I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 215

< A New Era (2) >

1848.

The revolutions that had terrified all of Europe subsided, and a new year began with moderate reformists leading the era.

A newly reorganized order, a new world.

Everyone wished for a hopeful year, but good things cannot always happen in the world.

Within the newly emerging order, the seeds of discord always sprout together.

The more countries that sided with the British Empire in the process of suppressing the revolution, the more countries harbored dissatisfaction.

“The Russian Empire cannot help but feel uneasy about the recent moves of the British Empire.”

The only country that sent a minister directly to the cholera eradication commemorative party.

Russian Foreign Minister Nesselrode was facing Gladstone, the leader of the opposition party, with a dissatisfied expression.

Prime Minister Wellesley is the one leading the diplomatic policy of the modern British Empire anyway, so there’s no point in arguing with him in the first place.

So, he contacted Gladstone, hoping that the Liberal Party, which opposes the Conservative Party, would be more reasonable, but this side was just as uncooperative.

“Well, the home country is not particularly trying to keep Russia in check. The home country’s foreign policy is, in a word, to minimize the disputes in Europe. This dispute naturally includes Russia. We have no intention of causing unnecessary conflicts with Russia. Which country in the world would want to have an uncomfortable relationship with a superpower like Russia?”

“···But isn’t the British Empire openly isolating Russia diplomatically right now?”

“Excuse me? Isolation, you say?”

So, you’re going to pretend you don’t know.

Then this current is not just the opinion of the ruling party, but a common opinion of both parties, and I feel a chill in the corner of my heart.

“Councilor Gladstone, this is not a problem that ends with pretending not to know. You’re bringing in France, trying to win over Austria, and now you’re even trying to bring Prussia to the side of the British Empire.”

“···Prussia, you say?”

Gladstone blinked and stared at Nesselrode.

Nesselrode almost hit Gladstone.

With superhuman patience, he suppressed his fist that was about to reflexively reach out, calmed his excitement, and organized his thoughts.

Could it be that Prussia is voluntarily pushing Russia out and showing signs of switching to the British Empire?

No, logically, that can’t be true.

Even if they were to join hands with the British Empire, what kind of relationship do France and Prussia have?

This would not have been possible in the first place unless the British Empire had been meddling in the middle.

But as long as you keep denying it like that, the result will not change even if you ask about it from this side.

This is clear proof that the British Empire has already decided to put pressure on Russia with the cooperation of both parties.

“Not only Austria and Prussia, but recently the Ottoman Turks have also been openly trying to keep the home country in check. Do you know anything about this?”

“Well. But aren’t you mistaken? Unless the Ottomans ate something wrong, they know that they have nothing to gain by provoking Russia.”

“So, we suspect that the Ottomans are relying on some strong backing. We suspect that they received a guarantee that they would be able to stop Russia even if Russia declared war.”

“···Well. It’s a reasonable inference, but there’s no country in the world that wants to fight Russia.”

“So, you’re saying that the British Empire is definitely not one of them.”

In fact, this part was close to Nesselrode’s exaggeration.

It’s not a matter of yesterday or today that the Ottomans and Russia are having minor disputes in the border area, but a kind of folk game that has lasted for more than 100 years.

Similar things will happen today, tomorrow, and next month and next year, and no one thinks of it as a provocation.

However, the reason why Nesselrode is so exaggerating is because he wanted to get a confirmation from England.

Even if it’s not the official opinion of the government, if it comes from the mouth of a big shot like Gladstone, who leads the giant opposition party, it can guarantee a certain amount of credibility.

“As I said, the home country’s current foreign policy is to eradicate disputes in Europe. But it’s absurd to incite other countries to cause conflicts. I’m not in a position to talk about foreign policy officially, but I can assure you that such a thing will not happen.”

“I see. I understand. I think we were unnecessarily overreacting.”

I don’t know how much of Gladstone’s words were true, but it seemed certain that England had no intention of fighting Russia.

As he said, who would dare to fight the Russian Empire?

