[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

"My father made proper arrangements for everyone, except Jeromin who was sent to England." Philip II asked the Duke of Gandia to be in charge of Charles V's funeral, while he looked at his father Relics in the Abbey of Euste in Extremadura, while greeting the Duke of Alba: "What do you think of this? Seeing my father sending his Catholic illegitimate son to the court of England, and wanting to Let Jeromin . . . call him Don Juan now, marry the daughter of the King of England."

"Your Highness, I think the emperor is old and confused, and he is tortured by gout to say such words that cannot withstand scrutiny." The Duke of Alva is only six years younger than Charles V, so he can be regarded as the son of Philip II. Political senior and most trusted general: "Leaving aside the issue of the faith of the Princess of England, Don Juan's background alone is enough for the King of England to exclude him from Princess Joan's choice."

"But I don't think my father is an ordinary person who is old and confused." The man has passed away. Even if Charles V really made a wrong decision, the current Philip II will only think of the best side of his father: "If it's not that my father values ​​Don Juan more than me, it's that he has some secret deal with William III."

After all, there is no need for England to let the Prince of Asturias, who is more suitable, marry his daughter to an illegitimate son.

However, thinking about the physical condition of the Prince of Asturias, Philip II was a little uncertain about what Charles V really meant.

"Maybe I should bring Don Juan back." Philip II, who pondered for a moment, twisted the edge of Charles V's will, a little uncertain: "After all, he is also my brother. Let the father's child Under the subtle influence of England, becoming a heretic who can be punished by everyone will have an incalculable impact on Spain's international status. Maybe it will also become the pope's target to attack us."

"Your Majesty, I don't deny your concerns, but I don't think now is the best time to bring Don Juan back." Duke Alva lowered his voice, "Your half-sister Margaret is your The product of my father's marriage, so he is not qualified to compete with you and your sisters for the throne, but Don Juan is different."

"He is a healthy boy who was written into the will by your father." Duke Alva said seriously: "Especially when the Prince of Asturias is mentally unstable and your French fiancée has not yet given birth to the second prince." At the moment, the importance of Don Juan is self-evident, and some may even regard him as your second heir."

"He's dreaming." Philip II blushed, trying to suppress his anger that had nowhere to go: "How dare an illegitimate child covet the throne."

"But how can you be sure that your half-brother is an illegitimate child?" Duke Alva told Philip II to keep his voice down so as not to attract Duke Gandia who was going to arrange the funeral of Charles V: "Your Majesty, you are a The man who sits on the throne knows exactly what a male monarch fears most, and where did the Habsburg crown come from."

Philip II seemed to have been sounded by the Duke of Alva, and asked tentatively, "You mean..."

"Even if your father has a deep affection for Queen Isabella, he still has to make sacrifices in the continuation of the country." The Duke of Alva directly spread out the fact that Philip II was most unwilling to face in Philip II. In front of the eyes of the second king: "Your Majesty, everything must be based on evidence. If your father really finds the person he likes in his later years, and marries him for the continuation of Spain and legalizes Don Juan's identity... you should how?"

"Even if Don Juan's mother is a commoner, this does not prevent your father from giving her a noble status." Duke Alva patted Don Juan on the shoulder and said meaningfully: "When you become the most powerful person in the world When you are a man, the identity of anyone can only be changed with a single word from you."

"It is impossible for Charles V to say that Don Juan will marry the princess of England out of thin air, so I suggest that for the stability of the country, before taking Don Juan back, you should first find out whether his mother married your father. And draw it within your protection range to prevent Don Juan from doing anything unexpected."

Duke Alva covered his chest with his right hand, showing a loyal look.

After pondering for a while, Philip II finally ordered before the Duke of Gandia was about to return: "Go and find out the status of Don Juan's biological mother, and then take her and some people who you think need to be controlled. Spain."

"Yes." Duke Alva glanced at the door while bowing.

I saw the Duke of Gandia coming in a hurry.

………………… I am the dividing line……………

"Your Majesty, Charles V, Emperor of Rome, has died."

Sir Cecil avoided the crowd, and leaned into William III's ear and whispered, "Your Excellency Francis Walsingham is already drafting your condolence letter to Philip II, and England's sympathy for Spain and Austria. diplomatic letter."

