I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 523

< Toward Eternity (3) >

The void left by Wellesley, the most beloved Prime Minister in British Empire history, was larger than expected.

It was inevitable, considering Wellesley had held the position for over 40 years.

Few presidents or prime ministers remain in office for more than 10 years.

Even 20 years is a historically significant term, but he served more than twice that long.

Coupled with Disraeli’s departure, a stalwart of the Conservative Party, a power vacuum within the party was inevitable.

Numerous hopefuls threw their hats into the ring to seize the next party leadership, but the person destined to win was already determined.

Lord Salisbury, also known as Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, the chairman of the Canadian Parliament.

A fervent supporter of Killian since long ago, he returned to London and was immediately nominated as the next Prime Minister with overwhelming support.

For the Conservative Party, it was essential to promote someone who could maintain connections with the royal family, and no one was closer to the royal family than Lord Salisbury, making him an obvious choice.

However, Lord Salisbury wasn’t as pleased as one might think.

His supporters were reveling in the excitement, drinking, singing, and dancing in a frenzy, but Lord Salisbury couldn’t manage a smile.

“Haa… my term starts next week, what am I going to do?”

He thought he had become accustomed to high positions while serving as the chairman of the Canadian Parliament, but he was mistaken.

The Prime Minister, representing the overwhelmingly majority party in the world’s strongest empire.

Moreover, he had to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, who had perfectly served for over 40 years and led the British Empire’s golden age.

No matter what he did, comparisons were inevitable, and if anything went wrong, he would be torn to shreds in comparison to Wellesley.

The position of Prime Minister of the British Empire was one that everyone coveted but also one that could crush anyone with its burden.

It was a poisoned chalice.

In truth, he could have stayed in Canada without any issues.

However, the Conservative Party needed Lord Salisbury to fill the void left by the giant Wellesley, and he had returned because the party wanted him so badly.

While those fellow lawmakers, oblivious to his feelings, were celebrating what they thought was the beginning of their era, his insides were boiling.

As he was secretly sipping whiskey in a corner, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Why is our Prime Minister all alone in a place like this?”

“Ah, Prime Minister! I thought you would be resting at the residence, but you came all the way here?”

“Well, my presence is needed to make the picture look beautiful, isn’t it? But the Prime Minister is you now, not me.”

“Ah, I apologize. It’s just a habit, the words came out naturally.”

Lord Salisbury hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully to the old man before him.

Even though he would be the Prime Minister from now on, he couldn’t bear to stand upright in front of Wellesley.

“Why are you being so formal? I’m not a politician anymore.”

“Still, Prime Minister… no, Lord Wellesley is the eternal symbol of the Conservative Party.”

For all he knew, many people in the British Empire probably thought the word ‘Prime Minister’ was synonymous with Wellesley.

This was an inference based on an experience of hearing a child say so directly.

“When the newspaper article announcing my appointment as Prime Minister was distributed, some students asked if Lord Wellesley had passed away.”

Even students who were studying assumed that the Prime Minister was a lifetime position.

Indeed, people under the age of 40 had lived in a country where Wellesley had been Prime Minister since they were infants, so it was not unreasonable for them to think so.

However, each of these factors weighed heavily on Lord Salisbury.

Wellesley, noticing his expression, lit a cigarette, exhaled, and sat down.

“There will be many difficult things to come, why are you already making such a sour face?”

“That’s why I’m acting like this. By the way, have you always smoked?”

“No. Her Majesty hates the smell of cigarettes, so I couldn’t even think of smoking near her. She says it’s bad for my health or something. But how much longer do I have to live to worry about that? I just won’t smoke when I go to Buckingham.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t smoke either. I can’t do such a disloyal thing as smoking when Her Majesty doesn’t.”

“Ah… right. You were that type. Then it wouldn’t be polite for me to smoke alone, so I’ll just put it out.”

Wellesley dropped the cigarette he had just lit on the ground and stomped it out with his shoe.

“In my opinion, someone like you is more likely to lead the country well. So keep worrying.”

“…Excuse me? Shouldn’t you be telling me not to worry at times like this?”

“No. The reason I think highly of you is because of your current worried and anxious demeanor.”

“You mean I shouldn’t be intoxicated by the power of the Conservative Party and handle everything with caution.”

“Be cautious yet bold, but never arrogant. There are plenty of people in the world who can follow the advice to be bold, but not many who can follow the advice to be cautious. In that regard, you, who have served as the chairman of the Canadian Parliament and are still trembling like this, have a very good talent.”

If someone else said this, it might sound like they were mocking him, but when Wellesley said it directly, it carried a different weight.

“Anyway, I feel a little relieved to hear you say that. Do you have any other advice for me?”

“Actually, you have another great advantage. That is, you are the foremost follower of His Majesty Killian. His Majesty also thinks highly of you. So if you ever get stuck, go to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty is alive, there won’t be any problems during your term. In some ways, this may be your greatest fortune.”

