monarch

When the king's carriage drove to the gate of the palace, the servants in the palace still gathered in groups in the kitchen, wine cellar and rooms, enjoying the rare leisure. After all, according to the original schedule, the king had to wait until two Will be back in an hour.It wasn't until His Majesty got off the car at the door that they rushed to their posts to wait.

The king stepped up the steps from the carriage, entered the hall, and walked up the semicircular marble staircase to the second floor.The servants noticed his slightly trembling body and gloomy face, and quickly stood still, lowering their heads and not daring to look directly into the king's eyes.Robert followed closely behind Edward a few steps away. He looked at the king's back with some concern. Several times he seemed to open his mouth to say something, but in the end he still didn't make any sound.

Two servants opened the door of the king's bedchamber, the king strode in, and Robert also walked through the door. He turned his head and gave a wink to the two servants at the door, and the door immediately closed behind them. up.

The living room of the bedroom is a circular room in the Roman style, surrounded by six Doric columns, supporting the dome above.The interior is ingeniously planted with ivy and roses, which climb up the pillars all the way, exuding the fragrance of the field, which amazes the guests who arrive for the first time.The walls of the room use bright colors to depict the local pastoral scenery. Dense forests grow on the rolling hills, while orchards, lakes, and fields full of golden grains are dotted on the endless plain below the mountain. , and the green grass, one can almost smell the fragrance of the grass and hear the calls of cattle and sheep.

Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling illuminate the hall, but not very brightly.Standing by the wall are exquisite statues of ancient goddesses, their figures are more graceful and attractive under the right light than in the daytime.

The king roughly ripped off the collar that was becoming tighter and tighter, making him breathless.He walked to the center of the room, where there was a coffee table made of marble, and beside it were two light couches with felt and soft cushions.He reclined on the couch, resting his elbow on the cushion embroidered with Tudor roses.

"Did you see it?" The king picked up a silver wine jug on the small tea table, poured a glass of wine into each of the two glasses next to him, picked up a glass, and handed it to Robert who walked beside him, "We It's like being surrounded by enemies."

"They're really daring." Robert held out his hand for the glass of wine.

"Why didn't that theater burn down?" The king rolled his eyes, brought the cup to his mouth, and drank it in one gulp. "That would solve most of my troubles."

"If this is what His Majesty wishes, then you just need to give the order." Robert said in a serious tone.

The king looked at him in amazement, his great eyes round and round like a fawn's.After about half a minute, he burst out laughing.

"Oh my god, you look like you're really going to light a fire." He smiled and poured another glass of wine.

"I'm not joking." Robert said firmly, and he sat opposite the king, looking straight into Edward's eyes.

The smile on the king's face froze, and he shook his head slightly, "If only it were that simple."

"Maybe it's really that simple." Robert took a sip of the wine in his glass, "The Imperial Guards are just outside the city, all you need is an order, and those who offended His Majesty in the theater today will be arrested within two hours. "

The king picked up the wine jug and poured himself another glass of wine, "Then I will be regarded as a tyrant like Caligula. Think about what the public opinion will say--Mad King Edward VI was hacked because of a play. Lost the heads of more than half of the nobles in the country." He took a sip of the wine in the glass, "After all, they didn't say anything, did they? Those who booed in the theater didn't mention it by name. I, therefore, have no reason to arrest them."

"But everyone can see clearly what they mean."

"Indeed." The king shrugged.

"I don't understand what you are waiting for." Robert placed the cup heavily on the marble coffee table, "In the final analysis, the purpose of this parade is to deal with these guys."

"But it must wait until they strike first." The king tapped the cushion under his arm lightly. "If I strike first before then, I will be a tyrant who kills innocents; Then I'm putting down the rebellion with an iron fist, and nobody can say anything."

"Are you sure they really have the guts?" Robert laughed sarcastically, "To be honest, sometimes I want to help them... These poor bastards created by marriages of inbreeding for centuries, they have lived a lifetime Most of the time, you just nest in your own town and act like a domineering, whipping those poor tenants, are you sure they really dare to rebel?"

