Chapter 2400 - 316: What Are Ten Thousand Clocks to Me! (3)

Leisen continuously shook her head and said, "I am reluctant to believe those rumors, but I can find no other reason for you to unwaveringly support Miss Flora Hastings apart from the rumors being true. To maintain Her Majesty the Queen’s good image, I do not advise her to engage with a gentleman embroiled in scandal at such a sensitive moment."

Arthur listened quietly, with no expression on his face, until Lady Leisen finished speaking. Then he opened his mouth and said, "Is this the reason Buckingham Palace has been delaying my summons? To avoid suspicion?"

Lady Leisen was silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating whether to reveal the truth to Arthur.

Perhaps considering past relationships, Leisen still decided to extend some remaining goodwill towards Arthur, or at least she hoped no further misunderstandings would arise: "The only thing I can tell you is that this was not my suggestion, and I do not agree with presuming your guilt before the truth is clarified. But, you know, this is the Prime Minister’s, or rather, the Cabinet’s collective decision."

Although Arthur had already guessed this point, when Lady Leisen confirmed it verbally, he couldn’t help but say, "If the Cabinet could use the energy to deal with me to quell the Canadian rebellion, I believe the Canadians wouldn’t have reached the point where the Earl of Dalmo had to step in."

"And what about Her Majesty the Queen?" Arthur said calmly, "Did Her Majesty the Queen not oppose this suggestion?"

"Of course, Her Majesty opposed it." Lady Leisen’s lips twitched slightly, it was an extremely complex expression, and it was unclear whether it was helplessness or regret: "Her Majesty said you are one of the most upright people she has ever met. Therefore, if even you are not trustworthy, then there is no one trustworthy in this world. So today’s conversation is something Her Majesty insisted on having. She sent me to meet you, to listen to what you have to say. She said perhaps there’s some misunderstanding, perhaps there’s something we don’t know, or maybe you’ve been bewitched by the people at Kensington Palace. She said you should be given a chance to explain yourself."

Upon hearing this, Arthur couldn’t help but recall past scenes in his mind.

Several days without being summoned.

The emptiness under Buckingham Palace’s colonnade.

The two guards standing like wax figures.

The silence in the foyer.

The young attendant, who had only been there for three months, led him into this room with an apology that was just right and then disappeared without a trace.

Then, how long did he wait?

Ten minutes?

Fifteen minutes?

Or longer?

Later, it was Lady Leisen who walked in, not Victoria.

Every step, every detail, was designed to deliberately anger him, to force him to make some irreversible action.

Arthur suddenly understood the viciousness of this design.

Because it was a dual trap, a trap that no matter which direction he went in, he would fall into.

When Flora’s innocence couldn’t be proven at the moment, if Arthur chose to support Flora under Lady Leisen’s relentless pressure, chose to speak for the girl engulfed in rumors, then what would Leisen think?

Leisen, who had a hostile relationship with Flora, would probably think, indeed, things were as suspected, Arthur and Flora truly had a private relationship, he truly betrayed the Queen’s trust, he truly wasn’t a good person, and certainly not someone worthy of being a reliable ally.

She would bring this thought to Victoria, becoming a witness for the Whig Party, and would shake Victoria’s trust in Arthur.

More importantly, the Whig Party would seize the opportunity afforded by the scandal to justifiably adjust him from his position as the Deputy Secretary.

But what if Arthur chose another path?

If he chose to listen to Leisen, chose to "do nothing," chose silence, chose self-preservation, would things turn around?

No, of course not, the outcome would be even worse than yielding to Leisen.

What would the Hastings Family think?

The Old Marchioness, furious over the insult to her daughter, the mother who wrote to the Queen seeking justice, the family determined to restore Flora’s honor, what would they think?

They would think Arthur betrayed them, that he abandoned a blood relative’s innocence to protect his position, that he wasn’t someone to be trusted.

They would withdraw their support for him, they would sever ties with him, they would cause Arthur to lose the important bond to enter high society through family connections.

And the Conservative Party?

Those Conservative Party leaders advocating for the Hastings Family, those politicians hoping to use this matter to strike the Whig Party, what would they think?

They would deem Arthur Hastings a coward and would withdraw all their trust in him because he backed down at the most critical moment, and the Conservative Party’s doubts could likely affect the police department’s evaluation of this Scotland Yard legend, thereby shaking his reputation throughout the entire system.

And that means, no matter which side he chooses, he will lose the other side.

If he was smart enough to see through all this and tried to find a middle path between the two sides, then he would lose both sides simultaneously.

Because both sides would feel that he is not firm enough, not reliable enough, not trustworthy.

This is the Whig Party’s scheme.

They don’t care about the truth, they don’t care if Flora is innocent, they don’t even care if Arthur really did anything.

They only care about the outcome, which is to erase Arthur Hastings from the political map.

Either they make him anger Leisen, lose Buckingham Palace’s trust, and sever himself from the court.

Or they make him betray Flora, lose the support of the Hastings Family and the Conservative Party.

Or they make him waver, lose both sides, and completely become an insignificant marginal figure.

No matter what he does, they are the winners.

Arthur stood at the window, looking at the gray-white fog.

He recalled that night at Ramsgate, when he walked into Albion Villa, walked into that room where fate was decided, facing Conroy and his carefully crafted Regency Agreement.

Back then, Conroy also thought he was certain to win.

And now, the Whig Party also thought they were certain to win.

Unfortunately, they didn’t account for one thing—they assumed everyone would play the game according to their rules.

Arthur turned around and looked at Lady Leisen: "Madam, could you give me the time to say one last sentence?"

Lady Leisen was slightly stunned: "Of course, it is your right, if you have now changed your mind..."

Arthur slightly bowed: "I request that you convey to Her Majesty the Queen and His Excellency the Prime Minister, I request to resign from the position of Non-Resident Royal Attendant, and I will immediately submit my resignation regarding the position of Deputy Secretary to the Home Office."