Chapter 2: Funeral

"Block all exits from London, the murderer must not get away. I want to hear good news from the government within three days." Queen Victoria said coldly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Robert Selby responded solemnly.

Prime Minister Roberto Selby knew that if he couldn't capture the murderer within the time limit set by Her Majesty, his days as Prime Minister would most likely be numbered.

Although the United Kingdom is one of the most representative constitutional monarchies in the world, the power of the British monarch has been greatly restricted.

But no one can deny that Queen Victoria, who single-handedly created the glorious Victorian Era, has regained a great amount of power, and the appointment and removal of the Prime Minister is merely a matter of a simple command.

"Where is Arthur now?" Queen Victoria asked sadly.

"At the Royal Hospital, Princess Louise is also there." Prime Minister Robert Selby replied.

Princess Louise, the Duchess of Arthur, is the niece of King Frederick IV of Prussia and Emperor William I of Germany, and the first cousin of the current Emperor William II of the German Empire, as well as Arthur's mother.

"Let's go, let's see Arthur for the last time and take a look at my poor child." Queen Victoria seemed resigned as she sighed; her already aging body seeming even more hunched over.

The Royal Hospital is an ancient hospital built in the last century and is also the private hospital for the entire British Royal Family.

It gathers famous doctors from all over the United Kingdom and even the world, and is considered one of the top hospitals globally.

A procession of horse-drawn carriages slowly set off from Buckingham Palace, heading straight towards the Royal Hospital.

In the Royal Hospital,

Two hours had passed since Arthur was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and his breath and heartbeat had been lost forever just one hour earlier.

Sitting in front of Arthur's body were his wife Princess Louise and two daughters Margaret, Patricia.

Even the youngest daughter Patricia was fourteen years old, already past the age of innocence.

Seeing their once kind and gentle father suddenly lying on the bed with pale breathless face, both Margaret and Patricia could hardly accept it and they sobbed loudly on Arthur's remains.

Princess Louise, on the other hand, was slightly better off, managing to hold back her somewhat collapsing emotions, instead of completely losing control like her two daughters.

However, the redness of her eyes and the haze of tears in the corners of her eyes proved that Princess Louise was not feeling well either.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With the sound of noisy footsteps, Princess Louise looked at the door and immediately saw Queen Victoria, who was slowly walking in holding Arthur's hand.

"Your Majesty, Arthur." Princess Louise tried to control her emotions and said.

In the West, both sons and daughters-in-law generally call their parents-in-law by their names.

Given Queen Victoria's esteemed identity, Princess Louise naturally could not directly address Queen Victoria by name and had changed to an honorific title.

"Louise, Margaret, Patricia." Queen Victoria slowly nodded to Princess Louise and then shifted her gaze to Margaret, Patricia, and finally to Duke Arthur on the bed, struggling to say, "Arthur!"

"Arthur!"

Calling Duke Arthur's name again, Queen Victoria quickly stepped to his bedside.

Caressing Duke Arthur's gradually cooling face, Queen Victoria slowly said, "Arthur, rest assured, mother will avenge you. I will also take care of Louise and the three little ones, and never let anyone hurt them. May God guide you to heaven, my son."

"Prime Minister Robert!" Turning her head, Queen Victoria, who was still a grieving mother, became that reigning monarch of decades, coldly saying, "Investigate for me! Whether it's London or the UK, or even Europe or the Americas, as long as anyone related to the assassin is found, arrest them all! And announce to the world that any participation or assistance in the murder is an act of war against the British Empire! Even at all costs, uncover everything!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go immediately." Prime Minister Robert Selby hurriedly responded.

Queen Victoria's anger was an existence that the entire British political scene had to avoid, and no one dared to challenge her majesty's authority nor question her rights.

"And prepare Arthur's funeral immediately. Don't make my child wait too long. The sooner I send Arthur to heaven, the more at ease I'll be." Queen Victoria instructed.

The funeral rites of the West are somewhat complicated, especially for someone like Duke Arthur, who is to be buried in the style of a prince, making the process even more intricate.

Not only is it necessary to hire a local bishop to pray for the deceased's soul to ascend to heaven, but also to wash the body and perform communion, among other things.

This whole series of preparations would take at least a few more days, which was intolerable for Queen Victoria.

"I understand, Your Highness." Prime Minister Robert naturally could not refuse and quickly agreed.

It was not until after Queen Victoria had given a long series of instructions to Princess Louise, Margaret, Patricia, and the others that she left with Arthur and the rest.

January 7, 1900, Burke County Windsor Royal Cemetery.

This private cemetery of the royal family contains the remains of many dignified kings and members of the royal family over the past centuries. And now, there was to be another body laid to rest here, Duke Arthur.

Early in the morning, Queen Victoria attended the funeral with all the royal family members, accompanied by a procession of royal guards for ceremonies and vigilance.

The noble and distinguished Duke had had a short and colorful life serving in South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, and India as an officer, and was now the Commander-in-Chief of Ireland and the holder of the title of "Chief of the Six Nations" and United Kingdom Army Marshal.

As a result, many citizens volunteered to send Duke Arthur off at his funeral.

Duke Arthur's coffin left the Royal Hospital and slowly proceeded on the royal-exclusive horse carriage, arriving at the Royal Cemetery.

With the farewell of many British people, all royal family members and government officials, Duke Arthur's coffin was placed in a pre-prepared tomb, with the bishop giving the final blessing.

Arthur looked at everything, feeling somewhat at a loss.

He had traveled through time for just over three months when he lost his father, the kind Duke Arthur. What should he do next?