I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 57

Became a Hidden Power in the British Empire 57

New Era

While the political center of the British Empire was Westminster Palace, its spiritual heart remained where the King resided.

It was no exaggeration to call it Buckingham Palace.

Especially after the Conservative Party, which William IV had supported, succeeded in taking power, he subtly increased the frequency of his political remarks.

Thanks to his skillful tightrope walking—never going too far or falling short—the authority of Buckingham had clearly risen to a level incomparable to his early reign.

But no matter how hard he tried, eternal rule was impossible.

“It’s so frustrating.”

The palace’s owner, who had been spending more time in bed lately, grumbled discontentedly.

“Indeed, you’ve been exerting yourself too much recently. It’s good to enjoy the rights of the victor, but you must consider your age, Your Majesty.”

“I know it in my head, but my heart keeps telling me to do it. Would you be able to rest quietly if you were me?”

“That’s impossible. It’s always easier to give advice from the sidelines, isn’t it?”

“You’re not really in a position to give advice either. I heard you gave Conroy a severe scolding at Kensington [Palace, then a royal residence]? I haven’t heard the full details, but rumors are circulating that he begged on his hands and knees. Is that true?”

The commotion at Kensington reached the ears of the royal staff and was reported to William IV.

The King, unable to miss such an interesting rumor, naturally tried to find out the details, but he couldn’t grasp the full story.

Conroy and the Duchess of Kent, as well as the Duke of Sussex and Victoria, who supposedly received the apology, were all silent.

“It’s true. But I promised not to press charges if he offered a sincere apology, so I don’t want to escalate the matter further.”

“Press charges? Then he must have done something seriously wrong.”

“It would be more accurate to say he messed with the wrong person. With witnesses and evidence secured, he won’t be able to utter a peep for the rest of his life.”

“I can’t stand the suspense. Can’t you tell me, just me? I promise not to breathe a word and just keep it to myself. I swear on this crown.”

“Oh, there’s no need to swear on the crown… Hmm, so you promise to keep it to yourself? Absolutely no public disclosure. Understood?”

After William IV made several promises, the Duke of Sussex briefly summarized the incident that had occurred at Kensington.

“Good heavens… So, he really knelt before Victoria, bowed his head, and begged for forgiveness?”

“What else could he do when facing imprisonment? And the Duchess of Kent seemed to realize something after seeing Conroy’s groveling attitude, and she hasn’t even had a proper conversation with him since.”

“Is that old woman finally coming to her senses? Still, I missed such an amusing spectacle… Why did Killian call you instead of me? Wouldn’t it have been more effective for me, the King of this country, to make a surprise appearance?”

“If that had happened, Conroy would have been dragged straight to court, apology or no apology. Besides, it’s absurd to think of you sneaking into Kensington Palace.”

He knew, of course, that it was logically absurd.

Nevertheless, William IV was deeply disappointed that he hadn’t witnessed the moment when Conroy and the Duchess of Kent’s ridiculous ambitions were not only shattered but pulverized.

It would have been far more satisfying than simply taunting them at a party.

“Killian’s ideas are certainly unique. I never imagined he would completely crush Conroy like that.”

“It’s not just his ideas, but his level of knowledge is also extraordinary for his age. The paper he wrote recently… and Victoria said she didn’t study with him but was simply taught by him.”

“Yes, I heard about that too. To be honest, I thought it would be a success if he just conveyed the contents of the books I gave her, but it seems he imparted knowledge far beyond that level. I haven’t confirmed it directly yet, but I plan to call Victoria soon to have a conversation.”

“Their friendship seems quite deep, and I honestly find it a bit of a shame. If he weren’t Irish… or even just mixed-race, I would have adopted him and tried to connect them.”
The Duke of Sussex sighed deeply with regret.

Of course, William IV simply laughed it off, dismissing it as an absurd hypothetical.

“Adopt him?”

“Why not? You added a clause to your will acknowledging our marriage, didn’t you? My wife, who has no children, practically considers Killian her son, so there would be no problem with me adopting him.”

“That’s your decision, but I’m just asking to be sure, you don’t really intend to connect Killian with Victoria, do you?”

