I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 129

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 129

State Letter

I said I had to wait for a bite, but it’s not like I was just playing around.

“Oh my, oh my. So, the shoes Her Majesty wore at the wedding were also a gift from His Royal Highness?”

“Yes. They were custom-made by a craftsman’s company I know well.”

“Oh my goodness, I tried every way to get those shoes, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. By the time I found out, the orders were already full…”

“I know, right? People’s information-gathering skills are amazing. I don’t know how they found out, but they say orders have already exploded.”

I recently got into clothing to attract wealthy VIP customers, and the trend is going so smoothly that I wonder if this is okay.

It seems that the Queen’s high heel promotion effect was far greater than I expected.

To be honest, when I saw Victoria’s wedding dress, which was long enough to completely cover her feet, I guessed that I wouldn’t see as much of a promotional effect as I had hoped.

It was clearly a dress with a design that didn’t show the legs at all, but how did the noble ladies notice her high heels and even find out where to buy the shoes?

I had to admit that I had underestimated the noble ladies’ desire for fashion items.

“Not only at the wedding, but Her Majesty recently wore different shoes at a banquet, and they were really beautiful.”

“That’s right. It wasn’t just that she looked taller, but the overall line itself looked much prettier.”

“I’m sure they took care of that when they made the shoes, right? But why is there such a shortage of stock?”

“This requires more skill than you think. If the heel breaks, you could get hurt, so we make them with much more care than ordinary shoes.”

“Haa… Is there no way to get them? I told my husband, but he said there was no way.”

I couldn’t hide my happy smile at the sight of not only prestigious noble ladies but also Victoria’s maids being anxious about not being able to get high-heeled shoes.

Conservative Victoria didn’t really like the atmosphere, but the current British high society was practically a playground.

The economy is growing and technology is improving day by day, so how can they stand not spending the rising money?

Large-scale parties and balls were held at least a few times a week, and gentlemen and noble ladies from well-known families showed off their wealth there.

In the original history, wasn’t Victoria’s emphasis on a conservative attitude also to ring the alarm about the increasingly extravagant lives of the British upper class?

In any case, many of the current British upper class lived a life of drinking and partying every day, and the more they did, the more they wanted to look special.

So what should I do? Since ancient times, the best way to highlight oneself is, of course, to adorn oneself with all kinds of luxury goods and jewelry.

However, in a place where the truly upper-class nobles gather, such adornment is not as effective as one might think.

A large diamond? A sapphire necklace? Anyone next to you can buy that if they want to.

So, the most effective thing in such places was not simply expensive items, but rare items.

Things that are not easily available even with money are true luxury goods that satisfy the vanity of the rich.

The high-heeled shoes that Victoria is currently wearing are becoming such items in the noble ladies’ high society.

A new style of shoes that the Queen personally introduced at her wedding.

Moreover, it’s not just fancy, but it makes your legs look much longer and the overall line looks much prettier when you wear them.

In addition, there was such a severe shortage, and it was easy to tell the difference just by looking at them, so the difference between people wearing those shoes and those not wearing them at the party was immediately noticeable.

“If you want, shall I contact the craftsman? Maybe he has set aside a few pairs separately.”

“Oh, really?”

“We would be so grateful if Your Highness would do that for us.”

“Haha, of course, I have to pay attention. Aren’t all of you friends whom Her Majesty trusts and relies on? If so, then you are naturally my friends as well, so please tell me if you have any difficulties. Even if there are no shoes set aside, I will subtly tell them to make sure you are the first to receive them, so you should be able to receive them at least this week. Of course, you don’t have to pay. It’s a token of my sincerity.”

“Oh my, oh my! I was going to wear them to the party that the Duke of Bedford is hosting this weekend. Thank you so much!”

Good. With this, I’ve won the favor of the noble ladies who come and go to the palace, and I can enjoy the promotional effect even more properly.

As expected, there’s nothing like a luxury gift that you can’t buy with money to capture the hearts of the rich.

The noble ladies who come here and talk to Victoria are all women from families who have some power.

They are not only people who enjoy a luxurious life but also high-end [gossipers] who create and bring in all kinds of palace rumors.

Gaining their favor means that you can have an overwhelming advantage in the public opinion war that takes place in high society.

If I can get these benefits by giving away a few pairs of shoes, it’s practically free.

