Chapter 112

Chapter 112

Royal Road

Baronet.

Doesn't belong to the formal noble system of duke, marquess, earl, baron, viscount, but a quasi noble title that recognizes hereditary to descendants unlike knight.

Originally the title called baronet didn't exist in Britain, early 17th century, James I hastily created as a class for sale to procure military funds so.

So originally given only to the gentry class who can provide economic compensation and military support, and even that a very scarce title not readily given.

But after the 19th century industrial revolution gentry who accumulated enormous wealth started craving honor and social status and the situation changed. The government unable to ignore the rich people's demands, started granting baronet titles little by little for reasons of economic contribution and public works etc. merits.

So the current baronet, was treated as the final title a self-made commoner can rise with one's own power.

A successful commoner receives knighthood between 30s and 40s, then accumulates fame and network and obtains baronet in 50s or 60s.

And the 2nd generation who inherited that power reaches the formal noble baron such flow.

So people murmuring at His Majesty's statement, was not a strange matter at all.

Too unconventional!

His Majesty Edward VII's sudden personnel declaration of investing me as baronet at once!

Hard to find such cases even looking through British of course European noble history!

If no prior consultation also no different from overstepping authority.

No matter how much the king's intention is greatly reflected in title selection, what operates all Britain now is not the royal but the parliament and government selected by citizens' votes.

Even if my fame is well known in London now to this degree fierce counterarguments should arise to be normal!

Honestly I wanted someone to counterargue.

That is even if going over according to His Majesty's will now later countless finger pointing and back talk of busybodies would come out, I was actually satisfied with just knighthood so didn't want to rise on someone's mouth with protruding acts.

No what am I not even a war hero receiving 2 rank special promotion with just simple sophistry makes sense?!

"..."

"Hmm..."

But even continuing to wait, the counterargument I expected didn't come out even one bit.

Even the Marquess of Salisbury who first picked a fight had no reaction at all!

Surely, the entire conversation just now isn't a trick colluded between players...?!

"No counterargument. Then knowing everyone agreed here—"

"Your Majesty. Sorry but is it okay if I briefly question?"

"Sir Campbell. Permit the statement."

It's Liberal Party leader Sir Campbell. I briefly sighed in relief inside.

"As I heard, due to Sir Jean-Paul Durand's tremendous performance the medal grade was suddenly raised that I know. And that core role, as expected Chairman Balfour of the Conservative Party led that I heard. Correct, Chairman Balfour?"

"There was a valid reason and performed the matching role so receiving treatment is natural, right? This matter I know already agreed even from the Liberal Party."

"Ah, not discussion about the medal grade. Although might look a bit excessive now, because expecting will do matching performances ahead. I'm not trying to talk about the achievements Sir Jean-Paul Durand has accumulated."

Signs of Chairman Balfour and Sir Campbell trying to argue appeared!

I had a chimney-like urge to turn the body and see the scene unfolding behind, but since the knighthood investiture hasn't ended yet couldn't carelessly move the body.

Turning the head without permission in front of His Majesty itself is rude.

"But at the same time as the party leader can't not convey the concerns triggered inside the Liberal Party. Some Liberal Party members, suspect whether Chairman Balfour is trying to use the rare celebrity called Jean-Paul Durand as an image improvement strategy card to soothe the Conservative Party's misgovernment later, how do you think about that?"

"Sir Campbell! Literally a rude statement!"

"How on earth do you view our Conservative Party members and say such nonsense?!"

And this time the commotion reached the extreme.

Especially from the noble layer seats high nobles indignant and started throwing one word each with loud voices.

Most of the high nobles invited to this place concurrently Conservative Party upper house members, or at least putting party affiliation in the Conservative Party so natural.

"Campbell! This time I'll thoroughly beat your thick belly fat and make into schnitzel! Come up on the ring! Let's fight one round!"

The Earl of Derby's that radical statement seemed everyone decided to treat as not heard.

And I also sighed once more inside.

Sir Campbell, put a low hand just now. This what... intending to rather help Chairman Balfour?

"Hmm, Sir Campbell is having such suspicion?"

"Your Majesty, I just conveyed public opinion."