Just as Russia does not want to go to war with the British Empire, it is natural that the British Empire does not want to go to war with Russia either.

Then, if we use the Ottoman Turks appropriately to seize the pretext [justification] of war, we can prevent the British Empire from intervening in advance and get our hands on the Danube River basin.

Hiding the true purpose of coming to London under the Emperor’s command, he continued to meet with various figures from both parties under the pretext of having questions about cholera eradication.

Although they are denying it on the surface, this side is not so stupid that they cannot notice what the British Empire is up to.

-If those guys are openly trying to trap us in our cage, isn’t the only way to strike first?

Even though it was a bit radical, there was nothing wrong with the Emperor’s words.

Unless the preparations are completely finished, even the British Empire would be burdened to intervene in this war if they started the work in surprise.

And Nesselrode, who looked around the atmosphere of the ball, was convinced that it was not too late.

Not only the current popular figure, Killean Gore, or Prime Minister Wellesley, but also Gladstone, who I just talked to.

And the ambassadors of France, Austria, and Prussia, as well as those idiots of the Ottoman Turks.

Isn’t everyone here thinking that the current peaceful atmosphere will last for at least a dozen years?

In other words, the choice to break this quiet silence was entirely in the hands of the Russian Empire.

Who cares about cholera.

The longer we get drunk on the high [euphoria] that we caught one epidemic, the more solid our preparations will be, so it’s something we should welcome.

On the way back to the embassy, one side of the newspaper scattered on the street stood out even more today.

[Medical staff at Killean Medical University invent a fluid that can greatly reduce cholera deaths!]

“The important thing is military power, you idiots.”

Do you think the fluid can block the bullets flying in?

Nesselrode snorted for no reason and kicked the rolling newspaper.

* * *

The genre of songs that were popular when I was in school was mostly ballads.

To be exact, medium-tempo ballads with R&B or bands were the mainstream, and most of the lyrics of these songs at the time were love stories.

It can’t be helped because it’s a ballad, but I definitely remember that most of them were lyrics related to farewells.

I’m sending you away because I love you, if you’re happy without me, I’ll let you go, there were many lyrics that made me cringe now, but that was right for the emotions at that time.

In particular, adolescent boys with sensitive emotions identified themselves with the main characters of such tragic songs and decorated the doors of their messengers or mini homepages with such lyrics.

It’s definitely not a personal experience.

It’s just that my surroundings were like that, and I didn’t have the余裕 [leeway] to enjoy such an embarrassing youth of my school days.

The reason why I thought of this bitter and embarrassing dark history… 아니, [no,] the past of my acquaintances, is none other than because I had to gently step on the unfortunate first love of a adolescent boy this time.

But isn’t it impossible to 강압적으로 [forcefully] trample on the heart of an eighteen-year-old youth who burns 순정 [pure love] even though it is an impossible 사랑 [love]?

If he turns black and grows up as the vanguard of the anti-Killean alliance, that would be difficult in its own way.

So, as I was 고민 [agonizing] how to tell him as well as possible, I suddenly remembered when I was growing up listening to such emotional songs.

Looking at him with this 마음 [mindset], the 모습 [appearance] of the young student sitting in front of me with Marquis Salisbury looked very 친숙 [familiar].

“Welcome. Is this the first time you’ve seen me in person?”

“Yes, yes! Thank you for inviting me. And thank you so much for the letter you sent me when I quit school before. It really gave me a lot of 힘 [strength]!”

“Really? I feel 보람 [rewarded] that you say so. By the way, Marquis, Lord Chamberlain wants to talk to you after a long time. If you have time, have tea together.”

It means that I want to talk to my son alone, so go somewhere else.

Because he was not so 눈치없는 [clueless] as to not understand this 말 [words], the Marquis nodded 흔쾌히 [willingly] and went outside as it was.

“Yes, you have to talk about these things alone. No matter how much of a father he is, it would be 부끄러울 [embarrassing] to talk about these things next to him. Isn’t that right?”

