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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Everything You Desire
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A few days after the election results were announced.
The Earl's estate had been transformed into a party venue for the Conservative Party, celebrating their victory in Ireland.
"We've secured 45 seats in Ireland this time, 45 seats! That's a whopping 17 more than the last election. It's all thanks to your hard work, my lord."
"Heh heh. You flatter an old man. This was the result of all our efforts. How could I possibly boast that it was my achievement alone?"
"Too modest. Even O'Connell's Repeal Association gained 11 seats compared to the last election, while our party gained 17. Meanwhile, the Whig Party was completely crushed."
"It's true that our party took the largest slice of the pie from the Whigs, who dwindled from 33 seats to just 5. While I certainly put in my share of effort, this was largely thanks to the image renewal that came with the Tory Party becoming the Conservative Party. Therefore, the contributions of young members like you are greater than mine, certainly not less."
Hearing the Earl's kind words, Wellesley laughed heartily and brought over his fellow members of Parliament to introduce them one by one.
Disraeli, Gladstone.
Names that were familiar to his ear, as James had given him a detailed account not long ago.
He now knew not just their names, but also their relationship with his son.
With neither the Conservatives nor the Whigs able to secure a majority without O'Connell's cooperation, both parties were hastily sending representatives to Ireland.
Wellesley and his comrades had also come to this distant land, ostensibly on a mission to persuade O'Connell.
But the Earl already knew the full story.
Daniel O'Connell had already concluded some sort of negotiation with Killian, and it had been decided that the next Prime Minister would come from the Conservative Party.
However, since the Conservatives and the Whigs were unaware of this fact, they had no choice but to desperately try to persuade O'Connell, who was still maintaining his silence.
Charles Wellesley and Disraeli had volunteered to take on this important task, and Robert Peel had sent the young members to Ireland with a prayer in his heart.
He must have judged that these men, who had a relatively good public image, would have a better chance of persuading O'Connell.
Of course, the outcome was already decided. O'Connell would pretend to be persuaded by Wellesley and side with the Conservatives, and it was easy to predict how much Wellesley's standing within the party would soar as a result.
It was an astonishingly clever and perfectly designed script.
And when he learned that the person directing this grand play from behind the scenes was none other than his son, Killian Gore.
The Earl had felt a complex mix of emotions that he couldn't put into words.
"My lord, we'll be on our way, so please rest easy. Ah, but by any chance, do you know where Killian is?"
"My son is likely on the first floor, greeting other guests."
"I see. Then we shall head there as well."
Though the master of the estate was the Earl himself, he knew very well who Wellesley considered the most important person here.
He couldn't have missed it, seeing how Wellesley had been subtly looking for Killian from the moment he arrived.
At first, he had thought James was telling some absurd joke.
He knew his son was intelligent, but wasn't he still just a young student?
But what was this… His son's assets might already be dozens of times greater than his own, he was secretly sponsoring the next generation of Conservative politicians, and he had even formed a cooperative relationship with the rapidly rising Daniel O'Connell.
Oh, and he had also heard that Killian was on friendly terms with Princess Victoria, the future queen, the current King William IV, and the Duchess of Kent.
That, too, was an utterly dumbfounding story.
It was a well-known fact, not just in England but also in Ireland, that William IV and the Duchess of Kent were on bad terms.
Could a person exist who was close to both of them at the same time?
But since it was apparently true, the Earl could only feel as though he were bewitched.
Of course, he was happy that his son was a colossal figure whose measure was difficult to grasp.
But it was so far beyond common sense, so lacking in realism, that he couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
Still, if he had to choose, the feelings of joy and pride were the greatest.
Because among the many distinguished guests gathered at this party today, the most brilliant and promising person was none other than his own son.
With this, his efforts to toil his old body to pave the way for his son would surely hold a much greater meaning.
As he was momentarily lost in sentiment, James, spotting him from afar, quickly walked over and greeted him.
"My lord, there you are. You must be tired. Shouldn't you go inside and rest?"
"Even if I've passed the duties on to my son, the master of the house must show his face. I was just exchanging greetings with the young members of the Conservative Party."
"I see. How were they?"
"Heh heh… To be honest, I still find it hard to believe. Disraeli is one thing, but Charles Wellesley is true upper class, what you might call a blue-blood even in England. And Killian is backing a man like that? It would make more sense if it were the other way around."
"That's because the Young Master is an extraordinary person."