Wellesley showed Lord Salisbury, who was looking bewildered, several documents he had.

“Do you know what these are?”

“Yes? This is…”

Documents that were only allowed to the Prime Minister.

Until now, Prime Minister = Wellesley had exclusively possessed them, but now Lord Salisbury could also access them.

“Future predictions, advanced industry forecasts… Did His Majesty write these documents?”

“Yes. I brought them with me because I was given permission to show them to you, so keep them to yourself no matter what.”

Killian’s almost divinely inspired predictions had become so famous that there was no one in the world who didn’t know about them.

But to think that wasn’t the end, and there were so many predictions about the future?

“Indeed, His Majesty’s greatness is…”

“I was worried about whether I should really show them to you, but I guess it’s okay with you. To borrow His Majesty’s words, the framework has been laid, but it is up to you and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to complete it, so you must throw yourselves into it with the determination to sacrifice your lives. If you’re thinking of becoming the Prime Minister of the world’s strongest empire and just coasting along, remember that you’ll be dragged down immediately.”

Saying he would drag down the head of the parliament was, in some ways, a line that had been crossed, but Lord Salisbury didn’t care.

To be precise, he was so engrossed in the future shown by the predictions before him that he didn’t even have time to pay attention to those words.

“…My job is clear. To prevent a world war-level conflict from breaking out in Europe at all costs. If it does break out, to suppress it early by mobilizing the power of all allies. And to check the United States from challenging the British Empire’s hegemony by using Canada… I see. Now I think I can see the picture His Majesty was looking at.”

“Sometimes, when you listen to him, you might think, ‘Hey, surely that won’t happen?’ But remember that the most unlikely things happen the fastest, and that will greatly help your mental health.”

It was advice that would become flesh and blood for his junior.

Lord Salisbury bowed his head with all his heart to this great senior.

Looking at the heavy documents on his lap, he felt that the pressure weighing on his heart had lessened a little.

* * *

Chijijik. Chijijik…

[December 24th, Christmas Eve, marks the historic first day that audio is broadcast throughout London via radio waves. To commemorate this moment, His Majesty Killian will personally read a passage from the Bible. Following this, we will take time to pray together for the endless development of the British Empire. Those listening to the broadcast…]

Radio broadcasts were being transmitted more than 10 years earlier than in the original history, and the royal family’s achievements were being actively promoted through them.

Time continued to flow quickly, and many things disappeared and were created anew.

January 14, 1895.

Wellesley, his lifelong friend, passed away peacefully in front of his family and was buried beneath Westminster.

He had been preparing himself, but he couldn’t help but feel sad.

That day, he spent the whole day alone in the office that the guy used to use, drinking and reminiscing about the old days.

He thought he had cried, and he thought he had laughed.

Thankfully, Victoria, Edward, and Adelaide did not comfort or soothe me.

Victoria knew how I felt, so she just watched silently.

His children did not disturb him until he left the room again, as if they knew that they, as mere youngsters, could not fathom their father’s feelings.

Gladstone, who had boasted steel-like stamina, had also been complaining of health problems since last year and had completely retired from the Liberal Party.

Based on his feelings, he probably didn’t have many years left either.

The same would be true for him.

“But I didn’t know you only had that much property. You lived a frugal life.”

After Wellesley’s funeral, there was an article that once again plunged all of London into a wave of mourning, which was the amount of wealth Wellesley had accumulated during his lifetime.

As the second son of a duke’s family, he couldn’t have been poor, but the wealth Wellesley had accumulated during his lifetime was far less than his reputation.

To put it a little exaggeratedly, it was no exaggeration to say that he lived only on his salary, and there was no accumulation of wealth using his power at all.

The eldest son, who inherited most of the family’s wealth, was much wealthier, and all that remained for the Prime Minister was the title and land granted by Victoria.

The media praised him as a Prime Minister whose departure was also beautiful, but I, who knew the meaning, could only empty another bottle of whiskey with a bitter heart.

It wasn’t that Wellesley hated money, so he kept it away.

There are people in the world who don’t have a great desire for money, but all the humans who say they hate money are scammers.

The reason why Wellesley, who could have accumulated one of the most outstanding fortunes in the British Empire if he had wanted to, lived frugally until the end was probably because of me.

It was because he had to keep his position as Prime Minister so that I could do whatever I wanted.

So he was blocking corruption, which could be the biggest target of attack, with almost obsessive compulsiveness.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your children live a life of luxury until their stomachs burst.”

Thank you. Thank you for leaving me with only good memories until the end.

After saying goodbye and returning to Buckingham Palace, I completely retired from all work.

The wealth and authority that could later become a source of conflict had already been thoroughly divided, and the seeds of possible family disputes had been nipped in the bud.

Now that I had given up everything, I would spend the rest of my life, which was not so long, with my loved ones.

* * *

January 13, 1900, not long after the first year of the 20th century dawned.

The Times published an article that the health of Killian, the British Empire’s state guest, had deteriorated, plunging the entire British Empire into sorrow.