“Ah···Yes, yes. Thank you so much for your 배려 [consideration]. I don’t know what my father told 전하 [Your Highness], so 전하 [Your Highness] told me to talk to you directly, but did I 혹시 [perhaps] commit a big 실례 [rudeness]?”

“No, that’s not it. To be honest, your father was a little 호들갑 [overreacting]. Well, I’m a parent now, so I understand the Marquis’s 마음 [feelings].”

“Ha, but 전하 [Your Highness]···that······.”

Robert was 쭈뼛쭈뼛 [hesitantly] looking at my 눈치 [expression], but carefully continued what he wanted to say.

“I’m not doing this because of a moment’s 치기 [impulse].”

“Ah, of course not. The fact that I understand the Marquis’s 마음 [feelings] means that I sympathize with him as a parent, but it doesn’t mean that I agree that you’re doing it because you’re 취해 [intoxicated] with a moment’s 감정 [emotion]. Why don’t you know? In fact, at eighteen, you’re already big enough and old enough to take care of yourself.”

“Yes, that’s right! I know that 전하 [Your Highness] became a minister of the cabinet when he was about the same age as me. 전하 [Your Highness] is my goal and 우상 [idol]!”

Unintentionally, I seem to have set fire to the hearts of students of that age in an unexpected direction.

부군 전하 [My husband, Your Highness] became a minister when he was about our age, so we can’t help but feel like we can’t do it.

By the way, has it already been so long since I became a minister?

Time flies so fast. Sometimes it’s even scary.

“우상 [Idol]. I didn’t expect to hear such words, but thank you.”

“I read in a book that 전하 [Your Highness] worked hard from his student days to become a man worthy of 폐하 [Her Majesty], and eventually achieved great achievements faster than anyone else in the British Empire. It’s truly the power of great love. I deeply 존경 [respect] and want to 닮고 싶습니다 [emulate] 전하’s 자세 [Your Highness’s attitude].”

What kind of book did you read to have such a 요상한 [strange] 착각 [delusion]?

Did Victoria do an interview with a newspaper company somewhere without me knowing?

A man who overcame the difference in 신분 [status], worked hard to win the 여왕 [Queen], achieved the 위업 [great achievement] of the youngest minister, and even became a war hero.

I didn’t know it, but the 인식 [perception] that the world has of me was roughly like that.

A 희대의 [unprecedented] 로멘티스트 [romanticist] is 따로 없네 그려 [there’s no other].

“So you want to do that too?”

“Yes. I want to do my best to develop myself so that I can become a man who is not 부끄럽지 [ashamed] to woo Miss Nightingale.”

“···I have something to say about that, but unfortunately, Nightingale says she has no intention of getting married in the future. It’s not that she doesn’t like you, but she has a 타고난 [innate] 사명감 [sense of duty] to devote herself to the patients of this country.”

“I heard that too. But······.”

“I won’t stop you from 노력 [trying]. But shouldn’t a 진정한 남자 [true man] be able to 응원 [support] the dreams of the woman he loves? I think I would have done that.”

“That is······.”

Robert’s face became 흐려졌지만 [clouded], but I nodded with a 자못 엄숙한 [rather solemn] face as if I understood everything.

“The truly 멋있는 사랑 [wonderful love] is not about trying to 소유 [possess] the other person, but about 밀어주는 [pushing] their back. It’s a 잘못 알려진 [misunderstood] fact in the world, but I didn’t 노력 [try] so hard to become a man 어울리는 [suitable] to 폐하 [Her Majesty]. At the time, I didn’t even 꿈 [dream] the 헛된 꿈 [vain dream] that I could become 국서 [Prince Consort] because my 타고난 신분 [innate status] didn’t 받쳐 [support] even if I 노력 [tried].”

“···Yes? Then why······.”

“It’s obvious. I wanted to make this country, where 폐하 [Her Majesty] loves, more 부강 [rich and powerful] and 받쳐 [support] the 왕실 [royal family] where 폐하 [Her Majesty] is more 든든 [strong]. With my own hands, not someone else’s. That’s the 마음가짐 [mindset] I had when I was your age.”

