Chapter 2364 - 301: Hastings Is the Supporter of the Duchess of Kent (2)

Therefore, Arthur’s behavior is not something to be criticized; he was merely fulfilling his duties and performing his responsibilities.

Alas...

When all is said and done, the young Arthur Hastings was simply too upright and too stubborn.

But, can you really blame someone for being overly honest, too principled, or overly valuing the Knightly Spirit?

Clearly, you cannot.

Just when the Duchess of Kent was lost in her complex emotions regarding Arthur Hastings, a Lady of Kensington hurriedly crossed the lawn, appearing flustered as she approached to report.

"Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you." The maid curtseyed, her expression slightly anxious, "Sir John Conroy and Sir Arthur Hastings, the two of them have started arguing at the palace gate."

"Arguing?" The Duchess of Kent was stunned, "What is Sir Arthur doing at Kensington Palace? Did the Duke of Sussex invite him?"

She instinctively thought that Arthur, the new member of the Royal Society, was a guest visiting the President of the Royal Society, the Duke of Sussex, but Albert stood up at that moment.

"I invited him, Aunt."

The Duchess of Kent was taken aback for a while, "You invited... Sir Arthur? Are you very familiar with him?"

Albert smiled gently and blinked, "We’re somewhat friends. I occasionally go to Imperial Publishing to have fun with them—Sir Arthur, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Dickens, they are all very interesting people. Of course, among them all, I admire Mr. Carter the most. Even if he isn’t the most outstanding person in Britain, I think he’s not far from that goal."

The Duchess of Kent opened her mouth, realizing suddenly that her nephew had no idea about that unpleasant history.

The overt and covert regency power struggles, the longstanding grudges between Conroy and Arthur, she certainly couldn’t discuss these with Albert.

Albert stood up and said, "This is partly my fault, Sir Arthur was coming, and I forgot to inform Sir Conroy in advance. But it’s okay, I’ll go to the gate right now and straighten things out, so there are no misunderstandings between them."

The Duchess of Kent initially wanted to say "no need," but upon seeing the sincerity in her nephew’s eyes, she suddenly thought that letting Albert personally go might not be a bad opportunity.

After all, the number of people who could speak to Victoria directly now was few and far between, and Arthur just happened to be one of them.

If Albert managed to make a good impression on Arthur, it might come in handy one day.

She sighed, "Go on, Albert. If they argue too intensely, remember to help mediate a bit."

"Understood."

Albert smiled warmly, nodded to his aunt, and then quickly walked toward the palace gate.

...

Contrary to the fiery scene the Duchess of Kent imagined, Arthur and Conroy were actually quite well-mannered in front of Kensington Palace.

Neither side resorted to coarse language, physical altercations, nor uttered a word unbecoming of a gentleman’s image.

However, even with such a civilized atmosphere, their conversation could still hardly be considered friendly.

"Sir Arthur, what an unexpected visitor. Did you take the wrong path today?" Conroy observed Arthur with a cheerful look, "Buckingham Palace is a few miles away; Kensington Palace is different, you can’t just waltz in here."

Arthur leaned on his cane, too uninterested even to look Conroy in the eye, "Oh? Really? My apologies, I thought Kensington was also Royal property. Has it been purchased by the Conroy family?"

Conroy was momentarily stumped, "Kensington Palace is, of course, Royal property. But here, we have always observed the rules."

"Are you implying that Buckingham Palace does not observe rules?"

"I certainly wasn’t implying that Buckingham Palace does not observe rules. I only think that the atmosphere there is more relaxed, well-suited to your personality."

"Buckingham Palace is indeed more relaxed than Kensington Palace." Arthur’s tone was as gentle as discussing the weather, "At the gates of Buckingham Palace, there stands the Imperial Guard, while at Kensington Palace’s—at the very least, it’s a knight."

Saying this, Arthur paused, as if worried about not being polite enough, and added, "From this perspective, Kensington Palace’s system is indeed rigorous."

