"Killian's back!"
"Hey! Hey! What did the princess say?"
"What was she like up close?"
"Come on, tell us! Hurry!"
The moment I returned to the dormitory, a pack of wolves led by Robert descended upon me, all demanding their daily ration of gossip.
It wasn't just our house, either. Students from other dormitories had gathered as well.
"I heard the Duchess is so strict that only a handful of people can actually speak with the princess."
"A handful? Even the King himself can't freely meet her!"
"So what did Her Highness say?"
Even the boys who normally kept their distance because I was Irish were leaning in from the corner, listening intently.
No matter how much royal authority had declined, the monarchy still carried enormous weight in this country.
"Unfortunately, I didn't speak much with the princess," I said. "I showed her a little card trick and mentioned that all of us at Eton are praying for her future."
"Did she say anything about us?"
"She said everyone played wonderfully hard."
"Yes!"
"I knew running like mad was worth it!"
"So she definitely saw me hit that long shot, right? I've got to tell my father!"
Watching their delighted faces, I was glad I had spared them the harsher truth.
Leaving them to argue about who had performed better during the match, I stepped outside the dormitory.
Robert followed and clapped my shoulder.
"Good work. The whole house will be thrilled. Even the seniors who quietly doubted you will probably change their attitude now."
"I never really felt like anyone treated me differently."
"Well, with me around they couldn't show it openly. But you can't stop people from thinking things, can you?"
"As long as they don't show it, I don't really care."
The school was still buzzing with excitement over the princess's visit.
But in contrast, my mind was growing colder by the minute.
The first step of the plan had gone smoothly.
Which meant I needed to be even more careful now.
Excitement narrowed one's vision.
Euphoria invited recklessness.
From this point on, even a single misstep could send me tumbling off a cliff.
"Actually," I said quietly, "there's something I didn't mention back there. I didn't want everyone making a fuss."
"Oh? What is it?"
"The Duchess invited me to Kensington Palace next weekend. She said she wanted to speak with me again."
Robert's eyes widened.
"The Duchess of Kent invited you?"
Even Robert clearly knew the rumors about her.
"Why? Did she want you to be some kind of companion for Princess Victoria?"
"Of course not. She seems curious about the education Eton students receive. Since she oversees the princess's education, it probably interests her. And since she's close to my aunt, I suppose I'm easier to approach."
"I see. Still, if you make a good impression, it could be a huge opportunity. Who knows? If things go well, you might even get a private audience with the princess someday."
"Excessive ambition usually ends in bloodshed. I have no intention of dreaming beyond my station."
Robert whistled softly.
He knew exactly the kind of capable but modest talent people like him preferred to cultivate.
We walked slowly around the campus together.
Now that the information had been released, word of my invitation to Kensington Palace would soon reach the senior figures of the Tory Party.
I could have passed it through Wellesley, but he was meant to grow into one of the party's future leaders.
There was no need for him to play messenger and diminish his own standing.
Simply letting Robert hear it would ensure the news spread naturally.
So please—watch carefully.
Judge for yourselves just how easy Killian Gore is to handle.
How harmless he appears.
* * *
Even while preparing for my meeting with the Duchess, I didn't neglect my real work.
Not school.
School required nothing more than listening and memorizing to remain at the top of the class.
What truly demanded attention were two things:
British politicsandmy businesses devouring London's money.
Fortunately, both had reached a stable trajectory.
My enterprises continued expanding, fueled by the massive cash flow from the casino.
The funds extracted from the railway swindlers had also become excellent fertilizer.
At this rate, within a few years I could establish a dominant information network in London.
"Let's see… with this level of capital…"
Between the casino, the detective agency, and investments tied up in America, my assets had already surpassed several million pounds.
Even my available liquidity alone would soon allow me to deploy hundreds of thousands at once.
Compared purely by liquid capital, there were probably only a handful of nobles or financiers in the Empire richer than I was.
At this point it might even be time to create a department specializing in force—something operating right on the boundary between legality and illegality.
Naturally, each business would have to remain separate, and employees must never know who their real master was.
Meanwhile, the political side was performing even better than expected.
Inside the carriage heading toward the palace, I could barely suppress a smile while reading the newspapers and reports James had brought.
"Just as you predicted, sir," James said. "The Factory Act will likely pass without difficulty."
"Not surprising. The Tories themselves are leaning toward support."
"Mr. Wellesley is receiving tremendous attention. Look at these papers—every one of them is full of his speech."
The four newspapers James handed me were entirely focused on Wellesley's address in Parliament.
London newspapers at the time were as partisan as modern outlets—essentially propaganda organs for specific parties.
Pro-Tory papers like The Morning Post and The Standard were praising him enthusiastically.
