The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur suppressed his anger: ”Shouldn’t this advisory note also include a caveat: This suggestion lacks any legal authority, cannot be cited in the deliberations of the Privy Council, nor can it be used under Her Majesty the Queen’s decree?”

Phillips was noncommittal and simply pushed the note onto the table with meticulous precision: ”You have the right to write it that way.”

He spoke calmly: ”The system permits it.”

Arthur glanced down at the note, contemplating for a while before speaking: ”I’ll draft a professional opinion for you. Only facts, only risks, without conclusions. But I must solemnly remind you, pushing the police to the forefront of moral judgment will not only blur the boundaries between the police and the jury for the public, but also potentially force us to assess the pitiful nature of offenders before each arrest in the future. This is not the duty of the police, nor the institutional framework envisioned when the Central Criminal Court was established.”

Samuel quietly put his gloves back on, one hand still resting on his briefcase, as if ready to get up.

But he did not stand up.

Instead, he looked up at Arthur and said: ”Sir Arthur, I understand your feelings, but this is inevitable. If the current king were still His Majesty William, things wouldn’t be like this. For an old king, whether it’s commuting a sentence or approving the death penalty, everyone can accept it, and the attention is not as high. But as you know, our current monarch is an eighteen-year-old little queen, for a young lady, if she approves the death penalty, she may be criticized as ruthless, if she commutes the sentence, she might be accused of being too lenient. After all, the public now holds too many unrealistic fantasies about her, so whatever verdict she makes, many will find their fantasies shattered. Therefore, the Home Office, from a responsible standpoint, hopes to gather as much material as possible to minimize any adverse impact.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow without speaking, having already guessed what Samuel wanted to say next.

Sure enough, Samuel spoke: ”But if we can solve it institutionally, there’s no need to go through such a loop in administrative procedures.”

He gently moved the briefcase to the other side, as if making room for the next words: ”You know what I mean. Our minister, Lord Russell thinks so too, the Whig Party has already drafted the bill, and we’re currently just lacking someone who can successfully persuade Her Majesty the Queen to calmly accept and approve this low-risk plan. And everyone believes, this person is none other than you.”

Arthur couldn’t help but sigh, pretending to be inconvenienced and shook his head: ”You mean... to revoke Her Majesty the Queen’s authority to sign off on death sentences? Instead transfer this power to the Home Office?”

”Not revoke,” Phillips corrected smoothly: ”It’s an adjustment of responsibility distribution, delegating high-risk and unimportant affairs to the Home Office. Simply put, it allows Her Majesty the Queen to retain her dignity in form, while practically removing her from this duty which harms the Royal Family’s image.”

Samuel paused and continued: ”Although since the eighteenth century, the final procedure for most death sentences has been for the monarch to review and decide whether to grant a pardon. Previous kings did handle these records and even wrote comments. But...”

He apologetically repeated: ”You know that, we are now facing an eighteen-year-old queen.”

Arthur tapped his fingertips gently on the blue-edged note, as if weighing or delaying.

After a moment, he spoke slowly: ”I understand your position, Mr. Phillips. In fact, I do not oppose this slight institutional adjustment. You are right, society is changing, the media is changing, even the King’s Power itself has to conform to some compromise in reality.”

Upon this, Arthur changed his tone: ”But I must clarify one thing: Even if I am willing to try, it doesn’t mean I can persuade Her Majesty the Queen. Her Majesty is strong-willed, has her own opinions, she is not as susceptible to outside influence as you imagine.”

Samuel glanced at him, his face still expressionless, not even a flicker of his eyelashes.

”Her Majesty the Queen certainly has a certain degree of trust in me...” Arthur added: ”But you know, Her Majesty’s trust is built on other matters rather than on legislative influence or power delegation. Besides, for an eighteen-year-old queen, if she is told in her first year of reign that she ’has no authority over life and death,’ it doesn’t sound like an honorable start.”

Samuel was not in a hurry to respond, instead, he leisurely opened his briefcase and took out another document: ”Sir Arthur, I completely understand your hesitation. Therefore, at the Home Office, our principle is never to force anyone to undertake tasks they do not wish to.”

He paused and finally changed to a more human tone: ”Only, if this matter succeeds... the minister naturally won’t let you take risks in vain.”

Arthur wasn’t particularly pleased by this, but he still smiled: ”Mr. Phillips, the number of years I’ve been in White Hall may not be as many as yours, but it’s not the first time I’ve heard such talk. How about this, let’s talk something practical. I happen to have a friend, who is currently awaiting the mid-year position review from the Navy Department. He was doing well at the Hydrographic Office, but these two years he’s been stuck at the Third-class Clerk level.”

Arthur didn’t mention a name, but Samuel obviously knew who he was talking about, after all, among the White Hall bureaucrats, it’s common knowledge that Arthur Hastings of the Police Commissioner Committee and Eld Carter of the Carter family have the closest relationship.

Arthur spoke without batting an eyelid: ”Of course, this matter isn’t directly related to you, I also know you don’t intervene in naval affairs, but Lord Russell has some channels... As long as you can, at the right time, transmit this civil servant promotion suggestion from the Home Office to the Navy Department’s ’Mid-year Coordination Recommendation Form’, give it a try and mention him, then I’ll try to mention it to Her Majesty the Queen.”

Samuel was silent for a while.

He did not nod, nor did he answer, but slowly put away the spare document.

”I understand.” He said: ”I will return your suggestion. But whether the minister is willing to listen, that depends on fate.”

Arthur raised his teacup and toasted Samuel from afar: ”Exactly, is there really any matter in this world that’s certain to succeed? Whether Her Majesty the Queen is willing to listen, on my end, that too can only depend on fate.”