William III took a sip of wine, and his expression did not change much due to the death of Charles V. Instead, he nodded to the crowd below.

Queen Juana on the side beckoned to Sir Cecil, and asked in a low voice after he bent down: "Has the throne of Rome been confirmed to be passed to Ferdinand of Austria?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sir Cecil glanced at William III, his tone full of admiration: "This is exactly as His Majesty expected, except..."

"Just what?"

Queen Juana noticed Sir Cecil's dodging eyes, so she asked: "Is the Habsburg family going to fight again?"

After all, Queen Juana looked down at Don Juan, only to see that the latter was having a happy conversation with Matthew Stuart, and had no idea that his father had passed away.

"Princess Anna of Austria has already left for France. It seems that after Philip II married Princess Elizabeth of France, the crown prince of France will marry the granddaughter of the new emperor."

William III's hand, which was picking peanuts, paused for a moment, and his eyes finally shifted from the dance floor below to Sir Cecil's face: "Anna of Austria? Didn't France let the second son be engaged to Princess Elizabeth of Austria? Why is it France's turn?" Did the Dauphin marry the Austrian princess?"

"Perhaps the king of France is dissatisfied with the daughter of the Guise family, so he wants to change the marriage partner." Sir Cecil was happy to see dogs eating dogs in France, but William III felt that it was not easy.

"It seems that France is going to make multiple preparations." William III felt that Henry II's operation was very familiar.

It seems that when he succeeded to the throne, he was like Henry II now, doing diplomacy everywhere, just waiting to fish in troubled waters and take advantage of conflicts between major powers.

It's just that compared with William III's showmanship, Henry II's actions are really not clever.

"Let the eldest daughter marry the King of Spain, the eldest son marry the Austrian princess, the second daughter marry the young Duke of Lorraine, the youngest daughter marry my son, and then marry the younger sister to the Duke of Savoy..." William III counted down one by one, and returned I was in the mood to joke with Queen Juana: "If there is any conflict in these countries, Henry II can fish in troubled waters and take advantage of it."

Sir Cecil looked at the king's look of waiting for a good show, so he asked tentatively: "Do you have a plan?"

William III shook his head and gave an ambiguous answer: "The interior of France has become a hornet's nest, and Henry II still has the mood to miss other people's things."

The year is now 1558.

And it is only a few months before the wedding date of Princess Elizabeth of France and the Duchess of Berry.

Even though this is nearly a year earlier than in history, just looking at the anger accumulated by the Duke of Guise and Catherine de Medici, William III can sit firmly on the Diaoyutai and wait for the news of Henry II's death... or the news of his abdication .

After all, Queen Juana was William III's bedside person, so she responded earlier than Sir Cecil: "You mean... there will be 'accidents' at the scene of the marriage between France and Spain?"

Sir Cecil listened to the "accident" that Queen Juana said so seriously, and various conspiracy theories naturally appeared in his mind.

William III nodded, indicating that Sir Cecil could rest assured to enjoy the banquet.

"In France, of course someone will take care of this for us."

"It's a pity that Henry II's children were not only sold by their father as goods, but even after they died, they didn't contribute anything to France."

A relieved Sir Cecil left the king's table.

The Duke of Richmond below has been paying attention to the situation on the king's side, so that Mary Stuart called him several times, but there was no response.

"What are you thinking?" Mary Stuart stepped on the Duke of Richmond in embarrassment, causing the latter to almost spit out what he had just eaten.

"I'm wondering when my father will really take a break." The Duke of Richmond found that no matter what William III did, someone would come to report urgent matters, so he wondered if he would be better than his father now when he was king. busier.

After all, compared with Queen Juana, the gap between Mary Stuart is still somewhat obvious.

Maybe he could get the Countess of Nottingham or the Countess of Surrey to do a thing or two.

The Duke of Richmond remembered that Juana of Austria had been regent for Philip II, who was running around, since 1554.

And here in England...

Glancing at Joan, who was circling around with Princess Margot, and Guillaume, who couldn't find anyone at all, the Duke of Richmond couldn't help trembling slightly while holding the cup.

"It's really hard to manage the country!" Mary Stuart couldn't help sighing with the Duke of Richmond when she remembered that she would be in power in two years.