I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 305

The End of the Old Era

The imperialist nations of the 19th century were generally past their prime.

In a world of one-eyed men, having two eyes made you the abnormal one. In that era, not believing in the superiority of the white race was considered abnormal.

Yet, surprisingly, Great Britain was comparatively better.

It wasn’t because Great Britain was particularly conscientious or enlightened.

It was simply because of my existence and my early introduction of a multi-ethnic, multicultural society in Canada, which I framed as a symbol of tolerance and generosity.

Of course, this didn’t completely change the tone of the mainland.

White supremacy was practically an official doctrine pushed by the governments of various countries.

In essence, it was akin to a mission.

A perfect justification to spread the Bible and the Gospel to those who didn’t know the mercy of Christ.

Many European countries actively dispatched missionaries to provoke the vulnerable spots of Asian and African nations, rejoicing when missionaries were harmed and sending troops in response.

They had the perfect excuse to civilize the foolish blacks and yellows with their superior knowledge. Who would refuse such an opportunity?

Colonial expansion was not exploitation but edification.

Even though Great Britain was slightly better than other European countries, this was an indispensable doctrine for imperialist nations.

To ignore this principle would mean they were nothing more than trash invading other peaceful countries.

In the past, now, and in the future, justification is far more important than one might think, and it greatly helps in uniting public opinion.

Therefore, Great Britain didn’t bother to silence those who preached eugenics; instead, they subtly modified it to fit the British context.

“Because whites are mentally and physically far superior to yellows and blacks, it is only natural for European whites to govern people from other regions. It is an act of grace for us whites, who boast a civilization superior to theirs, to rule over the colonials, and it is our duty to civilize them.”

This argument by Alfred Tennyson, which recently gained immense popularity, resonated greatly not only in Britain but throughout Europe.

In fact, Alfred Tennyson wasn’t particularly immoral; rather, he received much praise for writing poems celebrating the national army during the war with Russia.

When I returned, he dedicated a poem titled ‘Great Victory,’ and even Victoria enjoyed reading his poetry.

“Lord Tennyson! It is said that whites are mentally superior to yellows, but could this not be interpreted as disrespect towards the royal family?”

“Certainly not. Although His Royal Highness has Asian blood, he has inherited the noble blood of two nations. Even among yellows, there have been many outstanding and excellent figures no less than whites. History proves this. There were those who were militarily exceptional, like Genghis Khan in the past, and there were those who could be described as blessed by God, like the emperors of the early Chinese dynasties.”

“So, it’s merely a matter of averages?”

“Of course. It’s just that whites have a significantly higher chance of producing such outstanding individuals. That’s why the current situation has arisen. However, Your Royal Highness has inherited only the best abilities from the most distinguished families of two Asian dynasties. Such cases are rare even when searching throughout Europe!”

He tries so hard to make it fit, so hard.

But what’s chilling is that, based on the stories circulating, there’s a high possibility that they genuinely think this way, rather than forcing it to fit.

Moreover, in Parliament and the government, arguments continue to emerge, urging even greater efforts in territorial expansion, following the current public opinion.

I had a hunch from the moment they started nagging me from the day I returned, but it’s clear that these people can’t stand to see me resting.

“Your Royal Highness, the Parliament is currently discussing measures to further develop the colonies of Australia and New Zealand.”

“Prime Minister, I am currently resting to the best of my ability, as per the orders of my beloved Queen.”

“Is that why someone who follows Her Majesty’s words so well has been traveling abroad for over a year?”

“It wasn’t a pleasure trip but a struggle for the glory of Great Britain. Isn’t it too much to say to someone who has returned after achieving the feat of elevating Great Britain to a true empire?”

“Isn’t it because you have achieved such great accomplishments that the Foreign Secretary and Undersecretaries are all looking only at Your Royal Highness?”

Wellesley, this guy, seems to be getting more and more cunning as he gets older.

They say position makes the man. Perhaps he’s starting to show the experience of someone aiming to surpass Robert Walpole and become the longest-serving Prime Minister of Great Britain.

“Originally, in principle, the royal family cannot interfere in politics…”

“The person who stipulated that it’s limited to domestic politics is Your Royal Highness right in front of us, so policies related to colonies are not applicable. When you think about it, isn’t this all because of Your Royal Highness?”

“What? Because of me?”

“Because the results are so good whenever Your Royal Highness gets involved, we’ve become unable to live without Your Royal Highness’s decisions. Since Your Royal Highness has trained people this way, it is Your Royal Highness’s duty to take responsibility.”

Our Prime Minister has started using very misleading words while I wasn’t looking.

