Chapter 1 : The death of my father

"Your Royal Highness, wake up! Something terrible has happened! Your Royal Highness, the Duke has been murdered! Her Majesty the Queen demands your presence at once!"

The door to the lavishly decorated room, adorned with tapestries and ebony furniture, burst open. An elderly man, though firm in stature and with a stern gaze, rushed in. His eyes, reddened with anguish, reflected the gravity of the situation. It was Butler Hunter, a loyal man who had served the royal family for decades.

"Hmm? What's going on?" Arthur, abruptly shaken from his sleep, sat up in bed. His face, still marked by fatigue, tensed as he saw the desperate expression on Hunter's face. "Butler Hunter, what has happened?"

"There's no time for explanations, Your Highness. You must go to Her Majesty the Queen at once. Your Royal Highness, the Duke, was murdered this morning on the streets of London. The entire government and the royal family are in shock." Hunter's voice trembled, but it carried an urgency that brooked no delay.

"Murdered? My father?" Arthur, now fully awake, leapt out of bed. Disbelief took hold of him. "Who would dare do such a thing?"

Arthur William Patrick Albert, the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, was not just a member of the British Royal Family. He was a symbol of the Empire's stability, a man who had served the Crown with unwavering loyalty. His death was not just a personal tragedy; it was a direct blow to the heart of the British Empire.

"I don't know, Your Highness," replied Hunter, his voice breaking. "Everything seemed normal this morning. Who could have imagined that an assassin would dare strike in broad daylight in London? But now is not the time for speculation. You must go to Her Majesty the Queen. You will be safe there."

Hunter, the old butler, had served the Duke since he was knighted in 1874. For over two decades, he had witnessed Arthur William Patrick Albert become one of the pillars of the Empire. He had also watched Arthur Connaught, the young prince, grow up, and now the prince faced a crisis that threatened to destabilize not only his life but the entire United Kingdom.

"What should I do?" murmured Connaught Arthur, more to himself than to Hunter. He had only been in this body for a few months, following a mysterious event that had transported him to this era. Though he had a superficial knowledge of the British Empire's history, he was not prepared for a crisis of this magnitude. He knew that Queen Victoria was one of the most powerful monarchs in history, but that gave him no answers on how to act now.

"First, we must ensure your safety, Your Highness," said Hunter firmly. "Then, we must uncover who is behind this. We cannot allow this crime to go unpunished."

Arthur nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He dressed quickly and followed Hunter through the palace corridors, where servants whispered among themselves, their faces pale with fear and uncertainty.

. . . . .

Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria's Council Chambers

The atmosphere in the council chamber was tense, filled with a sepulchral silence broken only by the hurried footsteps of ministers and the whispers of the royal family members. Queen Victoria, seated at the head of the long oak table, was pale, her eyes filled with a mix of grief and fury.

"Your Majesty," said Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, the Prime Minister, in a grave and solemn voice. "Please accept our deepest condolences. The loss of Your Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught, is a tragedy that shocks the entire Empire. But we must act swiftly. This act is not only an attack on the Royal Family but a direct affront to the Crown and the British Empire."

The Queen nodded slowly, her trembling hands clutching a silk handkerchief.

"I will not rest until those responsible pay for this crime," she said, her voice weak but filled with unyielding determination. "London is the capital of the most powerful Empire in the world. If anyone thinks they can challenge our authority, they are sorely mistaken."

"The Prime Minister is right. Investigate immediately! Within three days, I want all the information on the assassin and whether there is anyone else behind him. Anyone involved in this crime will be arrested and only released after confirming they are not suspects. I want those who dare harm Arthur to understand that the dignity of the royal family is not so easily questioned," declared Queen Victoria, aged 80, seated on her throne with a face that mixed sorrow and fury.

Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert had been Queen Victoria's favorite son since his birth. Although his position was slightly overshadowed by the birth of his sister, Princess Beatrice, Arthur remained the monarch's favorite. This affection intensified after her second son, Prince Alfred, left for Germany to assume a noble title, and her fourth son, Prince Leopold, died of hemophilia in 1884. From then on, Arthur held an even more special place in his mother's heart.

On the other hand, Prince Edward, the eldest son, never enjoyed the Queen's favor. His repeated scandals and licentious private life had distanced Victoria from him to the point where she barely showed interest in his affairs. This fueled rumors in the court and among the people that Queen Victoria was considering naming Arthur as heir apparent instead of Edward. Although she never took concrete steps to strip Edward of his title, many speculated that the idea lingered in her mind.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A sudden knock on the door interrupted Queen Victoria's fury. All present turned their gaze to the entrance, wondering who would dare interrupt at such a tense moment.

"Grandmother," called Arthur, entering slowly with eyes red from crying.

The word "grandmother" instantly dispelled the Queen's rage. Seeing her grandson's face, so reminiscent of her beloved son, Victoria could not hold back two tears that rolled down her cheeks.

"Good boy, come to your grandmother," she said in a trembling voice. "Do not fear, no one will harm you while I am here."

The Queen rose, took Arthur's hand, and guided him to the throne, where she seated him beside her. The officials present bowed their heads in respect.

"Your Royal Highness Arthur," they murmured one after another.

"Convey the order," Queen Victoria announced solemnly. "Arthur's title will be inherited by young Arthur, along with all the castles and estates. Arthur, my son, will be buried with the honors of a Prince, and flags will fly at half-mast across the country for three days."

As she caressed her grandson's face, Queen Victoria struggled to maintain her composure. Her eyes, reddened with grief, reflected the depth of her loss. Arthur's death was not only a personal blow but also a threat to the stability of the Monarchy. And Victoria was determined that no one would go unpunished.