Chapter 59
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Fair and Square
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After our business in Kensington concluded, Robert Peel suddenly spoke up in the carriage on our way back to Westminster.
“Were you perhaps displeased?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Well, you have Irish blood in you, and you're an Irish noble. I thought what was said might have been offensive enough to upset you.”
“I was a little surprised. It was another reminder of how truly frightening politics can be.”
To be honest, I wasn't particularly moved by them tearing Ireland to shreds right in front of an Irish nobleman.
It's not like the English nobility only started treating the Irish like dirt yesterday.
Of course, Robert Peel and Viscount Melbourne probably see me as Irish in name only, which is likely why they spoke so freely.
“Besides, didn't you say you weren't truly cooperating with O'Connell? His faction is bent on Irish independence; they couldn't have stayed with us forever.”
“That's true.”
“To be honest, I hesitated for a moment, but this isn't bad for us. If the Whigs' plot succeeds, O'Connell will fall. But common sense dictates who would have an easier time taking control of the now-vacant central and southern Ireland—us or them?”
“Us, of course.”
Hearing the answer he most wanted to hear, Robert Peel's face brightened.
“Just as I thought. I'm only asking to be sure, but if that were to happen, you would need to play a key role. Are you confident?”
“Yes. It will require some preparation, but there is a way to make it a 100 percent certainty.”
“Is there? Is it something I need to help with?”
“No, I can prepare it myself. However, there's a part of this plan that I find hard to accept. Did you not feel that anything was amiss, Prime Minister?”
In truth, the Whigs must know that even if they unseat O'Connell, they won't be able to significantly expand their influence in Ireland.
They might still proceed with the plot, judging that even a few more seats would be a gain, but is that really all there is to it?
Viscount Melbourne isn't the type to excel at intrigue, and from what I heard, this plan didn't seem to be his creation in the first place.
Perhaps because of my inherent nature to suspect everything, I kept feeling that there was more to this plan than met the eye.
“Amiss? What do you mean?”
“Unless the Whigs are fools, they must know that if they take down O'Connell, I will simply take his place. To put it bluntly, the situation would change from the Conservative Party having 40 seats and O'Connell 50, to the Conservatives having 85 seats and the Whigs perhaps 5.”
“Couldn't they be tempted by those five seats? In the last election, if the Whigs had won just nine more seats, they would have held a majority in Parliament. With the recent economic crisis, maybe their plan is to attack our party on that front, pick up about five seats in Ireland, and secure a majority. At least, that's how I interpreted it.”
“Perhaps. But if it were me, since I'm already orchestrating a plot, I would add just one more thing. That would surely solidify the victory.”
To take down O'Connell, who has withstood all sorts of schemes until now, they must have put in a great deal of effort this time.
After all that trouble, they'd be satisfied with securing a mere five or so seats?
If I were the one who devised this plan, I would never stop at that.
“Hearing you talk, I'm starting to get confused myself. So, if you were the one leading this plan for the Whigs, what would you do?”
“I would spread inflammatory articles claiming that O'Connell and our party have had a falling out. I would also add an interview with an anonymous source claiming that you, Prime Minister, were displeased with O'Connell's constant insubordination. After all, if O'Connell disappears, the Conservative Party stands to gain the most. When something suspicious happens, aren't the ones who benefit the most always the first to be suspected?”
“...Are you saying the Whigs would orchestrate this and frame us for it? Surely they wouldn't...”
“The Whigs will have done a lot of groundwork to hide the fact that they were behind it. By the time we belatedly cry conspiracy, public opinion in Ireland will have already exploded. Their rage will be directed at the 'dirty Conservative Party' that backstabbed their ally O'Connell to monopolize Ireland. Then, the Whigs would be able to take at least 30 seats in Ireland, wouldn't they?”
Robert Peel's jaw dropped.
Did I perhaps go too far?
No, but for a political plot in this great and terrible empire, shouldn't it be on this kind of scale?
“You... I've thought since the year before last that you were no ordinary man, but you certainly have the makings of a great politician. Yes, I had overlooked that point.”
Seeing his reaction, which was one of pure admiration rather than sarcasm, felt strange.
Perhaps it's because being acknowledged as a budding top-tier politician in the British Empire felt more like an insult.
No, right? This is a compliment, isn't it?
“In any case, if they are truly plotting such a scheme, we need to prepare a countermeasure.”
“That's simple. Can't we just tell the Whigs we've changed our minds and won't cooperate?”
“That would just return us to square one. I have a better plan. For now, Prime Minister, please pretend you know nothing and accept the Whigs' proposal. I will handle the rest.”
“Can you do it alone? I think something like this should be handled at the party level.”
I understood the Prime Minister's concern, but moving at the party level would make it difficult to maintain secrecy, increasing the chances of the other side noticing.