"Public opinion sometimes the weight changes according to the mouth of the person conveying. Right?"

"Your Majesty, at least I follow only actions originating from loyalty."

One moment, His Majesty's eyes that were scattered with alcohol suddenly hardened.

There my suspicion became certainty.

That the entire tiki-taka now, was a script designed to preemptively block counterarguments at the source.

Don't know Sir Campbell's intrusion, but anyway His Majesty was acting was clear. Don't know the reason but just now His Majesty was trying to bestow a high title on me, and turn all the responsibility of that decision to himself.

Then the celebrities invited to this place would testify like this in social circles.

His Majesty Edward VII in alcohol excitement raised Jean-Paul Durand's title! that.

A strategy of using alcohol as an excuse and soothing opposing public opinion?

But funnily, Sir Campbell's intrusion twisted the incident in an unexpected direction.

"Your Majesty, I'll answer about the excessive concerns Sir Campbell just raised. The Conservative Party has no thought of making Sir Jean-Paul Durand a political tool at all. Won't propose a parliamentary seat either. Moreover Sir Jean-Paul Durand hasn't put party affiliation in any party, so Sir Campbell is bringing non-existent facts and slandering."

This was clearly a lie! Chairman Balfour had said he'd hand over his constituency to me anytime!

And a statement that if leaving this place, as if when said such talk washing the mouth clean is enough.

Not even a recorder, nor wrote a contract.

Usually in parliament the clerk leaves minutes as evidence but here wasn't parliament either.

"One more, said the Conservative Party's misgovernment but our Conservative Party regime hasn't done misgovernment. I'll attach Sir Campbell's slip of the tongue to silence. Now here is a place everyone enjoys."

"No misgovernment? Is the chairman saying this situation of digging the flesh of the British Empire and pouring into Africa isn't misgovernment? Numerous youths who lost their lives on the battlefield would laugh."

"It was an indispensable matter to protect the status of the British Empire in the power game of all Europe becoming serious day by day. If mentioning true misgovernment, can't omit the past Liberal Party Gladstone regime. Shall we seriously debate once at this place? Your Majesty, please give the opportunity to counterargue Sir Campbell's forced logic."

Sir Campbell's mistake was exactly this part.

If picking a fight about my title just pointing the justification of being elevated to baronet and passing would do, but unnecessarily expanded to inter-party fight.

If the atmosphere heats like this hard to reverse.

Moreover the person holding speaking rights and the right to control everyone at this place was only one person.

His Majesty Edward VII.

Chairman Balfour here didn't hastily swing the sword hilt, and showed the skilled handling of turning that back to His Majesty again.

His Majesty also, the monarch was the monarch. His heavy voice filled the Throne Room and rang.

"Impossible. Sir Campbell, Chairman Balfour. What relation does that discussion now have with Sir Jean-Paul Durand's baronet investiture matter?"

"...None."

"You guys' fight go to the parliament and finish. Then with this all discussions will end. Liberal Party side also treat as no intention of counterargument."

If His Majesty finishes like this, ultimately the words that no room for further counterarguments to come out.

Was it a matter designed up to here? That well unknown matter. I wasn't a politician.

As expected politics is difficult. No matter how much Chairman Balfour hangs, the thought of not entering the lower house became more firm.

Like this the knighthood investiture that completely drained my energy, firmly put a period together with my baronet promotion.

Tomorrow morning's morning newspaper what title will hang was very worried, but well that the reporters will do well by wits.

Now remaining is only the social party.

* * *

I looked for Mr. Edison as soon as arriving at the party hall.

Don't know who he did a drinking contest with, already half dead drunk and was force eating fruits in one corner.

Surely this person isn't the one who drank alcohol with His Majesty the two of them.

I slightly threw a suspicious gaze at him.

"Mr. Edison, no, shall I call Sir Edison now?"

"Jean-Paul Durand! Oh, my friend! Ugh, you also became baronet now? Baronet at an age not even 20, rising to baron in not even 1 year? Then recorded as the person who obtained the title the fastest in European history a hundred years later? Come, receive my congratulatory drink one glass! This port wine, because ice forms amazingly delicious!"

"...Wait a moment, how did you know I became baronet?!"

