Chapter 165
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: The Parliament's Gambit
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A Hidden Mastermind
London, the heart of the British Empire.
A luxurious townhouse in Westminster.
This place, a frequent gathering spot for opposition party members, was more tense than ever before.
The usual crowd of opposition MPs was nowhere to be seen, save for Gladstone and Palmerston.
Instead, a man who would never normally be found here sat across from them, gazing impassively at the tabletop.
He was Charles Wellesley, the heart of the British Conservative Party and the Prime Minister of this nation.
“I trust Your Excellency has been reading the newspapers that are currently in circulation?”
“Of course. A smile naturally forms on my face seeing the prestige of the British Empire grow day by day.”
“Is that so?”
Gladstone chuckled softly, spreading the newspapers across the table so their front-page headlines were clearly visible.
[The British Empire Secures Trade Treaties with Not Only Japan but Joseon as Well. The Pacific Completely Sealed!]
[Why is Russia, Having Secured Primorye, in Mourning? The Anti-Russian Encirclement is Already Complete! At its Center Once Again, His Highness the Prince Consort, Killian!]
[Great Feats Are for Royalty? The Dignity of the Royal Family, Taking the Lead in Elevating the Prestige of the British Empire!]
After reading each headline aloud, Gladstone turned to the Prime Minister and asked again.
“What are your thoughts? On this current state of affairs.”
“Is it not a great blessing for the British Empire? It is no exaggeration to say that the Pacific is now completely ours.”
“Indeed, it is a matter for celebration. It is, of course, a tremendous blessing for the British Empire and an achievement for which the citizens are ecstatic.”
Usually, a nation that signed a treaty with the British Empire, like the Qing Dynasty, found it difficult to refuse trade demands from other European countries.
It was impossible to avoid the accusation, “You did it for them, why not for us?”
In fact, both Russia and France were currently using that as a pretext to stir up trouble with the Qing, and they were expected to sign their own trade treaties soon.
But Japan and Joseon were different matters.
The British Empire's treaty was established because Killian, a member of the family that ruled both Joseon and Japan, went as a representative to sign a treaty of amity.
If another country came asking for a treaty, they could simply be refused with a retort along the lines of, “If you have a problem, then send your own royalty.”
“However, Prime Minister. All of this is the achievement of the Prince Consort. Both the Conservative and Whig parties are being treated as if they had no part in this matter.”
Gladstone tapped his finger on the phrase from the article, ‘Great Feats Are for Royalty,’ sighed softly, and asked again.
“I am curious as to how the Conservative Party perceives this. Do you truly have no thoughts on the matter?”
“Was it not the Whig Party that suggested sending the Prince Consort to Asia in the first place? Are you perhaps upset that the Whigs’ foresight is not being praised?”
“You know that is not the case. Of course, I agree with His Highness’s sentiment that it would not be good for the credit to go to a specific party. But…”
There was no one in this room obtuse enough not to understand the unspoken words that followed.
At first, everyone had naturally agreed with Killian’s intention to prevent either the Conservative or Whig party from taking the spotlight.
If the Conservatives had swooped in and claimed Killian’s achievement, the Whigs would have inevitably suffered a crushing defeat in the subsequent election.
And since the reverse would also be true, the Conservatives had likely agreed for the same reason.
But in the end, for both the Conservative and Whig parties to receive no attention meant that Killian would monopolize all the credit.
In truth, Canada and Asia were practically Killian’s exclusive stage, so it was unreasonable to complain about it.
So they had remained silent, but while they did, Killian’s influence had grown to an alarming degree.
*It’s a colony, so it can’t be helped. It’s Asia, so it can’t be helped.*
While they let things slide, the authority and power granted to Killian had become so immense it felt questionable.
For now, it could be dismissed as being limited to the colonies, but what would happen as Canada continued to develop?
The Prime Minister was chosen by election, but Killian’s Dukedom of Canada was effectively a lifetime appointment.
