I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 132

Give What You Gotta Give

The investiture ceremony for the Duke of Kent-Dublin proceeded smoothly, without any particular issues.

From the start, Victoria kept the ceremony exclusive, inviting only royal family members and key figures from Parliament, avoiding any grand public fanfare.

Unsurprisingly, no one objected to granting me the dual dukedom.

Ireland naturally welcomed it, and within England, it was seen as a formality, so there were no obstacles.

Parliament, in particular, was already discussing what additional rewards to give me if I achieved great success in Canada, so they showed no resistance.

To be precise, they were so conscious of the Queen’s feelings that they had become yes-men, unconditionally agreeing to whatever she did.

They were so intimidated that they couldn’t even openly voice their discomfort at the meeting before the investiture. How nervous they must have been!

In fact, in the current climate, even if Victoria openly criticized Parliament’s performance, it would be difficult to call it political interference.

This is because Parliament essentially asked me to take on more responsibility in the first place.

If I were merely the King’s uncle, like a prince or the Duke of Sussex, it wouldn’t be much of a problem. But I am now the Prince Consort, newly married to the Queen.

What is the most important duty of the Queen and Prince Consort at this point in time?

It is to focus on producing an heir to the throne as quickly as possible.

However, in the first year of our marriage, I might be wandering in the remote areas of Canada. How uncomfortable would that make the Queen?

The moment Victoria officially says, “I’m so worried because my husband is going to Canada when we don’t even have children yet,” the responsibility would immediately fall on Parliament.

Newspapers, always eager to find a scandal, would not miss such an opportunity.

So, even when Victoria said she would accompany me to Canada, no one raised any objections.

Parliament, having created this mess themselves, was busy arranging schedules, summoning ministers, the First Sea Lord [the professional head of the Royal Navy], and Field Marshals [the highest rank in the British Army] every day to clean it up.

“We must calculate all the potential issues that may arise when Her Majesty goes to Canada and prepare countermeasures.”

“The biggest issue is, of course, the transatlantic crossing. Once we arrive in Canada, there will be no problems. We can simply move the attendants and medical staff as they are.”

“What if Her Majesty’s health suffers during the transatlantic crossing?”

“How long does it take to cross the Atlantic by steamship these days? Three weeks?”

“With the latest steamship, we can arrive in about fifteen days.”

Considering that it used to take almost six to eight weeks using sailing ships, the current schedule isn’t that difficult.

However, that’s only for people with some sailing experience.

For a woman of Victoria’s noble status to spend two weeks on a ship is not as easy as it sounds.

The farthest she has ever traveled by ship is from London to the south of Ireland, and now she’s suddenly crossing the Atlantic.

What if she suddenly falls ill in the middle of the Atlantic?

“Your Royal Highness, what was it like when you first traveled to Asia by ship?”

“I had traveled by ship since I was young, so even though it was difficult, I could bear it. But going to Canada is nothing compared to Asia. It’s much less difficult and quite bearable. However, since Her Majesty is taking such a long voyage for the first time, we must prepare with the utmost care.”

“First, we should deploy medical staff and provide as much space as possible so that Her Majesty doesn’t feel cramped on the ship. If we modify the ship’s structure a bit so that she can enjoy sufficient leisure activities, I think she can spend about two weeks comfortably.”

“But everyone, the real thing we need to worry about is not that.”

Why are they discussing secondary issues while pushing the most important thing to the back burner?

Gladstone, who had been enthusiastically listing various possibilities with the First Sea Lord, asked with a puzzled expression.

“Are you saying that there is something more important to consider than Her Majesty’s health?”

“It’s a matter directly related to that health. What should we do if Her Majesty and I conceive a child while in Canada?”

“Ah…”

The mouths of all the parliamentarians, including Gladstone, dropped open simultaneously.

The fact that they hadn’t thought of that was so blatantly obvious that it was almost laughable.

Well, since the person involved is right in front of them, they may not have considered that possibility.

“Wait, if something like that really happens, the duration of our stay in Canada will inevitably be extended…”

“That’s right. So, we should always keep in mind that the period may be extended further.”

The medical understanding and guidelines for pregnancy in this era were significantly different from those of the 21st century.

However, everyone knew that long-distance travel was not good for pregnant women, and especially if that woman was the Queen of the country, there was even more to consider.

After hearing my statement, Wellesley momentarily opened his mouth as if he had thought of some possibility, but he closed it again when I showed no reaction.

Perhaps the word “war” that I had mentioned before flashed through his mind.

What if the Queen of the British Empire is staying in Canada and a war breaks out nearby?

Even Canada might get caught up in the situation, and if the Queen is pregnant there?

Even I thought that an excessive response to the point of being dizzying could occur, and this could be an even greater opportunity for me.

No matter what, I had to tell my wife about such a momentous matter in advance.

I told Victoria, who insisted on following me to Canada, that a war might break out, but she dismissed my worries with just one word.

“If a war really breaks out, isn’t it better for you that I’m there?”

Even if a war breaks out, the fighting is unlikely to reach Victoria’s location. And if there is a possibility of that happening, the world’s strongest Royal Navy fleet would completely devastate the area.

When there is a need for negotiations later, Victoria’s presence alone can create tremendous pressure.

My side can threaten, saying, “Don’t expect any concessions because the Queen, who is currently pregnant with the heir, is staying here.”

If that is Her Majesty’s will, what objections can I raise?