"No, uh, that is? Ahem, made a slip of the tongue due to mood! Just treat as not heard okay?"

If Mr. Edison didn't invent a wiretap, hearing this news first before even bringing up words was close to impossible.

Unless colluded and plotted together with that smart head.

Mr. Edison as I stared couldn't meet the gaze as expected.

"Well... now the person we can rely on is only you, right. Let's treat as repayment. Thanks to that I also seem able to receive one title in Britain."

"I don't know about that matter. By any chance did someone confirm?"

"That, the refrigerator... here Buckingham Palace, right? Transported to the palace..."

Said installation wasn't difficult.

Thanks to the plug system I sold, replaceable outlets were being introduced one after another in major facilities in London now.

Just moving the refrigerator and plugging into the outlet was enough.

Mr. Edison directly participating in the transport was concerned refrigerant might leak due to shock. Because there was no one else who knows the structure and can fix.

But whether really received shock, as soon as moving to Buckingham Palace abnormal phenomenon occurred.

The refrigerator internal temperature that went between 5 degrees and 7 degrees above zero suddenly dropped sharply to -1 degree to -2 degrees!

The reason roughly guessed.

Somewhere in the wiring network defective so rated current doesn't flow properly.

Literally, the motor overheated due to overcurrent.

The refrigerator became a freezer that talk.

Of course impossible for the refrigerator to sharply drop to freezer level temperature with only overcurrent or wiring defect.

Rather higher possibility the temperature controller broke due to overcurrent and the cooler or compressor operated excessively.

Anyway while Mr. Edison was looking for the cause of the refrigerator breakdown, there were those who appeared holding a lot of alcohol by type.

"That, that old gentleman you introduced, right. What marquess or something? There the chairman or something and the very very high king appeared together! And as soon as knowing ice freezes in this refrigerator liked very much...?"

This completely all manipulation fraud group?! Ultimately the words that they confirmed the refrigerator's performance and confirmed the titles of Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla.

Exactly like me today!

But titles aren't just giving on the spot saying will give like just now. A matter that necessarily needs agreement of both Conservative Party and Liberal Party.

So I decided to add just 1 Durand spoon of doubt there.

"By any chance there, a bit fat and mild looking impression, glasses wearing 50s middle-aged man wasn't there? Hair white and iris blue color and only mustache grown a lot..."

"Ah? Was there. Camp, whatever gentleman! Seeing ice immediately forming on the wine put in the refrigerator surprised greatly then disappeared a while later!"

"Ha..."

I could perfectly grasp all the truth with this word of Mr. Edison.

All was a gambling board colluded and played between players! Just all of the Throne Room was a play! Even the parts not looking like a play all were a play!

The moment directed like that, now even if rumors spread to social circles there would be no person harboring doubt about my title promotion.

By the way from where to where was discussed?!

Surely not knowing the refrigerator broke and became a freezer, then flicked the abacus again from the start...?

"By the way don't know the cause, why the refrigerator suddenly temperature dropped... Didn't design up to there at all! Have to call that friend Tesla and discuss. If only finding the method to freely control the temperature... Might pull out an innovative model even before mass production! Even for that, that refrigerator, okay to leave here for a while and see?"

Hope that statement also wasn't someone giving advice.

"Well is my opinion important? Do as you like."

"Isn't your opinion the most important? People here, don't know how cooked but now you seem the hottest! Inform me that secret method a bit too! I also want to become popular like you! Although late shall I start cooking from now?"

"No... Please stop that a bit I want."

I pressed the throbbing temple with a finger.

Early type refrigerator, seems a situation of inevitably having to leave at Buckingham Palace.

But I also had a corner to believe.

Ten days ago, there was a person who hurriedly ran hearing the news that the refrigerator arrived from America.

Mr. Royce. Since he copied the refrigerator drawing and took, just praying he quickly makes an excellent replica.

Now even mass production depends on his hands.

Like that while talking with Mr. Edison, suddenly numerous people crowded into the party hall.

Especially numerous ladies couldn't see in the Throne Room.

Age group...

All looked similar to me.

And they all, started looking at me with eyes of longing!

I momentarily flustered and instinctively stepped back one step.