Funeral

"Block all exits from London. The murderer must not be allowed to escape. I want to hear good news from the government within three days." Queen Victoria said coldly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil responded solemnly.

Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil knew that if the murderer was not apprehended within the time limit set by Her Majesty the Queen, his days as Prime Minister would likely be numbered.

Although Britain was one of the most representative constitutional monarchies in the world, and the power of the British King had been greatly restricted.

No one could deny that Queen Victoria, who had single-handedly created the glorious Victorian Era, had regained a great deal of power. Dismissing a Prime Minister was merely a matter of a single word.

"Where is Arthur now?" Queen Victoria asked with a sorrowful expression.

"At the Royal Hospital. Princess Louise is also there." Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil replied.

Princess Louise was the wife of Duke Arthur, the niece of King Frederick IV of Prussia and Emperor William I of Germany, the cousin of the current Emperor of Germany, William II, and also Arthur's mother.

"Let's go. See Arthur one last time, look upon my poor child." Queen Victoria seemed to sigh in resignation, her already aged frame suddenly appearing more stooped.

The Royal Hospital was an ancient hospital built in the last century and the private hospital of the entire British Royal Family.

It gathered renowned physicians from all over Britain and even the world, and was one of the world's top hospitals.

A procession of carriages slowly departed from Buckingham Palace, heading straight for their destination, the Royal Hospital.

Inside the Royal Hospital.

Two full hours had passed since Duke Arthur was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. An hour ago, Duke Arthur had already lost his breath and heartbeat forever.

Seated around Duke Arthur's remains were his wife, Princess Louise, and his two daughters, Marguerite and Patricia.

Even the youngest daughter, Patricia, was fourteen years old, no longer at an age of ignorance and innocence.

Seeing their once kind and amiable father now lying pale-faced on the hospital bed, having lost his breath, neither Marguerite nor Patricia could accept it. They threw themselves onto Duke Arthur's body, wailing loudly.

Princess Louise beside them was slightly better off, at least able to control her somewhat crumbling emotions, unlike her two daughters who were beyond restraint.

But her reddened eyes and the misty tears at the corners proved that Princess Louise's heart was no less pained.

Thump, thump, thump!

Amidst a clatter of footsteps, Princess Louise looked toward the door and immediately spotted Queen Victoria, slowly approaching while holding Arthur's hand.

"Your Majesty, Arthur." Princess Louise forced herself to control her emotions and spoke.

In the West, whether it was a daughter-in-law or son-in-law, they generally called their in-laws by their first names.

Given Queen Victoria's exalted status, Princess Louise naturally could not address Queen Victoria by her first name, instead using a respectful title.

"Louise, Marguerite, Patricia." Queen Victoria slowly nodded toward Princess Louise, then turned her gaze to Marguerite and Patricia in turn, finally shifting her eyes slowly to Duke Arthur on the hospital bed. She spoke with difficulty: "Arthur!"

"Arthur!"

As she called out Duke Arthur's name again, Queen Victoria had already quickly approached his hospital bed.

Caressing Duke Arthur's gradually cooling face, Queen Victoria said slowly: "Arthur, rest assured, Mother will avenge you. I will also take good care of Louise and the three little ones, and will never let anyone harm them. May God guide you to heaven, my son."

"Prime Minister Robert!" Turning around, Queen Victoria, who had been a grieving mother who lost her child, transformed back into the monarch who had held power for decades. She said coldly: "Investigate! Whether in London or Britain, even Europe or the Americas. As long as any accomplices related to the assassin are found, arrest them all! At the same time, announce to the world that any act of participating in or aiding the murderer is a declaration of war against the British Empire! Even if it costs everything, get to the bottom of this!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go at once." Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil quickly replied.

A furious Queen Victoria was someone the entire British political establishment would avoid. No one dared to challenge Her Majesty's authority, and no one dared to question Her Majesty's power.

"Also, immediately prepare Arthur's funeral. I cannot let my child wait too long. The sooner Arthur is sent to heaven, the more at ease I will be." Queen Victoria instructed.

Western funerals were quite elaborate, especially for someone like Duke Arthur, who was to be buried with the rites of a prince. The procedures were even more cumbersome.

Not only did they need to invite a regional bishop to pray and commend the deceased's soul to heaven, but there were also rituals like washing the body and the Eucharist.

This series of preparations would take at least several more days, which was intolerable for Queen Victoria.

"I understand, Your Highness." Prime Minister Robert naturally dared not refuse and quickly agreed.

Queen Victoria gave further instructions to Princess Louise, Marguerite, and Patricia for a long while before finally leaving with Arthur and the others.

January 7, 1900, Windsor Royal Cemetery, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

This was the private cemetery for members of the British Royal Family, burying many kings and royal members of noble status over the past hundred years. Now, this land would receive one more body—that of Duke Arthur.

Early in the morning, Queen Victoria led all royal family members to attend the funeral, accompanied by a squad of Royal Guards for ceremonies and security.

This noble and illustrious duke had a short life yet a rich and colorful resume. He had served as an officer in South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, and India, was the current Commander-in-Chief of Ireland, the recipient of the title "Chief of the Six Nations Confederacy" of the Iroquois Confederacy, and a Field Marshal of the United Kingdom.

This led many citizens to spontaneously see Duke Arthur off at his funeral.

Duke Arthur's coffin departed from the Royal Hospital, slowly traveling on the royal family's private carriage all the way to the Royal Cemetery.

Escorted by many British citizens, all royal family members, and government officials, Duke Arthur's coffin was placed into a pre-prepared tomb, with the bishop offering final blessings.

Arthur watched all of this, feeling somewhat lost.

Having only transmigrated three months ago, he had already lost his father—Duke Arthur, who had been quite kind to him. What was he supposed to do now?