The Shadow of Great Britain

”Since it is a serious matter,” she said calmly, ”then it naturally cannot be delayed.”

This sentence neither denied anything nor continued to pursue the matter.

It itself represented giving way.

Arthur felt a sense of relief in his heart, yet he maintained his posture of bowing with his head lowered, without speaking a word more.

Victoria immediately seized this opportunity to follow the flow.

She stood up swiftly: ”Mother, I’ll go to the study first to handle some documents. I have arrangements this morning, so I won’t accompany you in the dining room.”

The Duchess of Kent looked at her without objection: ”Very well, don’t tire yourself out.”

Victoria nodded slightly, then turned to Arthur, her tone slightly lighter than before but allowing no disagreement: ”Sir Arthur, after you’ve finished breakfast, come to the study to find me.”

Arthur bowed and replied, ”As you command, Your Majesty.”

Victoria did not linger any longer and turned to leave the table.

The shawl on her shoulders swayed gently, quickly vanishing behind the door leading to the Inner Court from the dining room.

Only two people remained in the dining room.

The Duchess of Kent picked up her teacup and took a sip, as if the intense confrontation that had just occurred had never happened.

”The rice pudding looks quite good,” she suddenly said, her tone even carrying a hint of casual conversation: ”How do you find the meals at Buckingham Palace compared to those at Kensington Palace?”

”Kensington Palace’s breakfast is not as sumptuous as Buckingham Palace’s, it feels more like family dining...” Arthur smiled slightly, his tone very light: ”However, although the dishes at Kensington Palace aren’t as refined, people tend to linger longer at the table.”

The Duchess of Kent’s gaze flickered a bit: ”So you prefer Kensington Palace?”

”I wouldn’t dare say I prefer it.” Arthur shook his head naturally, speaking with some embarrassment: ”You might know, I come from a poor background. I never really met my parents. Or rather... I’ve never truly seen them. I was born in the countryside of York, my mother died when I was born, and who my father is, I’ve never known. My earliest memories are of the yard of the Poorhouse and blankets that were never warm enough during winter.”

When he spoke these words, there was no hint of accusation, more like a retrospective view of an experience he had already sorted and archived himself.

”Later, I was sent to a farm as an apprentice, and then... luck slightly improved.” Arthur smiled, his smile carrying a sense of ease and lightness: ”My uncle, or maybe he should be called my grandfather? In any case, that old squire was willing to give me a chance, a path. But, family as such, for me, has always been quite vague.”

The Duchess of Kent did not interrupt, she just listened quietly.

”So when I first had breakfast at Kensington Palace, I actually felt quite uneasy,” Arthur continued: ”Not because of the etiquette, nor because of any lack of hospitality on your part. But because... sitting around that table were mothers, children, and people who would appear at the same time every day.”

As these words fell, the air carried a bit of something indescribable.

The Duchess of Kent looked down at her teacup, the surface of the water inside it slightly rippled.

”In fact, Her Majesty is quite fortunate.” Arthur finally looked up, his words carrying genuine emotion: ”Her Majesty harbors many complaints in her heart, but at least she knows that every day her mother will be sitting across from her. Even if you are always arguing, even if there are frequent disagreements, I never even had those.”

When he said this, he didn’t attempt to close the distance nor used the opportunity to defend Victoria.

He simply, plainly, placed the word ”envy” on the table.

The Duchess of Kent remained silent for a long time, so long that the attendants in the dining room subconsciously lightened their steps.

”I’ve never heard others talk about these stories of yours,” the Duchess of Kent finally spoke: ”These things, I fear, not even Flora knows?”

Arthur responded with a smile: ”No, hardly anyone in the world knows.”

”Then why don’t you speak of it?”

”Because it doesn’t solve any problems, Your Highness.”

As Arthur said this, he didn’t sound bitter, but rather exceedingly calm.

”When I was a child, speaking of it would fall on deaf ears.” Arthur’s tone was gentle, yet extremely certain: ”And when someone was finally willing to listen... I no longer needed anyone’s sympathy.”

The Duchess of Kent shook her head with sympathy.

”What’s more...” Arthur continued, ”in White Hall, in Parliament, in the court, the past is never something used to explain one’s stance, only to be wielded against a person as a weakness. I’m not too inclined to hand over my life for others to use.”

The Duchess of Kent sighed softly: ”You are harsh on yourself indeed. However, even if you are unwilling to let the past be used as a weakness by others, at least allow those who care about you to understand your past circumstances, Flora should know these things.”

Arthur shook his head: ”No, Your Highness, even she shouldn’t know.”

”Why not?”

Arthur smiled: ”Because I do not wish for people to be particularly gentle with me out of sympathy.”

The Duchess of Kent asked: ”You don’t need it?”

”I don’t need it, because what I needed, I have already obtained,” Arthur answered frankly: ”Opportunities, positions, responsibilities, I have nothing, yet I have everything. As for gentleness... if it doesn’t come from equality, but from pity, it would make me uneasy.”

The Duchess of Kent looked at him silently.

The young man sat there, impeccably dressed, cautious in his words, neither ostentatious nor self-pitying.