To be blunt, there is no one who grows up without hearing their parents say, "Get along with others. Don't fight."
But people still fight when the time comes.
That does not change even after they become adults.
Sharpening one's hostility toward someone different and rejecting them is simply a natural human instinct.
It is impossible to eliminate that entirely.
I just don't like those arrogant Frenchmen.
I just feel uncomfortable around those Blacks for some reason.
I just hate those annoying Englishmen.
Unless one could fire some sort of brainwashing beam, it would be impossible to fundamentally change the thinking of people like that.
However, it is entirely possible to create an atmosphere where expressing such thoughts openly would result in immediate backlash.
"This is not something I say merely to maintain public order, or simply to prevent conflict between races that could throw the country into chaos. Each of us possesses unique cultures and traditions that we have cultivated in our own circumstances, refining them into something great and brilliant. Let me give an example. Quebec is mostly populated by French immigrants, correct? Is there anyone in Europe who does not know that French cuisine is exquisite? The elegance and artistic sensibility you possess will contribute immensely to the cultural development of Canada."
If one were to name the people most proud of their culture, the French would easily rank among the top three in Europe.
The French representatives from Quebec, gathered closely together, immediately broke into wide smiles and repeatedly bowed their heads at my praise.
Of course, I had no intention of praising only the French immigrants.
So I quickly turned my gaze toward the next group.
"Next, we have our loyal immigrants from England. Your devotion and respect for the royal family will undoubtedly serve as an example for everyone here."
Canada was a colony of the British Empire, so English immigrants naturally believed themselves to be the foundation of the country.
When I subtly praised that point, the English group smiled just as broadly as the French and lifted their drinks in satisfaction.
"And to those who came from Ireland, I wish to express my constant gratitude. You trusted the government and myself, left your beloved homeland behind, and came all the way here. Your sincerity will certainly be rewarded. I promise you that here and now."
The Irish already supported me so overwhelmingly that they would probably believe me even if I called rye flour wheat.
I was not particularly worried about them.
However, it would be problematic if they became overly confident and began to think Canada now belonged entirely to them.
To prevent that, my plan was to constantly guide them and ensure that the Irish served as a kind of lubricant connecting the different races and immigrant groups.
"And finally, to our friends who came north from the South in search of true freedom. I know well that you have longed for freedom and equality more than anyone here. It is precisely because you can live here without fear that we can proudly declare British Canada to be a true land of freedom. Paradoxically, people often fail to realize the value of freedom until they have experienced its absence. And that is exactly why this land where you live can become a true nation of freedom."
"Under the protection of our great Queen, you will continue to enjoy the rights and freedoms guaranteed by law as citizens of British Canada."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"We will never forget the grace of Her Majesty and His Highness even after death!"
The Black elders who had come as representatives of the frontier settlements were so overwhelmed with emotion that tears streamed down their faces as they bowed repeatedly.
The other immigrants watching them smiled warmly and applauded.
Unlike the barbaric southern states, this place valued human rights.
A truly civilized country.
After filling everyone with that sense of pride to the limit, I looked around the hall and concluded my speech.
"As you see, although we were raised in different cultures, we all share something in common. We are all citizens of British Canada. And all the qualities we possess come together to make this nation truly great."
"I am the Prince Consort of the British Empire, yet I was born in Asia, and half the blood in my body comes from Ireland. And the heir who will one day become your king is the legitimate descendant of the English royal family. In other words, Canada itself may well be the symbolic nation representing the future direction of the British Empire."
"So do not fear respecting other cultures, accepting them, and blending together with them. Take pride. In the future, the entire world will watch you, study your actions, and learn from you."
If they showed no reaction after hearing all that, it would mean they were either emotionally dead or hated me so much that they opposed everything I said.
As expected, the people in the hall burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Soon they even began leaving their own groups and mingling with immigrants from other communities.
The Black representatives who had wept earlier became perfect targets for conversation.
"My goodness, you must have suffered greatly in that barbaric South. How does it feel to live here now?"
"What is there to say? Starting over from nothing is difficult, but even that feels exciting."
"I can imagine. Those barbarians still maintaining slavery must have caused you much hardship. As His Highness said, I hope you build only happy memories here from now on."
"You are too kind. Thank you very much."
Good. Good. The atmosphere was excellent.
If I continued making similar speeches whenever gatherings like this occurred before returning to London, my words would quickly spread throughout Canada.
It might not seem like much now, but once this atmosphere took hold, Canada would stand in stark contrast to the United States just below us.
Imagine the contrast between a country where people of color would still have to use separate bathrooms a hundred years later and a country that was already beginning to break down racial barriers.
And if the United States were influenced by Canada and attempted to resolve its racial issues?
Then the Civil War would erupt immediately.
From our perspective, that would not be a bad outcome.
In truth, I suspected that possibility was more likely.
Considering the butterfly effect of history, Canada's current atmosphere could not help but influence the United States in some way.
