Farewell to Paretz

Unconsciously, two weeks passed quickly. In the morning, Count Hans's castle welcomed a group of guests. They rode their horses to the castle gate, and a man got off the carriage in the team. He wore a black leather tricorn hat with a gold-plated brim, a lace-trimmed coat, white wool socks, and a pair of buckled leather shoes with red heels.

"Please tell Count Hans that I am here to take His Royal Highness Prince William back to the palace on the orders of His Majesty," the man said gracefully as he saluted the maid standing by the door. The maid saluted back and said, "Please wait a moment," and then she went to meet Count Hans.

"Oh, oh, oh, who is it? It turns out to be you, the deputy steward of the palace, Lord Buer." After a while, old Hans came over from afar after hearing the report from the maid.

"Count Hans, long time no see. You are still so polite," Buer said with a smile.

"Look, someone who has been the deputy chief steward of the palace for so many years is different. You were not so polite back then. I don't know who killed seven Austrians in a row in the Battle of Rossbach, and yelled while killing: Which bastard has killed more than me? Come out and compare. It can't be you," Old Hans teased.

Buell smiled awkwardly and said:

"Isn't that the result of your youthful recklessness? Do you think everyone is like you? You are still so heartless after all these years." After saying that, he walked into the castle and asked again:

"Where is the prince?"

"Your Highness and my two children are taking piano lessons in the living room. Let's go straight over there," Old Hans replied, walking to the front and leading the way.

After walking for a while, the sound of Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concertos came from the front, and the beautiful sound washed over their souls.

"Yes, this teacher is very skilled, Hans. It seems that you have done your best to educate His Royal Highness the Prince," Baron Buer praised when he heard the music.

"This, Lord Buel, this was not played by the teacher I hired, but by His Royal Highness the Prince," said old Hans embarrassedly.

"Really? Then I'd like to take a closer look." After hearing old Hans' answer, Buel walked forward impatiently.

After walking a few steps, we came to a door, which was pushed open by the maids. In the middle of the bright hall, we saw a piano, and our little William was sitting beside the piano, playing it in ecstasy. His two fingers seemed to have souls, and the jumping fingertips sparkled people's eyes.

Soon the song ended. Buel took a while to react and quickly clapped his hands. Under his influence, others in the room also clapped their hands.

"Brother William, you play really well. Why do you play so smoothly? I have a lot of problems when I play. You have to teach me well." Du Li jumped over, hugged William's arm and shook it coquettishly.

"Okay, you all go out first, William stays," said old Hans at the door before William could answer Mia.

Mia reluctantly bowed to Old Hans and Buer and walked out with Carlo and the piano teacher.

"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Buel from the Palace of Sans Souci." Buel saluted to little William.

"You're welcome, Mr. Buell," Little William returned the greeting.

"Your Highness William, Buel is here to take you back to the palace. Please get ready. We will leave after lunch," Hans said.

"Okay Hans, I'll clean it up right away," William said to old Hans, bowed to them and walked out.

"Old Hans, you taught well. His Majesty will be surprised to see His Royal Highness the Prince," Buel said to Old Hans.

"It's mainly because of your highness's outstanding talent. I don't have any credit."

"Okay, Old Hans, you don't have to be so humble. Don't pretend in front of me," Buel said with a smile, and Old Hans also laughed.

Little William was instructing the maid to pack up in the house when he saw Du Li, a little girl, running in crying. She ran up to William and asked:

"William, are you leaving?"

Looking at Mia crying face, William sighed and said:

"Your Majesty asked Buel to take me back to the palace. Mia, I'm leaving now."

"No, I want you to go, I want you to stay with me." Mia held William's hand and cried even louder.

"Mia, don't be so sad. I, William, will always be your best friend. Even if I go back to the palace, I will come back to see you and Carlo. When I grow up, I will bring you both to Wuyou Palace, and then we will be together forever, okay?" William reached out his hand and wiped Mia tears from her face and comforted her.

"Really, William, you won't lie to me," Mia asked, looking up at William's eyes.

"Mia, I will never lie to you. When I grow up, I will come back to pick you up and we will go to Wuyou Palace together," William said firmly.

"Then let's make a pinky promise."

"Pink pinky, I will definitely come back to pick you up, Mia," William said and then hugged Mia in his arms.

Mia face flushed, as if she was thinking of the happy life she would have with William when she grew up. At this moment, William was cheering in his heart: Oh yeah, great, the little Loli is in his hands.

By the time it was time for lunch, although little Dolly was still sobbing, the meal was still a happy one.

"Carlo, after I leave, you must comfort Mia and never let her be sad," William said to Carlo after dinner.

"Don't worry, William. Mia is my sister. I won't make her sad. But you must take good care of yourself in the future. Don't forget that you will always have two friends in Paretz," Carlo said to William, holding back his tears.

"Carlo, I will never forget Paretz, and I will never forget the days we spent together. When I grow up, I will bring you to the Worries-Free Palace, and we will conquer the world together. You will always be my best brother," William said while hugging Carlo.

"William, let's go," Old Hans in the distance urged

"Carlo, I'm leaving, take care of yourselves," William said to Carlo after hearing Old Hans' urging, then turned around and shouted towards the castle:

"Mia, take care of yourself. I will come back to find you." After saying that, he turned around and ran towards the convoy.

When Dolly in the castle heard William's words, she suddenly burst into tears, which made the Countess who was comforting her feel even more distressed.

William, sitting in the carriage, looked at the Earl's Castle which was getting smaller and smaller in his sight, his eyes turned red.

"Okay, William, we will come back later, right?" Count Hans sighed and comforted him as he sat aside.

"William, men of the Hohenzollern family must be strong. His Majesty does not like indecisive people," Buel, who was sitting on the other side, advised.

William heard their consolation and thought:

Yes, my stage is not in Palermo, my stage is Sanssouci Palace, Prussia, and Europe. I am the man who will become king.

In the late autumn of 1777, Frederick William III, who had left Sanssouci Palace before he turned one, returned with Buell and Old Hans. Please look forward to the next chapter to see what is waiting for him.