Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: A New Era
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While the political heart of the British Empire was the Palace of Westminster, its spiritual center was still, without a doubt, the residence of the king.
Buckingham Palace.
King William IV, in particular, had been subtly increasing the frequency of his political remarks ever since the Tory Party, which he had endorsed, came to power.
Thanks to his masterful tightrope walk of being neither too overbearing nor too reserved, the authority of Buckingham Palace had undeniably grown to a level incomparable to the beginning of his reign.
But no matter how hard one tried, eternal rule was an impossibility.
“This is maddening.”
The master of the palace, who had been spending more and more time in bed lately, grumbled in discontent.
“You have been overexerting yourself recently. It is fine to bask in the rights of a victor, but you must consider your age, brother.”
“My head knows, but what can I do when my heart commands me otherwise? If you were in my shoes, do you think you could have rested quietly?”
“That would be impossible. Isn’t it always easier to advise from the sidelines of a chess game?”
“You’re hardly in a position to be giving advice yourself. I heard you gave Conroy quite the tongue-lashing at Kensington, did you not? I haven’t heard the full story, but word is the scoundrel begged until his hands were his feet. Is that true?”
The recent commotion at Kensington had, of course, reached the ears of the royal officials and, in turn, William IV.
Unable to miss such an interesting rumor, the king had naturally tried to find out the details, but he couldn't grasp the full story.
This was because Conroy and the Duchess of Kent, the parties involved, as well as the Duke of Sussex and Victoria, who had received the apology, remained silent.
“It is true. However, I agreed not to press charges on the condition that he offer a sincere apology, so I have no intention of escalating the matter further for now.”
“Press charges? Then he must have truly done something terribly wrong…”
“It would be more accurate to say he was caught terribly red-handed. We have a witness and have created evidence, so he won’t be able to so much as breathe a word for the rest of his life.”
“The curiosity is killing me. Can’t you just tell me? I swear I won’t breathe a word of it; I’ll just keep it to myself. I swear on this crown.”
“Why would you go so far as to swear on your crown… Ahem, then you promise you’ll just keep it to yourself? You must not make it public. Understood?”
After William IV swore his promise several more times, the Duke of Sussex briefly summarized the incident at Kensington.
“Good heavens… So that scoundrel actually knelt before Victoria, bowed his head, and begged for forgiveness?”
“It was either that or go to prison. What choice did he have? And it seems the Duchess of Kent saw something in Conroy’s pathetic demeanor, as she reportedly hasn’t had a proper conversation with him since.”
“Is that woman finally coming to her senses? In any case, to think I missed such an amusing spectacle… No, why did Killian call for you and not me? Wouldn’t it have been more effective if I, the king of this country, had made a surprise appearance?”
“If you had, Conroy would have been dragged straight to court, apology or not. Besides, the very idea of you sneaking into Kensington Palace is absurd, isn’t it?”
He knew it was an absurd notion, of course.
Nevertheless, William IV couldn’t help but lament missing the moment when the pathetic ambitions of Conroy and the Duchess of Kent were not just shattered but ground into dust.
It would have been a satisfaction far beyond simply inviting them to a party for some light ridicule.
“That boy Killian certainly has a rather unconventional way of thinking. I never imagined he would crush Conroy so thoroughly.”
“It’s not just his thinking; his level of knowledge is extraordinary for his age, isn't it? That paper he wrote, and Victoria said it wasn’t so much that she studied with him, but that she was simply being taught by him.”
“Yes, I heard as much. Frankly, I thought it would be a blessing if he just relayed the contents of the books I gave him, but it seems he has taught her on a much higher level. I haven’t confirmed it myself yet, but I plan to summon Victoria soon and discuss various matters with her.”
“Their friendship seems quite deep, which honestly makes me feel it’s a bit of a waste. If that boy were not Irish… no, if he weren’t even of mixed blood, I might have tried to adopt him and bring the two together.”
The Duke of Sussex let out a deep sigh of regret.
Of course, William IV simply dismissed it as a ridiculous hypothetical and chuckled.
“You would adopt that boy?”
“It’s not impossible. Didn’t you say you added a clause to your will recognizing our marriage? My wife, who is childless, practically considers Killian her son, so making him my adopted son wouldn’t be an issue.”
“That’s your decision, but I have to ask just in case. You’re not truly thinking of pairing Killian with Victoria, are you?”
