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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Seeds of Doubt
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"Killian's back!"
"Hey, hey! What did the Princess say?"
"What was she like up close?"
"Tell us! Quick, quick!"
When I returned to the dormitory, a pack of wolves, led by Robert, swarmed me, demanding their daily bread.
I even spotted students from other dorms, not just our own.
"They say the Duchess is so strict that you can count on one hand the number of people who've actually spoken with the Princess."
"It's more than just a few. Even His Majesty the King can't meet the Princess whenever he pleases!"
"So, what exactly did Her Highness the Princess say?"
Even the guys who usually kept their distance, subtly shunning me for being Irish, were listening intently from the corner.
It was a clear reminder of how significant the monarch's presence was in this country, no matter how diminished their power had become.
"Unfortunately, I didn't get to speak with the Princess much. I just showed her a little card trick and told her we were all united in praying for her future."
"Did the Princess say anything else about us?"
"She said she was very impressed by how diligently everyone played the game."
"I knew it! I'm glad I ran my heart out!"
"So the Princess saw me kick the ball way over there? Aww yeah! I have to tell my father."
Seeing them so happy, I knew I'd made the right choice not to reveal the harsh truth.
I left the students to their bickering over who played better and stepped outside the dormitory.
Robert, who had followed me, patted my shoulder.
"Good work. Everyone will be thrilled that a student from our dorm, of all places, received such an honor. Even the upperclassmen who secretly looked down on you might change their tune."
"I haven't really felt discriminated against so far."
"Well, with me around, they couldn't be too obvious about it. But you can't stop them from looking down on you in their hearts, can you?"
"As long as they don't show what they're thinking, I don't really care."
The entire school still seemed to be buzzing with the fact that the future queen had visited, but my head was growing colder in inverse proportion.
It was true that the first step of my plan had gone smoothly, but that only meant I needed to become even more level-headed.
Excitement narrows one's vision, and euphoria only breeds recklessness.
I must never forget that from now on, I am walking a tightrope where a single misstep could send me plummeting into a bottomless abyss.
"Senior, there's something I didn't mention up there because I was worried it would cause a stir."
"Hm? What is it?"
"The Duchess invited me to Kensington Palace this coming weekend, saying she wished to speak with me further."
"Really? The Duchess of Kent invited you?"
His eyes went wide, showing that even Robert was well aware of the Duchess's reputation.
"What's the reason? Could it be… as a companion for Princess Victoria?"
"Of course not. It seems she's curious about the kind of education Eton students receive. As the one responsible for the Princess's education, she must be concerned. She also mentioned being close with my aunt, so I suppose I'm the most comfortable student for her to approach."
"I see. Still, this could be a huge opportunity for you if you make a good impression on the Duchess, so do your best. Who knows? If you play your cards right, you might even get a private audience with the Princess someday."
"Greed leads to ruin. I have no intention of dreaming such presumptuous dreams."
The practical type, who wants to prove his ability but knows his place and respects boundaries.
Robert, who understood well the image I wanted to project, whistled softly and strolled slowly through the school grounds with me.
Now that I've let the story slip, the news of my invitation to Kensington Palace will surely reach the ears of the Tory Party's senior members.
I could have informed them through Wellesley, but he is destined to become one of the leaders of the Tory Party.
There's no need for him to diminish his own standing by acting as a mere messenger.
Besides, subtly leaking information to Robert ensures it will automatically reach the party.
So I hope they watch closely and judge for themselves.
Just how easy to handle, and how defenseless, a student named Killian Gore appears to be.
* * *
Even as I meticulously prepared to meet the Duchess, I never neglected my main business.
I'm not talking about my school lessons.
With those, as long as I paid attention, I just had to listen and memorize to stay at the top of the class.
What required my attention were the currents of British politics and my businesses, which were soaking up London's money like a sponge.
Fortunately, both were now on track, maintaining stability without my constant intervention.
On the business front, I was using the massive cash flow from the casino to expand into new fields, showing steady growth.
The funds extorted from the railway fraudsters also served as excellent fertilizer.
