Chapter 167
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The Hidden Behemoth (3)
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The British Empire's House of Lords.
It was a body of nobles with the immense power to review laws passed by the House of Commons, but recently, it had been gaining a reputation for slowly losing ground to them.
This was understandable, as the gap in representation between the nobles, who had monopolized wealth and power for ages, and the members of the House of Commons, elected by the citizens, was simply too vast.
In the past, they could simply exercise an indefinite veto to tame the House of Commons and make it listen, but to do so now would cause a public uproar.
Therefore, unless a matter directly infringed upon the rights of the nobility, they refrained from using their veto power and often passed bills with an attitude of "let's just get along."
Consequently, meetings tended to be conducted perfunctorily, and the number of members who skipped sessions, questioning why they should attend such dull affairs, was on the rise.
But today was an exception, as a crucial topic was on the table.
The chamber of the House of Lords, with nearly every seat filled, was conducting its meeting in a solemn atmosphere quite different from the usual.
“The bill recently passed by the House of Commons deals with an interesting matter. His Highness the Prince Consort has achieved great things in Canada and Asia, has he not? The purported aim of this bill is to help him by making it easier for him to continue achieving such feats without any burdens.”
“I see. To think the House of Commons, which so despises uncodified privileges, would propose a bill to honor the Prince Consort.”
“Their intentions are rather transparent, are they not?”
A political titan who, in recent years, had found more amusement in observing the flow of the British Empire from a step back rather than directly intervening.
Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, father of the current Prime Minister and still lauded as a great man who brought glory to the British Empire, let out a sneer.
It had always been this way.
It was so now, and it would likely never change.
The British House of Commons had constantly sought to diminish the power of those born into privilege, and though it was irritating to admit, the times were slowly siding with them.
When he had met with Charles not long ago, he had seemed preoccupied. This must have been the cause of his son's troubles.
He was close with Killian, so he must have been reluctant to pass a bill that seemed to target him.
But that was the nature of politics, wasn't it?
To put it coldly, the greater Killian's influence grew, the worse it would be for his son.
He didn't like the Commons' antics, but in the long run, a decline in Killian's influence would probably be better for his son.
The Duke of Wellington intended to remain an observer this time as well, watching from the sidelines as events unfolded rather than getting directly involved.
'After an unbroken streak of victories, he's finally being checked like this. It may seem harsh, but there are no eternal winners in politics.'
Had he not been convinced, after winning at Waterloo and first becoming Prime Minister, that his era would last forever?
But as everyone knew, the result was a crushing defeat in the election, with the Tory Party losing its long-held position as the ruling party.
Killian, too, had enjoyed a long run of success; it was simply his time to descend.
If he had one wish, it would be that his son Charles would see this and become more vigilant, steeling his resolve.
He slowly rose and moved to a corner, watching the members exchange views.
The House of Lords had no particular reason to oppose it, so it would likely pass without issue.
Just as he was idly wondering what kind of vinegar to have with his meat today.
“I firmly believe we must oppose this bill!”
The Duke's eyes widened as a familiar voice erupted from the front.
'Why is that man siding with Killian?'
The Marquess of Anglesey, a capable commander who had served under the Duke in the Battle of Waterloo and a fellow member of the House of Lords, was raising his voice, veins bulging in his neck.
“I see this bill as being filled with malice, disguised under a veneer of goodwill. Look here. It's dressed up in words of praise for the Prince Consort's achievements, but what is its true intent? Is it not to tell him he must never hold any position in Parliament or the government?”
“But tradition dictates...”
“Of course I know that. So, why not leave tradition as it is? What is the motive behind codifying it into law? This is clearly a preemptive strike, born of fear that the Prince Consort's immense popularity will lead the public to demand his participation in politics. And they've cooked up a plausible pretext for it. That is what infuriates me the most.”
“Frankly, it does seem a bit petty, but I don't understand why you are so worked up, Lord Anglesey. You're not particularly close to the Prince Consort, are you?”
Come to think of it, there was a time when the House of Lords tried to send Killian off to Asia to tame him.
At that time, some members who had been voting in favor suddenly switched their votes, causing a brief stir. The Marquess of Anglesey had been one of them.
One might wonder if Killian had some leverage over him, but before such speculation could arise, the Marquess shook his head and raised his voice again.
“It is because I myself have a past of fighting and risking my life as a soldier to protect this country! He is a man who went all the way to distant Canada for the sake of the nation, then spent over half a year on a ship. And you want to create a law that stabs such a man in the back while pretending to praise his achievements? This is wrong. No matter how you look at it, this is not right!”
“That is certainly true, but...”
“At times like this, our House of Lords must stand firm in opposition so that the people will know this country still understands honor and properly rewards those who serve it. This is the result of coddling them for too long and passing nearly every bill they've sent our way. Power requires checks and balances, and the House of Commons is proving that very point with their actions!”
Was that man always so silver-tongued?
The Duke, who knew the Marquess of Anglesey from the past, was dumbfounded, but the mood among the other members of the House of Lords shifted instantly.
There were those who were already sick of the House of Commons' arrogance and were thrilled to have a good reason to push back.
There were those who genuinely agreed with the Marquess, believing that a man of great achievement deserved commensurate treatment.