As a member of the British Parliament who valued constitutional monarchy and cabinet responsibility, it was a situation that could not help but stir complex feelings.
So, how did Prime Minister Wellesley view this situation?
Gladstone had thought Wellesley and Killian were inseparable political partners, but Palmerston did not see it that way.
“Prime Minister. Of course, it is Parliament and the government that handle the affairs of the British Empire, and you, sir, are the symbol representing the government. You may think it is not yet a significant problem. But while His Highness the Prince Consort currently exerts his influence only abroad, what will happen when it extends to our domestic affairs?”
“So, are you two gentlemen suggesting that the Prince Consort is likely to have a detrimental effect on this nation’s Parliament?”
“Frankly, I believe that even without my saying so, you, Prime Minister, have already sensed it. No, I believe you have already seen through the situation and are considering countermeasures, which is why we have invited you here.”
Palmerston, who regarded Wellesley as a near-deity of politics and intrigue, stared intently at him with a gaze full of expectation.
Gladstone, judging this to be a good opportunity, played along with Palmerston’s enthusiastic lead.
The Prime Minister’s reaction here would reveal whether he was Killian’s subordinate, a close partner, or merely a simple collaborator.
“The Prince Consort’s influence extending into domestic affairs could weaken the authority of Parliament. I agree. Such a thing must not happen. After all the effort this nation has put into limiting the monarch’s power and promoting the rights of Parliament and the citizens, how can we allow that to be reversed?”
“Oh, indeed! So you felt the same way, Prime Minister.”
“However, this nation is run according to the will of its citizens. If the majority of citizens with the right to vote believe it is right for the Prince Consort to participate in politics, then that is what should happen.”
“That may be true, but…”
“Ah, of course, I understand your point. It would be an act that violates the traditions we have upheld until now. As someone who also values tradition, I believe such a thing should not happen, so please do not misunderstand.”
As the Prime Minister gave his firm reply, Palmerston’s expression brightened.
But words were something anyone could say.
To confirm if he truly held such thoughts, corresponding actions had to follow.
“Prime Minister. In that case, may we assume the Conservative Party shares our position?”
“Of course. Tradition must be upheld. However, the Prince Consort’s popularity is so high at the moment that a direct attempt to disparage him could backfire. You are aware of that, are you not?”
“We have naturally anticipated something of that sort. If we try to take away what the Prince Consort is currently enjoying, there will certainly be an uproar. His Highness will not accept it meekly, either. And it is a fact that Asia and Canada still require His Highness’s assistance.”
If they were to clumsily provoke Killian here, and he openly fell into conflict with Parliament, it would be Parliament that would face the public’s wrath.
The citizens didn’t just dislike, but loathed, politicians who abandoned the national interest for their own squabbles.
Moreover, Killian had practically lived in Canada since the first year of his marriage for the sake of the British Empire’s national interest, and upon his return to the homeland, he had immediately departed for a six-month-long trip to Asia.
It wasn't difficult to imagine what would happen if they clumsily tried to undermine Killian now.
“Then what do you gentlemen propose to do?”
“On the surface, we must praise the Prince Consort’s achievements and pretend to grant him even more authority, while completely isolating him from domestic politics. And if we enshrine this in law, wouldn't we be free from worry in the future?”
“To legislate that the Prince Consort of the British Empire cannot intervene in domestic politics?”
As it stood now, it was merely a tradition, so the moment social consensus shifted, that tradition could be overturned.
As the Prime Minister said, if all those with the right to vote believed it was right for anyone, Prince Consort or not, to participate in politics, then that would become the right course of action—this was both the advantage and disadvantage of parliamentarianism.
But if a law was enacted stating that Killian could not participate at all in the affairs of the British homeland, the story would change.
No matter how powerful his authority in Canada or Asia, he would ultimately be unable to hold any real power in England, the center of the British Empire.
“But proposing such a bill would make our intentions too obvious…”
“That is why we must pretend to treat the Prince Consort with deference on the surface. Your role, Prime Minister, is crucial. Since you are close to His Highness, there is no fear of you being met with the same suspicion as we would be.”