That's what James had said when, with Killian's permission, he had revealed the truth.
He said he hadn't spoken of it before because he didn't want to cause any unnecessary worry.
In other words, Killian's position was now so stable that there was no longer any need to worry… What an astonishingly confident statement.
"Come to think of it, at some point, you became Killian's man, not mine."
"Well, that is…"
"It's a joke. Of course, you should switch from an old mule like me to a more capable and healthy new horse. In your eyes, what is Killian like? Is he someone who can become even greater than Daniel O'Connell?"
"Let me first say that I am not just saying this because I am in your presence, my lord. If we are to make a comparison, shouldn't he be discussed on the same level as people like His Grace the Duke of Wellington or the former Prime Minister Charles Grey in Westminster, rather than Mr. O'Connell?"
Wasn't it a stretch for an Irish nobleman to be placed on the same level as men like them?
The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but perhaps that too was proof that his rigid mind was not ready to accept the new era.
"What a shame, what a shame. If only I'd had him when I was a bit younger, I could have witnessed that thrilling sight."
"How can you say such a thing? You can simply minimize your work and recuperate starting now. Your Lordship is only seventy-four."
"My good man, let's be realistic. At seventy-four, it wouldn't be strange if I were already in my coffin."
He used to think he would have no regrets whenever he was called to God's side, but now he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
When did it start?
It must have been from that day.
The day a young blood relative he never knew existed walked into his estate, holding James's hand.
He had wanted to live just a little longer, to pass on as much as he could, until the boy grew up and could stand on his own.
But from what he heard, it seemed Killian was now ready to fly to a distant place where he no longer needed his help.
And he had done it all on his own.
"James, it seems my work here is mostly done, doesn't it?"
"What? What do you mean by that? You must live a long and healthy life and watch with joy as the Young Master rises through the ranks."
James's anxious voice sounded so unlike him that a small chuckle escaped the Earl's lips.
Perhaps because he had been overexerting himself lately, even a short conversation like this quickly made him feel tired and sleepy.
"I seem to be tired, so I think I'll close my eyes for a bit. I wish to speak with Killian, so if you wouldn't mind, could you please fetch him for me?"
"P-Please wait a moment! I'll bring him right away!"
"Such a fussbudget."
Come to think of it, I forgot to say my farewells. I must remember to convey them to my son.
Watching the back of his old acquaintance hurrying away, the Earl slowly closed his eyes.
* * *
"Father!"
Hearing from James that his condition was serious, I ran upstairs without a second thought.
Fortunately, it seemed he had just been truly tired and had dozed off for a moment. My father half-rose and stared blankly at me.
"Why are you rushing up here all out of breath? The other guests will think something terrible has happened."
"Phew… Why did James have to say something so strange…"
From his words, his condition had sounded critical. Did James just overreact?
Then again, the health of elderly people at his age could change drastically several times a day, so it wasn't something to scold him for.
If anything, he deserved praise.
"Wellesley said earlier that he was coming down to see you. Did you speak with him?"
"Yes. He said he plans to leave the estate tomorrow to go negotiate with Mr. O'Connell."
"Negotiate… Heh heh, I do hope it goes well."
"Indeed. It's just my feeling, but I think it will go very well."
"It's truly remarkable. Our family has had clever men, but never a child with such political acumen as you. I wonder who you take after to have blossomed with such talent."
Smiling, my father stood up, gripped his cane, and slowly walked into his bedroom.
When he had the strength to walk on his own, he was not one to desire assistance.
I followed behind him, paying close attention to make sure he didn't fall.
Leaning back on the well-made bed, my father stretched and let out a deep breath.
"Ah, now I can breathe. For someone my age, a boisterous party like that feels like it saps my energy just by being there."
"That's why you should avoid such hectic gatherings from now on and just rest comfortably."
"You sound just like James. Well, you're already doing a fine job of taking care of yourself, so I suppose you don't need my help anymore."
"Still, it was thanks to you that this election produced the most ideal outcome I could have imagined. Because of that, I think things will go smoothly from now on."
"Is that so? Come to think of it, I have many questions for you as well. James told me everything, but he didn't tell me about your personal feelings."
My father looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"You will? Then let's see… I hear you often speak with Princess Victoria at Kensington Palace. What is she like, in your eyes? Since you're of a similar age, I wonder if she might have some interest in you."