At this rate, within a few years, I could establish an unrivaled intelligence organization in London.
"Let's see. With this much capital…"
If I were to liquidate my ever-growing casino and detective agency, along with my investments tied up in the United States, my total assets would easily exceed several million pounds.
In terms of available cash alone, I could soon pour in hundreds of thousands of pounds at once, so liquidity was not a concern.
While my total assets were still lacking, in terms of sheer cash mobilization, there were likely very few nobles or capitalists in the British Empire who surpassed me.
With this, it might be time to create a department dedicated to physical enforcement, one that could tread the fine line between legal and illegal.
Of course, to avoid getting caught, all enterprises would be separated into distinct departments, and the employees kept in the dark about who their ultimate leader was.
On top of that, the political side of things was generating more buzz than I'd expected.
Reading the newspapers and reports James had brought, I could hardly suppress a smile on the carriage ride to the palace.
"Just as you predicted, Young Master, the Factory Act looks set to pass smoothly."
"Of course. Within the Tory Party, opinion isn't just divided; it's actually leaning towards approval."
"Lord Wellesley is receiving considerable attention. These newspapers are filled with stories about him."
The four newspapers James had selected all focused on Wellesley's speech in Parliament.
London's newspapers at the time were so biased towards certain political parties they would put modern ones to shame; it was no exaggeration to call them party organs.
The Morning Post and The Standard, famous for their support of the Tory Party, were naturally singing Wellesley's praises.
-A Young Hope Emerges in Conservative Politics
-This is True Patriotism
-Charles Wellesley's Speech Provided an Opportunity for All to Reflect on the True Values of Conservatism
-If Any Should Ask of the Future of Conservatism, Let Them Lift Their Heads and Look to Wellesley, Gladstone, and Disraeli
"Lord Wellesley must be grinning from ear to ear."
"They could have dismissed it as the nonsense of an ignorant young man, but the Tory leadership seems to have made a wise decision."
"He's the Duke of Wellington's son, after all; rebuking him wouldn't have been easy. Besides, he wasn't alone. Other young men like Gladstone and Disraeli were all speaking with one voice, so they naturally had to be cautious. It's a bit of a shame, actually. It would have been better if they'd tried to senselessly crush them."
If they had acted so foolishly, I could have ridden the wave of public opinion to clean house more quickly, but it seems the old guard's minds aren't quite that fossilized yet.
"The Whigs must be rather dumbfounded. They were the ones who proposed the committee and are trying to pass the bill, yet we're the ones getting all the attention."
"The Whig-supporting papers are pointing that out, too. The Morning Chronicle is practically pleading with its readers, saying that while the emergence of a young conservative politician like Wellesley is welcome, they shouldn't forget that the Whigs are the true vanguard of this reform."
"They're currently tinkering with the Slavery Abolition Act, following the Factory Act, aren't they? The abolition act, in particular, will have enormous repercussions, affecting not just Britain but Europe and the United States as well. If they lose the image of 'young reformers' here, it won't do them any good."
First the Factory Act, limiting children's working hours, and now the complete abolition of slavery.
Even if it was a result of calculated self-interest, such a progressive move was certainly worthy of acknowledgment.
"James, what do you think? Will the Slavery Abolition Act actually pass this year?"
"The slave trade itself was abolished long ago, but many people still profit from slavery. From what I understand, the prevailing argument favors a gradual abolition with a grace period, rather than immediate abolition. If it does pass, it will likely be in that form."
"Is that so? That's the prevailing opinion, you say."
In fact, just from the Factory Act, the short-term profits from my investments were greater than expected.
With the Tory Party, which was expected to fiercely oppose it, leaning towards approval, the passage of the Factory Act was practically a done deal.
Now that they could no longer use child labor cheaply and indefinitely, it was inevitable that a considerable number of factories and machine manufacturers would be affected.
"Young Master, can we expect similar profits from the abolition of slavery?"
"There's no reason we can't. When slavery is abolished, there will undoubtedly be a chain reaction of collapses among plantations that still run on slave labor. Some of those owners will panic and sell cheap, swept up in the mood, even if their land could easily be converted to less labor-intensive cash crops. If we aim for those and snap them up, we can sell them later for a handsome profit."