I conspicuously brewed my own coffee and slowly brought the cup to my lips.

“Let me tell you, I won’t be leaving London for the next few years.”

“Rest assured, I would never ask you to do such a thing. It’s not a joke; Her Majesty said she would dissolve Parliament if Your Royal Highness leaves the country again, so I will be the first to stop you if you try to go to another country.”

“Then you should treat me better. What if I leave if I don’t like it?”

“Your Royal Highness would be killed by Her Majesty first if you did that. Feel free to try if you can.”

Hmm. I can’t argue with that. Well, it’s a threat that wouldn’t work unless you have a ‘let’s all explode together’ mindset.

Wellesley, who awkwardly brought his coffee, added plenty of sugar, stirred it, and then removed the smile from his face and lowered his voice.

“Your Royal Highness.”

“What is it? Why are you suddenly being so serious?”

“Actually, I didn’t come here today specifically to discuss colonial policies.”

“…Hmm?”

Wellesley gulped down the hot coffee, then frowned and let out a deep sigh.

“My father… is very ill. Could you come with me?”

No wonder his eyes weren’t smiling, even though his mouth was.

Was he trying to distract me from the jokes he was making earlier?

The moment I first met the Duke of Wellington, Prime Minister Wellesley’s father, flashed through my mind.

“I understand.”

He seemed so enormous back then.

Even though it was the same coffee I always made, the bitter aftertaste lingered in my mouth until I left the room.

* * *

Two hours later.

When I arrived at Apsley House [the Duke of Wellington’s residence] with Wellesley, the mansion’s staff rushed out to greet me.

“It’s an honor to have Your Royal Highness visit us in person.”

“I apologize on behalf of the Duke, who is unable to come out to greet you personally as he is confined to his bed.”

Everyone seemed visibly flustered.

Is it that surprising that Great Britain’s top celebrity is visiting in person?

Everyone knows that the Prime Minister and I are close personally, so it’s not strange to visit his father’s mansion, but I guess this is the usual reaction when I actually visit.

The first time I came here, only a few people I encountered inside greeted Wellesley. It’s a new feeling.

“It would have made me more uncomfortable if someone who is ill had come out to greet me. Don’t worry too much about it. Prime Minister, you’ll come up with me, right?”

“I went yesterday. My father wanted to see Your Royal Highness, so please go up first.”

“I understand.”

The Duke of Wellington was already over 80 years old, so as a son, he must have been preparing himself for a long time.

But how could a child feel good seeing their father’s health deteriorating day by day?

I know that feeling well because I’ve experienced it myself.

I left Wellesley on the first floor and followed the servant’s guidance to the Duke’s study.

How long has it been since we faced each other alone like this?

In the same room where I asked for a letter of recommendation to enter Eton [a prestigious boarding school].

The Duke of Wellington, looking much older and thinner than before, raised his hand in a welcoming gesture.

“Good day, Your Royal Highness. How have you been?”

“I should have visited more often, but I’m sorry I’m only coming now. How are you feeling?”

“As you can see, I’m healthy. Anyway, once you get a bit old, even if you’re just a little unwell, the people around you make a fuss as if you could die at any moment. Seeing that Your Royal Highness has come in person, it seems my foolish son has made quite a fuss.”

The Duke of Wellington smiled and offered me refreshments.

If someone who didn’t know better saw him, they would think he looked genuinely healthy, but I knew that this was the last time the Duke of Wellington would show such a robust appearance.

“The Prime Minister is the Duke’s son, after all. It’s only natural to pay special attention to his father’s health.”

“Prime Minister… Isn’t that a title that I still can’t get used to, no matter how many times I hear it? That guy is the Prime Minister of this country. Hahaha.”

“The Prime Minister is still the center of the Conservative Party, having won several elections. If he wins two more elections, he could be recorded as the longest-serving Prime Minister in history.”

“I only temporarily took the position and never even finished a single term. Considering that, it’s true that you never know what might happen in the world. One day, my troublesome son brought a child who was much younger than him, saying he was definitely a genius and asking me to write a letter of recommendation. Who would have known that he would get elected, steadily grow his power, oust the then-Prime Minister, and take control of the party.”
The Duke of Wellington, already in a mode of reminiscing about the past, smiled faintly as he recalled memories.

“But honestly, do you know what I find the most absurd?”

“Hmm, I wonder.”

“That the young child whom my son brought, saying he was definitely a genius, is now the undisputed center of the British royal family. Frankly speaking, I thought that even if Your Royal Highness were to be really successful, you would probably end your career as a minister in the Conservative Party.”

“I didn’t know I would become the Prince Consort either, so it’s not like the Duke’s insight was particularly lacking.”