"What an absurd thing to say. You know full well what would happen if I made a move on the Princess."
"Tsk, tsk. Between a man and a woman, if you like each other, you like each other. If you don't, you don't. You don't need to approach everything with such a political mindset. Of course, making it public would be problematic, but they do say a secret romance is more exciting."
I suppose it's a universal truth, timeless and classless, that parents get overly excited about their children's love lives.
He seemed even more thrilled now than when he had won the election.
"Unfortunately, we are not in that kind of relationship at the moment."
"Is that so? Then what kind of woman is she, in your opinion? Is she pretty?"
"I think she's lost some weight recently. She was never overweight, but her attendants are worried because she's apparently cut back on her food drastically."
"Perhaps there's someone she wants to look pretty for. It's that age for a young girl, when such feelings start to stir."
"That's only because you're looking at the situation with that wishful thinking from the start."
My father chuckled and said, "I wonder," then turned his head.
Seeing that this could go on forever, I decided to gently steer the conversation elsewhere.
"You must have heard, but I met His Majesty, King William IV. It was my first time at Buckingham Palace, and it was truly magnificent."
"Is that so? That must have been a fascinating experience. But Killian, according to your plans, in the future, it wouldn't be strange at all for you to be a regular visitor to such palaces, would it?"
"I intend to work hard to make it so."
"James just told me. He said you are a man who should be compared not to O'Connell, but to figures like the Duke of Wellington. Hearing that made me realize I've never asked you about your future goals. So I want to ask, Killian, can you tell me what you want to become in this country in the future?"
My future ambition.
It was a difficult question, as I hadn't yet found something that could define my goal in a single word.
A member of the House of Lords of the British Empire? The Prime Minister in Parliament? The hidden power behind Buckingham Palace?
All of them felt like they were missing something.
So, if I had to say…
"To become someone who can control this country as I see fit."
"Do you mean you want to be Prime Minister?"
"If becoming Prime Minister is necessary to achieve my goal, then I will. But simply being Prime Minister doesn't mean I can control this country as I wish, does it?"
"Ha, hahaha! I see. So it wasn't a figure of speech, but the literal truth. I've seen men who wanted to liberate Ireland or become the power behind the future queen, but today is the first time I've met someone who wants to hold the entire country in his hands. And to think, it's my own son."
"I only say this because you are my father. I would never show this side of me to others."
After a long laugh, my father closed his eyes, his expression more relieved than before.
"To be honest, before I brought you here, I had so many worries. Was this the right thing to do? Was I needlessly stirring up trouble among my relatives? Was I causing a pointless commotion because of an obsession with bloodlines? All sorts of idle thoughts wouldn't leave my mind."
"That's perfectly understandable. I would have felt the same way."
"But now, I can say it with certainty. In my life of over seventy years, the greatest gift was none other than you. Though the time we had together was not long, those few short years with you were far happier than the seventy years that came before. Ah, and give James my regards. Tell him I hope he will one day rise to a position befitting his abilities."
"Not long? We can build more happy memories for a long, long time to come. Why are you sounding so down?"
This was making me anxious. I couldn't let it be.
I turned to leave, intending to fetch a doctor, but my father grabbed my arm.
It was a force so weak that 'touched' would have been a more fitting word than 'grabbed,' but I felt a weight like a thousand pounds and stopped in my tracks.
"Killian."
"Yes, Father. I'm listening."
Clasping the hand he had weakly extended toward me, I abandoned the thought of calling a doctor and moved closer to the bed.
My father's voice was even quieter than before, but it was surprisingly distinct and clear. Like a final burst of life.
"The small title I am passing on to you won't be enough for you to fully display your abilities, will it? I now know well that a small vessel like Ireland cannot contain you. So…"
I felt a tiny bit of strength enter my father's hand as it held mine.
"The process of you obtaining everything you desire… I will be watching from the heavens with your mother, whose name I don't even know, but who gave me the greatest gift of my life. Whether it be a person or a country, take everything you want."
What else could I say?
"…Yes. I will, so don't you worry."
"…"
"From the day you brought me here, Father, my life changed as well. The higher I climb in this country, it will all be because of you… Father?"
The 3rd Earl of Arran, and my father, Sir Arthur Gore, gave no reply.
With a peaceful smile, as if he had heard my final words.
My father never opened his eyes again.
And something warm, which I thought I would never shed in my entire life, trickled down from the corners of my eyes.
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