“Didn’t I just say that? If he weren’t mixed-race, I would have seriously considered it. There isn’t a single child in this country as bright and loyal to the royal family as he is. But there are too many mountains to climb… it would be impossible.”

William IV had also considered something similar.

But his conclusion was the same.

Frankly speaking, being Irish could be resolved if the royal family’s will was firm.

With the cooperation of Parliament and efforts to manage public opinion through the media, they could push it through, albeit with some criticism.

But what if he was not only Irish but also of mixed Eastern descent? If he were a descendant of royalty or nobility from some Eastern country, it could at least be sugarcoated.

With rhetoric about harmony and peace between the two countries.

The problem was that Killian had the worst possible lineage, making even that impossible.

“If Killian and Victoria were to become seriously involved in a romantic relationship, Parliament would be the first to object. Even if the Conservative Party remained silent, the opposing Whig Party would foam at the mouth. An Irish Earl with the blood of an Eastern slave flowing through his veins as the Queen’s consort of the British Empire? Just imagining it makes me dizzy.”

“That’s why I said it was a hypothetical. I would have seriously supported him if he weren’t mixed-race.”

That meant that even the Duke of Sussex, who loved Killian enough to want to adopt him, saw it as an unrealistic union.

In the first place, adopting an heir was quite far removed from social norms in this era.

Most adoptions were unofficial, and even if an adoption did occur, special legal clauses or detailed agreements were required for inheritance.

Even if Killian became the Duke of Sussex’s adopted son, his chances of becoming the next Duke of Sussex were as slim as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

No, to put it bluntly, it would be impossible.

Of course, being the Duke of Sussex’s beloved son would give him a position incomparable to what he had before, and he could create a better situation based on that.

But in the end, that would be the limit, and if he wanted more than that, he would inevitably face strong opposition.

“Frederick, if you truly cherish that child, it’s important not only to empower him but also to make him aware of his limitations. Be careful and cautious not to deviate from the law or social norms.”

“Of course. Do you think I wouldn’t be able to keep even that?”

Who could guarantee that a man who had ignored the law and married twice wouldn’t do it a third time?

William IV was worried, but he didn’t bother to say it out loud.

From what he had seen, his brother was the type of person who would do something even more stubbornly if told not to.

How could he sometimes look like a clueless child even though he was over 60?

William IV had to struggle to suppress the laughter that reflexively erupted as he listened to his brother’s confident words.

* * *

Exactly fifteen days after John Conroy sang “I’m Sorry” with tears in his eyes.

I was summoned to Buckingham Palace by the King.

“I heard from my brother that you held a very interesting event this time?”

“It was a surprise celebration party to commemorate the Princess’s birthday. Fortunately, she liked it very much, so I felt it was worth planning.”

William IV had already heard about the whole story from the Duke of Sussex.

Since I couldn’t possibly silence him, I assumed from the beginning that it would reach the King’s ears.

Since he was a sensible man, there was no chance he would belatedly punish Conroy.

If the King knew, there wouldn’t be any particular problem.

“It’s a pity I didn’t see it myself, but that’s not why I called you. Do you have any idea why?”

“There are so many that it’s difficult to say for sure.”

“I heard that story from Frederick and called Victoria the day before yesterday to have a conversation. And to be honest, I couldn’t help but be shocked. Do you know why?”

“It’s probably because the Princess knew far more than Your Majesty expected.”

William IV thought of me as a smart student, but on the surface, I was just a child one year younger than Victoria.

If the King expected the level of knowledge I would impart to Victoria to be around 10, the actual level of knowledge I imparted far exceeded 100 or 200.

Of course, that was in terms of economics and politics, and the military side barely scraped by.

No matter how capable I was, I couldn’t be proficient in everything.

“You’re right. I asked her about various political issues and economic problems to test her, and the answers she gave far exceeded my expectations. To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing. She mentioned things that even I hadn’t thought of so naturally.”

“The Princess is so bright that she understands two things when you tell her one.”

“What was surprising was that she wasn’t just memorizing things but clearly understood how the political world works. So I asked her, and sure enough, the conversation turned to you…”

William IV looked at me with a complicated expression, then sighed lightly and shook his head.

