Chapter 123
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: A Chimera’s Wedding
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Who is he, really?
Having received a reply from Kensington Palace stating they would consider the matter favorably, Gladstone was being treated like a triumphant general within his party.
“Hahahaha! Isn't this truly magnificent? Mr. Gladstone, are you some kind of genius?”
“Who in the world could have devised such a scheme? It was truly a stroke of luck for our party when you joined us, Mr. Gladstone.”
“I can't help but laugh just imagining the Tories' faces turning pale.”
“How long has it been since we landed such a satisfying blow on them? I feel so relieved, as if the steak I just ate digested in five seconds. Hahahaha!”
For years, the Whig Party had been consistently outmaneuvered by the Tories.
They lost elections, fell behind in public popularity, and even the royal family often favored the Tories over the Whigs.
So, how could they not feel a sense of vindication?
“We've managed to oust Killian, the Prime Minister's right-hand man, from his ministerial post. They must be having quite the headache over there.”
“But what if they oppose the marriage? Her Majesty has already spoken, so to overturn this, Parliament would have to issue a formal opinion. What if the Tories refuse to do so...?”
“That would be even better for us. We could simply frame the Tory Party as one that prioritizes its own interests over the nation's.”
“But couldn't Minister Killian Gore claim he isn't romantically attracted to Her Majesty? They could retaliate by accusing us of forcing marriage on an unwilling person.”
Russell's concern was valid, but Gladstone had, of course, already considered such a possibility.
In fact, he was grateful that Russell had pointed it out.
After all, it gave him the chance to show everyone just how meticulous his plan was.
“Of course, if the Minister refuses, the marriage cannot happen. That's a given. How can you force someone to marry against their will? However, the royal family has already stated they will consider it favorably. That's just another way of saying they will accept Parliament's recommendation. In other words, Her Majesty the Queen is more than willing to marry the Minister.”
“That makes sense. Her Majesty is a woman, after all. He's tall, handsome, exceptionally capable, and has a good personality—he's the perfect candidate for a political marriage, isn't he? With qualifications like that, I imagine royals from other countries would be drooling over him, sending courtship proposals from all over just for a chance to meet him.”
“Exactly. But the important thing is, let's assume the Minister himself refuses after the royal family has expressed such positive interest. How do you think Her Majesty the Queen would feel? If it were me, I'd be so ashamed I'd want to find a hole to crawl into.”
“Ah! I see. If that were to happen, it would look as though the Tory Party and the Minister had publicly rejected Her Majesty the Queen's proposal.”
Currently, the Tory Party enjoys a very close relationship with Queen Victoria.
And there was no doubt that Killian was the linchpin of that connection.
After all, the two were something like childhood friends, having known each other since they were young.
But if the marriage were to fall through because of one party's refusal, a rift would inevitably form in their strong relationship.
The royal family and the Tory Party would naturally grow distant, which, in turn, would benefit the Whig Party.
If he refuses, his relationship with the royal family is severed. If he accepts, Killian must step down from the Tory cabinet.
It was a hellish dilemma where either choice would result in a loss.
“The net has already been cast. All we have to do is sit back and cheerfully wait to see what kind of fish we catch.”
“Hahaha, hearing your explanation, Mr. Gladstone, has completely dispelled any lingering anxiety I had.”
“You truly are a treasure to the Whig Party. With you here, Mr. Gladstone, I believe we can certainly overcome Wellesley and the Tories.”
“Exactly! In fact, I think you're a cut above him, Mr. Gladstone.”
No matter how much he tried not to get carried away, he couldn't help but let a smile spread across his face amidst the shower of compliments.
Gladstone laughed heartily and raised his glass with his fellow members of Parliament.
Joining the Whig Party had indeed been the best choice.
He felt a little sorry for Killian, who had pushed him in this direction, but becoming the Prince Consort of the British Empire wouldn't be all bad for him, would it?
As a symbol of this nation's unity, he would live a long life, receiving respectful treatment.
The Whig members, brimming with confidence, eagerly awaited the day of the session, imagining the sour expressions on the faces of the Tories in Parliament.
And when the long-awaited day finally dawned, Gladstone and the other senior Whigs stepped into the Parliament building, surrendering themselves to a swelling sense of victory.
Now, shall we see how the Prime Minister and Disraeli are flustering about like a disorganized mob?
