Chapter 99
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Ireland (2)
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The banquet to conclude Victoria's visit to Ireland was planned to be a more modest affair than the events held in London.
Still, "modest" was only in comparison to the royal functions in London; for Ireland, it was a grand banquet of a scale rarely seen.
If every event up to this point had been for the citizens of Ireland, this banquet was crafted for the Irish upper class.
Prominent local politicians and businessmen from Dublin, Belfast, and other major cities were invited in large numbers, and naturally, not a single person declined.
Perhaps to facilitate communication with the local dignitaries, a few more members of Parliament even came over from the mainland.
Among them was a familiar face.
It was fine for him to come, but why did he have to show up so suddenly without a word to me?
"Mr. Disraeli, I didn't expect to see you again before my return to London. What brings you all the way here?"
"Hahaha, I heard our dear Minister was toiling away all by himself, and I couldn't just stand by in the capital with my arms folded. I may be late, but I rushed here to help you with the finishing touches."
"Help with the finishing touches? But our schedule in Ireland concludes with this very banquet..."
"You're heading to Scotland next, are you not? I shall assist you there as well."
His words lacked a certain conviction, spoken as they were while he wore the most flamboyant attire at the banquet.
He looked for all the world like a partygoer ready to enjoy the festivities, but since this was Disraeli's usual style, I decided not to dwell on it.
"In any case, since you've come all this way to Ireland, it would be good for you to speak with some of the local dignitaries. I'll have to attend to Her Majesty the Queen shortly, so I don't think I'll be able to stay with you for long."
"I see. But to be honest, I never imagined Her Majesty would communicate with the citizens so passionately. Most of the members of Parliament share my sentiment."
Disraeli glanced up at Victoria, who was receiving greetings from the Irish nobility, and continued.
"Her Majesty relies on you a great deal, Minister. Should we interpret this trend as a significant boon for our side? What are your thoughts?"
"If you put it so plainly, then yes, it should be seen as a boon... but it could turn into a liability at any moment, so there are many factors to consider. Let's discuss this with Lord Wellesley once we return to London."
"Understood. In that case, since I'm here, I might as well go and greet the local personages."
Spoken like a true social butterfly. Look at him, so quick to act.
Someone like Gladstone would have maintained a solemn air from start to finish, but Disraeli affably approached two Irish men who were looking around.
The two men, one an old man who appeared to be nearly seventy and the other likely his son, widened their eyes and bowed their heads the moment they saw Disraeli and me.
"Are you not Minister Killian Gore, the Earl of Arran! I-If it is not too much to ask, may we have the honor of speaking with you, Minister...?"
"Please, there's no need to be so formal. This is a joyous banquet, so if you have something to say, feel free to speak your mind. Ah, and this gentleman beside me is Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, a member of the British House of Commons."
"Oh! So you are the esteemed Mr. Disraeli. I have heard much about you. To meet the two core members of the Wellesley faction, the future of the Tory Party, in one place... Ah, this old man is so flustered I haven't even given my name. I am Arthur Guinness, a humble businessman from Dublin, and this is my son, Benjamin Guinness. My son is also very interested in politics and greatly admires you, Minister. In fact, our family has supported the Tory Party for generations..."
The part about his son admiring me was practically a common refrain I heard everywhere I went in Ireland, but the father and son's surname immediately caught my attention.
"Guinness? By business, do you perhaps mean the beer business?"
Who else could it be but the Guinness father and son, doing business in Dublin at this time?
As expected, the old man's face filled with emotion as he responded to my words.
"Oh! Minister, you know of our beer?"
"Of course, I know Guinness beer."
"To think that someone of your stature knows of it gives me confidence that we are indeed making a fine beer."
Disraeli, who had been listening beside us, chimed in with a bright expression.
"Guinness beer? I drink it from time to time myself. The bitter taste of the dark beer is simply exquisite. To think I would meet the very people who make it... I'm glad I came to Ireland."
"You are too kind... In fact, I always carry some fresh beer with me, just in case I need to offer a taste to others for business. Would you care to try some? The taste you get here, locally, will be quite different from what you drink in London."
"If you would be so kind as to pour, I would be grateful to try."
Guinness beer, drunk locally in the 19th century? This was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
The upper class of this era primarily drank wine or whiskey, considering beer a laborer's drink, but I enjoyed both.
There were some members of Parliament, like Disraeli, who occasionally drank beer, and now that I thought about it, drinking beer here in Ireland would probably be much better for my image.
At a nod from Arthur Guinness, his son Benjamin quickly poured the black beer into clean glasses and politely handed them to Disraeli and me.
"Unlike other breweries, we do not sell common ale. We focus solely on this porter, this stout. We did sell common ale, but we stopped production a short while ago. With 80 years of accumulated know-how, I am proud to say we have recently succeeded in producing a high-quality beer that can satisfy anyone."
"The bitter yet heavy taste is certainly superb. It's incomparable to the common, cheap beers floating around London, isn't it?"
"Thank you for your kind words."
I don't know if it was nostalgia or because I was drinking freshly drawn beer on-site, but it was truly delicious.
