When Prince Albert spoke the word "war declaration" to Queen Victoria, a hint of regret appeared on Victoria's face.

"Poor Nicky (a nickname for Nicholas I), he must still be waiting for news of the Kingdom of Britain's support, yet he doesn't know that we are about to bring him bad news!" Victoria sighed heavily and complained to Albert beside her.

Although Queen Victoria herself had a faint affection for Nicholas I, and was similarly inclined towards Eastern Orthodox in terms of religious belief, hoping to establish a "Greek Empire" to replace the declining Ottoman Empire, after all, Queen Victoria was not a "true" ruler able to control the King of Britain. Everything she envisioned did not align with Britain's interests, and her ideas were destined to be as illusory as castles in the air.

As the mastermind behind it all, Prince Albert was the true influencer of the Queen, and even the entire political situation in Britain. Everything he did was the path that truly aligned with Britain's interests.

"Victoria!" Albert said to Queen Victoria in his deep, magnetic voice: "Britain's interests are based on maintaining the balance of the European Continent. Everything that the Russian Empire does is destroying the original balanced political structure of the European Continent. Against such a political disruptor, Britain must take military action."

Having said that, Prince Albert deliberately paused for a moment, the corners of his mouth slightly rising as he said: "Moreover, we have already given Tsar Nicholas a chance! The rise of Aberdeen and the fall of Palmerston and Russell were expressions of our goodwill towards the Russian Empire. However, Nicholas I repeatedly refused our goodwill, attempting to forcibly use military means to subdue the entire Ottoman Empire under the Russian Empire, which the Kingdom of Britain can never agree to!"

"Hmph!" Victoria wrinkled her nose, showing a reluctant expression as she coquettishly scolded Albert: "Didn't you also allow us to form a joint army with the French Empire? Palmerston and Russell were so audacious because they were under your instructions!"

"The secret agreement between the Kingdom of Britain and the French Empire was just a verbal agreement! No country would ever treat a private agreement as an established fact!" Prince Albert firmly denied, then continued to shift the blame: "Palmerston and Russell, those guys who fear disorder under heaven, wouldn't have missed this opportunity to bring down Aberdeen even without my instructions!"

"And that Aberdeen can't even handle small matters!" Queen Victoria once again targeted Prime Minister Aberdeen: "You even appointed such a person as Prime Minister! I think you intentionally want the Kingdom of Britain to become hostile with the Russian Empire!"

Facing Victoria's almost "unreasonable" accusations, Prince Albert did not choose to explain further to Queen Victoria but instead straightforwardly admitted: "That's right! I simply don't like Nicholas I. I dislike it when my wife is thinking of another man!"

It proves that sometimes women are not concerned with the actual outcome of an issue, nor do they want to hear your lengthy discourse. What they want is for you to care about their feelings.

Albert's diversionary rhetoric instantly changed Queen Victoria's attitude, making her start to feel proud of her own charm.

"That's more like it!" Queen Victoria said proudly, lifting her head in response.

If observed closely, one could notice that when Albert spoke these romantic words, the tips of Queen Victoria's ears had already turned slightly red.

Seeing the internal family conflict temporarily alleviated, Prince Albert couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and stood on the same side as Victoria on certain matters.

"However, you were right about one thing!" Albert said seriously, with a furrowed brow, to Victoria: "I have indeed been overly lenient with Palmerston and the others. It's one thing for them to steer the topic towards declaring war on the Russian Empire through the newspapers! But now they dare to steer the topic towards the Royal Family, which is truly audacious!"

Upon hearing Albert's words, Queen Victoria's eyes lit up, eagerly asking: "So what are you going to do?"

Albert turned his gaze towards the bell placed on the fireplace and strode over to it, picking it up and shaking it back and forth.

The bell rang clearly, and after a while, John Brown, wearing a small black felt hat, a black jacket with gray buttons, black Scottish kilt shorts, and black leather boots, appeared before Albert and Victoria.

"Your Highness!" John Brown bowed respectfully to Prince Albert, then raised his head to meticulously inquire: "What is your command?"