He could roughly guess how they would begin.
They'll want to postpone the decision as much as possible and stall for time, won't they?
But no matter what excuse they came up with, his side was prepared to counter every single one.
An engagement? A postponement? Whatever they say, I'll shut them down so completely they won't be able to utter another word.
“Honorable members.”
Wellesley, who seemed to be maintaining his composure with all his might, began to speak more calmly than expected.
“I trust you all know what the first matter of discussion is today without me having to state it. The Whig Party has recommended Minister Killian Gore as Her Majesty's consort, and I understand the royal family has replied that they will consider it favorably if Parliament officially presents a unified opinion. This being the case, there's no need for a lengthy discussion.
The Tory Party and I officially agree to endorse Killian Gore as the candidate for Prince Consort of the British Empire. Furthermore, we believe this marriage proposal should proceed as swiftly as possible. I would like to ask the honorable members of the Whig Party for their opinion.”
“...?”
What did I just hear?
They agree? No, more than agree—they want to proceed with the marriage as quickly as possible? But why?
He had predicted dozens of possible scenarios, but he had never expected the Tories to be so proactive.
A small but distinct ripple of agitation spread across the eyes of Gladstone, who had been so certain of victory.
***
When the Whigs did not respond, Wellesley asked again, puzzled.
“Why the silence? The members of the Tory Party have agreed that our party line is to unify Parliament's opinion right here and now and convey it to the royal family. Have the Whigs perhaps had a change of heart?”
“N-no! Of course not. It's just...”
Good, good. They're flustered.
With Wellesley being more proactive than expected, the Whigs' inner thoughts—'What on earth are they up to?'—were plain to see.
What else could such a display of emotion be but clear evidence that they were beginning to waver?
“I feel nothing but the utmost honor that a member of our party, a minister of the cabinet I myself appointed, could become the Prince Consort, a symbol of the British Empire's unity. Therefore, I wish to witness this joyous occasion as soon as possible. What is the Whig Party's position? It would look best if both parties jointly made the recommendation. If there are no objections, why don't we proceed directly to a vote?”
“W-wait, please! I mean... of course, we approve of the marriage between the Minister and Her Majesty the Queen. But if a minister of the current government is to become the Prince Consort, surely we must also discuss the subsequent measures, must we not?”
“Subsequent measures, you say?”
“That would be...”
Gladstone glanced at me before hesitantly continuing.
“You would have to step down from your ministerial post, and you could not maintain your membership in the Tory Party, so there are various things to discuss...”
“That goes without saying. On matters like this, I believe it is best to hear from the person directly involved. Minister Killian Gore? I find the Whigs' point to be valid. What are your plans?”
“I believe I must naturally follow the great traditions of the British Empire, and I am more than willing to do so.”
Not only Gladstone but also Lord Palmerston and John Russell stared at me, their eyes wide with disbelief.
They must be thinking I've lost my mind, but this was an issue I couldn't control from the start.
Rather than struggling to hold onto something I can't keep, it's better to give up what I must and gain an advantage elsewhere.
“The moment the wedding ceremony is held, I will resign from my position as Foreign Secretary and have my name removed from the Tory Party's register. Of course, this won't just be for show. From now on, I will thoroughly listen to the voices of both the Tory and Whig parties and strive to maintain the utmost political neutrality.”
“Y-you're really going to step down from your ministerial post?”
“Of course. However, as I am currently handling a great many tasks, I intend to remain in my position until the wedding to wrap things up as much as possible. I trust you will understand that much.”
“That is only natural. We have absolutely no intention of raising an issue with that.”
When Gladstone, who had been nodding his head dazedly as if possessed, fell silent, Wellesley scanned the chamber and slowly began to speak again.
“Well, then. As Mr. Gladstone said, let us continue discussing the important follow-up measures. This is, in fact, the most crucial and delicate matter. If Minister Gore were to step down, is there anyone here confident enough to take over and conclude the Irish policy in Canada?”
“We can recommend a suitable person for that...”
“Ah, I forgot to mention. The Irish are still flocking to Canada, and I hear that recently, they've been joined by Black people coming up from the south. To take charge of Canada means becoming a spiritual pillar for all of them. If that proves impossible, Canada will be destabilized in an instant, and we could face an irrecoverable situation.”
If such a thing were to truly happen, who would bear the responsibility?