“But my second son saw the potential in Your Royal Highness and said he would do politics together, while I didn’t. I guess that’s ultimately the difference in political acumen.”

In fact, it wasn’t Wellesley who chose me, but the other way around, but I’m not so oblivious as to say such things in front of the Duke, who is not in good health.

“Originally, politics and military affairs are different domains. Just as the Duke is respected as one of the greatest generals of Great Britain who defeated Napoleon, the Prime Minister will also be remembered as a great politician of Great Britain for a long time to come.”

“Thank you. Actually, I’m only saying this in front of Your Royal Highness, but my health hasn’t been very good for the past two years, and no matter how I look at it, I’m worried about whether that child will be able to carry out the duties of Prime Minister well in the future. I don’t know if it’s right to say this, but I would feel much more at ease if Your Royal Highness continues to maintain a good relationship with that child.”

Even the head of the Conservative Party, which occupies the absolute majority of the British Parliament, and the Prime Minister, who is called the most powerful person in the world, is just a worried child in his father’s eyes?

Sadly, I could relate, so I quietly nodded.

Logically, there is no reason for me to break up with Wellesley, but the Duke of Wellington is not simply saying to get along well.

“I have also told my eldest son, Arthur, who will inherit my title, to help his brother and Your Royal Highness as much as possible, so please feel free to ask for cooperation if you need anything later.”

“Thank you.”

Wellesley firmly controls the House of Commons, and the House of Lords is originally dominated by the Conservative Party, but the influence of someone holding the Duke of Wellington’s position is not small.

Unlike the Duke, who had semi-retired from politics, the Duke’s eldest son would likely try to participate more actively in politics, so it would be helpful.

But right now, that Duke of Wellington.

The Battle of Waterloo [the battle where Napoleon was defeated], which brought down Napoleon.

The fact that the giant of Great Britain, who had made me so nervous at our first meeting, now looked so small and pathetic was a little regrettable.

The fact that the passage of time was felt so starkly was not a pleasant experience.

“Your Royal Highness.”

“…Yes.”

“I vividly remember when Your Royal Highness opened that door over there and came in. Do you remember?”

“How could I forget? Of course, I remember.”

“It’s been 20 years and several more years since then… It feels like it was just a moment ago, but time is so fast and scary. It wasn’t a bad life, but looking back, I have many regrets. Your Royal Highness, who has always been on a winning streak since entering the political world, may have thought I was pathetic.”
The past when he defeated Napoleon, who had plunged all of Europe into fear, and was praised as a hero of Great Britain.

At that time, he must have been full of confidence that he could do anything, but the Duke did not see much success after formally entering the political world.

Unable to bear the sense of alienation, he retreated to protect his remaining honor instead of pouring all his efforts into regaining power.

“How could I have thought you were pathetic? I was able to reach this position thanks to the Duke’s fame.”

“With Your Royal Highness’s abilities, you would have been able to soar high enough even if you had joined hands with someone else.”

“They say there is no ‘what if’ in history. You never know.”

“…Actually, Charles is down there, so I’m saying this, but I know my son’s abilities well. Of course, I have to admit that he is more outstanding than I thought, but he would never have been able to reach this position with his own strength alone. Thank you for taking good care of my son until now.”

“It’s a matter of mutual benefit as business partners, so it’s only natural. I have also received a lot of help from the Prime Minister.”

“I may be bothering you by continuing to say this… but please take good care of my sons in the future as well.”

Although it was only for a few years when I was young, having the Duke of Wellington as my patron was an invaluable support for me, who was a mixed-race illegitimate child.

Now I had all sorts of surnames, Rini, Tokugawa, Hanover, but back then, I couldn’t have imagined that I would become like this.

“As I said before, the Prime Minister and I are business partners, but before that, the Duke is also an benefactor to me. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Now that I’m this old, I don’t have any more desires. Your Royal Highness is still young, so I hope you do what you want to your heart’s content and enjoy it without regrets. I think you will do that even if I don’t say it.”

“Yes, I will enjoy it to the fullest.”

Now, at the words to send Wellesley up, I bowed to him once and got up from my seat.

“Thank you so much for coming all the way here today. Please give my regards to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Yes. Please rest comfortably, Duke. I’ll see you again next time.”

Both the Duke and I.

We knew very well that there would be no next time.

And exactly three days after I returned, while I was enjoying breakfast with Victoria.

The news came that the Duke of Wellington had passed away.

The memories of the Napoleonic era, which had dominated Great Britain and Europe in the past, were now left as the past in the name of records.

History was thus continuing to move forward.