“Palace officials suggest we hold a ball at City Hall’s Golden Hall,” Wilhelmina said. “Although it might seem a bit showy, this is the first time in history. Seeing the Queen and Prime Minister getting along will help pacify the conservative and radical reformists who are still discontented. What do you think?”
“I think it’s a good idea. Will it be a grand ball?”
“Oh no, certainly not.” Wilhelmina led him out of the audience chamber. “You provide your invitation list, and the royal list is already prepared. It was quite a challenge to cross out irrelevant people!”
Hans Borg smiled. “So it will be an elite ball.”
“I like how you put it,” Wilhelmina nodded. “That’s exactly right. The palace ministry officials will contact your secretary. And, Owen, it’s time to fulfill the promise I made to you years ago.”
Seven years ago, she had declared that one day, she would open the ball with her secretary. Seven years of gathering and separation had brought them to this moment. The secretary had finally become a person of importance, able to publicly hold the queen’s hand on the dance floor.
Hans Borg bowed, cupped the queen’s hand, and respectfully kissed it. “Thank you for this honor. May God bless you, Your Majesty.”
After seeing off Hans Borg, Wilhelmina Minna called Cynthia and asked, “Where is Prince Albert?”
“Your Majesty, he just went to the study. He received a phone call,” Cynthia replied.
Wilhelmina Minna took a deep breath and walked towards the study.
The study door opened, and Albert rushed out, almost colliding with her.
“Albert? What happened?”
“It’s my father!” Albert said anxiously, “He’s had a heart attack.”
“What?” Wilhelmina Minna was shocked. “What now?”
“They’ve taken him to the hospital for emergency treatment. My mother is with him. I can’t let her be alone; I must go with her.”
“Of course!” Wilhelmina Minna nodded urgently. “I’ll go with you!”
“Your Majesty,” Sir Wolf interjected, “The Alfaht envoy couple has already arrived…”
Wilhelmina Minna hesitated.
Albert turned back, put his arm around her shoulder, and kissed her forehead. “Take care of your work first, dear. I’ll be fine.”
Watching her husband’s departing back, Wilhelmina Minna instructed the prince’s attendant, “Neil, take care of the prince and stay in constant contact with me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the attendant saluted and followed Prince Albert.
“It’s unbelievable!” Wilhelmina Minna said to Cynthia, “Duke Sellerberg is only fifty-five, and he always looked healthy.”
“I believe he will be fine, Your Majesty,” Cynthia comforted her. “Will you go meet the Alfaht envoy?”
“Yes, right away.” Wilhelmina Minna took two deep breaths, adjusted her emotions, and walked towards the audience chamber.
Seeing her son rush into the waiting room, Duchess Sellerberg quickly stood up. “Oh, Albert…”
Albert embraced his mother. “How is Dad?”
“In the operating room. The doctor said a blood vessel burst. It’s terrifying.”
“He’ll be fine, Mom,” Albert assured her. “He’s always been healthy; he’ll get through this.”
The Duchess asked, “Does the Queen know?”
“She’ll come later. The Alfaht envoy has arrived.”
After a long wait, the operating room door opened, and the doctor came out.
“Duchess, Your Highness,” the doctor said, seeming relatively relaxed, “The Duke is fine.”
Duchess Sellerberg let out a huge sigh of relief.
“You brought him in very quickly, and the surgery was successful. He will stay in intensive care for observation. If there are no problems, he can be discharged soon.”
In the intensive care unit, Duke Sellerberg was unconscious with a respirator, appearing much older. His wife’s loving fingers gently combed through his hair and pulled the blanket over him. The monitor showed his condition was stable.
Albert took his mother, still in shock, to the suite to rest, then pulled up a chair and sat by his father’s bed.
The hospital room curtains were closed, with only the lamp by the window illuminating a small area. The dimly lit room was quiet, with the sound of nurses pushing carts outside.
His father lay unconscious in the hospital bed, no longer the dignified elder or the commanding general. He was just an ordinary old man.
His father was only fifty-five, but sometimes appeared older. Albert had thought that after marrying Wilhelmina Minna, his father could enjoy retirement without worries, but illness had struck instead.
Albert sighed softly, supporting his forehead with his hands, sinking into thought.
How long had it been since he went horseback riding, fishing, or had good conversations with his father? Focused on his own family after marriage, he had unknowingly neglected his parents.
A hand gently rested on his shoulder, stroking the back of his neck.
Albert looked up to see Wilhelmina Minna looking at him with deep affection.
“You’re here? What about the Alfaht envoy?” he asked, tightly holding her hands.
“The meeting was brief. I invited the envoy couple to the city hall ball, and they left happily. I came here because I was worried about you,” she said.
Albert kissed Wilhelmina’s hand. “The doctor performed a bypass surgery on him and installed a pacemaker just to be safe.”
“Is the problem serious?” Wilhelmina examined her father-in-law lying on the bed.
“He has a problematic blood vessel, but he’s not suitable for surgery right now. Perhaps when he recovers.”
“Don’t worry, darling.” Wilhelmina brushed her husband’s forehead. “We are the royal family; we can find the best doctors and hospitals for him.”
Albert smiled at her.
Wilhelmina leaned her head on Albert’s knee. “I’m sorry…”
“Willy…”
“Listen to me, Albert. I’m truly sorry about yesterday’s incident. I should have told you and worked on a solution together. I made a mistake by letting my emotions cloud my judgment, which made you worry and hurt your feelings.”
“Shh—” Albert embraced her. “Enough, my love, enough…”
Wilhelmina wrapped her arms around him and softly asked, “You’re not angry anymore?”
“I stopped being angry long ago.” Albert chuckled softly. “I don’t even understand why I was angry yesterday. I didn’t say anything too harsh to you, did I?”
“No, not at all.” Wilhelmina laughed, then remembered, “But you did say one wrong thing.”
“What?” Albert asked, puzzled.
“You said he would always be my best friend.”
Wilhelmina looked up from her husband’s embrace. “You were wrong, Albert. You are my best friend, my closest person. You are my husband…”
Albert cupped her face and kissed her. They held each other tightly.
After a moment, Wilhelmina whispered, “Angela suggested I shouldn’t take the initiative to reconcile. She said you should be the one to coax me.”
Albert laughed softly, “So why did you come anyway?”
“I thought, who cares? She’s not even married.”
Chapter 74 The Duke of Seleberg was discharged from the hospital a week later. He planned to go to the Odin countryside manor with his wife for recuperation. Albert saw his parents off to the ranch in the Southern Hemisphere before returning to the palace for the city hall ball.
This ball was the first royal-attended event of the spring season. Due to its smaller scale, many lesser-known upper-class individuals were excluded, while many emerging scientists and scholars were invited.
It had been gloomy during the day, and everyone worried it might snow. Sure enough, snow began to fall in the evening.
Queen Wilhelmina appeared before the guests in a blue-purple long dress, a crown, and a fur scarf. Prince Albert assisted her with the scarf before the couple walked arm in arm into the ballroom.
Meeting with the new cabinet members was a key agenda for today’s ball.
Under Hans Boger’s introduction, the Queen shook hands with the new ministers, chatting warmly and creating a pleasant atmosphere.
