ascending the throne, the queen felt unworthy of her ancestors.
Bitterly smiling, Wilhelmina felt a solid embrace and looked up to see Albert, his gaze filled with comfort and determination. She gradually relaxed, realizing she now had a husband who would stand by her side in a life-or-death situation.
Suddenly, the guard’s communicator crackled with the captain’s voice: “We can’t hold out much longer! Escort the royal couple to evacuate!”
Albert calmly raised his gun, clicking off the safety, and Wilhelmina drew her own weapon. Seeing the surprised looks from her husband and the guards, she laughed: “Please, I’m an A-grade military academy graduate, with top marks in shooting and defense courses.”
Albert felt helpless and whispered, “I will protect you.”
“I can protect myself.”
“Willy, I don’t want you to have blood on your hands again.”
Wilhelmina was touched. “It’s okay, darling, we’ll be fine.”
After the guards confirmed safety, they opened the back door of the pantry. Four guards positioned themselves, with Albert walking vigilantly beside Wilhelmina, ready to shield her.
The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, the mansion’s electrical circuit destroyed, leaving only emergency lights on. Just then, assassins burst from a door, and the emergency light above Wilhelmina flickered.
The guards immediately reacted and fired. Almost simultaneously, Albert opened a nearby storage room door and pushed Wilhelmina inside.
Wilhelmina stumbled in and pounded on the door.
“No! Albert! No—”
Albert pressed his body against the door. “Be good, Willy, stay inside!”
Tears welled up in Wilhelmina’s eyes.
Chapter 69 Through the door, she heard the intense battle outside. The explosion’s shockwave made the door rattle, and the sounds of cannon fire, screams, and bodies falling assaulted her eardrums.
She didn’t know if Albert was still outside; she concentrated on the door, trying to distinguish the sounds.
Time passed, and the battle noises gradually subsided.
Wilhelmina held her breath.
When silence enveloped the outside, she felt her blood freeze.
She bit her lip, checking that the gun’s safety was off. At this moment, she dared not think about what had happened outside or why Albert was silent. She knew she must survive.
The doorknob turned, and as she raised her gun, Albert’s voice rang out.
“Willy, it’s me.”
The door opened, revealing Albert amidst the chaos, calm and reassuring.
Wilhelmina lowered her gun and rushed to embrace him.
He held her tightly, his arms trembling. “It’s okay, I’m fine.”
Let’s leave here.”
Three of the four guards had been lost, with the surviving one covering their retreat. Albert pulled Wilhelmina and began to run.
They jumped over the bodies of assassins and guards, racing towards the servants’ side door.
Wilhelmina gripped her gun, wanting to prove herself as more than a helpless woman. However, she knew this was not the time; as queen, her safety was paramount.