"If they don't have those privileges, they won't even have the joy of beating the peasants soon." The king raised his eyebrows, "This alone is enough to make them fight to the death... After all, only such poor people can Will suck blood only on those rotten privileges, they are nothing more than parasites in purple robes."

"Then I can only hope that they muster up their courage earlier." Robert snorted coldly, and he stretched out his hand towards Edward, who also reached out and shook his fingers, "Because I can't wait for you to fulfill your promise Now, after it's all over..." His tone of voice was very serious.

There was a faint blush on Edward's face, "I will keep my promise." He said softly, looking a little shy.

"I have no doubt." Robert stood up from the couch and looked down at Edward. He knelt on the ground on one knee, hugged Edward, and kissed Edward lightly on the lips.

The knock on the door sounded again, never before in Robert's ears did it seem so out of place.

"I want to break this guy's neck." He let go of the king, stood up, and adjusted his somewhat messy clothes.

Edward glared at him, cleared his throat slightly, "Come in." He said in as calm a tone as possible.

As soon as Sir Walsingham entered, he was pierced by the sword-like eyes of the Earl of Leicester.He looked at the other party at a loss, and then at the king, as if he didn't understand how he had offended the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard.

Edward coughed again, and Robert finally turned his head away from poor Sir Walsingham.

"It's so late, what can you do?" The king nodded slightly towards Sir Walsingham.

Sir Walsingham wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, "The report from London, Your Majesty, concerns the recent situation of Her Royal Highnesses Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth." He took out the folder under his arm. A document was produced, held in both hands respectfully, and presented to the king, "As you have explained before, I will notify you as soon as the report on this matter arrives, no matter what time it is." Said in an explanatory tone, while looking at Robert from the corner of his eye, he was satisfied to see that the other party looked much calmer than before.

The king nodded, "I did." He stretched out his hand to take the document, but he did not open it, but placed it casually on the marble coffee table beside him, "What is said in it? Please Tell me about it, I don't want to watch it tonight."

Sir Walsingham bowed and cleared his throat, "According to the information so far, Princess Mary has been raising her baby in her own manor, and she has not seen many people, but her husband's messenger It’s just the Spanish ambassador, there’s nothing suspicious. And you know that we can’t monitor these Spaniards too much due to diplomatic issues. Besides, we didn’t have any correspondence with her husband. reason to obstruct."

"As for Princess Elizabeth, she often receives guests. Her friends include some famous artists, playwrights and poets, as well as some nobles who did not participate in the parade. But there is nothing taboo about the topics they talk about at parties. In fact, The princess seems to be less interested in these gatherings, the main reason is that the guests are making fun of the sick princess, you know, the reason for her absence from the parade is that she is unwell and cannot tolerate the heat."

"I see." The king nodded noncommittally.

"If Your Majesty has no other orders, I will take my leave first." Sir Walsingham looked at His Majesty with expectant eyes, and as soon as he saw the king nodding, he disappeared from the room as quickly as if he were running away.

"He really knows how to pick the time." When the door finally closed again, Robert turned his head and said with some dissatisfaction.

"Then you don't have to do that, he looks frightened." The king gave him another glare.

"I hope this can teach him to choose the time for the audience." Robert pointed to the documents on the table, "Is your majesty still looking at it tonight?"

"Don't read it." Edward shook his head, "I think since we have come to Bath, we should seize the opportunity to experience the characteristics here."

"What's special here?"

The king walked up to Robert, "I mean the hot spring here." He watched with satisfaction as Robert's face turned red again.

Bath has been a famous spa resort since ancient Roman times.The ancient Romans built a magnificent temple next to the hot springs, dedicated to the goddess Minerva, and sealed the springs they discovered as holy springs, and this palace was built on top of the springs.

"Many people come here to recuperate in the hot spring." The king tugged on the other party's cuff, "Since we are here now, we shouldn't miss it."

As he spoke, he walked towards the door, and Robert hurriedly followed behind with his head down.

