Queen Victoria returned to her room. Prince Albert took one glance at her and knew something was terribly wrong.
"What is it, my dear?"
Prince Albert asked softly.
"What else could it be? Those stupid politicians, all they do is scheme against one another all day long. Look at what they've done!
An economic crisis, a political crisis, an Irish uprising, the Chartists, getting dragged into European wars without end, the fleet gone missing, another crushing defeat for the army... I'd say that continuing to support the Ottomans will sooner or later trigger a military crisis!"
Victoria complained. She had truly had enough of these politicians. Victoria still remembered the promise she had made back then:
"There will be bread! There will be butter too! Everything will get better. Thank you—you are the ones who made Britain strong. Without you, Britain would not be what it is today. I, Victoria, Queen of Britain, hereby swear that I will protect your rightful interests and property."
But reality meant she had to forget those words, because her promises were a burden upon the state. At least, that was what those prime ministers had told her.
Unlike Victoria, Prince Albert understood the importance of the Near East more clearly. Were he in their position, he too would have supported the Ottoman Empire against the Holy Alliance.
But dragging all of Britain into it because of that would be stupidity beyond measure.
Prince Albert had a very clear grasp of Britain's domestic situation at the moment. The situation on Ireland had already spun out of control.
No one could say just how large the Guerrilla Force had become. Fortunately, Britain's landlords still had plenty of martial spirit; they had formed large numbers of militia organizations to defend their farms.
The British Army, meanwhile, was