I simply watched with a satisfied smile as Victoria’s visit to Canada was confirmed in Parliament.

* * *

“I recently heard that you may be going to Canada. Congratulations.”

“I don’t know if that’s something to be congratulated on, but thank you anyway.”

“It is something to be congratulated on. Even though you have stepped down from your ministerial position, isn’t it proof that there is no one who can replace His Royal Highness?”

Before leaving for Canada, I had to ensure that all the issues to be dealt with in the home country were completely resolved.

Fortunately, Nesselrode, the person in charge of the Russian issue that I definitely wanted to wrap up, came to visit in person, so I didn’t have to go to any unnecessary trouble.

It was unprecedented for a Russian Foreign Minister to visit twice in such a short period, but that meant they were just as desperate.

“By the way, I know that His Royal Highness has stepped down from the position of Foreign Minister, but why did the Prime Minister tell me to talk to you?”

“The current cabinet is looking for a new minister. And I have to finish the matters I was handling before, so there will be no confusion. Therefore, I am inevitably handling some important issues.”

“Ah, I see. Your Royal Highness, you must be having a hard time.”

The issue regarding Russia is a matter that has already been socially agreed upon as something the British Empire must handle above all else.

At least on this issue, the Conservative Party and the Whig Party almost unanimously agreed, so there were no objections to me being in charge.

Anyway, I was only temporarily in charge until a successor was appointed.

“But if it’s such an important matter that the Minister came directly without going through the ambassador… shall we get down to business?”

“Yes. I hope we can conclude the agreement as quickly as possible, as Your Royal Highness doesn’t have much time. In fact, you say that, but I believe Your Royal Highness already knows what we want.”

“You mean the discussion we had before the wedding.”

At this point, there are not many important things that would warrant the Russian Minister to visit.

Also, if the exact topic was not notified in advance, it means that security must be strictly maintained so that it does not reach the ears of others.

If it is a topic that satisfies these two conditions, then…

“Is Russia finally trying to make a full-scale advance into the Primorsky Krai [a region in the Russian Far East]?”

“Yes. I told you before that we should prepare a proper place to discuss it, right? Now, it seems like we have to come to a definite conclusion, so I came in a hurry. If Your Royal Highness goes to Canada, you will really be stepping away from practical work, and then we will have no choice but to go through adjustments with a new person in charge from the beginning.”

The British Empire tries to stop Russia’s territorial expansion no matter what, so even if it’s a land that makes your mouth water, it’s hard to just take it.

If it’s planting a flag on land with no owner, it’s one thing, but if there is a definite landowner, it was possible to intervene at any time under the pretext of helping them.

However, I did not show any noticeable aversion to Russia occupying the Primorsky Krai in our previous conversation, so they must have judged that there was room for dialogue.

That’s why they must want to settle this issue as quickly as possible before my successor is appointed.

Although it will be in the form of a near-secret agreement, there will be no problem as long as there is mutual understanding, whether it is a secret agreement or a formal agreement.

I also thought that it was necessary to negotiate with Russia as quickly as possible in order to complete the structure I was envisioning.

The conflict between the British Empire and Russia, the Great Game [a political and diplomatic confrontation between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia], will only intensify more and more as time passes.

The peak of that was the Crimean War [a military conflict fought from 1853 to 1856 in which Russia lost to an alliance of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia], and in such a period, they would never accept my demands.

However, the current period is not that the feelings between the British Empire and Russia are by no means good, but not to the extent that they are running at each other to the death.

In other words, if there is mutual understanding, appropriate compromises and give and take can be achieved.

“You’re not just trying to advance and end it, so the ultimate goal is to completely occupy the Primorsky Krai, right?”

“Yes. Unlike the concerns of many countries in Europe, even if Russia occupies the Primorsky Krai, there is little possibility that it will pose a real threat to that side. No matter how much we expand the navy, we have to go almost halfway around the world to return from the Primorsky Krai to Europe.”

“That’s certainly true. But the Primorsky Krai is not an empty land with no owner now, but clearly the territory of the Qing Dynasty [the last imperial dynasty of China]. You have to go to war with Qing to occupy the Primorsky Krai, but do you have the justification for that?”

“Justification can be created. But in that case, your country or France can intervene, and that’s the problem.”

From the Qing Dynasty’s point of view, they had a war with England, but if Russia waged a war aiming for territory, they would have no choice but to accept the help that England offered.

And England, in most situations, never joins such a fight alone.

They will make full use of the beautiful European tradition of ganging up on the successful guy and forming an allied force.

As for other allied countries, if they help Qing and defeat Russia, they can weaken Russia, and they can take advantage of that to sign a treaty with Qing, so they can enjoy a win-win effect.

Russia also knows that better than anyone else, so they can’t easily covet the Primorsky Krai.

“In other words, you want my country not to intervene, but of course, I don’t believe you’re saying that we should just stand still without any conditions.”

“Does that mean you are willing to remain neutral if the conditions are right?”

“Of course.”

Frankly speaking, the Primorsky Krai is a land that my country cannot occupy and will inevitably be seized by Russia someday.

If I can use that as a useful bargaining chip without spending my own money, it would be foolish not to.

Is it threatening because Russia can occupy a stable port?

Rather, the benefits I can get from this are a million times greater, so I don’t care.

I spread out a large map and pointed to one area that I had been aiming for since before.

“You can push down to the Primorsky Krai. Instead, hand this area over to us.”