“Didn’t I just say? I would have seriously considered it if he weren’t of mixed blood. I can say with certainty that there isn’t another child in this country as brilliant and as loyal to the Royal Family as he is. But the mountains to climb are far too many… It would be impossible.”
It wasn’t that William IV hadn’t entertained similar thoughts as his brother.
But his conclusion had always been the same.
To be blunt, his Irish origins were a problem that could be overcome with the firm will of the Royal Family.
With the cooperation of Parliament and a concerted effort to manage public opinion through the press, they could push it through, even if it meant taking some flak.
But what if he was not only Irish but also of mixed Asian blood? No, even then, if he were of mixed blood from some Eastern royalty or nobility, it could at least be packaged in some way.
With flowery words about harmony and peace between the two nations.
The problem was that Killian was born of the worst possible lineage, making even that impossible.
“If Killian and Victoria were to become seriously involved as a man and a woman, Parliament would be the first to raise objections. Even if the Tories remained silent, the opposition Whig Party would be foaming at the mouth. An Irish Earl he may be, but a man with the blood of an Eastern slave as the Prince Consort of the British Empire? The very thought makes my head spin.”
“That’s why I framed it as a hypothetical. I would have seriously pushed for it if he weren’t of mixed blood.”
In other words, even the Duke of Sussex, who was fond enough of Killian to want to adopt him, saw the union as unrealistic.
In this era, the very act of adopting a son was quite detached from social custom.
Most adoptions were informal, and even if an adoption took place, special legal provisions or detailed agreements were required for succession.
Even if Killian became the adopted son of the Duke of Sussex, the chances of him becoming the next Duke of Sussex were as slim as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.
No, to put it bluntly, it was simply impossible.
Of course, being the much-favored son of the Duke of Sussex would grant him a standing incomparable to before, and he could use that as a foundation to create a better situation for himself.
But that would be the limit. To hope for more would undoubtedly be met with fierce opposition.
“Frederick, if you truly care for that boy, it’s important not only to empower him but also to make him clearly understand his limits. Be careful, and be very careful, that he does not stray from the law or social conventions.”
“Of course. Do you really think I would fail to observe such things?”
A man who had ignored the law not once, but twice, to marry—what guarantee was there that he wouldn’t do it a third time?
William IV was worried, but he didn’t voice his concerns.
The brother he had known all his life was the type of man who would clench his teeth and do something all the more if told not to.
How was it that, even at over sixty years of age, he sometimes seemed like a petulant child?
Hearing his brother’s confident declaration, William IV had to struggle to suppress the laugh that threatened to burst out.
***
Exactly a fortnight after John Conroy’s tearful, groveling performance, singing a song of just one more chance.
I was summoned by the king to Buckingham Palace.
“I heard from my brother that you orchestrated a rather amusing event.”
“It was a surprise party to celebrate Her Highness the Princess’s birthday. Fortunately, she enjoyed it very much, which made all the planning worthwhile.”
I already knew from the Duke of Sussex that he had told William IV the whole story.
I couldn’t very well silence His Grace, even if I could others, so I had considered it a given from the start that the king would find out.
He was a man of sense, so there was no chance he would belatedly fly into a rage and punish Conroy.
In that case, there was no problem with the king knowing.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t see it for myself, but that’s not why I called you. Do you have any idea why you’re here?”
“There are so many possibilities that it’s difficult to pinpoint just one.”
“After hearing that story from Frederick, I summoned Victoria two days ago for a talk. And to be frank, I was utterly astonished. Do you know why?”
“Because Her Highness the Princess knew far more than Your Majesty had anticipated.”
William IV had thought of me as a clever student, but on the surface, I was still a child, a year younger than Victoria.
If the king had expected the level of knowledge I would impart to Victoria to be a 10, the actual level of knowledge I had given her was well over 100 or 200.
Of course, that was concerning economics and politics; in military matters, I had barely scraped by.
Even I couldn’t be an expert in everything.
“You are right. I tested her by asking about various political issues and economic problems, and her answers far exceeded my expectations. To be honest, I was rather taken aback. She mentioned points that even I hadn’t considered, and so naturally.”
“Her Highness the Princess is so brilliant that if I teach her one thing, she understands two.”