“Hmm…”
If he refused this, it would have to be assumed that the Prime Minister was unequivocally in the same boat as Killian.
No matter the excuse, that fact would not change.
He folded his arms, nodding his head cautiously, then, as if it were no great matter, he nodded again and made his decision.
“Very well. In truth, it is not as though I have not had the same thoughts as you two. I have something in mind, so let us discuss it as soon as the Prince Consort returns.”
“Ooh! As expected! That is our Prime Minister Wellesley! You already had a plan!”
“Thank you for your decision.”
“Not at all. The center of the British Empire is, after all, Parliament, and am I not the Prime Minister of this country, responsible for coordinating between Parliament and the government? It is important for the Royal Family to stand firm, but maintaining the balance of power is an even more critical issue.”
Gladstone let out a breath he had been holding in.
Surely, after making such a clear statement, Wellesley wouldn't act otherwise.
If he truly did betray them, they could simply frame him as having conspired with the Royal Family to weaken the power of Parliament.
He did wonder if it was necessary to go this far against the Prince Consort, who had gone all the way to Asia to work for the national interest, but it couldn't be helped.
It was Parliament that led the British Empire, and the Royal Family had to reign as a symbolic existence.
If Killian was truly a patriot who thought only of the British Empire's future, he would surely empathize with this greater cause and cooperate.
If not… one could only suspect he harbored other intentions.
***
-Coming to see you right now.
I let out a hollow laugh as I read the note handed to me during the grand welcoming ceremony upon my arrival in London.
To infuse a single sentence with so much raw emotion was a talent in itself.
Slipping away from the banquet, I went into a private room. Soon after, a thoroughly incensed Wellesley burst in, not even bothering to hide his anger as he slammed the door shut.
“My, my. What scoundrels have angered our Prime Minister this time? Surely you weren't given a harsh scolding by Her Majesty in my absence?”
“That part is fine. Disraeli and Gladstone took some heat instead. But that’s not the problem. Do you know what those Whig bastards are saying now?”
“What did they say to get you so worked up?”
“So, those fellows…”
As I listened to the gist of the story, I was more bewildered than angry.
It was more a feeling of, *so the time has finally come.*
Until now, I had managed to carve out a position for myself through smoke and mirrors, but that was, quite literally, a temporary fix.
The more I acted out in the open, the more uncomfortable the MPs back home must have felt.
“So, what did you say, Prime Minister?”
“What could I say? If I had taken the Prince Consort’s side there, I would only have been suspected of being in league with you. I just played along, saying I thought the same way.”
“Well done. You, of course, shouldn't take my side. If anything like this happens again, you must act as if you are thoroughly on Parliament’s side.”
“That’s the public face of it. For now, we need to come up with a countermeasure, don’t we?”
A countermeasure, a countermeasure.
Perhaps because my reaction was more lukewarm than he expected, Wellesley gulped down some water with a frustrated look.
“Now that you have returned, Your Highness, a debate will be held in Parliament immediately. We need to decide on a policy today. Frankly, our power is not weak. Should we just take this opportunity to crush them all? With my power combined with Your Highness’s wealth and influence, it should be entirely possible to overturn Parliament.”
“No. Acting too overtly will only provoke a backlash, so that should be a last resort. For now, I have a plan, so please follow my lead.”
Showing any sign of panic here would only cause Wellesley to lose his composure as well.
If the Prime Minister went off the rails, it would only complicate matters for our side, so it was necessary to calm his excitement and maintain a cool head.
Still, to think the MPs’ wariness had reached that level… well, I had been expanding my authority quite openly until now.
It was a universal truth, ancient and modern, that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. This was a fate I was destined to face eventually.
Well, what can you do?
As a way of repaying the MPs for preparing such a surprise event for me right upon my return, I suppose I’ll have to create a happy ending that satisfies everyone.
Of course, whether it’s happy or not will be determined entirely by my standards.