The Shadow of Great Britain

He didn’t seem to be exposing his wounds to gain her sympathy; instead, it was more like explaining a survival logic that had long been formed and proven effective.

Arthur began to speak: ”Perhaps His Majesty is not being stubborn because of ignorance. Some spend a lifetime learning how to gain, while she has been learning how not to lose since childhood. People are different.”

The dining room fell silent once more.

The Duchess of Kent put down her teacup and shook her head, ”It seems you understand more than I thought.”

Arthur smiled slightly, ”I simply learned earlier than Her Majesty how to sit alone at the table, though it was by force.”

The Duchess of Kent was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Arthur stood up from his seat, adjusted his cuffs, and then bent slightly to bow, ”Your Highness, if there are no other instructions, I should go to the study.”

The Duchess of Kent looked at him and finally showed a hint of genuine, almost gentle smile.

”Go,” she said, ”Don’t keep her waiting too long.”

Arthur responded and turned to leave the table.

His hand was already on the softly polished copper handle beside the dining room door.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the voice of the Duchess of Kent came from behind him, ”Sir Arthur.”

Arthur immediately stopped and turned to ask, ”Your Highness?”

”You recently...” she asked almost casually, ”seem not to frequent Kensington Palace as often as before?”

The question was asked very lightly, even with a bit of nonchalance.

”I’ve been quite busy with affairs lately,” Arthur answered meticulously, ”Moreover, since Her Majesty ascended to the throne, many arrangements are handled centrally at Buckingham Palace, so indeed I visit Kensington Palace less frequently.”

The Duchess of Kent nodded, as if she accepted this explanation, but did not stop there.

”Over at Kensington Palace...” she continued, ”it’s been quite quiet there recently. Flora mentioned to me a few days ago that your last visit was quite some time ago.”

The duchess’s tone remained gentle, neither probing nor accusatory, just gently pushing the topic forward, ”You all did come together from the days of Kensington. Such times, not everyone has experienced them. When a person reaches a certain age, they always can’t help but look back and see if the people beside them are still in their original places.”

Arthur’s fingertips slightly tightened, but he quickly relaxed, maintaining his usual composure, ”To me, Flora has always been family. No matter where I am, this point will not change.”

The Duchess of Kent chuckled softly, ”Family. Yes, sometimes, precisely because they are family, they are more easily overlooked.”

She did not continue further, just lifted the slightly cooled teacup, ”Your current identity, your position, is different from before. If some things are delayed, waiting for the right moment often leads to missing the chance.”

What the Duchess of Kent spoke today was not sudden, but she was indeed very concerned about Flora’s marriage.

If she had to rank the attendants at Kensington Palace by trustworthiness, John Conroy would surely rank first by a long way, but second would be the Chief Lady-in-waiting of Kensington Palace, Miss Flora Hastings.

Flora had been by her side since she was 19, serving as her intimate Lady, responsible for the daily life and activity arrangements of the Duchess of Kent.

And this year, Flora is already 31 years old; twelve years of living together day and night, the feelings between them have long surpassed simple political allies and superior-subordinate relationships.

Now, even though the Duchess of Kent is still struggling with her daughter over Conroy’s nobility status and pension issues, she actually understands deep down that regency is essentially impossible to achieve.

Since that’s the case, continuing to keep Flora by her side is indeed too cruel for her personally.

”You now often travel between Buckingham Palace and White Hall, naturally not lacking people to discuss official business and affairs with,” the Duchess of Kent advised earnestly, ”But you can’t even squeeze in some time to glance back at old acquaintances into your schedule. Flora is not someone who likes to complain; she has been by my side for so many years, always knowing her place, understanding what to say and what to swallow. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her expectations.”

Arthur stood quietly, without responding. In fact, he felt his current situation was even more precarious than before.

”You just said you are unwilling to be pitied,” the Duchess of Kent turned to look at him, ”I can understand that. However, Sir Arthur, there are more possibilities between people than just sympathy and pity. Some affection is naturally left behind after walking shoulder to shoulder for a while.”

She paused for a moment, speaking even lighter, almost as if in casual conversation, ”These years at Kensington have not been easy, for you, and for Flora as well. One is learning how to survive, the other is learning how to arrange everything for others. If such two people even have to pretend not to see each other’s feelings, wouldn’t that be a bit too naïve?”

Arthur took a slight breath, ”Your Highness, I have never regarded Flora as someone who can be easily overlooked. Precisely because of this, I am especially cautious.”

”To what extent cautious?” The Duchess of Kent teasingly asked, ”Cautious enough to have her speak first? Flora has been at Kensington Palace for twelve years; she knows the world and understands what your current position means. If she truly had nothing to ask for, I wouldn’t have even mentioned today’s words. Sir Arthur, trust me, as long as you speak, she will not refuse.”