monarch

Cecil quietly left Hampton Court Palace two days later on Friday for France.The official statement to the outside world was that he was suffering from a cold, so naturally it was not suitable for him to stay by His Majesty's side.

The day of the country outing chosen by the king was also on that day. Just after nine o'clock in the morning, His Majesty and Robert had already boarded a four-wheeled carriage pulled by four horses and could accommodate six passengers. Escorted by cavalry from Hampton Court Palace.

The king sat on the innermost side of the carriage, dozing off on the soft velvet couch. This carriage was not much different from a small bedroom in the palace except for the creaking sound of the axles and occasional slight jolts. .

Although the carriage can seat six passengers, besides the king, there is only Robert Dudley sitting in the carriage at this time. He sits quietly opposite, looking at the scenery outside the window, and then turns his head after a while Come, look at Edward's sleeping face opposite.

The spring sun caressed the earth softly, the buds on the treetops trembled slightly in the breeze, and a few skylarks crossed the blue sky, landed on the branches happily and began to sing.

The carriage headed northwest all the way, passed the Royal Observatory, and the Thames River was already in sight.

Edward finally woke up. He rubbed his eyes slightly, and the long eyelashes like crow feathers trembled slightly.

"Where are we?" He pouted slightly, looked at Robert sleepily, and his voice was muffled because he had just woken up.

"At the Observatory, just crossing the Thames."

The king sat up straight and opened the curtains. The carriage was slowly passing the stone bridge across the Thames River built in ancient Rome. Shuttle in, there are people fishing in a few small boats near the shore, the river here is obviously much clearer than the downstream.In order to receive the slight wind, those ships stretched their sails to the maximum, like a flock of low-flying seagulls skimming across the river.

"It must be nice to glide on the water in a boat like that," said the king softly.

"I'll see if I can catch some fish," replied Robert.

"We set up a pot on the boat to make a pot of soup, threw the fish bones back into the river, and then lay on the boat until the sun went down." The king looked at Robert, and after a few seconds Zhong, the two of them laughed together.

"I can't think of a more perfect life than this," Robert said when the two finally stopped laughing.

"But we still have so many things to do." The king sighed, "As a king, I was supposed to be the master of power, but instead I became its slave. Struggling to survive."

Robert sat next to the king and held his hand. The king looked a little surprised, but did not stop him.He held that hand gently, for fear of making himself appear childish or rude in front of the king.

There was a smile in the king's eyes, "You don't have to be so careful, I'm not made of ceramics." He watched the trees receding outside the window, and suddenly called out, "Look, there's a big buck."

Sure enough, a buck had just stepped out of the bushes across the road, bobbing its head proudly, displaying its enormous antlers in the sunlight.

The king opened the car window and poked his head out to look out. Robert hesitated for a moment, then leaned down, and gently kissed the fair nape of his neck that was leaking from his collar.

Edward bounced back as if electrocuted. He lowered his head and tried to hide the blush on his face. It took a while before he raised his head, "Don't make trouble anymore." There was a slight reproach in his tone, but listening to Robert's It sounded like a baby in his ears, "Eat some fruit." He unnaturally pointed to the porcelain plate with fruit on the small tea table beside him.

"Those are not sweet enough." Robert leaned forward and lightly pecked the king's right cheek, "It's not as sweet as this."

The king patted Robert on the arm, "What's the matter with you today?"

"It's very simple." Robert leaned close to the king's ear and whispered, the airflow swept over the king's earlobe, making the king's face turn redder, "I can be regarded as someone who has faced death directly."

"You said it yourself, it's just a small injury."

"However, it is very possible that the assassin's hand was slightly off, so the knife pierced my heart." Robert said in a shameless tone.

"Don't say such things." The king gave him a glare.

"You are the king, you have the final say." Robert squeezed the king's hand again, Edward tried to withdraw his hand, but the other party held it tighter and tighter, so he had to give up and let the other party continue to hold his hand.

"Where did I just say that? Yes, I'm someone who has faced death directly." Robert continued, "Passing past death and safely returning to this imperfect but haunting human world makes me feel so I want to understand a truth, that is, enjoy yourself in time. We are just mortals, and our lives are fleeting, like candles that are going to be extinguished at any time. In this case, why don't we do whatever we want?" He looked into the king's eyes, " We've done so much, why can't we do something for ourselves?"

