I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 532

‘Bboo-ehng~ Hyun-seok, please help me.’

The ambition of the Northeast Asian countries to create a massive economic community comparable to the British Empire naturally displeased the strongest nation.

An announcement was made that wasn’t emotional, but clearly showed how pissed off they were, and the Joseon Empire was naturally caught up in a blame game.

I wondered if they hadn’t anticipated this kind of reaction when they pushed things forward, but that’s just how politics usually is.

Even though they themselves think this isn’t right, what can they do when they can’t help but be conscious of approval ratings and public opinion?

Still, thanks to our dear Emperor accepting my advice and taking a neutral stance, we didn’t suffer any particular damage.

But doing that much should be enough, what’s with wanting me to clean up after them too?

‘Hahaha, Hyun-seok. It just so happens that AL Group decided to build a foundry in California in exchange for subsidies this time. You have to go to London anyway to discuss that, so why don’t you also pass on our story? We’re all family, and you actually know people in their royal family, don’t you?’

So, they want me to go there and say surprise~, this was all a joke. Hahaha! How could we possibly offend the British Empire and act cute, right?

I wonder if it’s normal to ask someone who just got out of bed after being sick to do that, but sadly, it feels so familiar that my emotions don’t even waver.

I’ve carried logs in response to countless ‘do it’ requests, so I don’t even get angry anymore.

I just laugh in vain, thinking that this is my fate in both my past and present lives.

Even saying all this, I wasn’t that bothered because I wanted to see with my own eyes how much London had changed.

After demanding that the imperial family push the new project I planned if I resolved things well and returned, I boarded a private jet to London.

What would the capital of the British Empire, which maintains its position as the world’s strongest nation, feel like?

Full of excitement, I got off the plane at the airport and got into a private limousine following the welcoming staff.

Hmm, the scenery of London seen through the window is, well…

Contrary to expectations, it’s not that grand.

Maybe because they’ve left a lot of the old traditions, but in terms of the city’s grandeur, it feels like it doesn’t even match Hanseong [Seoul’s historical name, often used to evoke a sense of tradition].

Of course, the banking district far away is a completely different world, similar to the original history.

“Vice Chairman, I will take you to the dinner banquet first. His Majesty will attend after the meal, so you can greet the other members of the royal family.”

“Who did you say was attending?”

“Most of the royal family members near London will be attending. Considering the day, after all.”

Well, I made my schedule with today in mind from the start, so it’s natural that most of the relatives without any special business would attend.

March 13th, Memorial Day.

Simply put, it’s a day when a memorial service is held, and the royal family gathers under the pretext of remembering Killian, the British Empire’s greatest monarch.

It’s been over 100 years since he died, and it doesn’t make sense to still commemorate his death anniversary, but surprisingly, my son Edward’s death anniversary was also on this day.

Therefore, the next emperor naturally designated this day as a memorial day and continued to hold memorial services, and this has continued to this day and has become a public holiday.

He died on the same day as his son, isn’t it really strange and amazing?

Of course, decades have passed, so even if it’s a memorial service, people don’t really sink into sadness or preside over the event in a solemn atmosphere.

“By the way, where did you say the memorial service would be held?”

“Of course, it will be held at Killian Memorial Park. Haven’t you been there a few times, Vice Chairman?”

“Ah, ah… was I?”

Damn it, seeing that monstrosity in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace [Seoul’s main royal palace] is enough, do I have to come all the way here and see it again?

I saw on Wiki last time that the statue in London is even bigger and shinier than the one in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, and I already feel like my hands and feet are curling up and my face is burning.

No, Victoria… are you taking out your anger on me for leaving you behind first?

Come to think of it, it’s not just this statue.

Looking at the diary entries, she distorted everything, saying that I followed her around all the time, how could she do this!

Did Edward and Adelaide know that their mother was obviously lying and still agree with her?

That’s why no matter how much you raise sons and daughters, they always take their mother’s side when it matters.

I raised them with so much love and care, but they couldn’t even protect their father’s honor and instead embarrassed me like this.

I was internally chewing on Victoria and my eldest son and daughter as I got out of the car parked at the park entrance.

“Vice Chairman, look over there. The statue is shining even more today. His Majesty in heaven must be in a good mood because his descendants have come to visit.”

“No, I’m not. I feel like I’m dying of embarrassment right now.”

“…Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing, let’s just go.”

Yeah, if I didn’t like it, I should have lived even one day longer than Victoria, isn’t it my karma for being a younger man and leaving earlier.

Thinking positively, I went to my assigned seat, and the memorial service started just in time.

-This park was created to commemorate the achievements of His Majesty Killian, who established the glory of the British Empire. Her Majesty Empress Victoria missed His Majesty Killian and created this park, and she came here every single day without fail after the park was completed. And…

Numerous photos and phrases attached to the bottom of the statue.

I zoomed in on the writing with my phone camera and instantly felt tears welling up in my eyes.

[To my beloved]

The statue in Gyeongbokgung Palace didn’t have anything like this, but this place is close to the Imperial Palace, so it was densely filled with writings that Victoria left every day.

Looking at the dates, it seems she really came here every day without fail after this park was created.

Maybe the reason why she gilded my statue was to keep a promise she made with me?

