But unfortunately, Prince Leiningen is fifteen years older than Victoria, and besides the age gap, they did not spend much time together when they were young. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

When Prince Leiningen was ten years old, he inherited the title of Grand Duke of Leiningen from his father, and after his mother remarried in Britain, he went to Switzerland for middle school. After graduating, he immediately entered the University of Gottingen to study under the German legal scholar Carl Friedrich Eichhorn. Upon completing his studies, he promptly returned to his small principality to become a de facto monarch.

His interactions with his sister Victoria were limited to annual summer family visits, so it’s hard to say they had a deep bond.

Although Victoria was willing to speak a few words with her brother, that’s all she managed.

Realizing the complexity of the situation, Prince Leiningen chose not to pressure his sister too much because he found that their mother actually hoped he would write to Uncle Leopold and ask him to request that Victoria’s regency term be extended from 18 to 21 years.

So, after a brief conversation with Baron Stockma and learning how muddled the situation truly was, Prince Leiningen decisively cut short his visit and hurriedly returned to Germany at night.

After enduring so many rounds of setbacks, the Duchess of Kent was understandably panicked.

She began publicly criticizing Victoria, reminding her of her youth, and claiming that all her success was owed to her mother’s good reputation. She repeatedly emphasized herself as a long-suffering mother who sacrificed a comfortable life in another country to solely focus on grooming her daughter to be a Queen. Yet, the Duchess of Kent’s self-indulgent victim narrative was becoming increasingly unwelcome to Victoria.

Though Victoria would silently listen to her mother’s complaints, she remained silent.

If not for this, Kensington Palace’s summer tour this year would never have included an additional companion for Victoria to chat with and lighten her mood.

Upon seeing Arthur, Victoria’s gloomy mood seemed to improve a little. Arthur noticed her reddened eyes and asked softly with a smile, "Who upset you again?"

"No, it’s not." Victoria shook her head: "I’m not upset, I’m too happy, which is why I’m crying. I must apologize to Uncle William; although I have always thought he was a kind-hearted person, I still underestimated his kindness. I hope God can bless him and restore his health because he is a devout, humble, and loving Christian."

"If His Majesty the King knows about this, he would surely be delighted," Arthur recalled. "I remember His Majesty once said at a banquet that when he was young, apart from revelry and mischief, he believed in nothing. But once during a sea voyage, he encountered The Tempest and witnessed the sea’s miracle. Since then, he became a true Christian. He jokingly said that if he meets God one day, he hopes the old man could forgive his youthful recklessness."

"God surely will," Victoria nodded earnestly: "He’s a good man; no one is worthier of Heaven than him."

Arthur looked at her nearly devout expression and remarked casually, seemingly moved: "Your Highness, it seems you’ve truly suffered during this time."

Victoria was just fiddling with the white lace handkerchief in her hand; upon hearing this, it was as if a nerve had suddenly been struck.

She was initially stunned, and her hands stopped moving.

Silence lingered at her lips for a few seconds, then she bit her lower lip almost imperceptibly, as if hesitating whether to respond to this unintentional expression of concern.

Then her shoulders trembled slightly, as if the heavy weight pressing upon her heart had finally lost its restraint.

"I..." Her throat tight, voice hoarse: "I’ve been enduring this for too long."

After saying that, she could no longer hold back, sniffing, then turning away as tears suddenly poured like a burst dam.

She struggled to maintain a semblance of dignity, but could not suppress the emotional surge that followed the long suppression and sudden release.

She wept not as a throne heir, but more like an ordinary girl helpless in the deep night.

The sound of sobbing came intermittently, then turned into a genuine, uncontrollable cry.

Arthur did not comfort her or approach her. He simply sat quietly, gently closing the window shutters, keeping the laughter of children playing on deck outside, silently guarding this overdue crying moment.

After about a few minutes, Victoria finally calmed down a bit.

Still facing away from Arthur, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief: "Sorry, I didn’t mean to, Sir Arthur, I just... too tired."

Arthur handed her a glass of water, his tone consistently gentle: "You don’t need to apologize. On this ship, in the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, no one is qualified to demand you repress your emotions."

Victoria took the water, sipped it lightly, and wiped her nose again, her voice still somewhat hoarse: "Thank you."

The atmosphere quieted down, and Arthur did not immediately change the topic but waited for her emotions to slowly settle.