The king avoided his eyes, "I don't understand what you mean..."

"No, you understand." Robert pinched the king's chin lightly and turned the other's head back.

"The time is not yet ripe..." The king lowered his eyes, his voice sounded smaller and smaller, and finally almost disappeared.

"The time is never ripe." Robert put his hand into the king's arms, "I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of losing you, but unfortunately, this is an inevitable fate. On that day, before that day, we may have decades, maybe just..." His voice became a little hoarse, "I don't want to waste this precious time anymore."

The king didn't reply, but he didn't try to push Robert's arms around him. He curled up like a cat, curled up in Robert's warm arms, and so he reached his destination.

The palace that was the destination of this trip is an unremarkable stone building. Edward III once loved to come here to hunt.This ancient building is located in a fir forest on a hillside. From the terrace at the back, you can overlook the pastoral scenery not far away.

The carriage climbed up the hill along the winding path, through the woods, and stopped in front of this building, which seemed dwarf and dwarf in comparison with Hampton Court Palace.

Finally Robert let go of the king, opened the door, stepped out of the car, turned around, and offered his arm to the king again.

Edward supported his arm and got out of the car, and the two walked through the gate of the palace together.Blue drapes were hung in the hall as soon as you entered the door, apparently the caretaker tried to cover the moss and mildew in the corners-this building has not welcomed the visit of the monarch for decades.What is sobering is that the palace has tall floor-to-ceiling windows that were rare in that era, and the warm sunlight coming in from the windows made the room look much more dignified.

The two tourists went up to the second floor along the semi-circular stairs. The lunch was ready and placed on the corridor on the second floor.The arrangement on the corridor is very simple, just a small boxwood table and two wicker chairs.Creeper and morning glory covered every place on the pillars and railings of the corridor, and the tender green leaves waved gently towards the two visitors in the breeze.

The lunch dishes are very light. The trout caught in the morning in the creek not far away is served with local asparagus, seasoned with just a little salt and pepper and a few drops of fresh lemon juice, and placed on a blue porcelain plate Here, it whets the appetite.The meal was accompanied by a very light white wine, lightly chilled with ice cubes, which tasted very refreshing.

The breeze blows from the bottom of the mountain, and the soft and warm air carries the moisture of the river, mixed with the fragrance of shrubs and flowers on the hillside, and the somewhat cloying sweet fragrance of roses and carnations in the garden. There is nothing better than this. It can make people feel spring.

"We should come here more often." Edward drank a glass of wine, "It's so beautiful and quiet, I haven't felt this way in a long time. I think any doctor will agree that living in such an environment for a week is a good idea." A tried and tested recipe."

"It's a pity we don't have a week." Robert took a sip of his wine, cut off a piece of asparagus and ate it.

"Yes, we will go back in the afternoon." The king sighed.

After a long lunch, when the servants at last took their plates from the table, the king said:

"Let's go for a walk."

The two stood up, walked down the stairs, went out through the back door of the palace, walked to the platform outside, and looked into the distance.In the endless fields not far below the mountain, the Thames River is like a long snake, winding towards the capital.Several clear streams on the hillside flowed down the mountain, and finally disappeared in a lush forest. There were tiny waves shining under the leaves, and there was obviously a small lake, or at least a pond.Villages were dotted across the field, and on the horizon in its place a bell tower could be seen faintly, which must have been the church of a neighboring town.

They walked slowly across the terrace and into the thick woods, while the guards waited on the terrace by the king's orders.

They walked slowly along a narrow country road, with tall bushes blocking the sun above their heads and lush bushes growing at their feet.The woods were full of small sounds, the smell of the wind blowing through the leaves, the chirping of birds on the branches, and the rustling of running hares.The air smelled of earth and leaves, fresh and stale of young shoots and decaying grass and fallen leaves in the shadows beneath the bushes.

Robert held out his hand towards the king, Edward looked at the hand, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it.

"Let's go down from here, all the way to the lake, shall we?" asked the king, looking up.

"Okay." Robert didn't hesitate for a moment.

