I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 311

Buckingham’s Evening (2)

“So, Adelaide, you’re saying you don’t like any of the people your mother suggests?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“But you used to talk about wanting to go to balls all the time. You don’t seem to go much these days.”

“I thought there would be a lot of handsome men there, but no one catches my eye.”

Victoria clicked her tongue beside me, muttering, “She doesn’t even realize her standards are too high,” but I pretended not to hear her.

“Yes, yes. But there’s no such thing as a perfect person. If you focus on people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses, you might find it easier to connect with them, don’t you think?”

“I don’t think I’m asking for that much.”

Eventually, Victoria, who had been listening from the side, couldn’t resist joining the conversation again.

“Not asking for much! You insisted on photos instead of portraits because you think there are too many painting scams, and you’ve rejected dozens of people just because you didn’t like their faces in the photos!”

“But they really weren’t good-looking enough. The reason I didn’t want portraits is because there are so many scams. Photos can’t lie, so I asked for photos. But as expected, most of them were uglier than my father, who’s almost forty. How could I meet people like that? And I’m only seventeen. There’s no rush at all, you know?”

“I’m not telling you to get married right away. But I’m saying you should meet some decent people in advance since you’ll have to get married someday. I don’t understand why you keep resisting.”

So, she insisted on photos to avoid being deceived by appearances.

As the conversation went on, Adelaide’s preferences became clearer.

She wanted someone similar to me, who is almost 40 years old.

And someone kind, capable, and who has achieved something through their own abilities, without relying on their family’s prestige.

There were many other conditions, and I could understand why Victoria was so exasperated.

It almost seemed like she secretly wanted to stay single but was making excuses because no one would take her seriously if she said that outright.

On top of that, she even said she wanted to start a business, which was enough to make Victoria’s head spin.

Conversely, the unusually mature second son, Alfred, always lectured his sister for being immature, so naturally, they were constantly fighting.

What kind of chaos would unfold here when Beatrice and William grow up?

The eldest son is suffering from the pressure of inheriting the throne, and the eldest daughter is complaining that she won’t get married unless she finds the perfect man.

The second son openly considers his eldest sister pathetic and is constantly bickering with her, while the two youngest children seem to find this sitcom-like spectacle endlessly amusing.

Leading a family… it might be much more difficult than I expected.

If I die, will the dignity of the British Imperial Family be maintained in the future?

Honestly, my confidence has wavered a bit.

* * *

The carriage keeps rolling, even if the dogs bark [an idiom meaning that progress continues despite criticism or opposition].

Whether the royal family members were bickering and filming a family sitcom, or the United States congressmen were shouting that Lincoln wouldn’t do, the US presidential election proceeded without a hitch.

And I accepted the expected results.

“Good evening, Ambassador Cordoba. How have you been lately?”

“Thanks to Your Highness’s concern, I am very well. But what brings me here today?”

“It’s about the topic we discussed last time. I thought the time had come to discuss it more seriously, so I invited you, Ambassador.”

Even if the children worry their parents, they cannot neglect their official duties.

I had already received Wellesley’s permission, so I no longer needed to be cautious. I personally served coffee to the still-puzzled Spanish Ambassador Cordoba and immediately got to the point.

“If I, rather than the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister, invited you, you can probably guess what it’s about, right?”

“Ah, you mean something related to Canada, not the British Empire itself. I understand now. The matter concerning the United States that you mentioned last time… is that correct?”

“Yes. Since you remember, the story will be faster. What is Spain’s prediction of the current situation?”

“After hearing Your Highness’s words, I immediately sent a telegram to the home country and received a reply. However, the home country still believes that there is not a high possibility of escalation to a situation close to civil war.”

How foolish. I gave them all the hints, but they’re still barking up the wrong tree [pursuing a mistaken idea or course of action]. I can understand why they fell to the rank of a second-rate power.

As expected, those who are not meant to be will not be, no matter what they do.

“No. I can say for sure that as of today, civil war is not a possibility but a reality. Would you like to see this?”

The latest report from the United States.

Ambassador Cordoba’s eyes widened at the news that the South had stolen gold from the Federal Mint before Lincoln’s inauguration ceremony, after he had won the presidential election.

“I didn’t expect the South to come out this strong…”

“That’s not all. Pro-federal government politicians are already being forced out of the South one after another. Do you understand? The South is really considering secession.”

“War… If the United States really splits and fights, the scale will be different from the last Mexican war. What is your country’s position? Have you already decided which side to take?”

“The British Empire is neutral. But considering that a significant number of Canadians are Black people who came from the United States, it would be difficult to openly side with the South, right? However, if the North wins easily, the United States will become even stronger and more unified than it is now. The dominance of the North American continent will be permanently solidified with the United States.”

This would not be a welcome situation for Spain, which had profited from the last Mexican war and was trying to dabble in Central and South America again.

