The Queen's Path

Chapter 4 : Unveiling the Rose Palace

A burst of laughter suddenly erupted from a plump little boy. He looked to be about the same age as Wilhelmina, round-faced and chubby like a small potato.

"She’s so clumsy." He snatched a cookie from Princess Catherine’s plate and made a face at Wilhelmina.

"Kahns, where are your manners?" his mother chided.

"Okay, Mom." The boy approached Wilhelmina, offering her the cookie. His hands were dirty, with mud under his fingernails.

Wilhelmina slapped his hand away and made a face right back at him.

The boy blinked, not angry but rather amused. "Who are you? Where’d you come from?"

"She’s Uncle Adam’s daughter, our cousin, Wilhelmina," said Annabelle.

"Interesting." Kahns leaned closer to Wilhelmina. "Do you know how to play Captain Bach's game?"

Wilhelmina shook her head and added proudly, "But I have the Rose Legion."

"Cool! Where is it?"

"In Montslanka."

"Meh, that’s boring." Kahns pouted and blew raspberries at her.

Princess Catherine quickly pulled her son back, while the crown princess smirked at the scene.

"Don’t mind him," Annabelle, the eldest, laughed gently as she wiped Wilhelmina’s face with a handkerchief. "Come on, let me introduce you to the other cousins."

The crown prince and princess had three daughters but no sons. Fourteen-year-old Annabelle, the eldest, was adored by everyone. Amelia and Georgiana, twelve-year-old twins, were quiet and refined. Each curtsied gracefully to Wilhelmina.

Princess Catherine had only one son, ten-year-old Kahns. Princess Marianne also had a son, eleven-year-old Louis, a tall, reserved boy.

The emperor watched the children’s introductions with pleasure, clearly proud to see them bonding. Wilhelmina, for her part, was adapting well. She had a quiet resilience that allowed her to settle into new surroundings without fear.

Having traveled nonstop to the imperial capital, Wilhelmina was exhausted. Before tea was even over, she was already struggling to keep her eyes open.

Noticing her fatigue, the emperor had a servant take her to rest.

"Get a good nap, my dear. Don’t miss tonight’s dinner."

Annabelle dabbed her mouth with a silk napkin and stood up. "Let me take Wilhelmina to her quarters, Grandpa. I’ll take good care of her."

"My good girl." The emperor nodded approvingly, "I’m so glad to see you all caring for each other."

Annabelle took Wilhelmina's hand and led her to a small open-top land car. Hansborg and the palace’s deputy chamberlain, Brück, followed in another car, with guards trailing closely.

The car traveled through the palace’s rose gardens, where the fragrance was so strong it was almost dizzying.

"Do you like roses?" Annabelle asked suddenly.

"They’re okay," Wilhelmina replied. "What about you?"

Annabelle gave a meaningful smile but didn’t answer.

"I hope you’ll get used to palace life," she said. "Brück will arrange a tutor for you. Once you catch up with your studies, you’ll be able to attend school with us."

"But I’ve always done well in my studies."

"Oh, my dear little sister, that’s not what I meant." Annabelle smiled warmly. "I know you’re a bright girl, Villy. But you have to understand—we’re not ordinary people. The knowledge we’re expected to master goes a bit beyond what others do. Do you understand?"

Wilhelmina nodded, somewhat uncertainly.

Pleased, Annabelle reached out to smooth her hair. "What beautiful golden hair. Grandpa must love it. His grandmother—our great-great-grandmother, Empress Wilhelmina—also had lovely golden hair. They say I resemble her. Grandpa admires his grandmother very much, you know."

Wilhelmina blinked in response.

The car continued through the woods and began to climb a hill. Annabelle let out a long, contented sigh, resting her pale arm on the door as she let the breeze ruffle her hair. Fourteen and already blossoming into a beauty, she looked like a rose just about to bloom.

Wilhelmina glanced back at the following car, where Hansborg was smiling as he chatted with Brück.

"He’s a fortunate man," Annabelle said suddenly. "No one—and I mean no one—gets appointed as a palace secretary that easily. Grandpa must really dote on you. Or perhaps he wants to make up for something."

"I don’t understand," Wilhelmina said.

Annabelle chuckled shortly. "Every royal has a palace secretary. My father and mother each have one, as do I. Aunt Catherine and Aunt Marianne had one before they were married. We all thought Grandpa would assign your father’s secretary to serve you. Poor Sir Wolfe… he’s been replaced by some no-name upstart."

Wilhelmina’s instinctive distaste for her cousin’s scornful tone made her uncomfortable. Annabelle, still young, did not conceal her disdain well—or perhaps, she simply didn’t care if her country cousin noticed.

"However," Annabelle changed her tone, "I find him rather interesting. Why not hand him over to me?"

Wilhelmina stared at her cousin in shock and refused outright, "No."

"Why not?" Annabelle frowned, annoyed. "With you, he’ll only waste his talents. What will you make him do? Help you put on shoes, pour your milk, or read bedtime stories?"

"He’s my secretary!" Wilhelmina insisted, using the unfamiliar term with stubborn pride. "Grandpa assigned him to me, so he’s mine."

"Yours. Ha! Yours?" Annabelle threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, my sweet Villy, how old are you? Do you even know what it means to have someone be yours?"

Wilhelmina’s wild streak was inflamed, and she wanted to retort and put her arrogant cousin in her place. But just as the words formed, she remembered her grandfather’s advice: Don’t let them know what you’re thinking.

She clamped her mouth shut, refusing to look at Annabelle.

Annabelle scoffed in disdain. "Fine, little beauty. I’ll find my own way to get what I want."

When Hansborg and the others exited the car, they saw Wilhelmina standing beside Annabelle, her face pale.

"Are you feeling unwell, miss?" Hansborg asked with concern.

"Don’t worry, sir." Annabelle flashed a charming smile at him. "My little cousin is simply not used to the electric land car yet."