Chapter 22 : The Return Home

In the cabin, Arthur glanced at the small suitcase in his hand and fell into a brief contemplation. To be honest, Arthur had almost certainly guessed what was inside the suitcase Queen Victoria had given him. The fact that Princess Beatrice had personally handed it to him, along with specific instructions not to open it for five years, suggested that its contents were of immense importance—not just to Arthur, but to Queen Victoria herself. Combined with their conversation earlier that morning, the suitcase seemed poised to reveal something of great significance.

"Ah," Arthur sighed, his heart filled with gratitude toward Queen Victoria. That she had entrusted him with something so important truly meant she had chosen him—over her own son and grandson—despite the fact that Arthur's future decisions would have a decisive impact on the British Empire, the very empire Queen Victoria had built.

The journey had taken two days from Australia to New Zealand, but Arthur had spent four days returning from New Zealand to Australia. It wasn't that Arthur had strayed from the path; rather, on his arrival, he had been anxious and hurried, whereas on his departure, that urgency had dissipated. As one of the few major colonies in Oceania, alongside the Australian continent, New Zealand stood in stark contrast to Australia. If Australia was a nation racing forward at full speed, New Zealand was a realm of cattle and sheep. Thanks to its excellent geographical location, New Zealand served as a natural barrier for Australia to the east. Controlling both territories—Australia and New Zealand—would mean dominating all of Oceania.

The only other significant region in Oceania, apart from Australia and New Zealand, was New Guinea, which had been divided into northern and southern parts by Britain and Germany. The British-controlled portion of New Guinea had been handed over to Australian administration in 1906, and now it seemed this process would continue to advance. As for the German territories, while Germany was preoccupied with World War I, Australia had taken charge of their occupation. In other words, New Guinea was, for all practical purposes, a territory that would undoubtedly fall under Australian control, serving as both an excellent northern barrier and a strategic springboard for Australia. If Australia controlled both New Zealand and New Guinea, it would instantly become the undisputed power in Oceania.

The reason Arthur had slowed his return was to carefully study the distance and geography between New Zealand and Australia. Unlike British New Guinea, which had faded from prominence, New Zealand had always been under the dominion of the British Empire. Even after becoming a dominion in 1907, its politics, diplomacy, and economy remained controlled by the British Empire. It wasn't until 1947 that New Zealand gained full independence, albeit at the cost of joining the Commonwealth and continuing to pay homage to the British monarch as head of state. All of this was due to Britain's longstanding policy of continental balance, a strategy that required the existence of at least two equally powerful nations on each continent. But now, having received what felt like a trump card from Queen Victoria, Arthur wondered if it might be possible to take control of New Zealand, challenging Edward—unless the latter was unafraid of losing his throne.

Four days passed quickly, and by the time Arthur finished his exploration, the warship had already set sail for Sydney Harbor. Due to their low-profile policy, not many people had come to greet them this time. Only Butler Hunter and Governor Evan stood at the port, braving the wind.

"Your Highness!" Upon seeing Arthur descend from the warship, escorted by several guards, both men hurried to greet him respectfully.

"Butler Hunter, how are my mother and Patricia?" Arthur asked with a smile. Butler Hunter had been caring for Arthur's family since the days of Duke Arthur and was his most trusted assistant.

"They're doing well, Your Highness. The two ladies have been wanting to stroll along Sydney Street, but on your orders, they've only been allowed near the government building, so they've had to give up on that idea," Hunter replied, his face lighting up with a smile as he mentioned Miss Patricia and Miss Margaret.

"Well, if they want to go out, let them. Australia is stable now, but they'll still need the appropriate guards. Give the two ladies a thousand pounds a month for their expenses and let them enjoy themselves over the next two days in Australia!" Arthur responded with a smile. Having just arrived in Australia, Arthur and his two sisters couldn't venture too far from the government building for security reasons. But the situation in Australia had improved significantly, and its economy was developing rapidly. It was time to relax those restrictions and let them enjoy their new homeland.

"Understood, Your Highness," Butler Hunter nodded.

"Governor Evan, how is the voting in the House of Commons proceeding?" Arthur asked, turning to Governor Evan, who had been waiting patiently. While Arthur was away, he had delegated the task of voting for the first government cabinet to the House of Commons. To ensure fairness and authority, the elections were divided into two rounds: the first round selected three candidates for each cabinet position, and the second round determined the final candidates.

"Everything is going well, Your Highness. Two days ago, we finalized the list of candidates, and now we're waiting for your witness to select the final cabinet members," Governor Evan replied with a smile. The election of the government cabinet was a matter of great importance for the country. Although Arthur had ordered the elections to proceed as quickly as possible, the House of Commons wouldn't dare finalize the list without his approval. As a result, the final day of elections had been postponed several times, and only now had the first round of selections been completed.

"Good, we must speed up the process. Notify all members of parliament that the final elections will be held in three days to decide the cabinet candidates as soon as possible. Additionally, all government advancements must proceed without delay," Arthur said decisively. Australia's development was in its golden age, but the country's growth wouldn't be possible without an effective cabinet government. Therefore, it was crucial to quickly decide on the final cabinet candidates and begin the process of national development without further delay. After all, Arthur remained the one making the final decisions about Australia's future, and the cabinet's most important role was to execute his orders. For all cabinet members, loyalty was more important than capability.

"Yes, Your Highness," Governor Evan nodded quickly. For Governor Evan, this was also the easiest time to join the cabinet. First, he had served as both Governor and Interim Prime Minister. Although his power wasn't immense, his reputation was the highest among officials. Second, since Australia's capital was in New South Wales, Governor Evan had more direct contact with Arthur than other governors. If he could earn Arthur's favor and trust, his chances of joining the cabinet would increase significantly.