Even if it was a playful promise.

It may be wishful thinking, but I decided to think that way for now.

Because I will never know what she was feeling when she came here.

Haa. Should I have just made an excuse and not come?

Coming here made me miss her even more.

* * *

“Oh! I heard you had a big accident, but you seem to be completely fine now!”

“The plane crashed, but you didn’t have a single scratch? Is our President Lee immortal?”

“Hello. But I’m not the chairman yet.”

“Hyun-seok! I’m Duke Strathern. We’ve met before, haven’t we? Here, these are my children.”

“Ah, yes. Greetings, Your Grace.”

“My kids are at that age where they’re obsessed with limited editions. So, about that limited edition smartphone that your group collaborated with Adelaide on, is there any way to get it? My daughter keeps begging me…”

“Of course, I can get it. I’ll send you one.”

The five children born under Killian. And the lineage of countless children born under those children.

I’ve seen them a few times, but it’s so complicated that I can’t even remember who’s who, so I just memorized the few who are doing the best.

Those who inherited the title of Duke or the heirs who inherited the companies that I passed on to my children.

Fortunately, I was in a very, very successful position among my relatives, so others were eager to come and act like they knew me.

As the successor to the world’s second-largest group, it’s not unreasonable to have much more influence than most nobles.

But no matter how successful you are, there is a clear hierarchy in family relationships.

There were several people who would benefit me, both publicly and privately, if I treated them with respect.

I had memorized the faces and names of those people in advance, and one of the people at the top of that list greeted me happily and waved.

“Hyun-seok, even if you’re fine, is it okay to fly for more than 10 hours like this? How long are you planning to stay in London?”

“Greetings, Grand Duchess Elizabeth.”

“Don’t be so formal, you can just call me aunt. It’s not like we’ve only met once or twice.”

The chairman of the Adelaide Group, which holds all the luxury goods in the world, and the direct descendant of my eldest daughter, Adelaide.

In terms of market capitalization, it’s smaller than AL Group’s electronics division, but its influence is enormous in that it controls almost all the world’s luxury goods.

Of course, the reason I treat her with respect is not because of that, but because she is Adelaide’s direct descendant and an elder of the imperial family.

“Oh, and Hyun-seok. There are a lot of people over there who want to say hello to you, so come over here. Shouldn’t you also have close relationships with those politicians now?”

“Ah… yes.”

“There are six members of the House of Commons here right now. And…”

Ah, my head is spinning.

It’s good that my descendants are doing well, but at this point, I’m starting to get scared.

Not only in the British Empire but also in the Joseon Imperial Family and even in the United States, the bloodline has spread out, so the backgrounds are diverse.

I’ve been memorizing like crazy beforehand, but now I’m starting to get confused about who’s who.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

With the sound of the floor shaking, silence fell over the banquet hall in an instant, and the noisy atmosphere quickly subsided.

Phew, I’m alive.

As I was checking my clothes again next to Elizabeth, the door opened wide and a thunderous voice echoed through the room.

“His Majesty Edward IX, by the Grace of God, The Emperor of the Empire on which the sun never sets, The King of England and Canada, The Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Sovereign of the Royal Three and Great Canals, Protector of the Five Oceans.”

With grandiose modifiers, the military band began a grand performance, and a tall middle-aged man in his 40s walked in.

Unlike the symbolic existence of the original history, he is an emperor of a constitutional monarchy who truly possesses strong power and wealth.

Edward IX looked around, receiving greetings from many people, and immediately moved towards me.

Uh? What is it? Does he know someone around here? Aunt Adelaide has already gone over there, so why is he coming here…

“Hyun-seok, you were here. I was worried when I heard that the plane had crashed, but I’m very relieved. I know you might have been reluctant to fly again, but thank you for coming all the way here.”

“…No. Of course, I had to come.”

It’s awkward to use honorifics to a descendant who is far below me in the family tree, but the emperor, who doesn’t know my feelings, patted me on the shoulder and laughed.

“I can’t stop you. Could it be that you came all this way because of something I asked you to do before?”

“…Yes? What request?”

“Don’t you remember? Now that I think about it, you said you had some memory confusion as a side effect? Didn’t you ask me for something when we met last time? To introduce you to women who suit your taste. You’re the first person to ever ask me for such a favor, so I still remember it vividly, but it’s a little disappointing that you’ve forgotten.”

You asked the emperor of the world’s strongest nation to arrange a blind date?

As if he’s not my reincarnation, this guy was really crazy.

“Ah… Your Majesty. I was really rude…”

“No, no, it was a very fresh memory, so don’t worry about it. You even told me in detail the personality of the woman you prefer. So I joked, ‘Isn’t that exactly like our Empress Victoria?’ and you agreed. You really don’t remember?”

“Hahaha.”

Lee Hyun-seok, you crazy bastard.

Even if the relationship is far down the line, you said in front of Victoria’s direct descendant and the emperor, ‘I want to meet a woman with the same personality as your ancestor’?

This is completely insane.

Whether he knows my inner cry or not, my cheerful descendant smiled brightly and took out a notebook from his pocket.

Don’t tell me he actually looked into it because I asked him to introduce me? Please say that’s the case!