When the carriage dispatched by Albert to welcome them departed from Windsor Castle, Victor Umberto and Cavour were rehearsing the upcoming meeting over and over, striving to leave a perfect impression on Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

"Your Majesties, it is an honor to meet you in this historic and magnificent Windsor Castle... I have long heard of your benevolence and wisdom, and I am pleased to have received your invitation to visit Windsor Castle..." Victor Umberto said fluently in English with a Sardinian accent as he faced Cavour.

Cavour remained silent, quietly waiting for Victor Umberto to finish the entire opening speech smoothly before offering his compliment, "Your Highness, after these days of effort, your speech is already perfect!"

Hearing Cavour’s compliment, Victor Umberto’s face immediately showed a youthful joy.

This opening speech was completed by Victor Umberto with Cavour’s "assist", and to deliver it smoothly and emotionally, Victor Umberto didn’t know how many times he had rehearsed it.

Fortunately, Victor Umberto’s efforts were not in vain. He finally earned Cavour’s approval, which meant that Umberto’s opening remarks were good enough to face Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

However, Cavour’s next words brought Victor Umberto, who had been beaming with joy, back to calmness.

"However!" Cavour changed his tone, sincerely and tactfully criticizing Victor Umberto, "Your Highness! I still hope you can relax a bit in your speech; you are about to have a meeting between monarchs (Victor Umberto representing Victor Emmanuel II).

Between two monarchs, the tone should be more relaxed to bridge the distance between each other!

But your speech just now was too rigid, as if you were at an official meeting!"

"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister (Victor Umberto still habitually addressed Cavour as the Prime Minister)!" Victor Umberto responded sincerely to Cavour, "Please allow me to try once more!"

Seeing the exceptionally serious Victor Umberto in front of him, Cavour could only nod in agreement. However, he knew very well that, even if Victor Umberto practiced dozens or even hundreds of times more, there wouldn’t be much difference.

The flaw in Victor Umberto was simply due to his youth.

Born in 1844, Victor Umberto was now only 15 years old. Expecting a 15-year-old to calmly face the monarch of the world’s most powerful nation was simply unrealistic.

Not to mention Victor Umberto, even some adults can’t do it.

Victor Umberto being able to reach this stage already surpassed many of his peers.

Cavour couldn’t really be too harsh on Victor Umberto.

After all, this was not a task that a 15-year-old could bear.

The task was originally supposed to be undertaken by Victor Umberto’s father, the King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel.

However, considering the feelings of the French Empire, Victor Emmanuel sent Crown Prince Victor Umberto to secretly go to the Kingdom of Britain to meet with Queen Victoria on his behalf.

Of course, the one who truly led the talks was not Victor Umberto but Cavour.

If Cavour could reach a preliminary agreement with the British side, then Victor Emmanuel would consider going to Britain himself for negotiations.

It was believed that even if the French Empire knew about this, it would not take any drastic actions against the Kingdom of Sardinia.

If Cavour did not reach an agreement with the British side, Victor Emmanuel could still mediate.

Poor Victor Umberto was just a pawn for Victor Emmanuel to test the waters.

Thinking of this, a hint of pity appeared in Cavour’s gaze towards Victor Umberto.

Soon, Victor Umberto once again repeated the opening speech, then looked expectantly at Cavour, seemingly waiting for Cavour’s encouragement.

Cavour looked at the Victor Umberto in front of him and decided to give Victor Umberto some encouragement.

After all, as the meeting with the Victoria couple was approaching, no amount of practice would make any difference. It was better to encourage Victor Umberto, who might perform beyond expectations.

After a brief thought, Cavour smiled and encouraged, "Your Highness, this time is much better than the last!"

"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, I still think there’s some room for improvement!" Victor Umberto frowned and said to Cavour.

Just as Cavour was about to continue speaking, there came a knock at the door.

Seeing this, Cavour was about to go open the door when Victor Umberto ran towards the door first, responding to Cavour, "Excellency Cavour, let me open it!"

Cavour halted his steps, watching Victor Umberto walk towards the door.

When Victor Umberto opened the door, standing at the threshold was John Brown in a tailcoat. He first bowed to Victor Umberto, then spoke, "Honorable Your Highness, I am ordered by their Majesties to welcome you and your entourage (Cavour, accompanying Victor Umberto as part of his retinue) to Windsor Castle!

If you don’t have any urgent affairs to attend to now, please follow me with your entourage!"

Upon hearing John Brown’s respectful response, Victor Umberto’s face showed a trace of panic, as he felt somewhat afraid to meet the Victoria couple.

Instinctively, Victor Umberto cast a pleading glance toward Cavour in the room.

Upon receiving Victor Umberto’s glance for help, Cavour immediately understood his thoughts. He stepped forward to John Brown and replied politely, "Dear Mr. Brown, His Highness and I do have a few minor issues that need resolution, could you kindly wait outside for a moment?"

John Brown was taken aback, and a hint of annoyance crept into his thoughts.

Other than the Queen Victoria couple, no one in all of London had ever asked him to wait.

However, since the Prince and his entourage were specifically instructed guests by Prince Albert, John Brown had to suppress his displeasure and responded calmly, "I hope you won’t keep me waiting too long!"

"Thank you very much," Cavour said to John Brown.

John Brown left the room alone, and Cavour closed the door again.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I’m sorry... I..." Victor Umberto said in a flustered tone, trying to explain to Cavour.

"Your Highness, no need to say more! I understand!" Cavour, like a patient teacher, said to Victor Umberto, "Were you afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of the Victoria couple just now?"

Victor Umberto nodded and softly responded to Cavour, "Your Excellency Cavour, in fact, I’m not ready yet!"

"Your Highness, what you’re attending is not a grand speech, but a monarch’s meeting!

Actually, meetings between two monarchs do not require overly complex procedures!

You just need to maintain a calm mind!

Even if you make mistakes, I believe Her Majesty Victoria will not blame you!

After all, children naturally have the right to make mistakes!" Cavour sincerely advised Victor Umberto, "Besides, some things can’t be avoided just because you’re afraid!

Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince of the Sardinian Kingdom, the future King of Sardinia, and even of Italy!

If you don’t even have the courage to face this slight difficulty, how will you face problems a hundred or a thousand times more challenging in the future?"

After listening to Cavour’s words, Victor Umberto also began to reflect on himself.

Your Excellency Cavour is right, if I shrink back from this small difficulty, I will surely continue to retreat in the future... No, I must summon the courage!

Victor Umberto unconsciously clenched his fists and silently cheered himself on. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

After a while, Victor Umberto lifted his head, looked at Cavour with determination, and said, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, let’s go!"

"Your Highness, from now on, you don’t need to call me Prime Minister!" Cavour said to Victor Umberto, "Now I am merely your retinue, you can call me..."

Cavour pondered for a moment, then blurted out, "Luigi Farini!"

"Understood, Mr. Farini!" Victor Umberto maintained his respect toward Cavour.

Cavour, like a true retinue, followed Victor Umberto out of the hotel.

Under John Brown’s guidance, Cavour and Victor Umberto got into the carriage.

With the door closed, the carriage slowly moved southeastward.

After over an hour’s long journey, the carriage carrying Cavour and Victor Umberto finally arrived at Windsor Castle.

When the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the majestic castle, Victor Umberto’s face once again showed a slight panic, but he quickly buried this panic deep in his heart.

John Brown once again opened the door for Victor Umberto and Cavour. Under John Brown’s guidance, Victor Umberto and Cavour finally met Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Before Victor Umberto could express his gratitude to the Victoria couple, Prince Albert was quick to ask Victor Umberto, "You are Victor Umberto, right?"