Besides, I didn't think my intelligence network, which included the two best detective agencies in London—no, in all of Britain—was inferior to the Conservative Party's at this point.
“Then, please just provide the funding. I'm thinking of asking a detective agency that's been gaining fame in London recently to gather information, and the cost might be a bit high.”
“Ah, yes. I recall hearing about a company that operates with a large number of detectives. Clever of you to think of that. Good, it seems faster to deal with people who will move reliably for money than for us to mobilize on a large scale. We will cover the fees, so don't worry about the cost. Just pick reliable people and have them investigate.”
“Understood. I'll look into it as soon as I return.”
Great. If I was going to investigate anyway, I might as well squeeze a hefty sum from the party, pretend to commission my own agency with it, and kill two birds with one stone—save money and get the investigation done.
I'd conduct the investigation and make money at the same time. Thanks to the Whigs, I was going to have a lot of fun.
I'll be charging you top market rates, but I can guarantee the quality, so please don't feel too bad, Prime Minister.
***
Only a few days had passed since Victoria's accession to the throne, but quite a lot had already changed.
First, the new queen, Victoria, declared that she would not be moving into Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle for the time being.
Even after ascending the throne, the coronation ceremony is usually held six months to a year after the late king's funeral. Rumors circulated that her move would take place after the funeral at the earliest.
Nevertheless, the birth of a new monarch was enough to breathe new life into a London weary from recession.
The public's expectations soared, especially as newspapers, starved for a scoop, reported on how poised Victoria had been while carrying out her duties from the very first day of her reign.
While the monarch could not be deeply involved in politics, the citizens still hoped that their young, beautiful queen would bring a breath of fresh air to the nation.
The faces of the citizens I saw on my way to the palace, summoned by Victoria, certainly looked more hopeful than before.
Even if little had changed in practical terms, the economy is significantly influenced by public sentiment.
Such hopeful signs would only have a positive effect on escaping the recession, not a negative one.
“Your Majesty.”
“It's only been a few days, but you seem to have lost some weight.”
As the Duke of Sussex gave a slight bow and I bent my knee in salute, Victoria glared at us disapprovingly.
“Don't be so formal. In private, please treat me as you did before. It's one thing for Killian, but when you do it, Uncle, it just feels too strange.”
“Hahaha, then I shall act accordingly in private. However, I'm not sure if this can be considered a private occasion...”
The Duke of Sussex glanced toward the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Conyngham, standing beside Victoria, who replied with an awkward smile.
“I am only here to deliver the late king's will, after which I shall return to my duties immediately.”
At the word "will," the corner of the Duke of Sussex's mouth twitched for a moment.
Though everyone already knew its contents, he let out a gasp, feigning intense curiosity.
“If my brother left something for me, I must certainly hear it. Well, what does it say?”
“This particular passage is to be conveyed first to Your Grace and Her Majesty before being released to the public.”
“Should I step out for a moment, then?”
“No, the Earl of Arran is also involved, so you may as well listen.”
The Earl of Conyngham took out a document bound in antique leather, unfolded it for the Duke of Sussex to see, and continued solemnly.
“This is the last will and testament of His Majesty, the late King William IV, left to His Grace the Duke of Sussex and his heir, Her Majesty Queen Victoria.”
“‘Although the Duke of Sussex entered into a marriage contrary to the laws of the Royal Household, their love is true, and I have long felt remorse for having treated my own flesh and blood so harshly. Therefore, if my successor is so inclined, I would wish for her to bless the marriage of my brother, the Duke of Sussex, even if posthumously.’ This is the full text of the relevant passage in His Majesty King William IV's will.”
This way, Victoria could recognize Aunt Cecilia as the Duke of Sussex's wife without any burden, under the pretext of honoring the late king's wishes.
After pretending to ponder for a moment, Victoria asked the Earl of Conyngham.
“Then there should be no problem if I announce my formal recognition of the marriage between Cecilia Underwood and the Duke of Sussex? Effective tomorrow.”
“Yes. Once the will of His Majesty King William IV is made public, Your Majesty will be praised for making a swift decision out of consideration for the late king.”
Although the marriage violated royal law, the Duke of Sussex had already suffered for a long time because of it, and William IV, pitying his brother, had left this will.
Considering that his final words were not about matters of state but about his family, it was safe to say that virtually no one would object.
“Then what title should be bestowed upon Cecilia Underwood?”
“Even with this posthumous recognition, it is not retroactive, so she cannot use the title Duchess of Sussex. As His Grace the Duke of Sussex also holds the title Earl of Inverness, it would be appropriate to bestow upon his wife the title of Duchess of Inverness in her own right. From then on, she will be known as the Duchess of Inverness.”
“Then let it be so. Lord Chamberlain, please handle the relevant procedures today so that the announcement can be made tomorrow.”
“As you wish.”
So with this, Aunt Cecilia would finally be officially recognized as a member of the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex, more so than I, could not hide his excitement, and I could easily understand his feelings.
