The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1833 - 115: Victoria’s Free Love? This Is Belgium’s Existential Crisis! (Part 3)

Additionally, both Leopold and Stockma had years of experience battling with France in their youth, so they inherently distrust France. Because of this, they place great importance on diplomatic relations with Britain.

For Arthur, Victoria not succeeding to the throne merely equates to a bumpy road ahead.

But for Belgium, Victoria not succeeding signifies a potential extinction of the nation.

This is not a matter of the same magnitude.

Compared to the heavy-hearted Stockma, Arthur, who came to Rose Hall for a lesson today, was in particularly high spirits.

The long-held thoughts finally found a fitting recipient, and he was confident that Stockma would handle the issue properly. After all, this Belgian Baron is someone who receives constant praise from Sir Robert Peel and Viscount Melbourne.

Even Palmerston praised him as "the only person I’ve ever met in my life with absolutely no selfish desires."

With someone bearing such a heavy sense of responsibility, how could you not give him more to shoulder and thus make the most of his abilities?

Inside Rose Hall, the warmth was palpable, the branches outside gently swayed, much like the musings in Victoria’s heart. She sat by the writing desk, pen hovering over paper, yet she hadn’t begun to write.

She woke up earlier today and was notably more silent than usual.

Lady Leisen stood nearby, quietly organizing books, but her peripheral sight frequently glanced at the faintly furrowed brow of the princess.

Familiar footsteps sounded outside the door.

Victoria instinctively looked up, trying to hide her thoughts behind her lashes.

But before she could adjust her posture, the door was gently pushed open.

Nine o’clock in the morning, not a second more, not a second less.

Arthur arrived with his usual punctuality, courteously bowed to Lady Leisen, and then placed the leather-bound "Lives of the Greek and Roman Heroes" on the desk, bowing slightly, "Good morning, Your Highness."

"Good morning, Sir Arthur."

Arthur seemed to notice her distraction, so he decided to find an interesting point of entry: "Today we won’t be reading political essays or discussing Bentham and Locke. I’d like to change the topic; let’s talk about Rousseau."

The distracted Victoria’s eyes brightened, and she sat up straighter.

She wanted to read Rousseau because during her last secret meeting with Lord Elphinstone, he mentioned a lot about Rousseau. However, due to her limited understanding of Rousseau, she couldn’t have a thorough discussion with this Scottish youth, which left Victoria a bit vexed.

"Rousseau’s ’Emile’," Arthur placed a book before her, chuckling lightly, "A book on education, a book some people have been criticizing harshly for twenty years."

Victoria gently pressed her lips together in a smile, with a hint of playfulness in her expression, recalling what Lord Elphinstone had told her last time: "Is it because Rousseau wrote ’children do not belong to their parents, but to nature’ in the book?"

"Far more than that, Your Highness, also because he wrote ’Love should not obey the family’s command, but should heed the call of the heart.’" Arthur said as he slowly sat down, flipping to a page in the book: "Rousseau believed true education is to teach people to think freely, to choose freely... including choosing someone who will make them happy."

Victoria looked down at the notes in French but didn’t read aloud, only asked, "And you? Do you agree with what Rousseau said?"

Arthur looked at her with a faint smile: "To say I completely agree with Rousseau’s book would be a lie. But to say I oppose everything in it, I would also refuse to admit. The most dangerous thing in the world is not whether a sentence is right or a thinker is wrong, but that we’re too quick to divide people into right or wrong, loyal or rebellious, bright or dark. Therefore, I do not fully support Rousseau, but I am not in a hurry to oppose him either. Because a person’s value does not lie in how many correct principles he has articulated, but in whether he has sparked your thoughts. Whether it is right or wrong, you must judge it yourself, instead of becoming a follower of a philosopher."

(Another Chapter is coming soon)