The Shadow of Great Britain

I will do my utmost to fulfill my duty to the country. I am young, perhaps lacking experience in many areas (though not all), but what I am certain of is my fervent enthusiasm and genuine desire to fulfill my obligations, unmatched by anyone.

——”The Diary of Queen Victoria” Alexandrina Victoria

The morning fog had yet to disperse, and the walls of No. 4 Whitehall seemed wrapped in damp gray plaster.

Outside the window, the sound of Westminster Abbey’s bells echoed through the fog, slow and steady, each ring like a replay of last night’s clamor.

Arthur, having just arrived at the office, placed his cane in the corner of the desk and hung his hat on the coat rack.

The corner of the desk, covered in deep green leather, was polished brightly, and the wax from last night’s candles had formed white flowers on the candlestick.

He had barely settled in, not even begun brewing tea, when he heard a knock at the door.

”Sir, Ledley King reporting to you.”

Arthur didn’t look up, instead, he first folded the black-bordered envelope he had taken from his coat. The sealing wax was red, with clear embossed edges, stamped with the royal crest, delivered after the Privy Council’s temporary meeting at Kensington Palace yesterday afternoon. The letter’s title was simple, its content hardly obscure: ”Royal Proclamation of Her Majesty’s Ascension” had been certified by the Privy Council, and will continue to be read and posted throughout the city today. Please handle the crowd and any anomalies with caution.

At the bottom was a slender signature: Victoria.

Victoria, not Alexandrina Victoria. This was the first time Arthur saw his student use this manner of signing.

Perhaps she wanted a clean break from her past, or maybe as Baron Stockma suggested, he believed the name Alexandrina might easily remind the British public of her godfather, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, thus associating her with an absolute monarch.

Or perhaps...

Enough.

Arthur didn’t want to speculate too much, after all, a young lady’s thoughts are often hard to fathom, especially those of an eighteen-year-old. And for the past few years, he had expended too much mental effort and taken too many vigorous actions trying to solve this complex issue. In summary, from the point of view of his duties as Permanent Secretary of the Police Commissioner Committee, Arthur felt it would be highly inappropriate to continue this way.

”Come in.”

The office door was pushed open, and Ledley strode in confidently, standing straight as he gave Arthur a salute.

Looking at his neat uniform, his authoritative demeanor, it was indeed difficult to associate him with Miss Quinn of Yellow Chrysanthemum Street.

However, today Ledley did not immediately talk about work but rather inquired about Arthur’s well-being: ”Sir, how did you rest last night?”

”Quite nicely, slept from four in the afternoon until five this morning.” Arthur stretched and leaned back on his chair: ”I can’t remember the last time I slept so soundly. Perhaps before I enlisted at Scotland Yard?”

Ledley pressed his lips, out of concern for his career prospects, he forced himself to swallow the words, ”I think it might have been June 5, 1832.”

Even though Arthur didn’t sleep as peacefully as he did five years ago, judging by his radiant appearance, he indeed rested well last night.

After all, this Permanent Secretary of the Police Commissioner Committee had been busy non-stop from six in the morning the previous day until two in the afternoon yesterday, only returning home after attending Queen Victoria’s initial meeting at Kensington Palace.

Even on his way back, he took the opportunity to write several letters to Scotland Yard, the Intelligence Bureau, and various local police stations, providing detailed security and prevention guidelines for the upcoming nationwide celebrations of the new monarch’s ascension.

If it weren’t for Arthur not holding the title of Privy Council Advisor, he might have wanted to stay at Kensington Palace for the closed-door Privy Council meeting held from two to four in the afternoon.

Of course, although Arthur was not eligible to attend, another member of the Police Commissioner Committee, the former Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, the Honorable Henry Hobhouse, Your Excellency, was present at the meeting as a Privy Council Advisor.

And the person responsible for the security outside Kensington Palace that afternoon, Ledley, naturally sought out Hobhouse the moment after the meeting ended, insisting on personally escorting him back and eagerly inquiring about the details of the Privy Council meeting.

You ask why Ledley wanted to inquire about these things?

Of course, it was to fulfill his curiosity.

People have a curiosity, it’s a common human trait, entirely normal.

Only, some people’s curiosity is stronger than others, such as Sir Arthur Hastings, which is a matter of individual differences. Ledley can fully understand and respect such minority groups.

Ledley casually or deliberately chatted with Arthur about the reactions of the big figures to the queen’s first appearance.

”The dignitaries were deeply moved by Her Majesty’s speech, especially the opening: My dear uncle, His Majesty the King’s death has brought great and painful loss to the entire country, and has handed over the responsibilities of managing the Empire Government to me. This enormous responsibility fell upon me so suddenly, and I am so young. If not for hoping the divine providence that bestowed upon me this duty will grant me the courage to fulfill my responsibilities, and my pure goals and enthusiasm for public welfare will receive the political support usually afforded to a more mature, more experienced monarch, I might be completely crushed by the burden...”