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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Shackles of Ireland
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A public housing unit in London.
Charles Grey, Prime Minister of the British Empire, took a seat at a table stained with coffee rings and let out a wry smile.
"If you dislike the Parliament House, we could have met at a clubhouse or somewhere similar. Isn't this a bit too modest?"
"The moment I set foot in even a slightly lavish establishment, the front pages would be filled with articles attacking me. I'm not foolish enough to be unaware of that."
Knowing how relentlessly the man before him, Daniel O'Connell, had been hounded by the press, Grey said nothing more and took a sip of his coffee.
The quality of the beans was abysmal compared to what he usually drank, but he didn't bother to point it out.
"Well then, since we are both busy men, let's get straight to the point. You must have an idea why I've come to see you, Representative?"
"I heard you intend to pass the Irish Church Reform Bill. You want me to lend my support, don't you?"
"We worked together on the last Reform Act, and on the Slavery Abolition Act, did we not? Let us join forces once more."
"This reform is something most Irish people will be ecstatic about. But for that very reason, the established powers of this country will oppose it tooth and nail. To be frank, can this even be passed?"
*Is he saying he won't be played for a fool if this is all just false hope?*
Grey could guess why O'Connell was being so defensive.
Though he was the leading politician for Ireland, his party had won just over forty seats in the last election.
Taking about forty percent of the more than one hundred total seats in Ireland was impressive, but not quite overwhelming.
In other words, while O'Connell's reputation was formidable, many in Ireland still offered him only lukewarm support.
If he fumbled on a sensitive issue like the Irish Church Bill, the seemingly solid fortress of O'Connell's influence could develop a few hairline cracks.
"You need not worry. If you are truly concerned, we will handle the shaping of public opinion. Your party need only add its votes."
"...If it passes that way, the Whig Party will get all the credit for the reform."
"Surely that won't be the case. If that is your concern, you might consider aligning your path more definitively with ours."
"Are you suggesting I join the Whig Party?"
It was a potentially sensitive remark, but Grey nodded nonchalantly.
"That would also be a fine option. To speak frankly, you alone cannot represent all of Irish public opinion at present. But if our parties were to merge, we would secure a definite majority, even if limited to Ireland."
"That is merely the result of this election. Do you believe we will be held to a mere forty seats in the next one?"
"You might gain a few more, but in the long run, you could just as easily lose some. The Tory Party has been putting considerable effort into Ireland lately."
"The Tories?"
Grey had only been probing lightly, but when he got a reaction, he inwardly rejoiced.
Considering O'Connell's grueling schedule, it would have been more surprising if he had known.
"So you are unaware. You must know of the Earl of Arran's family, who are close to the Tories, yes? The heir to that family, Killian Gore, is being sponsored by senior members of the Tory Party."
"Killian Gore...? Now that you mention it, I do recall some noise about the Earl of Arran making an illegitimate son he brought from somewhere his heir."
"The Tories are strong in Northern Ireland, and the influence of pro-Tory Irish nobles like the Earl of Arran is not insignificant. The Tories likely plan to cultivate young students like Killian Gore to further expand their base in Ireland."
As he heard the general story, O'Connell's expression hardened.
Northern Ireland was already a pro-Tory region, making it O'Connell's greatest challenge to conquer.
But what if the Tories' influence, far from diminishing, were to expand from that very base?
If Daniel O'Connell's foundation were ever to be shaken, its epicenter would be Northern Ireland.
"The Earl of Arran's Killian Gore..."
"But if we join hands, there is nothing to worry about. The current political landscape in Ireland has the Tories holding the North, the Whigs the center, and you, Representative, firmly in control of the South. If we combine our strength, couldn't we, in turn, isolate the Tories in the North?"
"..."
In any case, O'Connell could never align with the Tories.
The Whigs were currently the only ones giving voice to reforms for Ireland.
If a sense of crisis arose that the Tories' rise could destabilize his base in Ireland, O'Connell would have no choice but to take the hand extended to him.
Grey leisurely tilted his coffee cup, waiting for O'Connell to speak.
And just as the flavorless coffee was about half gone, O'Connell finally opened his mouth, his tone cautious.
"First, I will meet with that student myself before I give you an answer."
* * *
What should one do when they know a certain event will happen in the distant future, but cannot bear to witness the horrors that will unfold on the way there?