"I agree with the Minister. There's a reason Guinness beer is selling so well in England. This beer is undoubtedly worthy of representing Ireland."
"Hahaha... In truth, our family has quite a bit of English blood mixed in. Thanks to that, we've received a bit of support. Of course, we still work hard with the mindset that we represent Ireland."
So they'd established themselves in Ireland, but the family had English roots.
If I played my cards right, I could make a pretty penny off of this.
It was a proven fact that Guinness would become one of the future kings of dark beer in the world. If I got involved, couldn't I hasten that timeline?
As a bonus, I could take credit for nurturing a local business, and since Guinness already had a decent image in England, I could kill two birds with one stone.
"You must be exporting to England now, but are you exporting to other countries as well?"
"We are continuously exporting to the colonies of the British Empire."
"To Canada or the United States?"
"We are, but only on a small scale for now. Transportation technology is improving with the introduction of steamships, but..."
"Why not build a brewery there?"
"That would be the best method, but the financial burden is a major issue."
So, the will is there. Then there's no problem.
"On the financial side, I can introduce you to a good investor."
"A-Are you serious? If you, Minister, were to personally introduce someone reliable, I would be nothing but grateful."
"A large-scale emigration from Ireland to Canada is about to begin. When the immigrants cross over, many will naturally struggle to adapt, and some will long for their homeland. At times like that, the familiar taste of home is the only comfort. Now that I think of it, Guinness could play a very significant role. What do you think?"
"I've never considered that perspective before, but it truly could be so. You are brilliant, Minister. To look after the well-being of the Irish people in such minute detail."
Not just Arthur and Benjamin, but the other Irish dignitaries listening nearby all let out gasps of admiration.
Indeed, even I had to admit it was an excellent plan.
As for money, James was making more than enough to let it rot, and he was successfully growing businesses in both the United States and Canada. A beer brewery should be well within his means.
The initial demand to establish the business would be covered by the Irish immigrants, so there was nothing to worry about.
Furthermore, it would serve as an effective means of providing emotional stability to the Irish immigrants, making it a business worthy of national encouragement.
What was this, if not killing three birds with one stone—securing money, justification, and practical benefits?
Truthfully, I should have considered not just jobs and livelihoods, but also these psychological aspects. As luck would have it, a piece I had overlooked had practically fallen into my lap.
"Then I will have a message sent to a trusted investor as soon as I return to London."
"Thank you! Thank you, Minister!"
"It's for the good of Ireland. Of course, I should help."
Having gained a considerable advantage from an unexpected quarter, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
As I was cheerfully contemplating how to nurture this accidental fruition, Arthur Guinness's face suddenly went deathly pale, and he hurriedly bowed.
There was no need for such an excessive display of gratitude. Wasn't this a bit much?
"Y-Y-Your Majesty the Queen!"
Right, unless he had seen the Queen herself... hmm?
I reflexively turned my head to see Victoria staring intently at Arthur and me with an interested expression.
"I'm sure I told you to come upstairs in a little while, but you weren't moving from the first floor, so I came down wondering what was going on. It seems you were in the middle of a rather interesting conversation?"
"Ah... I was so engrossed in conversation that I lost track of time. We've finished now. Shall we go up?"
"We'll go up, but I'm curious too, so let me have a taste."
Arthur Guinness, who had been at a loss, was startled, his mouth agape.
"H-Her Majesty the Queen, drinking the beer favored by laborers...?"
"I ate rutabaga, so is there any reason I can't drink beer? In fact, hearing that it's popular among the laborers makes me even more curious."
As Victoria accepted the glass and elegantly tilted it back, Arthur Guinness's face turned white with tension.
If Victoria were to give a bad review here, his brewery business, which had been sailing smoothly until now, could be shipwrecked.
But Victoria lightly drained the Guinness, and without losing her graceful smile, returned the glass to Arthur Guinness.
"I am glad to know the laborers are drinking something so delicious. Please, continue to brew such fine spirits, so that the weary and exhausted laborers may, for a moment, forget their arduous day."
"Your Majesty! For you to say such a thing, I don't know how I can ever thank you! I will forever cherish Your Majesty's words and do my utmost to supply the finest drink to the citizens at an affordable price!"
Arthur Guinness was so moved that he burst into tears, bowing his head repeatedly.
He could now sell his beer with the label "Praised by the Queen of the British Empire." How could his joy be contained?
Moreover, it wasn't just about business; she had personally delivered a line that any brewer couldn't help but be moved by. If I were in his shoes, I couldn't have held back tears either.
Truly, our Queen has become a natural-born politician.
Those weren't words that could be spoken without a precise understanding of how to capture people's hearts.
As the teacher who had continuously taught her how to understand and utilize the human heart, it was a truly proud sight to behold.
After consoling the tearful Arthur Guinness, she slowly turned her gaze toward me.
"Now then, Minister. Shall we go upstairs and continue our unfinished conversation?"
No, I mean, I wasn't deliberately late. I was really in the middle of an important discussion, and it just dragged on.
But I, wise enough to know that excuses would only bring greater wrath, meekly lowered my eyes and followed her as she glided up the stairs.
As the teacher who taught her how to understand the human heart... I feel a tiny bit of regret.