Of course, by the time high heels are fully distributed to the upper-class noble ladies, this effect will fade, so I will have to prepare other luxury goods at that time, but that’s not a problem either.

I roughly knew what wealthy upper-class noble ladies were enthusiastic about in modern times, and I just need to introduce a few of them that don’t exist in this era.

There’s no need to worry about the advertising effect because Victoria, an all-time promotional model that all the celebrities of modern times can’t even compare to, is on this side.

Around the time I was steadily building the image of His Royal Highness, who is deeply knowledgeable in fashion and even benevolent.

“Your Royal Highness! The Prime Minister has sent a message asking you to come to the parliament urgently.”

I was expecting them to call me around this time.

But as soon as I thought it was time, they called me right away, so it seems they’re not gentlemen either.

“I understand. Then I’ll go right away.”

Considering the timing, it won’t be in Asia, and it’s highly likely to be in America, so I can guess what the atmosphere is like now.

Are you feeling it now?

You can’t do without me.

* * *

“How can you confidently say that you will discuss it later and then do this!”

Look at that roaring lion’s roar.

I smiled contentedly at Wellesley’s voice, which echoed loudly outside the room as soon as I entered after a long time.

Since Charles I failed to arrest the members of the House of Commons, a tradition has been established that the King of Great Britain cannot enter the House of Commons.

Therefore, it was customary for the monarch to call the members to the House of Lords when he had business in the parliament, but other members of the royal family other than the king are not bound by that tradition.

When I was guided by a parliamentary staff member and entered the House of Commons, the meeting was already coming to an end.

“Let’s say it’s unavoidable that His Royal Highness resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs. But how long are you going to leave the Canadian Ambassador vacant? You said you would discuss it right after the wedding, but do you know how many months it has been now? How many months is it, Barrow of the Whig Party?”

“No… Strictly speaking, isn’t the composition of the cabinet the responsibility of the Prime Minister? I don’t think it’s fair to push that onto us.”

“Since when has the Canadian Ambassador been a member of the cabinet? Isn’t it a temporary position created by passing a bill together in the parliament, not the executive branch!”

“No, so…”

“The Governor General of Canada is begging for help! I’m not exaggerating, it’s real.”

Wellesley nervously unfolded a piece of paper and shook it, and the words ‘Please save me, if this continues, it will soon be out of control’ were clearly written on it.

“I clearly told you. We need to appoint someone to take responsibility for Canada in place of His Royal Highness right away. It’s hard to postpone it any longer. Even now, the United States is making ridiculous requests to check whether blacks have escaped to Canada. We need to appoint a person in charge and deal with it as soon as possible. Congressman Gladstone, please tell us who the Whig Party thinks is the right person right now.”

“I’m really sorry, but it seems that there is no one who can perfectly replace what His Royal Highness was doing. In fact, His Royal Highness was able to do that because he was so trusted and followed by the blacks who were settling in Ireland and Canada…”

“Then we have to find someone who can do that. Now that we’ve started the work, there’s no one in charge, so there’s a lot of groaning everywhere. The Governor General of Canada says he will resign from his position if we don’t send a person in charge right away. If the Governor General resigns, who will take care of Canada? Is there anyone who wants to take on the position of Governor General in this situation?”

There’s no way there would be. That’s why no one here can recommend anyone and they’re all just stalling.

After a moment of silence, Disraeli, who had not said a word until now, carefully opened his mouth.

“But there’s something I don’t understand, so I’m asking. Isn’t His Royal Highness still the Canadian Ambassador?”

“…Um?”

“The parliament has clearly set the term of office for the Canadian Ambassador. Unless the term has expired, His Royal Highness is still the Canadian Ambassador. He resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs, but the position of Minister and Ambassador are separate, aren’t they?”

If you think about it, it’s true, so Gladstone and Palmerston tried to say something, but then closed their mouths again.

When no one objected, Disraeli looked around and spoke again.

“In fact, it’s been almost 100 years since our Great Britain welcomed the Queen’s husband [Prince Consort]. There is no codified law, and people like William III were the Queen’s husband, but they were practically kings through joint accession. On the other hand, there are also people like Prince George from Denmark who have no power at all and do not participate in politics. That’s why confusion arises. Is there anyone here who can say with certainty whether His Royal Highness can still serve as the Canadian Ambassador right now?”