I had more or less reached a conclusion, but when considering the Irish question, it felt like an unavoidable destiny.
It was a fact unknown to the Whigs, the Tories, and even Daniel O'Connell.
Not because their insight was lacking, but simply because I was the only one who knew the future. Thus, I was the only one who could even have such concerns.
Still, thinking back, my mind had been made up for some time.
Hadn't I resolved to do this from the moment I first met the Duke of Wellington?
To rise to the top of this society, Ireland had to become my political asset.
If Ireland were to slip from Britain's grasp, my value would be reduced to that of an illegitimate, half-breed foreign noble who couldn't even bring in votes.
To avoid such a fate, preparations to expand my influence in Ireland were already well underway.
Unlike in Britain, I could freely use my family's power in Ireland, so there were hardly any variables.
Sure, in the early days of my activities, the extreme independence factions might call me a traitor to the nation or some such, but that kind of sentiment would die down within a few years, so I didn't need to worry about it.
"But an invitation like this, at this particular time... their intentions are so transparent it's almost suspicious."
The letter in my hand had been delivered in the name of none other than Charles Grey, the current Prime Minister of the British Empire.
Of course, it wasn't the Prime Minister himself requesting a meeting, but rather a proposal to arrange a meeting with a third party. Yet the name of that third party was by no means insignificant.
—Daniel O'Connell has expressed a strong desire to see you. How about taking this opportunity for the talents who will lead Ireland's present and future to meet and have a conversation?
That was the gist of it. Since the invitation came in the Prime Minister's name, refusal was not really an option.
Besides, I had thought that I would have to meet him at some point, so it didn't seem like a bad idea to talk with him now.
With all the noise about the Irish Church Reform, both at home and abroad, I wouldn't have to worry about attracting too much attention.
In the end, I didn't deliberate for long and accepted Charles Grey's invitation.
And so, I came to meet the commanding figure of the era, a man whose name every Irish person would have heard at least once.
"A pleasure to meet you, student Killian Gore. As you've heard from the Prime Minister, I am Daniel O'Connell, the one who asked to see you today."
"It is an honor to meet the great political leader of Ireland."
"I, too, am pleased to meet the heir of the Earl of Arran's family, which has long been rooted in Ireland. In fact, we should have had such a meeting sooner. It seems I have been too distracted by other matters."
"I should have sought you out to pay my respects when you were in London. I apologize for my failure to do so."
The giant, regarded almost as a star of hope in southern Ireland, gazed intently at my face, and I did not avoid his stare.
His sharp blue eyes still held authority and charisma, but his thick eyebrows seemed to droop ever so slightly.
To me, it looked as if he were being crushed by the weight of his countrymen's dreams and hopes, which made him appear a little pitiable.
"To be honest, I did not know much about you. I only recalled your name when the Prime Minister briefly mentioned you during our discussion of the Church Reform Bill."
"A man as busy as yourself, Mr. O'Connell, would hardly have the spare capacity to keep the name of a student like me in mind."
"No. If it were anyone else, perhaps, but the heir to the Earl of Arran and a talent who will have a considerable impact on Ireland's future... I should have been paying attention long ago. This is my oversight. Still, it is not too late. I would like to have a frank conversation with you."
Many people had wanted to have a "frank conversation" with me, but most of them harbored the intention of sizing me up for their own benefit.
But O'Connell was a different type of person.
Of course, his gaze, which sought to probe me, was the same as the others.
The difference was the addition of some kind of expectation.
"I am doubtful as to what kind of deep conversation a student like myself can have with you, Mr. O'Connell, but I will do my best to meet your expectations."
"There is no need to be so modest. I have already heard that you are a prodigy who has consistently held the top rank at Eton since your first year, even after changing grades. I was honestly surprised to hear you even visit Kensington Palace regularly. I never thought they would treat an Irish student in such a manner."
"On the contrary, they probably felt less burdened precisely because I am an Irish student."
"Ah, I suppose if you look at it from a different perspective, that could be true. But even so, it would have been impossible if you were not such an outstanding student. The reason the Duke of Wellington himself wrote a letter of recommendation for you in the Tory Party was because he has expectations for your future, is it not?"
*Is he mocking me for cozying up to the Tories, a noble with Irish blood?*
As I listened in silence without any particular reaction, O'Connell asked in a low voice.
