The Shadow of Great Britain

Lord Liverpool did not immediately respond; he merely gazed silently at Conroy.

”Your Excellency.” Conroy spoke again, deliberately slowing his speech as if aware of his previous harsh tone: ”We are all doing what’s best for Her Royal Highness the Princess.”

”Are we?” Earl of Liverpool’s tone was indifferent: ”Then allow me to remind you, Sir John Conroy, Her Royal Highness the Princess has turned eighteen today.”

Conroy’s eyelid twitched slightly.

Earl of Liverpool continued: ”Legally, Her Royal Highness the Princess now possesses full autonomy. You, I, even the Duchess of Kent, can only act while respecting her wishes. And the list you presented tonight, if I may be frank, is less a consultant’s advice and more a resurgence of certain old habits.”

Arthur saw Conroy’s expression suddenly freeze, his usually impeccable rhetoric suddenly lost its effect, leaving the Kensington Palace Chief Steward a bit at a loss.

After a moment, Conroy forced a reluctant smile: ”If Your Excellency insists... then I can only comply. But I believe, once Her Royal Highness the Princess truly realizes the difficulty of governance, she will immediately understand the great help I once provided.”

Earl of Liverpool did not respond, merely stared at Conroy with an oddly ambiguous look.

Conroy paused, as if seeking a point of re-entry to regain a position of control: ”Please understand, Your Excellency, I’m merely worried that Her Royal Highness the Princess may be swayed by others, especially Leisen... that Hanoverian governess, her influence has far exceeded its proper scope. A foreigner, a woman with no political experience, to meddle indiscriminately in Royal Family affairs, it’s undeniably dangerous.”

”Lady Leisen’s suitability will be judged by Her Royal Highness.” Liverpool replied indifferently: ”Not by you.”

”But she is a German, and a woman!” Conroy emphasized: ”She completely misunderstands our national system, misunderstands our nation. Although Her Royal Highness the Princess is already 18, her heart power is less mature than her age. She’s still too young, easily swayed by appearances and emotions. You should know how credulous she is, how she esteems romance, the affair between her and Lord Elphinsone has proven that Her Royal Highness the Princess is currently far from ready to undertake the responsibilities of governance, she needs someone to assist her.”

Earl of Liverpool slowly closed the document in his hand: ”We all know, Her Royal Highness the Princess grew up within high walls, and the one who built those walls need not be mentioned by me. Sir John, I must speak plainly, currently within Her Royal Highness the Princess’s inner court, you are unwelcome.”

Conroy’s smile froze instantly, his facial muscles twitched slightly, and his straight posture crumpled somewhat awkwardly.

If someone else had said this, like Sir Arthur Hastings, Conroy probably wouldn’t have taken these words to heart, he might even have retorted.

However, this stark negation actually came from the mouth of Earl of Liverpool, which caught Conroy somewhat off guard.

As the third Earl of Liverpool, half-brother to the former Prime Minister, he not only holds considerable influence within the Conservative Party but is also one of the few figures respected by the Duchess of Kent and trusted by Victoria.

If even Earl of Liverpool stands against him at this moment, it only means his current situation has become dangerously precarious.

Conroy had been aware of this before, but he truly hadn’t anticipated the situation to have deteriorated to such an extent.

Earl of Liverpool bluntly stated: ”Should you persist in demanding a formal personal secretary seat, it will only arouse stronger opposition both politically and publicly. According to the Regency Bill, Her Royal Highness the Princess has come of age, so her choice is the final judgment. If you continue to entangle matters, it will not benefit her, and will only lead you to isolation.”

Conroy’s lips trembled twice, as if wanting to refute, but ultimately dared not speak.

”Your Excellency!” After much thought, Conroy slowly spoke: ”I am not entirely seeking a position for myself. I’ve accompanied Her Royal Highness the Princess for years, since she came into this world, I’ve devoted all my heart power to her. I swear to God, my attention on her surpasses that on my own daughter. Regardless of how the outside world criticizes me, at least I’ve applied my heart, exerted my effort. If I have made any mistakes, it was only being overly enthusiastic, overly forceful.”

He looked up, his smile tinged with bitterness: ”Could it be that everything I’ve done for the Duchess and Her Royal Highness the Princess over the years is simply written off? Even if I haven’t made achievements, surely I’ve made efforts?”

Arthur was gently spinning with Flora in the dance floor, his palm naturally resting on her waist. While intently watching the drama unfold, Arthur couldn’t help but slightly tighten his fingertips, as if to pull her closer to peer past her slender shoulder at the expression on the face of the Kensington Chief Steward. Conroy’s low, pleading complaint at this moment, his posture wretched, his tone bordering on entreaty, was starkly different from his historically proud and arrogant attitude.

The sight before him carried a hint of irony, causing Arthur to smile inwardly; it had been a long time since he had witnessed such an amusing farce.