The king went down the stairs to the first floor again, passed through a spacious hall decorated with Ionic columns, and entered the bath hall.The bathhouse was a magnificent building of marble, with floors inlaid with precious wood.On the left side of the bathroom hall, there is a small door leading to the dressing room. Seeing His Majesty coming, the servant waiting in front of the door hastily opened the door.

Edward and Robert walked into the dressing room one after the other. There were two rows of marble reclining chairs in the dressing room. Blankets and cushions had already been spread on them. The king randomly found a reclining chair and sat down, while Robert hesitated. After thinking for a while, he finally chose the deck chair opposite the king.

The servants came forward, waited for the two noblemen to take off their gowns, and then put on bathrobes for them.

When both of them finished changing, Robert finally looked up at Edward. The loose bathrobe was made of white linen, and the color was so similar to the white skin of Edward's exposed neck and legs that Robert thought for a moment that the other party was innocent.The wide sleeves fluttered with the king's movements, like a pair of bird's wings.

Edward stood up and stepped on the floor with bare feet, "Let's go quickly."

"Hmm." Robert's voice was deeper than usual.

The huge hot spring pool is located in a hall that is also completely made of marble. The clear hot spring water flows out from the mouths of dozens of heads of Poseidon, the god of the sea, around the pool and pours into the pool. The white mist floats on the water surface. It's cloudy.There is a hint of sulfur in the hall, which is common in hot springs, but it is covered by the scent of flowers from the vases filled with flowers placed along the walls, which makes people feel less pungent.

Edward untied the tie of the bathrobe, and the flimsy bathrobe slid down his shoulders and landed gently on the floor.Under the gaze of the red-faced Robert, he walked to the edge of the pool, stepped on the marble steps, and walked into the water step by step.

"I waited all night just for this moment of happiness." The king sighed contentedly, and sat on the marble steps set under the water, the height of which was just enough for the guests to sit on, while The water was just below their necks.

Robert waved to the servants, who immediately exited the hall knowingly and closed the door thoughtfully.

"Come in, too." Edward turned around, leaned against the edge of the pool, raised his head and looked at Robert with wide eyes.

Robert suddenly burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" The king looked at him in bewilderment.

"Your Majesty's appearance just now looks like a little seal poking behind a rock by the sea."

The king was also amused by him, "You are getting more and more courageous now."

"Thank you Your Majesty for your kindness." Robert also took off his bathrobe, revealing his muscular lines. This time it was the king's turn to blush.

Robert walked to the edge of the pool and jumped straight into the tub.

"This water is really hot." He glanced at Edward, and his fair skin had gradually turned red, showing a peach-like pink.

"This is the only curative effect." Edward said as he patted the pool wall beside him, motioning for him to sit down beside him.

Robert came forward and sat down beside the king.

The king sighed contentedly, gently picked up a pinch of hot spring water in his hands, and watched them slip through his fingers.

Suddenly, he felt his feet being lightly touched by something, and he turned his head to look at Robert, who was looking at the opposite wall as if nothing had happened.So he slowly stretched out one of his legs and put it lightly on Robert's, and neither of them spoke.

Edward raised his head and looked at the dome on the ceiling. There was a narrow glass window at the tip of the dome, and outside the window was a sky full of stars.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm in a boring quagmire." He rested his head on Robert's shoulder, "and you're the only vine I can hold on to."

"Then I hope this vine of mine can be strong enough." Robert stretched out his arms and held Edward in his arms. The touch of the smooth skin reminded him of the finest oriental silk.He turned his head and kissed Edward lightly on the cheek.

The lights in the hall were dimmed, as if a few candles had burned out on the walls, and starlight and moonlight poured from the windows in the ceiling and shone on the steaming water.

Robert was about to stand up and ask the servant to light the lamp, but he was about to speak when he found Edward leaning on his shoulder, seeming to have fallen asleep.He gently picked up the king, walked out of the pool, and dried him carefully with a bath towel, while Edward curled up into a ball, making kitten-like contented grunts from time to time.

After finishing all this, he wrapped Edward tightly in a bathrobe, hugged him in his arms, kissed him lightly on the forehead, and walked towards the door.