Naturally, it would be the man who went to Canada in my place and the party that recommended him.
And if one thinks about it for even a moment, it's clear that disturbances, both large and small, are bound to occur.
To the Irish people in Canada and the Black people who had found true freedom, I was practically a living god.
Imagine that god being pushed aside in the name of some pointless tradition, and some random Englishman taking his place.
It's obvious that if someone were to toss even the smallest spark, discontent would spread like wildfire.
One wrong move, and they could be branded as the worst kind of incompetent who single-handedly ruined the perfectly stable security of a colony.
No, if some fool who doesn't know any better steps up to take that position, I will make it so.
“Why the silence? Saying you can recommend a suitable candidate implies you have someone in mind, does it not? If you provide a name now, we will consider it as well.”
“W-wait a moment, please. The issue in Canada is extremely delicate and sensitive, involving both the Irish and Black populations. Rather than discussing it here and now, perhaps it would be better to slowly gather opinions after the wedding is concluded?”
“That's a reasonable point. In that case, until a consensus is reached, we will have the Minister continue in his role as Plenipotentiary Envoy to Canada. Come to think of it, what room is there for political bias to interfere in the affairs of a colony across the Atlantic? Hahaha.”
“Haha... hahaha.”
As Wellesley let out a hearty laugh, the Whig members followed with awkward laughter of their own, creating a beautiful scene in the Parliament building, filled with nothing but smiles.
What a heartwarming sight this is.
Seeing those smiles, so clearly genuine, makes even me want to laugh.
Come now, let's all keep smiling together. After all, they say laughter brings good fortune, don't they?
***
The world was growing smaller, and the speed at which information spread was accelerating.
Gathering intelligence on other nations under the guise of diplomacy was becoming standard practice, and countless countries were collecting and receiving reports on their neighbors.
France was no exception.
The French king, Louis-Philippe, called himself the Citizen King and was heavily influenced by Britain, to the point of introducing a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary cabinet system.
Naturally, he paid close attention to developments in Britain, and a constant stream of intelligence gathered daily from Britain flowed into Paris.
The French Foreign Minister, François Guizot, spent his days reviewing the most important pieces of this intelligence, formulating policies, and issuing directives.
“Minister, an urgent dispatch has arrived from the ambassador to the British Empire.”
“An urgent dispatch? Has some sort of incident occurred over there?”
“Less of an incident and more of a major event, it seems. The word is that a husband has been chosen for Queen Victoria.”
“She's getting married? I was under the impression she had practically declared she would remain single not long ago. She's suddenly reversed her stance?”
“Parliament officially recommended a consort, and after careful consideration, she apparently relented, concluding that the marriage would be of great benefit to the national interest.”
A marriage of great benefit to the national interest... could it be a marital alliance?
But if such discussions were underway with another country, it's unlikely we would be unaware.
François Guizot unfolded the report, hastily written and sent by the ambassador, and quickly scanned its contents.
“What's this? She's marrying a domestic noble, not a foreign royal? Minister Killian Gore... an Irish Earl and a British Baron. I've heard the name often recently, but isn't he a bit lacking as a husband for the Queen?”
It might not be impossible if they were promoting the value of Irish integration, but as far as I know, the English are not particularly fond of the Irish.
To be precise, it goes beyond mere dislike; they see them as clearly inferior, don't they?
Welcoming a noble from such a region into their royal family would surely cause an explosion of discontent. And this is beneficial to the national interest?
Seeing that the candidate is exceptionally handsome, perhaps Queen Victoria is, in the end, just a woman.
But just as a sneer began to form on his lips, Guizot read the next part of the report and his smile vanished.
“...Previously presumed to be of mixed Irish and Asian heritage, but recently confirmed to have inherited the blood of an Asian royal family. A member of the royal family of Corée and a distant cousin of the Seii Taishogun, the de facto ruler of Japon?”
What is this? My head is spinning.
“So, to summarize: he is an Irish Earl, an English Baron, the adopted son of the Duke of Sussex, a member of the royal family, a relative of the royal house of Corée in Asia, and a kinsman of the Seii Taishogun of Japon? What... is this? This isn't a joke? It's all true?”
Laying out the personal details of Killian, the man who would become the Prince Consort of the British Empire, Guizot asked his secretary in a bewildered voice.
“Is Queen Victoria... marrying a chimera?”
Naturally, there was no reply.