“No, I don’t think I should be the one telling this story, so let’s ask something else. When we first met, you said you wanted to overcome the limitations of your background and enter the House of Lords [the upper house of the British Parliament]. In the letters you wrote to me, you consistently appealed for the right to participate more actively in the politics of this country. Do you still feel the same way?”

“Of course.”

“You mean you want to be deeply involved in the politics of this country?”

He’s so persistent in asking indirectly.

Does he think I might be evasive if he just asks directly?

“Your Majesty. My loyalty to the Princess is sincere. I would never do anything that would burden or harm her, so you don’t have to worry.”

At first glance, it was an answer that didn’t match the question at all, but in fact, William IV’s face brightened noticeably as he heard the answer he most wanted to hear.

“Goodness, you’re embarrassing me… I asked indirectly, but you gave me a direct answer. Anyway, it’s safe to say that there’s no lie in that answer, right?”

“I have no intention of harming the royal family for my own benefit like Conroy. The country will only prosper if the royal family prospers, and I will only prosper if the country prospers. It’s a simple cycle.”

“You’re still young and full of energy, so you might be upset by my concerns. To be honest, you didn’t choose to be born with that lineage, but the ceiling you can reach is clearly lower than other nobles. But reality is a more ruthless and cold place than you think. It’s better to be hurt like this in advance to ensure your safety in the future, so please don’t think of it as the ramblings of an old man and take it to heart.”

In the end, he’s saying that if I try to covet Victoria without knowing my place, it will be a great burden to her, so I should behave myself.

Of course, I wouldn’t want to do anything so foolish as to make such worries a reality.

“I swear in the name of my father in heaven that I will never do anything that would harm the Princess, so you can rest assured.”

“Okay. I feel relieved now that you’ve made such a firm oath. I’ve also hinted at it to Victoria, but you’ve faithfully followed my requests so far. It’s not much of a reward, but let me tell you a story. The truth is, I haven’t been feeling well lately.”

I had been thinking that this flow would come naturally, but I pretended to be surprised for a moment and quickly bowed my head.

“It must be because you’ve been tired from many recent events. You’ll recover if you rest a little, so please don’t overdo it and take it easy…”

“Hahaha, you’ll understand when you’re my age, but at this point, resting doesn’t restore your energy. I’ve always prayed to God to let me live only until Victoria comes of age, and it seems God has granted my wish. But I should have prayed that God would let me live for another 10 years in good health even after Victoria came of age. I should have known this would happen.”

He joked cheerfully before continuing with a serious expression.

“I probably don’t have much time left, so I have a request for you. Although she’s of age, Victoria is still young and lacks experience in state affairs. So please continue to be a source of strength by her side, but never do anything that would harm her. I’ve told a few close nobles, so if you keep my request well, they’ll give you considerable power.”

“Your Majesty will surely get better. But if my promise makes you feel more at ease, I’ll promise you anything.”

“Hoo… Okay. I feel a little relieved now. We’ve only been talking about gloomy things so far, so shall we talk about something more positive? What do you think Victoria’s era will be like from your young perspective?”

“This country is growing at a different level than before, day by day. It’s currently facing the aftermath of the economic recession, but it will overcome it and rise again as if nothing happened. The Princess will become the best Queen symbolizing the new era of the British Empire.”

As the King of the British Empire.

The man, who briefly but symbolically marked an era, smiled softly and nodded.

“It’s as if you’re confident that I’ll make it that way. As Frederick said, you’re… no. It’s not good to keep talking about things that are over, so shall we continue with the story we were just talking about?”

As the King wished, I had a sincere conversation with him about the present and future, and the direction in which this country should go.

After about an hour, William IV, greatly satisfied, smiled and escorted me out of the bedroom.

“I’m so glad I was able to talk to you today. Go home safely, and if you have the chance, let’s have this kind of time again next time.”

I left Buckingham Palace with a greeting that I would visit often in the future.

But the time of meeting and parting always comes suddenly.

Exactly ten days after I last met William IV.

Robert Peel, as Prime Minister, who could hear all the news from the palace first, sent me urgent news.

-His Majesty William IV has passed into the arms of the Lord. I must inform the new sovereign that she has become Queen, so come to Kensington immediately by carriage.

At a speed that no one expected, but exactly as I had expected.

The British Empire was preparing to say goodbye to the old era and welcome a new one.