They walked along the path for about half an hour. At the end of the path, there was a small lake hidden in the forest. If the elves in the forest really existed, this would be the clear spring for them to bathe in.

There was a small boat leaning against the river. It looked like it had been here for many years. The boat was covered with moss and the hull had turned black.

"How about we take this boat and go around the lake?" Robert asked with a smile.

"This ship looks like it's going to fall apart." The king looked suspiciously at the object that might still be called a ship. "I see mushrooms growing on the board."

"What does that matter?" said Robert. "The thing still looks solid." He kicked the hull with a muffled noise, and the boat didn't come apart.

"But we don't have oars." The king looked around, and he turned his head to look at Robert, who was surprised to see that he was unbuttoning his collar.

"We don't need it." Robert winked at the king, "I am your oar."

"You are simply crazy." The king watched Robert dumbfounded as he took off his clothes, and he threw those expensive silks and velvets on a bluestone next to him indifferently.

Robert quickly took off his clothes, leaving only a pair of white underwear. Under the wheat-colored skin, muscles like Greek sculptures outlined graceful curves.He walked into the water with bare feet, and the clear water soon reached his ankles, and then his thighs. He plunged into the water and started to swim.

Edward stood on the shore with a red face, watching Robert who swam to the middle of the lake and greeted him.

"You look like an Italian fisherman," said the king, as Robert swam back to shore.

Robert grinned, showing his white teeth. He bent down to look at the boat stuck on the shore, and then grabbed the stern of the boat and began to pull it up.

The boat returned to the lake, floating on a mirror-like lake, Robert pulled the boat, swam to Edward's side, and dragged the boat ashore again.

"Come up, Your Majesty." He bowed to the king and made a gesture of invitation.

"Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" Edward glared at him.

"I think it's very hot this year. Otherwise, why would your face be so red?" Robert leaned close to the king and held his hand. "Let's go to the middle of the lake quickly, lest you suffer from heat stroke." He chuckled softly up.

"You're the one with heat stroke." The king glared at him again, hesitated for a moment, and stepped on the boat.

Robert whistled like a real fisherman, "Sit tight!" he yelled.

Edward watched Robert swimming around the boat like a real fish, pushing or pulling the boat from time to time, and soon they reached the middle of the small lake.

Robert grabbed the side of the boat, and Edward quickly grabbed Robert's hand and pulled him onto the boat.

The two sat facing each other, the burning heat in Robert's eyes was so obvious, his hair was wet on his forehead, and clear water droplets fell from the tips of his hair, flowing all the way down the angular face, his hand Still holding the king's hand.

Edward coughed a few times to hide his nervousness. He heard his heartbeat echoing in his chest, like the dull church bells.

"It's so quiet here." He whispered, trying to break the silence.

"I love you."

Edward looked at Robert in astonishment, who was looking at him motionless, looking extremely nervous.

"What did you say?" asked the king dully.

"You heard clearly, I said I love you."

"Some people may say that I am possessed, or have committed a great crime, and I will be burned in the eternal fire in hell in the future, but I don't care." Robert's pupils were burning with blazing flames, "I love loves you, and, if I guess correctly, loves me, yet your position as king binds your hands and gags your mouth."

"I...I don't know..." Edward lowered his head, avoiding the other party's gaze, he felt that the scorching gaze was about to set him on fire.

"You know." Robert put his hand on the king's chin, causing him to look up. "Now, I beg your forgiveness."

"Forgive what?" the king asked blankly.

"Forgive me for doing something presumptuous."

Edward seemed to be frozen, watching the other party hug him, the water droplets falling from the tip of his hair dripped on the tip of his nose, and Robert's lips also landed on his lips.

The fragrance of the light wine at lunch came from his lips, and Edward's mind went blank, as if he was drunk, he instinctively responded to the other party's kiss, and his arms involuntarily wrapped around the other party.

This long kiss lasted for an unknown amount of time, and the two finally let go of each other.

Edward came back to his senses, looked at Robert, and saw that he was anxiously waiting for the king's reaction, as if he was waiting for the final judgment.

Edward closed his eyes slightly, he held the side of the boat tightly with his hand, took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes, there was a firm light in those beautiful blue eyes.

