I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 410

“If, if there’s something that comes to mind… what exactly are you referring to…?”

“You said you’d help if you could, didn’t you? So I’m asking if you have any idea what might be going on.”

“Ah, yes. I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Watching Friedrich evade the question, Adelaide was inwardly dumbfounded.

Anyone could see that this reaction was that of someone who felt guilty.

She had only probed lightly, yet he was so startled. The reason was obvious.

He was afraid.

Adelaide had seen this kind of behavior quite a lot.

It was the kind of tone and behavior that commoners, who were completely unaccustomed to royalty, would show when they saw a real power figure before their eyes.

While not exactly the same, the one thing they had in common was that they were watching carefully, worried that they might have offended someone stronger than themselves.

In other words, Crown Prince Friedrich was clearly afraid of his father.

He certainly wasn’t like this the last time I saw him.

The fact that his attitude had changed in just a few days was proof that his father’s story was correct.

That’s why I didn’t understand it even more.

No, did he really believe everything James said?

Is that why he’s acting like this now, out of anxiety that he might have stirred up unnecessary trouble?

My father denied it, but could James really be a hypnotist?

If not, there’s no way someone with the insight of a Crown Prince would believe such a ridiculous dime-novel [cheap, sensational] setting.

But whatever the case, as my father said, James somehow managed to make Friedrich believe him, and as a result, the Crown Prince revealed a flaw that anyone could see.

“Your Highness? Have you finished thinking?”

“Ah, yes. So, um…”

“It’s alright. In a way, it’s a family matter, and it wouldn’t make sense to ask someone else for help, would it? I was just asking if, by any chance, you had any idea.”

“…I’m sorry I couldn’t be of assistance…”

“And anyway, my father said he has a rough idea of who’s behind it. My father has never been wrong when he’s said something like this, so I’m honestly not too worried.”

Friedrich, who was trying to gloss over the situation, froze.

Good, good. A little more prodding and he’ll crack.

“Is that… so? It’s a relief that you’ve already caught a clue. But really… what kind of foolish person would try to make an enemy of the British Imperial Family? They must be suicidal.”

“Right? I think so too. I haven’t heard the details, but if this is revealed, not only the Imperial Family but also the Parliament won’t stand still. It’s like making an enemy of Great Britain itself.”

“That’s right. They must have thought they wouldn’t get caught moving behind the scenes, but as expected, His Majesty Killian is flawless in his work.”

He was trying to appear calm, but it was obvious that he was burning with anxiety.

“Shall we go now? I’ll personally introduce you to the famous places in London. If you’re tired, you can just go back from here today.”

“…Thank you for your consideration. Still, there’s no man in this world who would turn down the opportunity to tour the city with the Princess.”

Friedrich smiled awkwardly and rode in the carriage with Adelaide, touring the famous places in London little by little.

Adelaide kindly explained each one, and the Crown Prince listened attentively, chiming in and honestly admiring the developed scenery of London, adding his own impressions.

But she immediately noticed that Friedrich’s mind was elsewhere.

To be honest, it was all too obvious, and suppressing her laughter at his desperate attempts to pretend everything was fine was a real ordeal.

Normally, she would have felt a little sorry for him, but wasn’t the other party an impolite person who tried to dig into the affairs of her respected and beloved father?

He was simply paying for the karma he deserved, so she felt nothing but schadenfreude [pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune].

As if to make him even more anxious, she deliberately told stories of how quickly Killian worked and how ruthless he could be at times, with appropriate exaggeration.

Every time, he would pretend to be impressed and nod desperately.

At this point, the other side couldn’t help but suspect that this side knew everything and was just testing his reaction.

As expected, as the schedule was coming to an end, the Crown Prince, unable to suppress his rising suspicion and anxiety, asked in a slightly trembling voice.

“Your Highness, was there any talk about His Majesty Killian meeting me today?”

“Excuse me? Why all of a sudden…”

“Ah, no, I was just wondering what you think of me and hoping that you would look favorably upon me.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, we did talk about it. There’s no way he wouldn’t be interested, right? Especially after what you did.”

“Yes? What I did?”

“You came all the way from Berlin to London, didn’t you? Of course he’ll think highly of you for going to such lengths.”

Adelaide delivered the final blow with the same bright smile she used when recommending items to upper-class ladies, and Friedrich quickly bowed his head, unable to hide his twisted smile.

“I… enjoyed today. I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Yes, I hope we can meet again next time.”

She had already given him enough leeway, so it was up to him to make a decision.

Depending on what choice he makes, the fate of many people will be greatly twisted.

In any case, she had definitely done her part, so her shoulders felt light.

The other party’s head may be about to explode with complexity, but that was nothing to do with her.

Getting out of the carriage and returning to the palace, Adelaide’s steps were as light as if she had wings.

* * *

Although she didn’t say it explicitly, Adelaide had decided to give Friedrich three days to make a decision in her mind.

If he moved within that time, he might be able to live, but if not, he would have to be prepared to be dragged down from the Crown Prince’s seat.

She had already prepared countermeasures so that there would be no problems no matter which way it went.