How must it have felt to watch his wife be treated as an outsider, even while living in Kensington Palace?
Smiling from ear to ear, he stopped the Earl of Conyngham, who was bowing and about to leave, and posed another question.
“So, does this mean my wife is now definitively a member of the royal family and recognized with all the rights of my wife?”
“That is correct.”
“Then what would happen if I were to adopt my wife's nephew, Killian, as my son?”
“...Pardon? Well, that is...”
The Earl of Conyngham's jaw dropped, as if this was a possibility he had never imagined.
“It's not that I don't have children, but they are not legally recognized, are they? So I was wondering what the legal ramifications would be if I were to adopt my wife's nephew, Killian.”
“Legally, there is no issue with Your Grace adopting the Earl of Arran. However, adoption does not automatically confer rights of succession. Therefore, the Earl would not be recognized as being of royal blood. To have succession rights recognized, you would need Her Majesty's permission, but of course, Her Majesty would not grant it, so...”
“I wouldn't grant it? Why not?”
As Victoria, who had been watching, interjected, the Earl of Conyngham blinked and looked back and forth between the Duke of Sussex and the Queen.
“You would... recognize the right of succession for an adopted son?”
“No. I'm not saying I would, but that I wouldn't automatically oppose it.”
“It is impossible. Of course, if Your Majesty were to force the issue, it could be done. And if His Grace the Duke of Sussex were any other earl or marquess and not a member of the royal family, there would be no issue at all. But this concerns the Royal Household. You must consider the opinions of Parliament and the public when making your decision.”
“So you're saying it's better not to do it because there would be strong opposition?”
“Yes, precisely. If Your Majesty were to make such a decision after twenty or thirty years of wise rule, you might be able to push it through. But to make such a decision immediately upon your accession would surely be met with tremendous backlash.”
“I see. If it's too much to ask, then I suppose it can't be helped.”
As she agreed with surprising meekness, the Earl of Conyngham breathed a sigh of relief and scurried out, as if afraid of being asked another strange question.
Victoria watched him go and clicked her tongue openly.
“I have the authority, but I'm told I can't use it for this, I can't use it for that. I expected it, but it's truly suffocating.”
“Still, the Earl of Conyngham is right about that.”
Being adopted is one thing, but a half-Irishman becoming a member of the English royal family and inheriting the Dukedom of Sussex?
And what's more, such a decision being made by a young queen not even a week into her reign?
To expect no gossip after that would be utterly shameless.
“Still, there should be no issue with my aunt being recognized as a Duchess, so that's a relief. With this, I can make a recommendation to the Prime Minister without any burden.”
“A recommendation? Ah, I see. Once Lady Cecilia is recognized as the Duchess of Inverness, there would be no problem with the Conservative Party recommending her as Mistress of the Robes. But isn't it rare for a member of the royal family to also serve as Mistress of the Robes?”
“That is true, but since my aunt is newly joining the royal family, her case is a little different. It can be seen as a way of according her the respect she was previously denied, and also as a way to help her acclimate to the royal court more quickly. Above all, the current Mistress of the Robes is in what is essentially a temporary position that will change after the next election. In that sense, the ruling party will likely welcome the chance to make a recommendation without any long-term commitment.”
Barring any special circumstances, the Mistress of the Robes usually holds her position for two years, or even as long as three or four.
But with William IV's death, Victoria had to dissolve the current Parliament and call a new election.
This meant the Mistress of the Robes would likely be replaced by a recommendation from the new ruling party, so the current holder's term could very well last less than two months.
No matter how honorable the position, how many people would be willing to take a job they might have to leave after a mere two months?
Especially those of a rank suitable for the Mistress of the Robes, who would have their own dignity to consider.
“But doesn't that mean the Duchess of Inverness might also have to step down from the position after two months?”
“That's fine. After the ruling party wins the next election, we simply won't recommend a new Mistress of the Robes. I'll speak to the Prime Minister about it.”
I was already wondering what to ask for in return for my contribution to our victory in the upcoming election, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
It wasn't a burdensome request for the Conservative Party, making it an easy favor to grant, and since I wasn't asking for personal gain, it looked good for me as well.
The Duke of Sussex looked quite moved once again, and wouldn't Victoria be pleased to have someone she was already close to as her Mistress of the Robes?
This was the very definition of an ideal solution where everyone wins.
And above all...
“Thank you. Killian's prestige in Ireland will soar even higher, as the adopted son of the Duchess of Inverness.”
Whoops, she saw through it.
Still, what good is everyone's happiness if my own isn't included? Of course, I had to be in there.
“As someone who had the brief honor of being your teacher, I couldn't be prouder of Your Majesty's sharp insight.”
I had no intention of hiding it anyway, so I just smiled confidently.
Looking at me, Victoria finally burst out laughing, as if in disbelief.