Chapter 2174 - 238: Sir Arthur, Why Are You So Foolish? (2)

One Penny Journalist never writes for the truth, but they are willing to write the truth for the manuscript fee. They don’t speak out for justice, but they are willing to praise a figure in order to be recognized. Most importantly, since they don’t have a newspaper backing them, they are generally afraid to "have a seat" at Scotland Yard.

Arthur sighed softly in front of Victoria: "Your Majesty... actually, the problem with those articles... I’ve been handling it these past few days."

Upon hearing this, Victoria’s eyes flashed with delight. She knew Arthur certainly wouldn’t stand idly by regarding those articles.

Arthur hesitated for a moment before continuing: "I suspect someone is deliberately bribing the journalist community, trying to destabilize public trust in the Royal Family through insinuation. I’ve chased down leads for two days and indeed found the names of several journalists."

"You... you found them?!"

Arthur smiled wryly, as if saying something would worry her, but he had to say it: "I invited them one by one to Scotland Yard, telling them as gently as possible that defaming the Royal Family is a serious crime. Especially defaming you, Your Majesty."

Victoria tightly grabbed the side of her skirt: "And then? Did they promise to restrain themselves in the future?"

"Yes, at least they have restrained themselves in the past two days." Arthur nodded: "Because after I warned them, they’ve already organized people... to start attacking me instead."

Victoria found it hard to believe: "Attacking you? Why?"

Arthur smiled helplessly: "Because they believe I’m interfering with press freedom. They know it’s impossible for me to really arrest all journalists at Scotland Yard, and since I’ve had some grudges with parts of Fleet Street in the past, they seize this opportunity to make an issue out of it. Several newspapers have already published articles today, saying I’m trying to control the media in the name of the Royal Family, secretly silencing opposing voices, and there’s even an article... suggesting I’m doing this at your behest."

Victoria’s face turned pale on the spot: "Me? I’ve never..."

"I know." Arthur looked somewhat apologetic: "You certainly didn’t, it’s all because of my own rash decision. Your Majesty, I didn’t handle it cautiously enough. My intention was merely to shield you from those malicious reports... but now it seems... I fear I’ve gone too far."

Agares, who had been leaning by the window watching the drama, pretentiously sipped his red wine: "Indeed! You’ve gone too far. I’ve seen many paying people to speak well of them over the years. But paying people to write articles attacking themselves, Arthur, you’re truly the first in history."

Victoria was momentarily speechless.

She originally thought Arthur would at most comfort her with a few words, but she hadn’t expected he had privately done so much for her, and even caused himself trouble as a result.

Arthur lifted his eyes, looking somewhat weary: "Your Majesty, those people have now directed their attacks at me; pursuing further would mean giving those rumormongers a grip. They will say the Government is using the police to suppress the media, which is completely contrary to the facts."

He chuckled softly: "Of course, I personally don’t care much about reputation, as my reputation was already ruined back in 1832. But... Your Majesty, they’ve already implicated you. I’m worried that if I continue to act tough, the articles targeting me will likely evolve into ones accusing you of using the police department to interfere with press freedom."

Victoria could no longer sit still after hearing this: "Arthur, you haven’t done anything wrong! I... how could I blame you?"

Her voice trembled a bit, sounding not only angry but also overwhelmingly distressed.

She never anticipated that Arthur, in an effort to protect her, had already endured the bombardment in the shadows.

Arthur shook his head and still apologized to her: "Your Majesty, if this turmoil has implicated you... then the fault lies entirely with me."

"Arthur... you... how can you say that?" Victoria’s breath stopped for a moment, feeling pained: "You are... you are already one of the few who truly care for me."

Arthur was silent for a moment, then suddenly took a deep breath and stood up: "Your Majesty... now I can only leave the choice to you. If you wish, I can continue the investigation, and I can drag those people to Scotland Yard one by one and make them realize the cost of defaming the Royal Family. I won’t be afraid of them, and I’ve never been afraid. But..."

Victoria immediately picked up on this word: "But what?"

Arthur stared into her eyes, pleading for the first time: "But I implore Your Majesty, not to pursue this at such a critical juncture. This is not for me but for your own good."

Victoria was silent upon hearing this.

Arthur nodded slightly, softened his voice as if afraid of startling her: "Your Majesty, you’ve been on the throne not even three months. The whole nation is watching your every move, and any extra action could be interpreted as ’the young Queen trying to control speech’."

"But I clearly haven’t!" Victoria’s voice trembled with grievance.

"I know you haven’t." Arthur said softly: "But I’m worried some people... are waiting for you to do so."

That phrase "waiting for you to do so" chilled Victoria’s spine instantly.

Those lurking shadows, those crowded high Tory politicians in the Parliament corridors, those plotting to regain power through her mistakes, all reached out together, waiting for her to make a slightest mistake.

Victoria’s complexion became extremely unnatural; she very much wanted to uphold justice for Arthur, but reason told her she couldn’t do so.