Exactly three days had passed since she had been happily waiting to see what decision our dear Crown Prince would make, and on the last night, Friedrich came to me, saying that he had something urgent to tell me.

I don’t know if he knows that he was on the verge of opening the gate to hell, but judging from his expression, he seems to have a rough idea of how things are going.

Of course, I pretended not to know anything and even poured him tea myself, welcoming him.

“What brings you here in the middle of the night? If it’s something urgent, is it related to my daughter?”

“…That’s… not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“Well…”

Unless he was sure that the other party didn’t know anything at all, it would be close to suicide to pretend not to know anything here, given the mental pressure I had put on him.

Moreover, since James had given him detailed information about what I had been doing so far, the Crown Prince had no choice but to see me as an even greater being than I actually was.

If I were the Crown Prince, I would have come straight here, bowed my head, and begged for forgiveness.

The fact that it took him three days to come is a slightly disappointing judgment.

Or is it guilt for having started something together and trying to get out of it alone, even though there’s no need to keep his loyalty?

No. It’s closer to pride than guilt.

He had prepared everything thoroughly, but how twisted would he be if he had to admit that he was in a situation where he had to kneel down and beg to save his own life?

But that’s your problem, not mine.

I will never give him a definite answer to make it easier for him to choose.

Whether he confesses and begs for forgiveness, or whether he sticks to his last prayer that it’s not true and sinks together, it’s up to him to choose.

“Your Majesty… I heard a story the other day about some disloyal people trying to tarnish the name of the Imperial Family.”

“Ah, it seems you heard it from my daughter. But is that why you came here in the middle of the night? Do you have anything to say about the incident?”

“Well… that’s…”

He was trying his best to read my expression, but would that work?

Soon, realizing that it was no use trying to gauge my reaction, the Crown Prince suddenly bowed his head.

“Your Majesty! I, in fact, know the… information about them. I will provide this…”

“Crown Prince. I hate lies. And unfortunately, it’s too obvious that you’re trying to lie right now. But I’m a merciful person, so I’ll overlook one mistake. So now you only have one chance left, right?”

I know everything, so if you try to get away with nonsense, you’re dead.

Friedrich, his face pale, shook his head frantically and bowed.

“I, I’m sorry! I was short-sighted! But, um, this was never because I had personal animosity towards Your Majesty, but because of a conflict with the Prime Minister… I was blinded by the desire to strengthen the royal authority for a moment…”

“So you came to me in the middle of the night to ask me to listen to your excuses?”

Is it because he’s not in a position to apologize to someone that he doesn’t know how to apologize?

But even though I say that, I didn’t have any intention of completely cutting him off from the moment Friedrich bowed down.

Prussia was one of the most important allied countries that the British Empire could never give up.

There’s no better card to directly check Russia, so why would I be crazy enough to kick them out?

And Friedrich was the only direct prince of Prussia.

The only son of the current King Wilhelm, who has one son and one daughter.

Therefore, if the Crown Prince was really kicked out, there would inevitably be chaos within Prussia.

It would be best to avoid putting such a burden on an allied country that we have to continue to embrace.

In addition, the very act of overlooking the Crown Prince who committed such an act would be a great debt to Wilhelm.

If he had several sons, the worst case scenario would be to replace the Crown Prince, but if his only son caused a major accident, there would be no answer.

But since he caused a major disaster by directly touching the Imperial Family of the world’s strongest power, he had to take responsibility somehow, and how grateful would he be if I overlooked it?

Even if I overlook it, how much of a voice would the Crown Prince, who caused such a major accident, be able to make when he becomes king?

No matter how much he tries to pull the strings of power, he will have no choice but to be dragged around by Bismarck [Otto von Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia].

He will have no choice but to think that it is a blessing just to keep his position.

In other words, the power struggle between the king and the prime minister, which could have become a huge bomb in the Prussian political world, would be resolved at once.

Bismarck has been showing signs of trying to get off track lately, but if I give him such a great gift, he will never doubt my words again.

In addition, once I step on him firmly like this, fear of me will be engraved in Friedrich’s bones.

To fear someone means to be further away from rational judgment.

Friedrich, who was convinced that I knew everything for sure, was no longer in a state to make rational judgments.

This was because of the pressure and fear that had already been injected through James and Adelaide in advance.

“Your Majesty! No, I mean, it’s not an excuse… I’m sorry! I was blinded by greed and committed a suicidal act. But it’s not too late, so I’ll fix everything right away. Please give me a chance. Didn’t I voluntarily confess everything like this before the investigation even started?”

“Voluntarily? Would the Crown Prince have come here on his own two feet if I hadn’t deliberately let my daughter slip the words?”

“That’s…”

“Still, Prussia is a valuable ally, so I will give the Crown Prince a chance.”

Did he say that he had a grand plan to pit the British Imperial Family against the Russian Imperial Family?

But life doesn’t always go the way you think it will.

“Announce that all of this was orchestrated by the Russian Imperial Family.”

You have to clean up the mess you made.

That’s the painful lesson for a child who plays with fire.