And there were those who, having invested in Canada, saw this as an opportunity to get on Killian's good side and maximize their profits.
Their motives were all different, but they all reached the same conclusion.
The time had come to give the House of Commons a taste of the veto power they had long forgotten.
For the Duke of Wellington, who had abandoned all lingering political ambitions and was merely observing from the back, it was a truly absurd farce.
'How on earth did it turn out like this?'
* * *
“...And so, the House of Lords, judging the bill passed by the House of Commons to be severely flawed, has requested that it be reconsidered.”
“I see. That's good.”
“Was this your plan, Your Highness? To use the House of Lords to delay the bill's passage?”
“That was the first stage, yes.”
To be honest, I hadn't expected the nobles I'd brought to my side—the ones who took bribes from the opium addicts I shook down—to be this useful.
It was a good thing I didn't get rid of them back then.
If you save things, a time will come when they prove useful.
The Marquess of Anglesey performed his role even better than expected.
“But no matter how much the House of Lords objects, if this turns into a long-term battle, public opinion will inevitably sway toward the House of Commons.”
“That would be true if the House of Lords had used a flimsy excuse for their veto. But this time, their reason is quite plausible, isn't it?”
“I suppose so. Instead of a direct confrontation between the Royal Family and the House of Commons, you've inserted the House of Lords as a shield... A very effective method, indeed.”
“Of course, that's not all.”
Humans are instinctively repulsed by the act of betrayal.
Whether it's an innate trait or a learned response, it's a characteristic common to people all over the world.
And so, using the *Morning Post*, which I had used so effectively to bring down Robert Peel, I began to print articles once more.
[The House of Commons and the House of Lords Clash Over the Royal Family!]
["The House of Commons is abusing its legislative authority to check the Prince Consort. This is nothing short of a legislative coup!" The Marquess of Anglesey's Scathing Rebuke.]
["This bill merely codifies a long-standing tradition; there is no other motive. It is the House of Lords that is attempting to use this situation as a political tool." The House of Commons' Immediate Rebuttal. What is the Truth?]
Clashes between the House of Lords and the House of Commons were nothing new, but this time, the situation was slightly different.
The nobles weren't challenging the Commons to protect their own interests, but for the curious reason of protecting the Royal Family.
At first, with the full story not yet widely known, public opinion was divided, but that didn't last long.
As the *Morning Post*, funded by my money, flooded the market with papers, circulating them again and again, the voices denouncing the House of Commons grew louder.
I didn't jump into the fray immediately. Instead, I focused on appealing to emotion rather than reason by sharing small glimpses into the Royal Family's life.
[Prince Consort Killian's Tears. "When I saw my children after a year, they were babbling without me even knowing. It truly made me realize how long the journey to and from Asia is."]
["Still, it was a sacrifice for the British Empire, so I have no regrets. I only feel sorry for not being by my children's side." Despite his sorrow, he would unhesitatingly make the same choice if a similar situation arose.]
[How Dangerous is the Voyage to Asia? A journey so perilous that even seasoned sailors of the Royal Navy shudder at the thought.]
I simply recounted, in a calm manner, how difficult my journey to and from Asia had been.
And I repeated, like a parrot, how sorry I felt toward my wife and children for having to leave them behind.
The Marquess of Anglesey seized upon this atmosphere and called a press conference, inviting all reporters.
Public interest soared to the point where it was said to be the largest press conference held since the last general election.
“Let's dissect these clauses one by one. The parts about Canada and Asia are just fancy packaging; they do little more than specify the powers the Prince Consort already possesses. In contrast, the prohibition against him holding any domestic office is stated clearly right at the beginning. From this alone, are the intentions of the House of Commons not obvious?!”
“But my Lord Marquess! Is there not an unwritten rule that the Prince Consort maintains political neutrality?”
“Has the Prince Consort ever broken that unwritten rule? My point is that they are dragging out something that needs no emphasis and forcing it into law. Gentlemen of the press, put yourselves in the Prince Consort's shoes. Imagine returning after sacrificing for your country, having missed your beloved children's first words and first steps, only to be greeted by a bill like this. How would you feel!”
The panicked House of Commons offered its own rebuttals, but in the court of public opinion, emotional appeals are always more effective.
The long-dormant conflict between the House of Lords and the House of Commons intensified, and unlike in the past, the scales began to tip rapidly in favor of the Lords.
* * *
“Down with this check on the Royal Family disguised as a bill!”
“The House of Commons must explain itself!”
“The party leaders must apologize to the Prince Consort immediately, and those responsible must resign!”
“Wake up! Apologize!”
Wow, look at that kindling catch fire. It's burning nicely.
Having the House of Lords take all the hits for me is very reassuring.
Why should the Royal Family get directly involved?
All I had to do was use the House of Lords, who are always looking for a chance to tame the Commons, and the picture becomes so much cleaner.
They're the ones fighting, while I'm just playing the part of a patriot from behind the scenes. There's no risk of my image being tarnished.
The House of Commons, though currently on the back foot, won't keep taking a one-sided beating. The atmosphere will only grow more heated from here.
I planned to seize that very moment and summon all the reporters to Buckingham Palace.
To end this war.
My descent.