A Young Hope for the Conservative Cause
True Patriotism in Action
Charles Wellesley Reminds Us of the True Meaning of Conservatism
If You Ask About the Future of the Tories, Look to Wellesley, Gladstone, and Disraeli
"Wellesley must be grinning from ear to ear."
"They could have dismissed him as a naïve young man talking nonsense," James said, "but it seems the party leadership judged wisely."
"Well, he is the Duke of Wellington's son. Hard to humiliate someone like that. And with young figures like Gladstone and Disraeli speaking in the same direction, the elders had little choice but to be cautious."
Honestly, if the old guard had tried to crush them outright, it would have been even better for me.
Public opinion could have accelerated the purge.
But apparently the conservative leadership wasn't quite that foolish.
"The Whigs must be frustrated," James added. "They proposed the committee and introduced the bill, yet we're getting all the attention."
"Their newspapers are already complaining," I said, flipping through The Morning Chronicle. "They welcome young reformers like Wellesley, but keep insisting the real leadership belongs to the Whigs."
"That's understandable. After the Factory Act, they're also pushing abolition of slavery. If they lose the image of reformers now, it'll hurt them badly."
The abolition of slavery.
A reform powerful enough to shake not only Britain but Europe and America.
I nodded slowly.
"James, what do you think? Will the abolition bill pass this year?"
"Slave trading was already abolished long ago, but many still profit from the system itself. The dominant view seems to favor gradual abolition with a transition period."
"I see."
The Factory Act alone had already produced extraordinary investment returns.
Once child labor restrictions took effect, many factories would face serious changes.
"Sir," James asked, "do you think abolition could bring similar opportunities?"
"Certainly. When slavery ends, several plantations will collapse in a chain reaction. Some could easily convert to other crops but will panic and sell cheaply. If we pick those up carefully, the profits later could be enormous."
"That will require extremely careful classification."
"That's why we pay informants such good money."
As we spoke, the carriage slowed.
We had reached Kensington Palace.
In truth, the abolition issue was less valuable to me as an investment than as conversation material.
After all, the princess—isolated from society by her overbearing mother—must be starving for stories about politics and social issues.
But before I could tell her anything, I had to pass the greatest barrier first:
permission to meet her privately.
"James, go greet my aunt first," I said. "I'll meet the Duchess and return afterward."
"Yes, sir."
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the carriage.
Caution was necessary.
But a man who failed to seize opportunity had no right to succeed.
Originally I had expected this to take a month.
But since she had invited me herself, there was no reason to delay.
Today—
I would obtain a free pass to the princess's cage.
* * *
The palace garden was bright and immaculate.
The table had already been prepared.
"Come, sit here," the Duchess said.
"Yes, Your Grace."
Victoria was nowhere to be seen.
Even the attendants stood far away.
No one could overhear our conversation.
A rather blatant arrangement.
"Eton is not particularly close to here," the Duchess said. "Thank you for coming so readily."
"It's my honor. And the carriage ride was comfortable."
"In that case, you should visit often. Cecilia would be delighted. She wishes to see you, but her position doesn't allow her to invite outsiders freely. I, however, have no such restriction."
"Thank you. Though it's a small return for your kindness, I will answer any question you ask as sincerely as I can."
That was exactly the answer she wanted.
A thin smile appeared on her lips.
"As I said before, I wish to understand Eton's educational philosophy more deeply."
"Wouldn't the teachers know that better than I?"
"They teach. What I want is the perspective of a student. And you seem particularly sympathetic to Eton's principles."
"If there is anything I can explain, I will."
The Duchess nodded and poured tea into my cup herself.
"You said obedience is the virtue Eton values most," she said. "Then tell me—what is the greatest obstacle to cultivating such obedience?"
"Personally, I never found it difficult," I replied. "But…"
I glanced around nervously before lowering my voice.
"For the princess, it must be far harder."
I paused.
"Especially… because if things continue like this, it could become very dangerous."
"Dangerous…?"
The sharp clink of porcelain as she set down her teacup revealed the irritation she couldn't fully conceal.
If she had hidden that reaction perfectly, I would have reassessed her immediately.
But apparently she wasn't quite that composed.
Before she could speak, I quickly continued.
"If my words offended you, I apologize. But since you trusted me enough to invite me here, I felt I should point out potential risks—not merely speak pleasant words."
"A risk… That is not something I can ignore lightly," she said slowly. "Very well. Explain."
Her voice sounded calm again.
But the tension was unmistakable.
To her, I was still just a thirteen-year-old boy.
A useful chess piece at best.
Which made the psychological gap between us enormous.
And that gap—
Was precisely the weakness I intended to exploit.
Free pass…
or immediate rejection.
It was time to roll the dice.