The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur spoke to this point, as if suddenly realizing something, his voice gradually lowered, carrying a hint of indistinct emotion.

"I still remember, the year I was awarded the title of Junior Knight, the first time I was summoned to St. James’s Palace. At that time, His Majesty William was still alive, he wore his favorite Navy Marshal uniform, inviting me to sit beside him."

Leisen’s eyebrows slightly twitched.

Arthur, of course, knew what she was thinking, but it didn’t prevent him from pushing the plot to a climax: "His Majesty patted my shoulder and said to me, ’Young man, being a knight is not a title, nor a medal, but the choices you make every day.’"

"Since then," Arthur let out a light sigh, "I have told myself that if the day comes when I shy away from practicing knightly spirit out of fear of power, then I would not deserve the title of Junior Knight, and I would not deserve the words His Majesty said to me that day."

"It is precisely because of this..." He lifted his eyes, looking at Leisen: "I will not abandon my beliefs and loyalty because of some rumors, some factions, some people’s expectations."

Leisen looked at him, her expression so complex it was almost shameful; whenever she thought of what Arthur had done last year in Ramsgate, she blushed for what she said to him today: "Sir Arthur, I..."

Arthur slightly raised his hand, asking her to let him continue speaking: "The reason I can stand by Her Majesty the Queen’s side at crucial moments is not because I am smarter, or more ambitious than others, but because, like Flora, sometimes we choose loyalty over profit."

Leisen was silent for a moment; this was not the answer she expected, but she couldn’t refute it.

Arthur immediately seized this delicate gap: "Madam, I understand your concerns and know you don’t want Her Majesty to be adversely affected. But I must uphold my principles. Flora is loyal to her master, I am loyal to my sovereign, and these two do not conflict."

He took off his hat and placed it over his chest, leaning slightly forward with just the right amount of respect: "You know what kind of person I am, and Her Majesty the Queen knows even better. I will not betray her trust."

Leisen stared at Arthur for a long while, finally letting out a light breath: "Sir Arthur, I must say, I don’t like this answer. But... I must also admit, this answer is very much like you, like the man who stood up in Ramsgate, through hundreds of crises."

Just as Leisen finished speaking, before Arthur could respond, there was a very slight noise from the narrow door next to them.

The sound was so small as if a finger accidentally brushed the edge of a desk, or a shoe heel slightly turned on the carpet.

If it were someone else, they might think it was just the usual rustle of the wind.

But for Arthur, an experienced eavesdropper, he immediately detected it—someone was inside.

In the small room next door.

Victoria still held the document in her hand, but the paper had already been creased by her grasp.

She originally planned to let Leisen probe Arthur’s attitude as usual, after all, she knew Arthur was in poor health, and did not want to personally unleash her wrath upon him as she had before the parade. Even if there was any discontent, she would only use similar indirect methods in the future.

However, she waited in the study for a while, ultimately unable to contain her restless heart, and decided to come next door to listen to how Arthur would explain himself.

She certainly knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, and that it was unbefitting of a queen.

But she had to know exactly where Arthur stood between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.

Earlier, when Arthur retorted, "Are you referring to Flora?" Victoria’s fingers unconsciously clenched for a moment.

When Leisen said, "Her Majesty will be very disappointed," Victoria even held her breath.

And when Arthur said, "I won’t embarrass Her Majesty, nor will I distance myself from Flora because of this," her chest even twinged lightly.

Arthur, having sensed the oddity next door, smilingly added calmly: "Perhaps you don’t like my answer, but I also have to say, if Her Majesty the Queen knew my answer today, she would surely like it."

"Are you so sure?" Leisen raised an eyebrow.

"Madam, I am indeed sure." He deliberately paused, to give the listener next door time to prepare mentally: "Because the reason why I can stand in front of you in this palace, have the guards make way, have attendants record my name, have the gates of Buckingham Palace open for me, is not because of flattery, not because of factions, much less because of opportunism. It is because of loyalty! Because of integrity!"

Arthur lifted his eyes to glance at Leisen, yet seemed to look past her, seeing through the wall: "Because I have always been committed to doing what Her Majesty the Queen believes is right!"