Chapter 5 : The Crown Prince's Gift

The British Empire, along with the Royal Families of European Monarchies, saw Queen Victoria as a symbol of unity and power. It was no coincidence that she was known as "The Grandmother of Europe." Her blood ties extended across the continent, reaching even to Emperor Wilhelm II of the German Empire, one of the great powers of the time and Victoria's own grandson.

When Queen Victoria passed away on the Isle of Whakaari, she was surrounded by her descendants, including the heir apparent, Prince Edward, and Emperor Wilhelm II. The presence of the latter at the Queen's side in her final moments was no accident: it demonstrated the weight Victoria carried in the European courts. However, her death not only marked the end of an era but also triggered a series of events that would alter the fate of many, including Arthur, a young nobleman whose life was about to take a drastic turn.

As expected, the idea of Queen Victoria traveling to the Isle of Whakaari was rejected by the vast majority of people. No one wanted the Queen, who was already over 80 years old, to journey more than 10,000 kilometers to such a distant place.

Although many understood Queen Victoria's longing for her deceased relatives, neither the British Empire nor the European royal families could accept the blow of losing her.

Yet, no one could stop Queen Victoria, who was resolute in her decision—not even Prime Minister Robert or the heir apparent, Prince Edward.

The only thing to be grateful for was that Queen Victoria did not decide to leave immediately. Instead, she waited until Arthur had settled all his affairs before departing for Australia with him.

Although the Duke of Azer had been killed at a young age, he left Arthur a vast fortune and numerous properties.

Leaving behind two duchies and a county that were exchanged for Australia, as well as several castles, two military factories, a steel mill, and a shipyard that were originally under the Duke's control, the total value of these assets amounted to hundreds of millions of pounds. These possessions were not just symbols of wealth but also of strategic power in a British Empire that was expanding and preparing for future conflicts.

Duke Arthur also held a significant number of shares in factories and companies within the arms industry and other sectors, estimated to be worth tens of millions of pounds. These investments were not mere financial assets; they were key components of the industrial machinery that fueled the empire's military efforts.

Now, with Arthur preparing to leave for Australia, most of these properties needed to be relocated or liquidated to maximize their utility. For Arthur, all the shares he owned had to be converted into cash. Although these shares might appreciate in the future, Arthur, immersed in the preparations for his journey and the planning of his new life in Australia, did not have the luxury of waiting. Time was a scarce resource, and liquid cash was what he needed to fund his new mission.

It would be better to convert everything into pounds and contribute to the development of Australia, a territory that, though distant, promised unprecedented opportunities. If possible, Arthur planned to relocate all the shipyards, steel mills, and military factories to Australia. These facilities would not only fill the industrial gap that had persisted in the country but also accelerate its technological and military development—a crucial factor in a world where tensions between empires were ever-growing.

As for the castles he was leaving behind, Arthur had no intention of keeping them. Unless something unexpected happened, he would not return to the British Empire. These castles, ancient and steeped in history, occupied vast tracts of land and featured complete infrastructures: gardens, restaurants, and a wealth of valuable artworks. The value of these castles alone exceeded 60 million pounds, a sum equivalent to a quarter of the British Empire's annual tax revenue. They were symbols of power, but also a burden from the past that Arthur was willing to leave behind.

The good news was that Butler Hunter, who had previously managed Duke Arthur's properties, knew every detail of these holdings. When he learned of Arthur's plans, he did not oppose them. Instead, he worked quietly to help sell the properties he had managed for years.

Perhaps due to the economic boom of the British Empire, which had created a wealthy class eager to invest in symbols of power and status, the sale of Arthur's properties went surprisingly smoothly. In just one month, most of the shares and castles had found buyers. The castles, in particular, sparked great interest among the nobility. Not only were they all sold, but they also generated total revenues of up to 70 million pounds.

Adding the proceeds from the sale of the shares, Arthur now had an overwhelming amount of cash at his disposal: 87 million pounds.

March 3, Buckingham Palace.

This was Arthur's last day in the British Empire and also the day before Queen Victoria's planned journey. The air in the palace was thick with tension, as if the fate of the empire hung by a thread.

The British Government had been extremely busy that day. Not only did it have to handle routine government affairs, but it also had to confirm the preparations for Queen Victoria's journey the following day.

On this occasion, Queen Victoria would not only be accompanied by a royal guard of two thousand men but would also be escorted by an imposing fleet that included two battleships and five cruisers. It was a display of power that reflected the grandeur of the empire, but also the shadow of looming conflicts.

Accompanying the Royal Family on this journey were Princess Beatrice, Arthur, Princess Louise, Margaret, and Patricia, along with the palace butler, Harvey, and the Deputy Prime Minister, John. To attend to Queen Victoria's daily needs, twelve additional servants, three maids, five cooks, and two pastry chefs were added. Every detail was meticulously planned, as if the slightest misstep could trigger a catastrophe.

After completing the final preparations, Queen Victoria began to bid farewell to the government officials and the heir apparent, Prince Edward. The farewell between mother and son was awkward, laden with unspoken tensions. Both seemed to have their own concerns, but neither was willing to voice them.

Finally, Prince Edward broke the silence. With a forced smile, he addressed Arthur, who was standing beside Queen Victoria:

"Arthur, when you arrive in your territory, remember not to act recklessly. Your people are the foundation of your power. Only a ruler who wins the favor of the people can maintain control of a country. Learn from your grandmother and strive to be a worthy leader."

"Yes, Uncle," Arthur replied, though he didn't fully understand why the heir apparent seemed so uneasy. He attributed it to the nerves of the moment and the advice his uncle was giving him before his departure.

"Edward, Arthur is leaving soon, and as his uncle, don't you have anything else to say to him?" Queen Victoria interjected, staring intently at her son with an expression that concealed more than it revealed.

"Of course! Damn it, how could I forget!" exclaimed Prince Edward, breaking into a cold sweat. He hurriedly continued:

"Arthur, I promised to give you a gift when you left the territory, and now is the time to fulfill that promise. I heard you sold all your properties some time ago, and I couldn't help you then. But here's what I'll do: I'll give you 20 million pounds personally, and in addition, I'll arrange an interest-free loan of 30 million pounds through the Bank of London. Consider this a belated birthday gift. Due to special circumstances, I couldn't celebrate with you earlier, but I still want to wish you a happy 17th birthday."

Arthur nodded gratefully, though deep down he felt there was more hidden behind those words. The weight of responsibility and unspoken secrets seemed to hang over everyone in the room, as if the fate of the empire was about to change forever.