Of course, I was also deliberately spreading criticism of the barbarity of slavery throughout the northern United States.
In any case, now that I had spoken so loudly and publicly, Canada would likely run smoothly for several years without major trouble.
What remained was the question of when Russia would make its move.
Considering Russia's miserable infrastructure, there should still be plenty of time.
Looking back, I had slightly underestimated how far removed from common sense the Russians could be.
A few months after the Treaty of Kingston was signed.
At the time when Canada was bustling with excitement as the Queen's childbirth approached, Russia was also filled with tense anticipation.
Everyone agreed that if Russia's endless territorial expansion was blocked in Europe, the only remaining path was to seek a breakthrough in Asia.
But things changed if the target was not West Asia but Northeast Asia.
"We must attack Primorye now. This is the perfect opportunity. If we miss it, we will regret it forever!"
"Do you know how far Primorye is from Moscow or Saint Petersburg? How will we maintain supply lines?"
"Our Russian soldiers are already accustomed to marching across harsh lands. Supplies? We will simply handle them well enough."
The faction advocating immediate war and the cautious faction urging patience remained evenly matched.
Even Tsar Nicholas I initially leaned toward caution.
As the military pointed out, Russia's main forces were concentrated around Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The distance to Primorye on the far eastern edge of the empire was enormous.
If Russia had railways like Britain, this would not be a problem.
But Russia did not yet have such capabilities.
That meant the army would have to march by land.
The journey would take months, and maintaining supply lines would be extremely difficult.
"Even so, we must act now while we have the funds from selling Alaska! And more importantly, we are not the only ones struggling. The Qing Empire is said to be exhausted from paying reparations to Britain. If we give them time, they will recover—and then this opportunity will vanish."
The argument of the war faction had its own logic.
Moving troops to Primorye was difficult, but the enemy was equally unprepared.
If the costs of war could be covered by the sale of Alaska, then objectively speaking, this might indeed be the right moment.
After learning that Qing China was an old tiger that had lost not only its teeth but also its claws, Russia no longer feared it.
Their true enemy was not Qing China.
It was Russia's own brutal land.
Whether they could overcome that natural obstacle and send their army safely to Primorye was the Tsar's greatest concern.
But that hesitation vanished the moment news of the Treaty of Kingston crossed the Atlantic.
"…Britain swallowed not only Alaska but the entire western half of North America?"
"Yes. In effect, almost the entire Pacific region has fallen into British hands."
"Those greedy bastards… expanding their territory so shamelessly while we hesitated."
Nicholas I's fist trembled as he stared at the map brought by his ministers.
How could a country expand its territory so dramatically overnight?
Looking at the map, British Canada alone seemed almost as large as all of Russia.
Was this situation even reasonable?
"Whenever we attempt to expand even slightly, they rally all of Europe against us. Yet they devour land like this without shame?"
"Your Majesty, did not our foreign minister secure an agreement that Britain would not object if we occupied Primorye?"
"Yes… that's true. But now it seems that was merely part of their scheme to swallow the western half of North America."
While Russia had been planning to seize Primorye, Britain had been carefully executing its own plan to dominate the New World.
And once again, Britain had moved one step ahead.
"Your Majesty! Even if Britain has seized such vast territories, it will take time for them to stabilize them. But if we do nothing during that time, even capturing Primorye will not narrow the gap between us."
"Yes. That is correct."
Now that Britain controlled the eastern side of the Pacific, it was only a matter of time before they extended their influence into Asia.
They were already establishing naval bases in Shanghai, Tainan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
If Russia delayed further, both sides of the Pacific would fall entirely under British control.
Even if Russia captured Primorye then, it would never escape British influence.
Nicholas I finally made his decision.
"Very well! In that case, we can hesitate no longer. Form the army immediately and prepare to march toward Primorye as quickly as possible!"
"What message shall we send to Qing China?"
"Tell them that Primorye once belonged to the Grand Principality of Moscow but was relinquished under Qing pressure. Now that circumstances have changed, we propose negotiating a new treaty to divide the territory properly."
It was an absurd claim.
But when had Russia ever relied on reasonable arguments?
The Qing Empire was merely a collection of fools who had been defeated by Britain and could do nothing.
"Your Majesty. If we push southward, we may face resistance not only from Qing China but also from Korea and Japan."
"Should we concern ourselves with the reactions of such minor countries? If they resist, all the better. It will give us justification to take their lands as well."
"Wise words!"
"We shall follow Your Majesty's will!"
As soon as the Tsar spoke, the pro-war faction erupted in support.
The cautious faction had no choice but to withdraw.
After seeing Britain's endless expansion, changing the Tsar's mind had been impossible from the start.
"I will seize Primorye and secure Russia's path to the sea! I will never allow the British Empire to rule this world as it pleases!"
The restraint of Russia—long struggling against its desire for expansion—had finally reached its breaking point.