“The consort of the British Empire must remain politically neutral unless there are special circumstances, so it is best not to get involved in politics…”

“Isn’t that why you resigned as Minister? But does working hard for the national interest in Canada, which is far away from the home country, undermine political neutrality?”

Colonial management is also part of politics, but it is inevitable that opinions will differ as to whether it is an act for the benefit of a particular party.

In fact, no one could answer Disraeli’s words.

In the past, none of the husbands of the Queen of Great Britain were involved in colonial management, and it was not a time when colonial management was running as systematically as it is now.

“Congressman Disraeli, what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that His Royal Highness should continue to serve as the Canadian Ambassador?”

“To be precise, that’s what we need to decide first. Whether to create a clear precedent that the consort of the British Empire cannot have any voice in colonial management, or whether it is okay to act as an advisor in colonial management for the benefit of the British Empire if they maintain strict political neutrality. We need to gather our opinions here.”

“No, that’s naturally according to custom…”

“Following customs is important, but this is the legislature. We are people who have a duty to make and enforce laws. The parliament has already guaranteed the term of office of the Canadian Ambassador as a law, so are we going to treat this as if it doesn’t exist according to custom? We can’t do that. Should we vote again to strip His Royal Highness of his ambassadorship, or should we see that it is still valid?”

It is an argument that has no loopholes logically or legally.

The only objection is that if that’s the case, you should have pointed that out from the beginning, why are you doing this now, but then you can just say that you didn’t think of it at the time. What can they do if they say they just remembered it now?

The truth is that they waited until the Canadian problem, which had been postponed and postponed, was about to explode, but that’s just a suspicion, not evidence, right?

“Prime Minister called His Royal Highness to the House of Commons because it seems that we need to make sure of this and move on today. Your Highness, if the parliament asks you, are you still willing to serve as the ambassador?”

The eyes of the congressmen, who belatedly realized that I was there, turned to me all at once.

“I don’t know how serious the situation is, but I am ready to fulfill my duty for the country if it is a problem that I can solve.”

“Then do you think that the work you do in Canada could result in the benefit of a particular party?”

“If Canada is stable, it will naturally benefit the home country. And although I haven’t finished it all, Canada is currently preparing to achieve industrialization by emulating the British Empire. If Canada’s industry develops, the British Empire will also become richer, so the government may take credit for it.”

“But if you put it that way, you could say that everything in the world undermines political neutrality.”

“Strictly speaking, most things in the world are related to politics. Of course, if you tell me to finish the work in Canada because it’s what I started, I will definitely not move for the benefit of any party. I will only focus on the interests of the British Empire and the people living in Canada.”

As I rattled off the lines I had prepared in advance, the hands of the reporters who were transcribing my remarks also became faster in proportion.

Disraeli, who asked a few more questions, bowed his head and turned back to the congressmen.

“In my personal opinion, I think it is right for His Royal Highness, who started the Canadian case, to finish it. I think it is procedurally appropriate to do so as long as the term of office granted by the parliament is still valid. Of course, that bill was drafted when His Highness was a member of the Conservative Party, so some people may think that it needs to be supplemented further. Therefore, how about placing people recommended by the ruling and opposition parties equally in a 5:5 ratio as adjutants?”

“But…”

“If you really can’t accept it, please recommend a suitable person from the Whig Party.”

It’s a bit [unpleasant], but anyway, the affairs of the colonies are separate from the affairs of the home country.

In addition, the Canadian case is so complicated and bizarre, and the justification that it is difficult to resolve without me is clear, so they will not be able to refuse it outright.

Above all, this is only a problem of the colonies, so they have drawn a line so thoroughly that it will not greatly exceed the psychological resistance line.

After all, they can’t help but naturally expect that once this problem is resolved, I will step back again and enjoy love play with the Queen.

“Well, how about we go to a vote? Chairman, please.”

But once is difficult, twice is easy.

Even if the Canadian problem is settled, the power struggles of the great powers surrounding Asia will begin in earnest in the future, so what will happen then?

I stood leisurely with my hands behind my back and watched the scene where Disraeli’s motion that the validity of my Canadian ambassadorship was still valid was passed by a majority vote.

Everything is for the country and the national interest.

It’s a slogan that will be used over and over again, so I need to practice pronouncing it as [impressively] as possible.