I was 오그라들었지만 [cringing] all over my body even while saying it myself, but this is right for the 감성 [sensibility] of this age.

“You’re saying that you continued to 노력 [try] with the 마음 [mind] of loving 폐하 [Her Majesty] even though you knew you couldn’t 맺어질 [be together] with 폐하 [Her Majesty].”

“Yes. I didn’t tell other people, but seeing you now reminds me of myself at that time. So I’m telling you.”

After that, I 인용해 [quoted] the 비운의 [tragic] ballad lyrics that swept the 2000s and 늘어놓았다 [listed] all kinds of 명문 [wise sayings] that were 부족함이 없는 [sufficient] to decorate the door of the mini homepage.

The more I spoke, the more my 팔다리 [limbs] seemed to 녹아 없어 [melt away], but at the same time, I could see the 선망’s 빛 [light of envy] that was 서린 [lingering] in Robert’s eyes deepening.

Nightingale has 떨쳐냈으니 [shaken off] a 귀찮은 혹 [troublesome burden], so she will work even harder in the future, and even if Robert’s first love fails, he will 존경 [respect] me even more instead of 원망 [resenting] me because of it.

And using this as 자양분 [nourishment], he will 채찍질 [whip] himself even more and 노력 [try], so wouldn’t a 행복한 [happy] 일 석삼조’s [one stone three birds] result come out for everyone?

“···And Nightingale is a person who is 각오가 되어 [prepared] to 뛰어들 [jump into] all kinds of 험로 [difficult paths] by 활동 [working] as a 종군간호사 [military nurse] when a war breaks out in the future. But if a 사랑하는 [beloved] person or family is 생기면 [created], wouldn’t that 결심 [resolution] inevitably 흔들릴 [waver]? If you really 사랑하는 [love] her, you should be able to 사랑 [love] even her 각오 [resolution].”

“Yes! That’s really the 옳은 말씀입니다 [right words]. After hearing 전하’s 말씀 [Your Highness’s words], I 뼈저리게 실감했습니다 [deeply realized] how 철없는 사랑 [immature love] I was 하고 있었 [doing]!”

“Yes. I’m glad you 깨달았다 [realized].”

“Everything is thanks to 전하 [Your Highness]. I think I can see 명확하게 [clearly] the 길 [path] I have to go in the future.”

Then, then. You have to 밟아 [step on] the 엘리트 코스 [elite course] in the 정계 [political world] 열심히 [diligently] in the future and become the 차기 총리 [next prime minister] to 이어 [succeed] the 뒤 [position] of Wellesley.

And 추종하 [follow] me 열렬히 [ardently] and 떠받들어주는 [support] even my son who will 자연스레 [naturally] 이어 [succeed] my 뒤 [position] is the 길 [path] you have to go.

I’m glad you 알아들었 [understood] now······.

“I will 입대 [enlist] to the 군 [military]! If she says she will 봉사 [serve] to the 국가 [nation] as a 종군 간호사 [military nurse], I will 치워버리겠습니다 [remove] all the 요소를 [elements] that threaten her with my own 손 [hands]!”

으음 [Hmm], 그래 [okay]. This human is not 정상 [normal] either.

끼리끼리 유유상종이라 [Birds of a feather flock together]. Now I see why he 반했 [fell in love] to Nightingale.

I don’t think it’s too late yet, but should I look for a new 총리 후보 [prime minister candidate] for the next generation now?

I 건넸다 [offered] a 사과의 인사 [apology] 내심 [inwardly] to the father who will 젖을 [be soaked] in 충격 [shock] while 보며 [watching] his son who will 설 칠 [act up] that he will 입대 [enlist] to the 군 [military].

I’m sorry, Marquis Salisbury.

···But I’ll still 이길 [win] in the 전쟁 [war], so don’t 뭐라 [complain] too much.”