"Invite Mr. Palmerston and Speaker Russell (Speaker of the Lower House), both of them, to come to me!" Albert named the two leaders who currently held anti-Russian force in Britain's political arena, as well as the instigators of this incident.

"Your Highness, should I have them come over now?" John Brown asked Albert.

"Yes, right now!" Albert nodded at John Brown.

"Understood!"

John Brown left the room, leaving Albert and Victoria sitting on the sofa, playing with the chess set on the table.

About half an hour later, Palmerston and Russell first arrived in the room where Victoria and Albert were.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty!" Palmerston and Russell first saluted the two to show respect.

When Prince Albert heard Palmerston and Russell's voices, he then placed the "knight" in his hand back into its box, looked up, and invitingly smiled at Palmerston and Russell: "Mr. Palmerston, Speaker Russell, have a seat!"

Then he turned his gaze back to the chessboard.

Palmerston and Russell each sat at one end of the long sofa, neither of them speaking, just quietly observing each piece on the chessboard.

After a few more minutes had passed, Prince Albert, who was playing chess, turned again to look at Palmerston and Russell and spoke: "I see you two have been watching for quite a while. I suppose both of you should be familiar with chess by now!"

"Of course!"

"Of course!"

Palmerston and Russell answered Albert's inquiry simultaneously.

"Then what do you both think about chess?" Prince Albert asked Palmerston and Russell.

"Your Highness, I'm not quite sure what you mean? Could you please elaborate!" Palmerston cautiously inquired.

"If these chessboards represent each of our people, then what do you think the two of us are on the board?" Albert asked calmly.

"Her Majesty the Queen and Your Highness are the King and Queen!" Russell responded without hesitation.

"Then what do you two think you represent on this board?" Albert said, while moving the "rook" closer to Victoria's "king," leaving only a "pawn" in front of the king.

"We are, of course, the soldiers in the hands of the Queen and Your Highness!" Palmerston immediately responded.

"Exactly!" Speaker Russell also said casually.

"Then..." Albert drew out the sound, giving a look to Queen Victoria.

The perceptive Queen Victoria caught on immediately.

Thus, to the horror of Palmerston and Russell, the "pawn" under Queen Victoria's hand did not act as "cannon fodder," but moved directly one square to the left,

"Check!" Albert's rook advanced directly and killed Victoria's "king."

"I lost!" Queen Victoria admitted defeat.

"Alright! I won!!" Prince Albert smiled slightly and then looked at both Palmerston and Russell.

Now Palmerston and Russell fully understood Prince Albert's meaning.

As "pawns," they neglected the safety of their own "king," allowing the opponent's "rook" to drive straight in. Wasn't this hinting at the Royal Family's resentment towards their orders to the press to smudge the Royal Family in this anti-Aberdeen movement?

Heaven knows, they never intended to harm the Royal Family, but as public opinion grew increasingly hostile, they gradually lost control of the direction.

"We really didn't mean to..." Russell, slightly lacking in political tact, wanted to clear his name with Albert.

Before Russell could finish speaking, Albert raised his hand to stop him and issued a dismissal order to both Russell and Palmerston: "I'm pleased to have you watch us finish a game of chess! Now you two may leave!"

Since Prince Albert had already conveyed his message through the chessboard, how to proceed next was their own business.

On this matter, Albert only needed to conclude it; he did not wish to hear any further explanations from Palmerston and Russell.

Upon Albert's clear dismissal, Palmerston and Russell could only leave in frustration.

After they left, Albert spoke again: "This time, let's consider it a lesson for those guys! Hopefully, next time they won't so casually drag the Royal Family into disputes!"

"The last game doesn't count! Let's play another round!" said the competitive Queen Victoria, now completely focused on securing an honest victory.

Meanwhile, back at home, Palmerston and Russell, upon hearing Albert's warning, hurriedly summoned their friends in the press, ordering them to cease reports on Albert.

The press, having tasted the benefits, were clearly reluctant to stop such a profitable business and wanted to continue their attacks on the Royal Family.

However, ultimately, Palmerston made a covert deal with the press.

Only then did the press's attacks on the Royal Family subside.

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