The Shadow of Great Britain

However, if Victoria insists on him taking on this task, or if the members of the Coronation Committee unanimously approve, then Arthur might just have to compromise. After all, Victoria is now the Queen, and he cannot oppose the decisions of the members of the Coronation Committee, Your Excellency.

More importantly, as the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Home Office, Arthur no longer possesses the audacity of lying in bed as he did in years past.

After all, his control over the Home Office is not as strong as it is over Scotland Yard.

As long as he dares to lie on the bed, Permanent Secretary Phillips would dare to report him as retiring due to illness, and might even kick him out under the pretext of showing humanitarian concern, turning around to find someone else to take over the work.

Everyone knows that relinquishing power is always easy, but when you want to reclaim it, it becomes nothing but difficult.

Therefore, now, aside from the bullets of the Tower of London, nothing else can hinder Sir Arthur’s desire to serve the country.

Arthur humbly bowed his head and said, ”Whether to accept or not, it all depends on whether you and Britain need me to step forward at this time.”

”Actually...” Victoria whispered, ”I hadn’t planned to let you take on this matter.”

Arthur barely perceptibly raised an eyebrow.

”What does Her Majesty mean?”

”The burden on you is already heavy enough.” Victoria spoke directly, even in a manner slightly unbecoming of a ruler’s phrasing: ”The English Poor Laws, police administration, security work for the coronation ceremony, and even those committees whose names I can’t even distinguish... I don’t think adding another coronation anthem will make things better. However, if I am the one to refuse, the Coronation Committee will look bad. They would think that it’s because I distrust their judgment or... dislike the people they recommended.”

Such words sounded reasonable, so reasonable that Arthur wondered if someone taught Victoria to say it.

His expression turned serious, and he stepped forward slightly, the movement not large, yet neither perfunctory nor making anyone think he might truly weep on the spot.

”Her Majesty’s consideration for her ministers truly humbles me.”

Victoria thought Arthur agreed with her point of view, but fearing he might misunderstand, she added an explanation: ”I don’t think you are not qualified to compose the coronation anthem, I just think you...”

”There is no need for Your Majesty to explain,” Arthur immediately interjected, still in a humble tone: ”The fact that you have considered this is already an honor for your ministers. I also believe Mr. Kramer and Mr. Kneivit are more suitable choices than me.”

Upon hearing this, Victoria hurriedly shook her head and said, ”Please don’t misunderstand, I just feel that composing a coronation anthem now is really rushed, and I don’t want to trouble you, or either of the other two gentlemen.”

”Do you mean to say...?”

”At my coronation, there will only be one new anthem, and the rest of the songs I plan to use Handel’s old pieces.”

As these words left her mouth, Arthur’s expression didn’t change, but in a place unseen, the calculations in his mind were already rattling away.

If Victoria’s coronation ceremony only intends to add one new anthem, while the remaining music falls back on Handel...

That indicates one thing, mentally she has already preemptively compromised for the shortcomings of the musical segment.

In other words, she isn’t expecting miracles in terms of music.

This is completely different from Arthur’s prior expectations, where he thought Victoria would demand perfection in the coronation ceremony’s music.

If that were the case, if things went well, it wouldn’t highlight any merit. But if things went poorly, the blame would be extensive and unforgivable.

But now?

Now, if he withdraws accordingly, things will end in an extremely dignified manner.

No one gets hurt, no one is offended, and he continues being the Permanent Under-Secretary who is considered, understood, and protected.

But if he steps forward at this moment!

The situation would be completely different.

Because under this premise, putting forth the proposal to compose the coronation anthem, from the start, is no longer an obligation, but an extra effort.

More importantly, this is a nearly cost-free venture.

If time runs short and the piece is unfinished, he can righteously fail.

Rushed, overwhelmed with work, national affairs as a priority, all these reasons will be accepted by Victoria, and she might even harbor some guilt.

But once he’s actually written it, even if just barely in time, even if just adequate for use, paired with a little appropriately staged exhaustion, a guilty ”court performance,” and coupled with Victor’s taught ”19th-century prison look,” then...

Then, from Victoria’s perspective, the significance of this matter changes entirely.

Sir Arthur didn’t have to, but still did.

Sir Arthur could have refused, yet he still took it on.

Sir Arthur, despite being already laden with heavy responsibilities, still is willing to take an extra step for the nation’s moment.

And all this won’t require any extra political capital. It won’t require tapping into any factional resources.

It won’t even require anyone else’s cooperation.

It only requires him to nod and say one thing...

”Your Majesty, if you do not object, I would like to give it a try first.”