Chapter 136
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: An Heir and an Oath
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After Victoria entered the room with the physician, I was instantly surrounded by the ladies-in-waiting who had followed her.
“Your Highness! Congratulations!”
“I had a feeling we would be hearing some joyous news soon.”
“The head lady-in-waiting would have been so delighted to hear this.”
Even the ladies-in-waiting, who normally kept a respectable distance, now flocked around me like a folding screen, their voices chirping with excitement.
Even in the usually strict and orderly royal court, such happy news was bound to lift everyone’s spirits.
“Ah, thank you, but nothing is confirmed yet, so let’s wait and see…”
“Your Highness! Did Her Majesty mention feeling unwell or a bit nauseous recently?”
“She did. But I just assumed she was still feeling the effects of seasickness from the voyage.”
Come to think of it, I remembered her saying something similar after we disembarked and during the welcoming ceremony.
At the time, I’d dismissed it as a lingering effect of the journey, but could it have all been an early sign of pregnancy?
“Your Highness, a woman’s body is a delicate thing. Especially with a first pregnancy, everything is new, so Her Majesty is likely feeling very anxious. You must take good care of her!”
“That’s right. When you’re having your first child, any hurt feelings can last a lifetime. I remember when I gained a little weight in my first trimester, my husband said something about it, and I was so upset…”
“Goodness. The Earl said that?”
“He did. He knows he was wrong, though, because he still goes silent and meek whenever the story comes up. Your Highness, you must never make such a mistake.”
Though I had experienced all sorts of rare and unusual things in my life, this was the first time I was becoming a father, following my marriage.
I was completely clueless in this area, so I couldn't help but listen intently to the chattering advice of the ladies-in-waiting.
A wife is particularly anxious during her first pregnancy… a fact that was obvious, but I made a mental note not to forget it, even subconsciously.
As I was absorbing these pointers for an expectant father, the attendant who had gone with Victoria returned and called for me.
After all this excitement, surely it wouldn’t end with the anticlimax of her just having an upset stomach, right?
But what if she really was pregnant?
I had always known it would happen someday, but the thought that I might actually become a father filled me with a complex mix of emotions I couldn’t put into words.
If she truly was pregnant, everyone would of course celebrate, but for me, there were still more mountains to climb.
I entered the room with a mind full of complicated thoughts, but they all vanished the moment I saw Victoria’s smile, radiant with happiness.
“Killian! It’s true, I’m pregnant. It’s still very early, but the doctor said there are many signs that point to it.”
“Yes. From what I can see, there is no doubt. You should be able to confirm it visually soon enough, but in the early stages, you must be especially careful with your body and never overexert yourself.”
After giving Victoria a few more words of caution, the physician turned his gaze to me.
“Your Highness should also take extra care to ensure Her Majesty can rest in a peaceful state. Furthermore, there may be changes to her diet for the health of the mother and child. And while the attendants will naturally see to this, Her Majesty should also refrain from wearing overly tight dresses. Of course, long-distance travel must be avoided, and you should always ensure her mind is kept at ease…”
The physician listed, one by one, an endless stream of precautions for early pregnancy.
Though some of his knowledge differed from modern medicine, the fact that one must absolutely not overexert oneself in the early stages of pregnancy was a universal truth that held true in this era as well.
This meant our first child would inevitably be born in Canada, not England.
It was an unprecedented event; I wondered if a monarch of the British Empire had ever given birth to their heir outside the homeland.
Unintentionally, it seemed I had just added another massive, rare event to Canada’s history.
After giving a few final warnings, the doctor left, and Victoria turned to me, her face flushed with excitement.
Just by the slight glint of moisture in her eyes, I could guess how long she had been waiting for this moment.
“I’m pregnant, pregnant! We’re finally having a child.”
“To think you crossed the Atlantic with a child in your womb… I’m so relieved nothing happened.”
“I know. Having experienced that while still in my belly, I’m sure this child will grow up healthy and strong.”
I had known her for a long time, but I couldn't recall her ever being this excited, except perhaps for the day we first shared our love.
Considering her position, it was only natural.
There was the happiness of carrying the long-awaited fruit of her love within her, and the relief of having secured an heir as the Queen of this nation.
It was a good thing nothing went wrong, but looking back, it was a heart-stopping moment to realize she had spent fifteen days crossing the Atlantic by ship, and had been quite active onboard, all without knowing she was pregnant.
Scientifically speaking, up to what week of pregnancy was the risk of miscarriage highest?
I’d had experience pretending to be a doctor to pull off a scam, but back then, I’d pretended to be a dental professor, so my knowledge was far too limited.
Damn it, why hadn't my past self pretended to be an obstetrician? If I had, I would have at least researched enough knowledge to sound like an expert.
Still, from what I’d vaguely seen on the internet or television, I knew for certain that most miscarriages occurred in the early stages of pregnancy, with the risk dropping sharply later on.
And of course, we had to be meticulous about her diet and hygiene… but this was the 19th century, so I assumed that would be taken care of to some extent without me saying anything, right?
As the reality of becoming a father slowly began to sink in, I found myself growing restless for some reason.
Victoria, who had been staring at me, suddenly brought up the topic from earlier.
“By the way, I was too distracted before to think about it, but how are you going to protest to the United States?”
“Hm? As I said, I’ll demand to know their intentions for causing such an unfortunate incident when Her Majesty the Queen was visiting, and lodge a stern protest.”
“Wouldn’t highlighting the fact that I’m carrying a child make them even more flustered?”
“Well, yes. But that will become known naturally, so if we bring it up first, it might be a bit…”
Frankly, it was an excellent diplomatic card to play, but to immediately use my wife’s pregnancy, which we had just learned about today, felt a little… wrong, didn't it?
