A homemade, primitive pistol ended their lives.
Wilhelmina could barely remember her father’s heroic figure on horseback. Her impression of him was fading, ultimately frozen in a pale close-up.
“Go see your dad,” the Emperor nudged Wilhelmina. “Be a strong child.”
Taking a deep breath, she approached the coffin.
Her father lay inside like a stranger, eyes closed. His hands hung limply, no longer able to lift her as before. His lips were cold, no longer able to kiss her and call her “my little dove.”
“Daddy…” Wilhelmina touched his face. “Say hello to Mom for me.”
“Good girl,” Emperor Alexander felt his nose grow warm for his youngest son and his daughter who had lost their parents. “Let’s go, we shouldn’t disturb him.”
This was an assassination case that shocked the entire galaxy. The murderer was the wife’s ex-boyfriend from university, motivated by revenge. However, things were more complex than they appeared.
The tragic death of the princely couple destabilized the royal family’s relationships and the political landscape. Yet, the truth remained undisclosed until Emperor Alexander’s death.
Later, when Wilhelmina I took the throne, she personally unsealed the secret scroll left by her grandfather, many years later.
Chapter 4
Hans Borg stood at the edge of the corridor outside the mourning hall, with a court attendant beside him. Everyone was silent and solemn.
He was just a minor official, not qualified to accompany anyone inside the mourning hall. If Wilhelmina hadn’t depended on him, he wouldn’t have been able to accompany her to meet the Emperor.
The spring sunlight shone brilliantly on the corridor’s smooth marble floor. Outside, birds sang and flowers bloomed, with rose branches leaning against the pillars, gently trembling in the wind.
Just like that little girl, Hans Borg thought. Delicate, fragile, with soft thorns.
The hall’s large doors opened, with the Emperor leading his granddaughter by the hand, surrounded by his children.
“Tea is ready, Your Majesty,” Brück said, bowing.
The Emperor looked down at Wilhelmina. “Are you hungry?”
Although she wasn’t hungry, she instinctively nodded. “Good girl, let’s have something to eat. Your father loved lemon tea, and I hope you’ll like it too.”
As she was led towards the flower hall, Wilhelmina turned and saw Hans Borg standing in the crowd. He looked at her, his expression thoughtful.