"Your behavior is indeed presumptuous, but I don't feel angry, on the contrary, I am very happy." He said softly, looking at the ecstatic expression of the other party, "In fact, I seem to have never been so happy."

He kissed Robert's lips again, and this time he took the initiative.

Robert seemed a little caught off guard at first, but soon he turned his back on the guest and responded domineeringly to the king's kiss, listening to Edward's gradually becoming heavy breathing.

Suddenly, he felt Edward in his arms push his chest violently, their lips parted, and Robert looked at each other in surprise.

"The ship is leaking!" Edward shouted hastily as soon as his lips were freed.

Robert finally reacted, he lowered his head, the water was pouring into the boat from the cracked plank, and now it had overflowed the king's ankle.

"Don't be afraid." Robert quickly put his arms around Edward, "Just hold me tight."

The boat quickly sank to the surface of the water, and the two fell into the water together. Robert lifted Edward up and held him in his arms, and Edward was trembling slightly in his arms.

"Look what the fisherman has caught?" said Robert, laughing.

The king turned his head and glared at him, "What did you get?"

"What is it?" Robert shook his head exaggeratedly. "Is it a big fish? Is it a sperm whale? Or a big octopus with eight tentacles?"

The king patted Robert on the head, "You only have eight tentacles."

"Oh, not at all." Robert turned the king to face him, he looked into those blue eyes, leaned forward, and kissed the king's forehead lightly.

"It's a mermaid." He laughed.

Edward was blushed again by him, "You are really getting narrower."

"Because I have a good teacher." Robert kissed the king's lips again. "Now, the fisherman is going ashore, and he will bring the little mermaid he caught with him."

He hugged Edward tightly and brought him ashore.

As soon as the two of them landed, Robert untied the king's clothes, "Take off the wet clothes quickly, lest you catch a cold." He pointed to his own clothes on the bluestone beside him, "My clothes are dry."

"Don't call you (you) anymore, it's enough to use you (thee)." The king stepped on Robert, "Anyway, you are already presumptuous enough."

With a smirk, Robert went to the bluestone beside him to pick up the dry clothes and handed them to the king. Then he walked to the side, picked up the king's wet clothes and started wringing them.He put the clothes that were still dripping with water directly on his body.

The king looked at the broad back of the other party, bit his lips, and seemed to have made up his mind.

"After this summer parade is over and all problems are resolved, I will designate Princess Mary's child as my heir. I will choose the best scholars for him as teachers, and they will teach this child the principles of Catholicism and Protestantism. Knowledge, when he or she comes of age, he or she can choose the religion he or she wants to follow, and when I die, the child will be the next king or queen."

Robert turned around in surprise, "You mean...sorry, it should be you." He scratched his head.

"I won't get married." Edward stepped forward, "I don't need a marriage to maintain my rule. Whether the nobles and the council are willing to support me is up to them."

Robert looked as if he was about to pass out, and he looked at the king in ecstasy, but a cloud soon crept over his brow.

"It's not good for you," said Robert in a low voice. "Have you really thought it through?"

The king didn't speak, but his expression said it all.

Robert looked at the king with burning eyes, and suddenly he stretched out his arms and hugged Edward around the waist.

"The fisherman is coming home with his catch." He stared at the king like a dragon guarding a treasure.

Edward laughed, "Is he going to stew the fish, or sell it in the market?"

"He wants to find a beautiful fish tank to raise it so that no one can see it." Robert lowered his head and kissed the corner of the king's lips again.

The king buried his face in Robert's neck. "Let me down."

Robert didn't answer, but hugged the king even tighter, striding towards the mountain.

"There's nothing we can do about this fisherman." Edward muttered, leaning on Robert's shoulder, feeling the scorching heat coming through the thin clothes, and fell asleep not long after.

Half an hour later, the guards who stayed on the platform watched in amazement that their commander appeared at the exit of the forest path, all wet, while the king was sleeping soundly on his shoulders.

"Go and get some dry clothes for His Majesty to change into." Robert ordered, he looked up at the sun that had already set in the west, "Prepare the carriage, it's time for us to go back."

He carried the king to the entrance of the palace building, leaving a group of guards looking at each other.Then, at the same time, they dispersed and returned to their respective posts, as if they hadn't seen anything just now.