Chapter 3
1084 Words
Hansborg stood by the corridor outside the chapel, with a court attendant beside him. The crowd remained silent and solemn.
He was just a lowly administrative officer, not even qualified to accompany them into the chapel. If it weren't for Wilhelmina's reliance on him, he wouldn't even have the qualifications to accompany her to meet the emperor.
Yet the spring sunlight shone so brightly on the clean marble floor of the corridor. Outside, the birds chirped, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. The pink rose branches trembled gently in the wind, just like that little girl, Hansborg thought. Delicate, vulnerable, with soft thorns.
The doors of the chapel opened, and the emperor walked out, holding his granddaughter's hand, surrounded by his children.
"Tea is ready, Your Majesty," Brücke bowed.
The emperor lowered his head and asked Wilhelmina, "Are you hungry, my dear?"
Although Wilhelmina didn't feel hungry, she instinctively nodded.
"Good girl, then let's go eat something. Your father loves lemon tea, I hope you'll like it too."
The child was led towards the flower hall, turning her head to see Hansborg standing among the crowd. He also looked at her, his expression seemingly pensive.
Suddenly, the child exclaimed, "I want Owen!"
The emperor stopped in his tracks, "What, my child?"
"Owen!" Wilhelmina pointed her small hand towards the handsome young officer.
The crowd parted, and Hansborg stepped forward, standing at attention. "Owen Hansborg, Assistant Secretary of the State Department, at your service, Your Majesty."
The old emperor squinted at this young man in his early twenties, like an old lion sizing up a young lion.
"Hansborg. Rudolf Hansborg, is he your kin?"
"He's my grandfather, Your Majesty."
"Oh, that old fellow." The emperor chuckled, "Is he still in good health?"
"Unfortunately, Your Majesty, my grandfather passed away thirteen years ago."
The emperor was momentarily stunned, before saying, "Time flies indeed."
Hansborg remained silent, bowing his head without taking the opportunity to flatter.
After a brief silence, the emperor spoke again, "Hansborg, Wilhelmina likes you very much."
"It's my honor, Your Majesty."
The emperor Alexander looked down at his granddaughter again, "You like him, don't you?"
"He's very nice," the child replied innocently.
"Very well, very well." The emperor patted the child's hand affectionately, "Then, go, and see your private secretary."
This simple sentence caused a change in the expressions of those present. There were over a thousand assistant secretaries in the State Department, but only Hansborg was promoted to the rank of chief court secretary with just one sentence.
Amidst whispers, Hansborg bowed deeply with his head down. No one could see his expression.
The emperor turned and walked towards the flower hall. The newly appointed private secretary followed half a second later, holding his master's hand.
People speculated about the mood of this new noble, but only Wilhelmina knew that Hansborg's palms were all sweaty.
It wasn't until tea time began that Wilhelmina was formally introduced to her relatives. She had only seen these people on holographic television before, and had received birthday gifts from them through secretaries. Now, for the first time, she faced them in person.
Alexander, the emperor's eldest son and the crown prince of the empire, was forty-seven years old this year. He resembled the late Queen Christie, tall and slender, with chestnut hair and a serious demeanor. Princess Barbara, the crown princess, was a middle-aged woman with a forced smile, always seeming a bit nervous, and the crown prince and princess showed obvious flattery towards the emperor.
The emperor's second daughter, Princess Catherine, was a beautiful and talkative lady. She finished all the conversations with her and her husband, who was a physics PhD.
The third imperial daughter, Princess Mariana, divorced only last year and returned to the court with her child.
People always said she was a copy of Queen Christie, pale and thin, silent and reserved. Apart from the New Year's greetings, she never appeared in public, nor did she participate in any public welfare activities. The media always called her "the invisible person of the royal family."
"I'm glad to see Wilhelmina becoming more and more like Adams," the crown princess said happily, "And I'm really glad she'll grow up with us in the future. There's nothing more exciting than watching a little girl grow into a beautiful young woman, right, Heinrich?"
The crown prince dryly responded to his niece's return to the court.
"It should have been done long ago," Princess Catherine said bluntly, "I've told Adams a long time ago that he shouldn't leave a child far away with her grandparents. Poor Lily. But everything can still be saved. Aunt can also be a mother, can't she?"
"Don't say bad things about her father in front of the child. Adams wanted to bring the child over, but Anne disagreed," the crown princess said, "Anne doesn't like children."
"Not being able to have children doesn't mean she doesn't like them," Catherine gave her sister-in-law a dirty look, "Stop making excuses for the dead, the child is listening."
The crown princess was silenced by her sister-in-law's retort, her face turning pale, she forced a smile and tightly pursed her lips without saying a word. The crown prince remained indifferent to his wife's distress. He lowered his head to cut the sandwich, carefully slicing each piece into an isosceles triangle— the crown prince had a slight case of OCD, which the royal family kept secret.
"Oh, the children are out of school." With the emperor's words, everyone saw several children rushing up the steps of the flower hall before they could even take off their school bags.
"Grandpa!" A blonde girl threw herself into the emperor's arms, "I got an A today! Do you want to see my test paper?"
The emperor showed genuine affection, "Annabelle, my honey, wait a moment. Come and meet your cousin, Wilhelmina."
The tall and beautiful blonde girl stood up, lifting the hem of her school uniform skirt, and bowed to Wilhelmina.
Wilhelmina stood up hurriedly, wanting to return the gesture. But she forgot about the plate on her lap.
The plate fell to the ground and shattered. Everyone was startled, and she was also frightened.
"It's okay." A pair of large hands held Wilhelmina, pulling her away from the shattered porcelain.
Hansborg skillfully patted the pastry crumbs off the girl's skirt, then ordered the attendants to come and clean up. Then he quietly retreated to his position.
Annabelle raised her eyebrows, watching his series of actions.
- Writer
