Chapter 2324 - 272: Swearing by the Thames River with the Cabinet, Still a Wealthy Gentleman

In the world, there always appear a certain kind of people from time to time whom I call the chosen ones by destiny, holding the fate of nations in their hands. I believe I am one of those people. If I’m mistaken, it’s merely a sacrifice in vain. But if I’m right, destiny will grant me the opportunity to fulfill my mission.

——Louis Bonaparte

Arthur watched as Soult’s carriage drove all the way towards London No. 1.

If he hadn’t had official duties today, he would have been quite willing to ride along with this old French general.

Even though he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about drinking with the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Soult, hitching a ride home would have been ideal.

After all, Arthur’s residence and the Duke of Wellington’s place at London No. 1 were just a Hyde Park apart, so Soult could easily drop him off at the entrance of Hyde Park, and let the respected Junior Knight walk the rest of the way home.

However, there was no choice but for Arthur to work overtime today, driven not only by Victoria’s orders but also by the expectations of several political figures from the Whig and Tory parties, and even quite a bit of hope from foreign influences from Brussels.

Today, he was not just going to meet Albert but also to ensure that Albert’s prestige at the coronation wouldn’t be overshadowed by the Crown Prince of France, Duke of Nemours.

Although the Catholic identity of Duke of Nemours almost completely ruled out the possibility of a union with Victoria, regarding the Queen’s marriage, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Victoria grew up in the deep inner court of Kensington Palace, and her years of oppressive living had given her a strong desire to independently make decisions on all issues after ascending the throne, and for a young lady who received classical aristocratic education, marriage would be the priority in her life. Therefore, there’s probably nothing more indicative of her independence than choosing her own husband.

Just as Arthur had once encountered Soult briefly in Paris, he had also met the Duke of Nemours once.

Arthur remembered well that the meeting was not formal.

At the time, the 18-year-old Duke of Nemours was standing among a group of older officers; although his body hadn’t fully matured, wearing his uniform accentuated his straight stature.

Despite the brief time they spent conversing, the Duke of Nemours left a rather positive impression on Arthur.

Because Arthur discovered that when mentioning the Siege of Antwerp, this young chap was not like most youngsters eager to claim credit; instead, he simply said, "The task was completed satisfactorily," then handed over the discussion to the officers next to him, deferring the credit to them.

In terms of winning hearts and interpersonal communication, it could only be said that the Duke of Nemours was indeed Louis Philippe’s son, his way of conducting himself was quite reminiscent of his father’s style, and in certain respects, he was even calmer than his father.

Even more remarkably, among the heirs to thrones in Europe, the Duke of Nemours perhaps had the most extensive war experience.

He not only participated in the Belgian war of independence but also took part in France’s two expeditions to Algeria in the following years, especially during the second expedition, the Duke of Nemours participated as a brigade leader in the siege of the Algerian stronghold of Constantine.

In 1835 and 1836, he frequently visited Britain, Prussia, and Vienna as a special envoy, completing various diplomatic tasks for his father Louis Philippe.

If one says the Duke of Nemours is ready to manage things on his own, that’s likely to be a piece of French Government propaganda. But considering he is only 25 this year, saying he ranks among the top heirs within the European Royal Family would absolutely not be exaggerating based on his current capabilities.

However, even though he might become a decent monarch in the future, it doesn’t mean Arthur and the British political figures wish to facilitate the marriage between him and Victoria.

Setting aside the fact that a Catholic king’s consort violates Britain’s Act of Settlement, even if the Duke of Nemours was willing to convert to the Anglican Church, just thinking about the possibility of Britain and France forming a personal union would give people like Melbourne, Peel, and others nightmares.

It may seem to outsiders that a personal union possessing both the Royal Navy and the French Army could dominate the Earth for centuries.

But the issue is, if the King of Britain is also the King of France, would he still need to rely on Britain’s Parliament? Even if he continues to depend on the Parliament, is it possible that he would have treacherous thoughts, trying to revive his king’s power in Britain with the help of French forces?

The Westminster system in Britain can be established; the King’s power can balance with the Parliament’s power precisely because the King cannot rely on external aid. If it weren’t for the Parliament needing such a monarch, they wouldn’t have sent the British throne across thousands of miles to a minor Hanoverian without power or influence.

The fear of jointly ruling France is not only deeply embedded in the hearts of the members of Parliament but also shared by British historians.