For William IV, the aging king who would turn seventy in just two years, there was only one prayer he offered to God.
Please… let live until my niece reaches adulthood.
So people still entertained faint hopes that the king might produce another heir.
But William had long abandoned that fantasy.
The next monarch of Britain was already decided.
Victoria.
What irritated him endlessly were the Duchess of Kent and Sir John Conroy, who clearly intended to manipulate the young princess to suit their own ambitions.
William wanted nothing more than to summon Victoria regularly and give her the proper education a future monarch deserved.
The problem was that the Duchess constantly interfered.
Every tutor the king recomnded was rejected.
Whenever Victoria was invited to royal events, the Duchess claid the girl was ill.
Even Queen Adelaide, William's wife, who loved Victoria as if she were her own daughter, deeply resented the Duchess's behavior.
William understood perfectly why she acted that way.
The Duchess believed the king would die soon.
And when that happened, power would fall directly into her hands.
So William had only one way to spite her.
Live long enough for Victoria to reach adulthood.
That way there would be no regency.
For that reason, the king had recently taken special care of his health.
He avoided unnecessary stress and scheduled etings with his chamberlain, Charles Talbot, at fixed tis.
Which ant that when Talbot burst in unannounced—
Sothing serious had happened.
"Your Majesty! I have urgent news."
"What is it?" William asked calmly. "You look unusually agitated."
Talbot quickly explained.
When he finished, William rubbed his eyes and clicked his tongue softly.
"Your Majesty… if you believe I'm overreacting—"
"No," William interrupted. "Your reasoning is sound. In fact, I can't think of a more plausible explanation."
"So… who do you think approached first?"
"The Tories, most likely. They suffered a crushing defeat in the recent elections. It would make sense if they were trying to shift the political atmosphere."
Victoria was only fourteen.
Naturally, politicians might think that establishing a relationship early would allow them to influence her later.
After all, wasn't that exactly why the Duchess herself kept such tight control over the girl?
"So this student—Killian Gore—is acting as their agent?"
"Perhaps not yet," Talbot replied. "For now he may simply be befriending the princess. But if her only companion becos a future Tory politician, her sympathies could naturally lean in that direction."
William frowned.
"Politics may be ruthless, but involving children in sches like this is distasteful."
Still, after a mont he cald himself.
At this stage everything was speculation.
Better to confirm the facts first.
"Can we gather more reliable information?"
Talbot shook his head.
"Killian arrived in London from the Far East at the age of ten. He's only been here three years. There isn't much docuntation."
"Then we'll have to et him directly."
"Shall I send a discreet carriage to fetch him?"
William chuckled.
"Secretly bringing an Eton student to Buckingham Palace? That's impossible."
"…True."
"Students live in dormitories. Soone would inevitably notice. If the boy has nothing to do with the Tories, we would only provoke suspicion."
"I understand."
If the Tories learned the king had summoned Killian imdiately after hearing about his etings with Victoria, they would draw obvious conclusions.
If there was no conspiracy—
The king himself would create one.
"So," William continued, "is there a way to et this student without raising suspicion? Neither the Tories, the Whigs, nor the Duchess must find it strange."
Talbot thought carefully.
"If we summon a single student, rumors will spread. There's no avoiding it."
"Exactly. But we cannot invite every Eton student either."
Talbot suddenly lifted his head.
"Your Majesty! I have an idea."
"Oh?"
"We are already planning a royal academic event. If we invite students from Eton, Harrow, and other leading institutions, Killian can attend naturally."
William nodded slowly.
"That's clever. The Crown honoring talented students would not be unusual."
Indeed, it fit perfectly with the spirit of the age.
With science and industry advancing rapidly across Europe, nations were eager to cultivate talented young minds.
If the king promoted education, it would only enhance his reputation.
Talbot continued enthusiastically.
"We could call it the Royal Academic Excellence Commoration. Students from Eton and Harrow could present research, give speeches, and hold debates."
William smiled.
"The rivalry between those schools alone would draw attention."
"And the audience would include many nobles and politicians who graduated from those schools. It would create a perfect opportunity to observe the boy."
"Not to ntion," William added thoughtfully, "topics like the Factory Act or abolition of slavery could make excellent debate subjects. We might even hear so genuinely useful ideas."
