The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur clutched the sheet music in his hand, silently cursing the ancestors of the bastard who arranged the seating, but as a seasoned political figure, he didn’t let these emotions show.

Although he wanted to change his seat, speaking up directly might only make things worse.

After all, in Victoria’s view, arranging for the Duchess of Kent to sit after Arthur was a way to demonstrate defiance to her mother.

She didn’t care what others thought; perhaps in her heart, she just wanted to show everyone that Sir Arthur Hastings held a higher place in her mind than the Duchess of Kent. During her accession, this Secretary-General of the Police Commissioner Committee offered more assistance than her own mother.

Although Arthur hadn’t figured out who had set him up, he was no longer the young man dodging bullets below the Tower of London. After traveling through the European Continent, he had learned quite a bit about maneuvering.

”Your Majesty, I know I can’t persuade you. The Duchess of Kent and Conroy should face the consequences of their past actions, regardless of their reasons.”

Victoria didn’t speak, but the harshness on her face visibly softened.

”I understand that your feelings toward the Duchess of Kent are not something that can be resolved overnight. Honestly, if I were you, I probably wouldn’t forgive them either. But...” Arthur paused, slowing down his speech: ”You have been on the throne less than a month, and during this time, the entire nation has praised your virtues. Yesterday at Almack’s Club, Lady Cooper also remarked, ’I have never heard anyone utter a word of criticism against the Queen, nor have I seen anyone find fault with her; it truly is a rare blessing.’”

Victoria’s eyes lit up slightly at the mention of ”Lady Cooper.” She had a favorable impression of this lady, not just because Lady Cooper was Viscount Melbourne’s sister, but also because she was one of the seven hostesses of Almack’s Club. Before she ascended, she often heard her mother talk about Lady Cooper’s influence in London’s social circles.

For Victoria, being praised by the noblewomen of Almack’s Club, an old aristocratic gathering place, filled her with an indescribable pride: ”Did Lady Cooper really say that?”

Arthur nodded, embellishing casually: ”Lady Cooper is very sincere; she’s not one to shift with the winds. She remarked that your calm and composed demeanor resembles that of Princess Charlotte when she was young.”

Victoria was so delighted that she nearly stood up: ”As a child, I often heard my uncle talk about Princess Charlotte. People said she was intelligent and decisive; if she hadn’t died in childbirth, she and my uncle would be sitting in this palace now.”

Arthur didn’t respond; when it came to internal family matters, he was always cautious in his remarks. Mentioning Princess Charlotte was merely to please Victoria, paving the way for the forthcoming discussion.

”Your Majesty.” Arthur finally spoke, his tone gradually becoming serious: ”Precisely because the world speaks so highly of you, you must be even more cautious. Every minor action you take now, even something as simple as seating arrangements or phrasing of a sentence, will be printed in newspapers and interpreted as part of national policy. The people of Fleet Street will scrutinize you with a magnifying glass, and the English will analyze you as they would the Constitution.”

Victoria’s expression shifted slightly; she assumed Arthur intended to counsel her toward reconciliation with her mother.

”Furthermore...” Unexpectedly, Arthur shifted the topic to something Victoria hadn’t considered: ”If you wish to make a clear statement in family relationships, such as maintaining distance from your mother, then you must build a reputation to balance that in other areas. A Monarch who keeps family at arm’s length but still captivates the people must exhibit extraordinary benevolence and tolerance in other facets.”

”You’re saying...” Victoria hadn’t fully grasped Arthur’s meaning, her brows furrowed as she hesitantly inquired: ”I can keep my distance from Mother, but I shouldn’t seat her behind you?”

”I don’t mean it that way.” Arthur spoke gently: ”That’s your personal matter, and your dignity at stake. As your subject, I wouldn’t interfere, nor could I interfere with the rights God has bestowed upon you, and I also recommend you insist on denying others from meddling, as Sir John Conroy’s past serves as a clear warning. But...”

Arthur paused, as if choosing his words carefully: ”I think you may not have heard about the recent case concluded by the Central Criminal Court.”

Victoria frowned: ”What case?”

”According to the ruling by the Central Criminal Court, it involves a burglary case.” Arthur stated: ”Thomas Rain, a fourteen-year-old boy, broke into a pharmacy at night to steal. After being discovered, in a panic, he struck the shop owner with an iron rod, causing serious injury. Under current law, the criminal court sentenced him to hanging.”

Victoria’s eyes flickered; her expression indicated this was new information: ”Then... hasn’t the court already ruled?”

”Yes.” Arthur nodded: ”Now we only await the final decision on whether to proceed with the execution. By tradition, a death sentence must be submitted to Your Majesty, requiring your personal endorsement before it can be carried out. But because of this, whether you sign or not, some will be displeased.”