"But... no, you must already know, so I will ask you first. Do you intend to continue holding hands with the Tory Party?"
I expected him to probe, but to ask so directly?
I wondered what his game was, but upon seeing his earnest eyes, I understood at once.
O'Connell was not seeing me as a rival, but as an elder from his homeland, worrying not just for Ireland, but for my future as well.
Thanks to that, I felt inclined to have a proper conversation.
"I wish to climb to the very highest place in this country. For myself, and for Ireland, I thought there could be no better way."
"I see. So you are for home rule, then?"
"I don't intend to categorize it so dichotomously. But if I had to choose one, I suppose I would be closer to that side."
"Yes... home rule. It sounds plausible, and it might seem more achievable than independence. But you must realize that it is nothing but an illusion, a sweet poison that will only weaken our solidarity. What we must achieve is not a specious trap like home rule, but independence. Only independence!" he exclaimed passionately, clenching both his fists.
Home rule for Ireland.
The repeal of the Act of Union.
Daniel O'Connell's platform had always been consistent.
So much so that the name of the party he led was Repeal.
"Killian, it is not that I do not understand the logic of a brilliant student like you. To achieve great success as an elite recognized by society, occupy a key position in this country, and then work for Ireland. It is a truly noble and wonderful ideal. I admit that. But will the nobles and the establishment of this country truly grant you a position worthy of your stature?"
"It will not be easy."
"I have watched how this country treats the Irish for over forty years longer than you, so I can say with certainty: this country, and the leadership of the Tory Party, will never give you a position that befits your abilities. They will simply hand you a few suitable, empty titles to show off to the Irish people, and that will be the end of it. How much longer must we Irish live, being exploited like this?"
"I naturally understand your feelings, Mr. O'Connell. You have fought against an unjust society for far longer than I, so it is understandable that you would feel disillusioned with this country. That is all the more reason why I want to shatter that absurdity with my own hands."
"How bold. You are young, so it is only natural to harbor such spirit. But the day will come when you will feel on your own skin just how high and cruel the wall of reality is."
O'Connell looked at me with pity in his eyes.
He was likely convinced that the future I was to experience would be no different from the trajectory of the life he had lived.
But I, in turn, felt a little sorry for O'Connell.
The decisive factor that would influence public opinion on Irish independence was a separate element, entirely unrelated to the efforts he had dedicated his entire life to fighting for.
"Mr. O'Connell, it is not as if I haven't considered independence. But after doing my own research and listening to local opinions, I've found that even public opinion in Ireland is not unified at this time."
"That... is true, but I believe that if we try harder, our Irish compatriots will come to understand the necessity of independence."
Public opinion in Ireland now was quite different from that of the late 19th or 20th centuries, when they were utterly fed up with Britain.
Although being discriminated against by the British was degrading and vile, a not-insignificant number of people felt there was no need to separate as long as their autonomy was guaranteed.
*Let's have home rule, but still enjoy the fruits of being part of the British Empire, the world's fastest-growing superpower.*
The fact that many people subconsciously held this thought was proven by the election results alone.
"To promote Irish independence, we need to stimulate nationalism even further, but there are limits to the current methods. A much stronger shock is needed. For example, if an unprecedented catastrophe were to strike this land of Ireland, affecting millions, and yet the central government of the Empire failed to provide any real solutions, then public opinion for independence would certainly rise."
"Is that not an exceedingly extreme example? And no matter how much the government scorns Ireland, it is not a colony but a region incorporated into the mother country. If a disaster of that magnitude were to occur, they would surely do something to respond. It is an impossible hypothetical."
Thinking with common sense, it would be unimaginable.
Could a government so mad as to stand by and watch while millions of its people starved to death possibly exist in this world? It was not unreasonable for him to declare that such a thing could never happen.
But surprisingly, that event really does happen.
A grand, chaotic tragedy born from the intermingling of British discrimination and neglect towards Ireland, the then-fashionable Malthusian theory of population, and laissez-faire economics.
In about ten years, the Great Famine, a terror that would reduce Ireland's population of over eight million to the four million range, was scheduled to cross the Atlantic and descend upon this land.
If Ireland suffered devastating damage as I knew from history, the public opinion for independence that O'Connell so desired would spread throughout the nation.
The problem was, however...
I had no intention of standing by and watching it happen.
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