Conroy’s smile finally faltered as his mouth twitched, "Regardless of your purpose today, according to protocol, without prior appointment, you cannot enter. Do you hear? You, have no right to enter Kensington Palace. Please return!"

As soon as Conroy finished speaking, a series of light footsteps approached from behind.

"Sir Arthur! What perfect timing, I apologize, I am late!" Albert arrived at the gate, breathing heavily, and extended his hand to Arthur, "Please forgive me, I believe Sir John was not targeting you, he too is fulfilling his duty."

Conroy stifled his frustration as he looked at Albert and Arthur, but in the end, he didn’t voice the words, "I am indeed targeting Arthur Hastings."

This Baronet merely snorted before turning on his heel, leaving without looking back.

Albert looked at his retreating figure in surprise, uncertain as to what had angered the Grand Steward of Kensington Palace today.

"Strange, he seems... in a bad mood today?"

He smiled apologetically at Arthur, "Arthur, let’s go in. Quite coincidentally, my aunt is here today too, she was just talking about you while we were chatting."

The Duchess of Kent is here too?

This was unexpected for Arthur.

But in just a moment’s pause, this Assistant Under-Secretary of the Home Office regained his composure.

Though he had come to Kensington Palace today simply to caution Albert about the rumors spreading in the newspapers concerning Victoria and Prince Alexander for the future,

but since the Duchess of Kent was also present, if he doesn’t seize this chance, it would indeed waste his years of investment in his persona...

While Albert didn’t understand why Arthur was smiling, based on Arthur’s brilliant smile, it seemed he had thought of something delightful again.

The two walked one after the other toward the direction of Kensington Palace Garden.

"Did you mention, the Duchess brought me up?"

"Yes, my aunt said she hadn’t seen you for a long time and encouraged me to interact with you more. She thinks you are someone very worth having as a friend."

"Is that so?" Arthur said in slight surprise, "Being held in such esteem by Her Highness is truly my honor."

Beneath the shade of horse chestnut trees in the depth of the garden, the Duchess of Kent still sat on that bench.

When she heard the footsteps returning, she looked up, meeting Albert’s smile.

"Aunt, I’ve brought the visitor."

The Duchess of Kent offered a courteous smile, "Sir Arthur, it has indeed been a long time."

Arthur bowed deeply, neither arrogant nor servile, "Forgive my failure to visit sooner, this is truly my discourtesy."

The Duchess of Kent waved her hand as if dissipating his unease, "You’re always busy, perhaps one of the busiest men in the country. How could I blame a gentleman serving the nation?"

Arthur smiled lightly, "Your Highness flatters me. If being busy could solve all problems, I wouldn’t mind being busier. But, as you must have seen in the newspapers, mistakes do happen when one is busy."

"You shouldn’t be too concerned about the recent rhetoric in the newspapers." The Duchess of Kent shook her head, "You’ve accomplished many substantive things. If there were occasional small errors, it’s something that everyone who bears significant responsibilities faces. As for the defamation against you in the papers... I dare say, it’s not because you performed poorly, but because some people are eager to wash their hands clean of responsibility."

Arthur smiled slightly, naturally aware that she was ridiculing Viscount Melbourne, the Prime Minister, and Lord Russell, Home Secretary, but even if he understood, he couldn’t disclose it.

"Perhaps so, after all, Fleet Street has been publishing for profit for quite some time." Arthur sighed, "You know too, reporting in England nowadays seems to increasingly lack ethical boundaries. If it can boost sales, they’ll publish just about anything."

The Duchess of Kent deeply resonated with this sentiment. Since Victoria’s ascension, her child-rearing methods, along with Conroy’s numerous affairs in Kensington Palace over the years, have gradually surfaced through the media, leading to no shortage of criticism. As for Conroy, whom she trusted most, he has practically become the newspapers’ favorite villain.

Just to refute the slander against personal reputation in the press, Conroy had already started suing five newspapers since the middle of last year.

The Duchess of Kent concurred, "Isn’t it just so? Probably, no one anticipated that press freedom would embolden newspapers to such an extent."