The Shadow of Great Britain

These conditions accumulating together, combined with Arthur ultimately getting things done, naturally allow Your Excellencies to turn a blind eye.

However, now it is London, and although Arthur is both the Police Commissioner and Secretary General of the Police Commissioner Committee, theoretically, he only has supervision authority over the police force, not administrative power.

Therefore, his current mobilization of the Police Intelligence Department to forcefully enter Kensington Palace is indefensible in terms of legal procedures.

Moreover, above Arthur are the Home Secretary, Lord John Russell, and Viscount Melbourne, the Prime Minister. In Ramsgate, Arthur could say his actions were too urgent to seek permission, but now, with him being in London, trying a move without prior consent might very well end up backfiring.

Secondly, Kensington Palace is not Albion Villa; it’s not a place you can enter with just a search warrant. As a Royal Palace, Kensington Palace is the private property of King William IV, and without authorization from the King, forcefully entering the royal sleeping quarters is a treasonous crime.

Taking a step back, even if all these obstacles disappeared, Victoria is merely locked in a room within Kensington Palace. If, by then, the Duchess of Kent sides with Conroy, simply stating that Victoria is physically unwell from frequently attending celebration events recently, outsiders wouldn’t really have effective means to respond.

Of course, these are not the most important issues.

The most important thing is...

Arthur took a document out of the drawer and tossed it on the table: ”See for yourselves. After you finish reading, remember to go back and tell the brothers to stay calm; there will be more opportunities, and there’s no need to rush.”

Colly skeptically opened the document, but the more he read, the tighter his brow furrowed. Finally, he couldn’t help but hand the document to Hutter: ”Is this a telegraphic dispatch? Didn’t you get trained in telegraphic translation? Come and translate it.”

Hutter, feeling guilty, took the document. He indeed underwent telegraphic translation training half a year ago, but he doesn’t usually do this work; who knows how much of the Morse code he still remembers?

Fortunately, the document wasn’t too long, and with a brief glance, Hutter couldn’t help but gape: ”This... Windsor Castle says His Majesty the King is... critically ill...”

For a moment, the room fell into dead silence.

”Critical... critically ill?”

Colly repeated the words just translated, his voice several degrees lower than before.

Hutter was even more stunned, dazed for a few seconds before blurting out: ”Damn it, no wonder Kensington Palace is so... urgent now...”

”For now, the Imperial Physician hasn’t yet given a definitive diagnosis explanation. But as far as I know, Windsor has already decided to make this matter public, and England’s Chief Bishop, Archbishop of Canterbury William Howley, is already on his way to Windsor Castle.” Arthur stood up and paced slowly, his tone calm to the point of being unlike his usual self: ”From the wording in the telegraph sent by the Lord Chamberlain, Marquis of Cunningham... it suggests severe instability and recommends preparing subsequent arrangements... everything suggests this is likely not a false alarm.”

Arthur didn’t spell things out explicitly, but this information was already enough to make one realize Victoria’s coronation was entering the countdown.

Because if King William IV were to pass away, Victoria, as the lawful heir to the throne, would, according to custom, have the succession decree read by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain immediately, and the transition to the throne would proceed at once.

Regardless of whether it’s the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Marquis of Cunningham, these two are currently awaiting orders at Windsor Castle.

”But if Princess is currently locked in her room...” Colly suddenly interjected, then abruptly halted, realizing he shouldn’t say the latter part.

Arthur raised his hand to signal Colly to stop: ”At this critical moment, we outsiders can’t be of much assistance. Now, she must depend on herself; she can’t collapse, nor can she remain silent. She must rise and prove herself capable of handling responsibilities before we arrive.”

Colly and Hutter exchanged glances, the two officers spoke in unison: ”Understood, Sir.”

Arthur’s gaze rested on the map of London, his fingers moved slowly along the major traffic routes extending from Windsor towards London City.

He did not sit down, nor immediately speak, just stood quietly, seemingly weighing something.

Colly and Hutter fell silent, knowing that whenever Sir Arthur was in such contemplation, it meant something significant was about to happen.

Moments later, Arthur finally spoke: ”Colly, convey to Field for me, have him immediately dispatch people to inspect roadblocks, construction, carriage delays, and traffic conditions along the southwest corridor—from Slough to Euston to Chelsea—check point by point! Ensure that any motorcade entering the city from Windsor Castle will not be delayed by even a minute en route.”

Colly stood at attention upon hearing this, saluting: ”Yes, Sir!”

”Don’t rush off in excitement.” Arthur glanced to the other side: ”Hutter.”

”Here, Sir!”

”Inform your department head, tell Ledley to have the Fifth Branch closely monitor any motorcade and pedestrians entering or exiting Kensington Palace. Regardless of which faction’s messenger, carriage, or courier, as long as they’ve been active nearby, it must be recorded.”

Hutter agreed immediately: ”Yes, Sir!”

Arthur nodded slightly, then continued to add: ”Lastly, pass on a message for me to the Ministers Rowan and Mayne, inform them of the urgen situation, I need the Scotland Yard’s Royal Police Team to be deployed along Kensington High Street and Church Street line. All mounted police within a two-mile radius around Kensington Palace must be on standby, rotating in shifts from dawn to midnight, without leaving the post.”