Frederick let out a hearty laugh. "Birdie, you haven't been paying attention in class".

"I pay 100% attention! I've memorized everything!" Arabella argued back.

"A bad child that talks back, I see." Frederick reached out and caught her chin, giving it a playful, punitive squeeze. "The day after tomorrow, I'll take you to Hamburg to eat a burger. But you'll have to order in German. I won't help you. Do you understand?".

Located on the banks of the Elbe River, Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city. It is a place where bridges and water intertwine, seagulls circle overhead, trains pulse through the center, and the night sky is illuminated by the glow of old, red-brick steeples. 

Strictly speaking, Hamburg was the city where Frederick had lived the longest. He had moved there from Munich at the age of twelve to live with his grandfather, Heinrich von Herheid, the head of House Herheid. He remained there until he graduated from Oxford at twenty-four and returned to the family's ancestral lands in Bavaria to take over Herheid Holdings.

Two low-profile black Mercedes-Benz SUVs cruised toward Lake Alster in the heart of Hamburg, stopping mid-way on a bustling commercial street at a trendy, "viral" burger shop.

"Go on, brave bird. Remember to open Apple Pay and just tap it against the card reader. You know how to use it?" Frederick said as he opened the car door for her.

Arabella nodded.

Frederick had bought her a new phone, registered her for WhatsApp, set up a bank account, and deposited a sum of pocket money for her. She had no idea how much was in there, as she had never used it. She was far more interested in social media—posting photos to get "likes" seemed fun, but Frederick had forbidden her from posting pictures of herself.

Fine, she thought. If I can't post, I'll just go give likes.

She gripped her new phone and stepped out of the car alone. Under the gaze of a handsome, blue-eyed, blonde waiter, shyly ordered ten burgers, six orders of fried chicken, four large fries, and a Coke in her stumbling German.

The Mercedes remained parked at the curb. Frederick sat inside, watching her through the window.

Fifteen minutes later, she emerged carrying several large bags, a sweet and triumphant smile on her face. 

Frederick's lips curved. He stepped out of the car to take the bags from her; they were surprisingly heavy. "Why did you buy so much, sweetheart? Can you even eat all this?".

"I can, I can!" Arabella chirped as she climbed back into the car. The heater was running, and the temperature inside rose quickly. She unwrapped her scarf. "You said you were taking me to see your family.

Harold said there were a lot of people, so I bought extra so they could try some, too. This place has great reviews! This one is for Harold, and this one is for Barry".

Frederick's expression softened as he watched her distribute the burgers. 

"Will your family like them? I got so many flavors—pork, sausage, salmon... look, so many!" Arabella showed them to him eagerly.

Frederick smiled. "They will. They will love them very much".

Arabella laughed, pulled out a pork burger, tore back the foil, and took a large, impatient bite. The warm sesame bun, the oozing cheese, the charred aroma of the grilled pork, and the secret black pepper sauce provided an immediate sense of satisfaction.

She let out a contented sigh, unable to speak, and simply gave Frederick a thumbs-up.

Frederick drew a silk handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped a smudge of sauce from the corner of her mouth. "You're devouring that like a kitten that hasn't eaten in three days. I'll have to reflect on whether I'm failing to feed you properly".

Arabella swallowed and gave a shy smile.

For the rest of the ride, she ate like a lady—small, dainty bites while Frederick watched, only to start "shoveling" it in again the moment he closed his eyes for a nap.Ten minutes later, the Mercedes arrived at the villa of Frederick's grandfather, Heinrich.

This beautiful, modern white building sat on the west side of Lake Alster in the center of Hamburg's most prestigious billionaire district. The villa was surrounded by lush apple and cherry trees and boasted its own private dock and helipad, offering a clear view of the blue lake and the City Hall square on the opposite shore.

House Herheid held a family gathering once a month, usually limited to blood relatives and in-laws, though close friends were occasionally invited. This gathering was particularly grand because Heinrich and his wife were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary in a few days.

They arrived neither late nor early. Seven or eight black Mercedes were already parked in the driveway, surrounded by several armed bodyguards in black suits.

Arabella hadn't been afraid before, but her heart began to thud nervously now. She ducked behind Frederick. "Why are there so many cars...?". There were more people than she expected. With only seven burgers left, it wasn't going to be enough.

Frederick patted the back of her hand reassuringly, then gripped it firmly. His palm was warm and solid. "Don't be afraid, sweetheart. I'll be right by your side".

Arabella nodded.

They were met by Leon, Heinrich's personal secretary—a tall, thin man who looked classically Germanic. He was clearly close with Frederick, and the two exchanged a few words. Arabella's German wasn't yet good enough to follow a native conversation, but she caught him addressing Frederick as Master Frederick.

Unlike the grand, historic atmosphere of the Herheid Estate in Munich, this villa was ultra-modern, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass, geometric sofas, modern lighting, and various abstract and postmodern paintings. The long dining table was already set with crystal and silver; Arabella counted about twenty chairs.

It was clearly going to be a lively night.