“What surprised me was that she hadn’t simply memorized it all; she truly understood how the living creature of politics works. So I asked, and sure enough, the conversation then shifted to you…”
William IV looked at me with a complicated expression, then let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
“No, I don’t think this is my story to tell, so let me ask something else. When we first met, you said you wanted to overcome the limits of your birth and enter the House of Lords. In your letters to me, you consistently appealed for the right to participate more actively in this country’s politics. Do you still feel the same way?”
“Of course.”
“You mean to say you want to be deeply involved in the politics of this country?”
He was being so persistently roundabout.
Did he think I might try to fudge my answer if he asked me directly?
“Your Majesty, my loyalty to the Princess is sincere. I will never do anything that would become a burden to her or cause her harm, so you need not worry.”
At first glance, it was an answer completely unrelated to the question, but William IV’s face brightened considerably, having heard what he most wanted to hear.
“Well now, you make a man feel awkward… I asked you a roundabout question, and you give me such a direct answer. In any case, I can assume there is no falsehood in that reply?”
“Unlike Conroy, I have no intention of harming the Royal Family for my own gain. A prosperous Royal Family leads to a prosperous nation, and a prosperous nation leads to my own prosperity. It’s a simple cycle.”
“A young and spirited man like you might be offended by my concerns. It’s not as if you chose to be born of such blood, yet the ceiling for your advancement is markedly lower than that of other nobles. But reality is a colder and harsher place than you imagine. It would be better to be hurt now to ensure your safety later, so I would be grateful if you heeded an old man’s ramblings instead of dismissing them as nonsense.”
In short, he was telling me to watch myself, because if I got ahead of myself and made a move on Victoria, it would become a great burden to her as well.
Of course, did he think I wanted to be foolish enough to make such a concern a reality?
“I swear on the name of my father in heaven. I will never do anything that could bring harm to the Princess. You may rest assured.”
“Good. Now that you’ve sworn so firmly, I can finally be at ease. I’ve given Victoria a hint as well, and you have faithfully followed my requests until now. It’s hardly a reward, but let me tell you a story. The truth is, my health has not been good lately.”
I had expected this to come, of course, but I feigned surprise for a moment and quickly bowed my head.
“It must be from fatigue due to the many recent events. You will recover with some rest, so please do not overexert yourself and focus on your stability…”
“Hahaha, when you reach my age, you’ll find that rest doesn’t bring back your vigor. I have always prayed to God to let me live just until the day Victoria comes of age, and it seems He has granted my wish. But perhaps He granted it a little too literally. Had I known, I would have prayed to live a healthy life for ten more years after Victoria came of age.”
He, who had been joking cheerfully, continued with a serious expression.
“I don’t think I have much time left, so I have a request for you. Though she is now an adult, Victoria is still young and far too inexperienced in matters of state. So, continue to be a source of strength for her, but never do anything that could cause her harm. I have spoken to a few close nobles, and if you keep your promise to me, they will lend you considerable support.”
“Your Majesty will surely regain your health. But if my promise will ease your heart, then I will promise you anything.”
“Hoo… yes. Now I can finally rest easy. We’ve spoken of nothing but grim matters, so shall we turn to something more positive? In your young eyes, what do you think the era of Victoria will be like?”
“This country is growing at a rate different from any other time, changing day by day. Though it has been hit by the effects of the current economic downturn, it will overcome it and rise again as if it never happened. Her Highness the Princess will become the greatest queen, a symbol of a new era for the British Empire.”
As the King of the British Empire.
The man who, for a short but significant time, had symbolized an era, smiled faintly and nodded.
“Such confidence, as if you will make it so yourself. As Frederick said, you… no. There’s no grace in dwelling on a finished matter. Shall we continue the conversation we were just having?”
As the king wished, I engaged in a sincere conversation with him about the present, the future, and the direction this country should take.
After about an hour, a greatly satisfied William IV smiled and saw me to the door of his bedchamber.
“I am truly glad I could speak with you today. Travel safely, and if the opportunity arises, let us have a time like this again.”
I departed Buckingham Palace, promising to visit often.
But the times of meeting and parting always come unexpectedly.
Exactly ten days after my last meeting with William IV.
Robert Peel, who as Prime Minister was the first to receive all news from the palace, sent me an urgent message.
-His Majesty William IV has been embraced by the Lord. We must inform the new sovereign that she has become Queen, so come to Kensington by carriage at once.
Faster than anyone had anticipated, but exactly as I had foreseen.
The British Empire bid farewell to the old era and prepared to welcome a new one.