Chapter 66

Upon seeing the Duchess of York, also known as the wife of Prince Albert (the second son of King George V and the future King George VI)'s wife, Wilhelm's heart experienced a subtle feeling as if he had been struck by electricity, leaving him momentarily stunned and his heart pounding loudly.

The woman exuded an aura of noble elegance, like a goddess high above, making men want to prostrate themselves in worship.

Little Elizabeth, hearing Wilhelm's murmuring, curiously asked, "What are you saying, Brother Wilhelm?"

Wilhelm snapped out of it and smiled awkwardly. "Oh, nothing. I was just marveling at how beautiful your mother is."

At that moment, the Duchess of York turned her head in their direction, meeting Wilhelm's fervent gaze, causing her to be more alert.

During World War II, the King and Queen of Great Britain became symbols of the nation's spirit in the face of the war. Even during the bombings, upon the Cabinet's persuasion, Elizabeth publicly refused to leave London, saying, "The children will not leave without me. I will not leave without the King, and the King will never leave."

She often visited areas near London's docks that were heavily bombed by the German Air Force, especially in the East End. Buckingham Palace also experienced several attacks during the peak of the bombings, prompting Elizabeth to say, "I feel as though the East End of London is in my eye." For safety and family matters, the King and Queen did not stay at Buckingham Palace but stayed overnight at Windsor Castle, about 20 miles (approximately 35 kilometers) west of central London (most of Buckingham Palace's buildings were severely damaged in the bombings). The princesses also spent their wartime years at Windsor Castle, while spending their days at Buckingham Palace.

Due to the impact of her confidence on the entire British population, the little mustache called her "the most dangerous woman in all of Europe," saying that if Churchill was the man he had to fear in Europe, she was the woman he had to fear the most.

However, Wilhelm doubted whether, in the future when the German forces crossed the English Channel to land on British soil, the British royal family would still remain in the country. The British Empire might be known as the "Empire on which the sun never sets," as its colonies were spread across the globe. These royal family members could form a new government wherever they escaped, rallying under the banner of resistance against Germany.

And on the other side of the ocean, the United States would surely support the British royal family to continue resisting Germany.

Damn, it's really troublesome.

He hoped that by that time, the colonies would be wise enough not to naively stand up to be used as cannon fodder for the British royal family. Even maintaining neutrality would be better.

The Duchess of York noticed the disdain in Wilhelm's eyes being replaced by some inexplicable annoyance. He seemed to be entangled in some kind of trouble, not even noticing her approach. Only when little Elizabeth proudly showed her the signed book did Wilhelm regain his senses and quickly greeted the Duchess with a bow. "Hello, Your Grace, the Duchess of York."

He eagerly waited for her to extend her hand so that he could give her a kiss on the hand, but unexpectedly, the Duchess only nodded slightly and showed no intention of extending her hand. "Your reputation precedes you, esteemed Prince Wilhelm. I have a sincere request..."

Hey, this elegant and noble beauty has a request for him? Wilhelm forcefully kept himself from showing a foolish smile and replied enthusiastically, "Please feel free to tell me."

However, her words surprised him. "If it's convenient, could you come to the University of Cambridge and give a lecture on literary creation?"

Over the years, Wilhelm has created many famous works and is now an internationally renowned writer. "Of course, no problem. Will you also attend?" Wilhelm asked somewhat impulsively.

The Duchess of York displayed a slightly awkward smile. "I'm afraid I can't make it."

"That's a shame, but I think tomorrow morning should be fine."

"Thank you, Your Highness," the Duchess of York said, expressing her gratitude before hastily leaving with her daughter. She had heard about the conduct of this Wilhelm Highness, and while there was no overt flirting in their conversation just now, she seemed to sense something unusual from his words and actions.

The formal reception ended, and back in his room, Wilhelm couldn't help but curse under his breath, "Darn it, not a single clear indication. These folks want the horse to run, but they won't feed it grass."

Ribbentrop, being careful, asked, "What should we do now, Your Highness? Should we continue persuading them?"

Wilhelm shook his head, "No need. However, King George V doesn't seem to have much time left. After his passing, his son Edward will ascend to the throne. This visit ends here; I'll give a lecture at Cambridge University tomorrow morning and then head back in the afternoon."

Ribbentrop couldn't help but wonder, "Is there a need to give a speech to them?"

"I have my plans." Wilhelm smiled. "I want to increase my visibility, gain more fame, and, consequently, gather a large number of fans. There might even be some fanatic ones among them."

Wilhelm didn't expect these fanatic fans to change sides during the future war, but even a moment's hesitation, causing them to be shot by German soldiers, would be beneficial.

Unfortunately, without computers or the internet, Wilhelm couldn't become a livestreaming host, charming them daily. He would have to enlighten Turing about the concept of computers when he returned. Perhaps Germany's technological tree could advance rapidly, and he might get to play first-person shooting games in fifty or sixty years. Hopefully, he wouldn't have Parkinson's or dementia by then.

Seeing Wilhelm lost in thought, Ribbentrop was about to leave when Wilhelm suddenly called him back. "Mr. Ribbentrop, you'll return to Germany tomorrow, and then make a trip to Italy to sign an agreement with Mussolini."

At present, Germany's relationship with Italy was not bad but not particularly good either. The beer hall putsch a dozen years ago had been harshly suppressed, and the main conspirators were shot on the spot. As a result, the German government had been cautious and vigilant towards fascism, virtually losing its living space. Mussolini might still resent that incident.

Ribbentrop respectfully asked, "Your Highness, what kind of agreement is it?"

"Very simple." Wilhelm smiled. "We want to lease the Sirte Basin in the northern Sahara Desert for at least fifty years, and the longer, the better. If you manage to accomplish this, it will be a great achievement for you."