"That sounds like it will require some very careful sorting."
"That's why I pay good money for informants. I'll leave that side of things to you."
As we discussed the newspapers and reports, the carriage began to slow, having reached the vicinity of Kensington Palace.
I hadn't mentioned this even to James, but the slavery abolition issue was, for me, less about profit and more about providing good gossip.
I needed a trove of stories to share with the curious princess, who was completely detached from social issues thanks to her overbearing mother.
For Victoria, who was known to be keenly interested in various political and social issues during her reign, she would surely be starved for this kind of information, making it all the more fascinating to her.
But to tell her these stories, I first had to pass through the greatest gate: securing a private audience.
"James, go and pay your respects to my aunt first. I'll return after seeing the Duchess."
"Understood."
I took a deep breath inside the now-stationary carriage before stepping out.
Caution was necessary, yes, but a man who fails to seize an opportunity when it presents itself doesn't deserve to succeed.
I had initially planned on waiting about a month, but since they've summoned me like this, there's no need to be overly cautious.
Today, I will obtain an all-access pass to the princess in the gilded cage.
* * *
The palace's vibrant garden.
A table was already set, as if they had been waiting for my arrival.
"Come and have a seat."
"Yes, ma'am."
Naturally, Victoria was nowhere in sight, and even the attendants were stationed far away, ensuring no one could overhear our conversation.
I already knew what she wanted to discuss, but this setup was even more blatant than I'd expected.
"It's not a short distance from Eton to here. Thank you for coming so readily."
"Not at all. When Your Grace summons me, of course I must come with a joyful heart. Besides, the carriage ride was not tiring at all."
"Is that so? Then you must visit often in the future. I'm sure Cecilia would be delighted. She wishes to see you, but her position makes it difficult to invite outsiders at will, doesn't it? I, however, have no need for such discretion, so you may visit whenever you like."
"Thank you very much for your consideration. It may be a poor substitute for a proper thanks, but in return, I will answer any of Your Grace's questions with the utmost sincerity."
Hearing the very answer she most desired, the Duchess's lips curved into a thin smile.
"As I mentioned before, the reason I called you here is that I wish to understand Eton's educational principles in greater detail."
"If that is the case, wouldn't Eton's teachers know more about it than I?"
"No. They are the ones teaching, are they not? What I want to know is the perspective and feelings of a student receiving that education. You, Killian, seem to deeply empathize with Eton's principles, which is why I was especially eager to hear your thoughts."
"I will answer anything I can."
The Duchess nodded in satisfaction and personally poured tea into my cup as she asked her question.
"You said it yourself, didn't you? That Eton emphasizes obedience, and that the upper echelons of society, in particular, must receive such an education from a young age. In your view, then, what do you think is the greatest obstacle to fostering such an obedient spirit?"
"To be frank, I did not find it particularly difficult to cultivate such a spirit. However…"
I glanced around furtively, pretending to be cautious, before adding in a low voice,
"In the Princess's case, I believe it will be far more difficult. In fact, if things continue as they are, it will be extremely dangerous."
"Dangerous…?"
Annoyed that I had so bluntly targeted her true concerns, the clink of her teacup as she set it down was louder than before.
If she had been able to completely hide her emotions at this point, I would have judged her to be a more thorough person than I'd thought, but it seems her composure wasn't quite so deep.
Before she could say another word, I preempted her.
"I apologize if I have unintentionally offended you. But just as Your Grace has placed your trust in me, I felt it necessary to point out the current risk factors, rather than just offering pleasantries."
"Risk factors… Those are not words to be taken lightly. Still, you must have a reason for saying so. Go on, speak."
She feigned a relaxed tone again, but the pretense was obvious.
To the Duchess, I was, at best, a clever thirteen-year-old boy.
My status and position were incomparable to hers; I was nothing more than a useful piece on her chessboard.
Therefore, I would strike at that all-too-obvious psychological gap.
An all-access pass, or denied at the gate.
The time has come to roll the dice of fate.
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