The more they considered it, the more brilliant the plan seed.
"Shall we proceed, Your Majesty?"
"Please do. And of course…"
"I'll ensure Killian Gore attends."
William smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
He could feel his age catching up with him.
Perhaps God would allow him to live long enough for Victoria to reach adulthood.
Perhaps not.
But at the very least, he would prepare the ground so she could live freely.
That was the final duty he owed his successor.
* * *
After about two months of regular etings with Victoria, things had beco much more comfortable between us.
We were not quite friends.
But we had certainly grown closer.
Just as I began wondering whether we might bridge the remaining distance—
Eton exploded with excitent.
The cause was a single announcent from Buckingham Palace.
[Royal Academic Excellence Commoration]
Eton students had occasionally been invited to royal events before.
But this was different.
The king himself would personally et outstanding students of the British Empire.
The school buzzed with excitent like never before.
"Killian! You heard the news, right?" Robert shouted, running toward .
"Of course. His Majesty is eting us personally."
"That's not even the best part!"
"What else is there?"
The notice board had been surrounded by a massive crowd, and as a freshman I hadn't bothered fighting through it.
Besides, Robert clearly intended to deliver a full briefing.
"This event will allow academic clubs to present their research," Robert said excitedly. "Top students like you might even give speeches before the king!"
"That sounds terrifying enough already."
"But the real highlight is the debate."
"The debate?"
"Eton versus Harrow. A public debate in front of nobles and politicians who graduated from both schools."
I stared at him.
"…If we lose, do we still get to live normal lives afterward?"
The rivalry between Eton and Harrow was legendary.
Perhaps only the Oxford–Cambridge rivalry was more intense.
The organizers probably chose these two schools precisely because the students were younger.
University debates could beco brutal.
Still…
Standing before the giants of British politics and debating publicly?
That sounded less like a debate and more like an execution.
Robert, however, looked thrilled.
"Killian, you're joining, right?"
"I've been attracting too much attention lately. I think I'll sit this one out."
Winning first place in class regularly was acceptable.
History showed that brilliant minds often ended up as soone's advisor.
But standing out before the political elite was sothing I preferred to delay.
"Sha," Robert said. "If you participated, we could craft argunts together and crush Harrow."
"I should give you a chance to shine sotis. By the way—will your father attend?"
"Probably. My brother and I are both at Eton. And I heard Arthur—the Duke of Wellington—will co as well. Apparently many Whig leaders will attend too."
So it really would be a gathering of the political stars.
Better to keep my head down.
Just as I reached that conclusion—
"Killian Gore!"
"Yes, sir."
"The headmaster wishes to see you imdiately."
The mont the announcent was made, I was summoned?
That slled suspicious.
* * *
"Headmaster, you called for ?"
"Ah, Killian. Co in."
The headmaster rarely summoned students personally.
But the mont I saw Headmaster Keate's expression, sothing felt off.
"Tell ," he said casually, "how are you finding school life lately?"
"Very well, sir."
"Yes, yes. Still top of the class as always."
He cleared his throat.
"You've heard about the debate between Eton and Harrow, I assu? To be fair, each year group will contribute participants… so I wondered if you might like to join."
That was strange.
Normally the headmaster would insist on sending the best students.
Yet his tone sounded almost… anxious.
As if he hoped I would decline.
"I feel I've already received too many privileges recently," I replied calmly. "It would be better to give other students a chance."
"Excellent!" Keate said far too quickly. "Very admirable! A student of your caliber will have many opportunities in the future."
…That reaction was suspicious.
So my guess had been right.
He had summoned specifically to discourage my participation.
But why?
"Of course," I added slowly, "if the debate lacks participants, I could step in—"
"No, no! That won't be necessary! Students are lining up to participate."
"Then I'll simply enjoy the event."
"Good, good. Though rember—you must attend. His Majesty will personally encourage the top students."
I left the office while Keate visibly relaxed behind .
Interesting.
So I must not participate in the debate…
But I must definitely attend the event.
That ant sothing else was happening behind the scenes.
Sothing bigger than a school debate.
I had the strong feeling that this event was more than a simple academic celebration.
Which ant one thing.
I needed to stay alert—and stay out of trouble.
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