The slight hardening of Ambassador Cordoba’s expression proved that.

“But even if it’s a war in Europe, we don’t have the capacity to intervene in a war in North America. Isn’t the only country with that kind of power the British Empire or France?”

“We don’t want Spain to directly intervene in the war either. Europe must maintain neutrality on the surface. However, shouldn’t we all gain something from this war? Like the last war.”

The Ambassador’s expression changed when I emphasized the words ‘last war’.

Yes, yes, do you understand now?

In the first place, Spain only thinks that they don’t have the capacity to send troops to North America, and they firmly believe that they are stronger than the United States.

This means that they are not even considering retaliation or the aftermath.

“Your Highness, I’m asking just in case, but is it true that the southern region is not properly industrialized?”

“Yes. Most military supplies are produced in the North. If a war actually breaks out, the South will desperately need weapons and supplies.”

“Ah. I see. I will pass it on to the home country as it is. To sum up, Your Highness needs a broker.”

“Didn’t we have a good time last time? We must coexist and prosper together. However, if you actually transfer weapons, you will have to consider various things. In the beginning, you can easily approach the southern ports, but the South’s naval power is much weaker than the North’s. The problem is after the North blockades the southern ports…”

Since the unprecedented situation of the Civil War has broken out, the North will never leave those who supply weapons to the South alone.

If it’s a French or British Empire merchant ship, they won’t go as far as sinking it, but they will do something close to confiscation. What if a Spanish merchant ship is loitering around?

I guarantee that they will sink it right away without considering it and threaten Spain.

No matter how much the North blockades the sea, it is impossible to block the entire wide coastline, but it is too inefficient to find each gap and transport goods.

“Your Highness, don’t worry. Once the Canadian weapons arrive in Cuba, we can take care of the rest.”

“Do you have a way to break through the naval blockade?”

“There’s no need to break through. In the early stages of the war, the port will be functioning properly, so we will export goods normally. And if the North blockades and controls the southern ports, then we have to use Mexico.”

“Mexico? That’s not a bad idea.”

Spain had obtained some of the mining rights to the silver mines in return for selling weapons to Mexico last time and had sent several merchants to Mexico.

So, if they deliver weapons to local merchants in Mexico and sell them to the South by land, they can secure a trade route that the North can never control.

It’s quite cumbersome, but if the South can obtain a stable weapon supply route, the South will unconditionally pay whatever price they ask for.

As expected, Spain, like the 0th generation of the Hyeongseong country before the British Empire, knows a romantic method [likely a reference to a historical or cultural context where Spain was known for its adventurous or unconventional methods].

“If the North says anything, we can just say that Mexico currently wants to strengthen its defense capabilities and asked us to sell them weapons, and we just granted their request. The only thing left is how to win over Mexico…”

“That’s no problem. If the North easily crushes the South, the national power of the United States will increase even more, and it’s too easy to imagine which way the next gun of the United States will be pointed.”

“Ah, so you’re saying that we should make them aware that it’s better for the United States’ civil war to be longer, even for Mexico’s sake. I’ve heard that there is currently tremendous anti-American sentiment in Mexico. If we tap into that, they will cooperate on their own without us needing to offer separate incentives.”

“That’s right. It’s good to talk to the ambassador. Hahaha.”

“That’s what I should say. Hehehe.”

The Canadian munitions factories are already running at full capacity, so if we use Spain as a middleman, we can export weapons right now.

Of course, even so, it will be difficult for the South to win against the North, but the process will be much more difficult than in the original history, and in the worst case, the two countries may end up permanently divided.

Ambassador Cordoba left, saying that he would coordinate with the home country right away, and I pretended not to know anything and called the US ambassador to express concern about the current situation.

The conflict between the North and the South is unusual, so is this really okay?

I told them that British Empire merchants and investors are anxious, so I hope the situation will stabilize in the most moderate way possible.

The US ambassador repeatedly insisted that ‘the unity of the United States is unshakable’.

Rather than lying, it seemed that they also believed that a civil war would not break out, but no way.

[President Lincoln: “The rebellion of the Southern slave states will be suppressed, even by force!”]

[Federal Executive Branch: “We will not interfere with the issue of slavery in the South in accordance with the Constitution.”]

[Jefferson Davis declares that there will be no compromise until all states in the North turn to allowing slavery! Compromise fails again!]

The situation is heading towards the worst day by day.

Lincoln tried to appease the South as much as possible to maintain the status quo, but the South had already clearly realized that they could not exert any influence on the politics of the United States.

What they wanted was for slavery to be allowed throughout the United States, but Lincoln made it clear that this was impossible, and it was publicly reaffirmed that there was no room for further negotiations.

The conflict that had accumulated over decades finally broke through the critical point and began to boil,

exploded in an instant.

[Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina secedes from the Union]

The war has begun.