Honestly, I wanted to do it, but I couldn’t bring myself to suggest using it for diplomatic gain to Victoria, who had just found out she was pregnant. Depending on the situation, she could be offended.
Hadn’t the ladies-in-waiting just said that a woman becomes much more sensitive during her first pregnancy due to anxiety?
For now, until she reached a stable period, the wisest path for a husband was to follow her lead in everything.
As if she knew I was treading carefully, Victoria let out a small laugh and shook her head.
“Killian, I may be your wife and the mother-to-be of your child, but before all that, I am the Queen of the British Empire. If it’s a matter that can bring immense benefit to our nation, I believe I can use my current situation in any way necessary.”
“You… think so?”
“Of course. So, don’t feel burdened at all. Do your absolute best and achieve the best possible outcome. No one in the world knows how capable my husband is better than I do.”
A license from Her Majesty the Queen, permitting me to use not only herself but also the child in her womb for political machinations as I saw fit.
When she placed such trust and expectation in me, wasn't it only human nature to want to deliver the greatest possible result?
Just as she said, I would show her just how skilled her beloved husband was in this particular field.
This time, I would make sure she could witness it all from a VIP seat.
***
For the United States and Canada, 1842 was turning out to be even more eventful than the last.
Allan Pinkerton, who had been busily working back and forth between the two nations, took a deep breath, trying to calm his trembling heart.
A native of Scotland, he had thrown himself into the detective agency led by Mr. James and quickly distinguished himself, rising through the ranks to oversee the American office.
While this was a testament to his own exceptional abilities, he never for a moment forgot that it was largely thanks to his superior, who had recognized his talents better than anyone.
Without James, how could he have accumulated such skills and experience, and amassed so much wealth at such a young age?
Though he had been confident in his own abilities, it was thanks to James that he had learned the virtue of humility.
No, it had been naturally instilled in him.
Who was James?
He was a god of business who owned both of the major detective agencies that held sway over all of Britain, with his hands in everything from coal mining companies to breweries and real estate.
And not just in Britain. Even in the United States, he had expanded his business empire twofold during the panic by acquiring locomotive companies and coal and mineral mining firms.
Was that all? No, he didn’t stop there, pushing into Canada and practically conquering the Great Lakes region.
He had even invested capital in the construction of a trans-Canadian railway. He must have accumulated a fortune incomparable to that of any aristocrat in the British Empire.
Watching such a figure up close, how could one not feel reverence?
Pinkerton idolized James and worked tirelessly every day to become like him.
As a result, he had caught James’s eye and been appointed head of the American office. The thrill he felt at that moment was still vivid in his memory, even after all this time.
In short, to him, James was a living god, more venerable than the British Royal Family itself.
But recently, he had learned an unbelievable truth.
“You’re going to be leading the National Detective Agency in the United States, so it’s time you knew. The truth is, I’m not the real owner of our company.”
“…What?”
At first, he thought it was some new, unfunny joke.
The agency that had become the parent company was called the James Detective Agency. How could James now claim he wasn't the owner?
But the truth that followed was even more shocking.
The master James served was none other than the husband of the Queen of the British Empire, Killian Gore, the Duke of Kent and Dublin.
His brain initially refused to process this absurd fact.
A few days later, however, he realized that he had seized a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck.
For James had told him that the reason he had been so successful was that Killian himself had taken a liking to him.
Outwardly the Prince Consort of the British Empire, but behind the scenes, a hidden power who controlled not only the British Empire but also the business worlds of the United States and Canada.
To think that such a man looked favorably upon him—who wouldn't be thrilled by that?
“Welcome. You must be Allan Pinkerton. James has told me a great deal about you.”
“Your Highness! It is an honor to meet you! I swear to devote my heart and soul to my duties so as not to disappoint your expectations…”
“There’s no need to be so stiff, like a soldier. You were the one who repelled the slave hunters who crossed the border, correct?”
“Yes, sir!”
“You handled the aftermath very well, even without any specific instructions. The touch of making it seem like our side also had a significant number of casualties was quite convincing.”
A handsome young man dressed in the uniform of a naval admiral.
Though he was a year younger, he didn't feel young at all, likely due to the weight of his accomplishments.
The detective agency and the royal family were disparate worlds that should never have mixed, but that very fact seemed to magnify the man’s greatness.
Killian Gore.
The Duke of Kent and Dublin, husband to the Queen of the British Empire, and the true owner of a massive corporate conglomerate spanning the British Empire, Canada, and the United States.
This legendary figure glanced over the report on the recent, controversial slave hunter incident and then approached, extending his hand.
“I’m thinking of entrusting you with the agencies not only in America but also in Canada. Do you think you can handle it?”
“M-Me, Your Highness?”
“James recommended you so strongly. He was singing your praises, saying there’s no one who can compare to you in the detective agency business.”
“Mr. James… said that about me?”
He suddenly recalled how James’s eyes had gleamed as he had relentlessly encouraged him before he came here.
‘I’ve already told His Highness all about you, so you just have to go and say you’ll work hard. You know what a huge opportunity this is, right? Your life is set, kid!’
He had been skeptical, but now he saw it was true.
This was a golden opportunity, a chance to become a limb of the giant who might one day rule the world from the shadows, not just the British Empire.
“I understand! If you entrust it to me, I will mobilize all my abilities to meet Your Highness’s expectations!”
Pinkerton was prepared to work himself to the bone in service to this great master who had recognized his worth.
Had he known that this would be a literal truth rather than a figure of speech, he might have thought twice, but unaware of what was to come, Pinkerton was, for now, simply happy.