monarch

When the sun rose above the sea level again, the storm finally showed signs of subsiding, and the "Lusina" hoisted its square sails again. Now that direct sailing to Britain was no longer possible, the captain ordered to sail towards the coast of France with the westerly wind.

By noon, the raging wind slowed down, and the out-of-control beast became an obedient sheep again.The monstrous huge waves also turned into gentle light waves, gently shaking the hull, as if everything that happened last night was just a dream.

Half a foot of water entered the bilge of the "Lusina" last night, and now the weather is calm, and the crew have had time to pump out the water pouring into the cabin.So by noon the ship was light and nimble again.

In the cabin, Queen Elizabeth tossed and tossed all night, and when it was dawn, her cry began to become weaker and weaker, and in the last half an hour, there was not even a cry from her in the cabin, quietly Like a grave.

The stove was lit, hot water was finally sent in, and the blood-stained canvas was sent out.Counting from the start of childbirth, nearly fifteen hours have passed. Even on land, such a situation is more ominous.

Both Robert and Viscount Canning left the cabin and came to the deck, leaving the entire cabin for Miss Wendell to use. The hatch of the cabin was wide open, allowing some fresh air to flow into the damp room full of blood.As for King João Manuel, he was still asleep in his bed.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon, there was a sudden scream in the cabin, which soon turned into a whimper, which made the sailors on the deck shiver.They all stopped their work and stared blankly at Robert, as if they had just been sentenced to eternal hell.

Robert bit his lip, walked to the entrance of the cabin, and knocked lightly on the open door, "What's the matter?"

Only Miss Wendell's sobs answered him.

Robert had to go down the stairs leading to the cabin. The accumulated water in the cabin had been drained out, but the carpets and furniture in the cabin had been irreversibly damaged.Crumpled rugs and soaked furniture were piled in one corner of the room, making it look like a giant garbage heap.

Queen Elizabeth lay sluggishly on her bunk, for a moment Robert thought she had died, and then he noticed the slight trembling of the Queen's nose, which was the only proof that she was still alive in this world.

He looked at Miss Wendell, who was limp beside the bed, the poor maid looked exhausted after tossing around all night.She held a newborn baby with trembling hands. The skin of the child was blue and purple, like an immature eggplant, and the umbilical cord was wrapped around the child's neck.

Miss Wendell seemed to have been petrified. She hugged the child tightly, but her hands involuntarily held him farther away.Her eyes were tightly closed, not daring to look at the child.

"My lord, my lord!" Hearing Robert's voice, she suddenly couldn't help crying loudly, "The child is dead... dead, God, I will be punished by heaven!"

Robert snatched the child out of her grasp and undid the umbilical cord around his neck.The child's body is still warm, and has not completely cooled down.He probed the child's chest with his hand and felt the faint heartbeat coming from there.

He opened the child's mouth, blew into it, and rocked him slightly in his arms, repeating the cycle every fifteen seconds or so.

After about a few minutes, the baby finally began to breathe on its own, and then he began to cry, but the cry was so faint, like a newborn kitten.

Robert's legs went limp, and he also fell to the ground, and he let out a long breath.

"Look, look, he's alive, my lord!" Miss Wendell stopped crying, and her body trembled even more, but this time it was because of joy.

"Yeah, you're right, he's come back to life." Robert seemed rather excited, "Please go get a piece of clean cloth and wrap him up. There's no silk here, so we can only temporarily replace it with canvas... …This is probably a first for a newborn royal.”

Miss Wendell took the child from Robert's arms, and went to the other end of the room, where she rummaged among the great pile of fine linen.

Robert walked to Queen Elizabeth's bed, her eyes slowly opened, and locks of sweat-wet hair fell on her forehead and cheeks.

He looked at Queen Elizabeth's lower body, dark red blood was flowing from the sheet to the floor, as if someone had knocked over a bucket of jam on the bed.

At that moment, the image of Mary Tudor suddenly appeared in Robert's mind. She sat among the myrtle hedges, staring blankly at the reflection of the clouds in the pool, from the dead gray lips. Gently spit out the weighty prophecy: "The daughter always repeats the fate of the mother."

Miss Wendell returned to the bed with the baby, who was curled up in the fine linen swaddle, and his cries were much louder than before.

"What's the matter?" asked Robert. "Why is there so much blood?"

"I...I don't know." Miss Wendell's eyes were wide open, "I tried to stop the bleeding, but I couldn't...it flowed more and more...I don't know what to do..." There was a tear in her voice again.

"There's nothing to do." Behind Robert came Queen Elizabeth's hoarse voice, which didn't sound like her usual voice at all, "Bring the child and let me have a look."

Miss Wendell put the baby in front of Queen Elizabeth. She wanted to hand the baby to Elizabeth, but the queen was too weak to hold her own baby. She collapsed on the bed, and even sitting up became a luxury. .

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Elizabeth asked hesitantly, as if expecting and dreading the answer.

"It's a boy, Your Majesty, a healthy little prince." Miss Wendell forced an ugly smile on her face, and big tears dripped down from the corners of her eyes uncontrollably.

Elizabeth looked neither ecstatic nor disappointed, she just nodded lightly, and she seemed to have no strength to express her emotions.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to breastfeed him," Elizabeth said. "Take the baby out, and let me talk to Lord Robert alone."

"But... take the child to the deck?" Miss Wendell asked hesitantly, "The wind outside is a bit strong, and those sailors look very savage..."

"Do as I say." Elizabeth ordered in an unquestionable tone. Miss Wendell could only curtsy, and disappeared on the stairs leading to the deck with the child.

Robert pulled an armchair that was not completely soaked in water from a corner, and sat down in front of Queen Elizabeth's bed.

"I think what you need at this time should be a priest." Robert looked at Elizabeth with a trace of pity in his eyes.

"I can't find a priest in the middle of the ocean." The corners of Elizabeth's mouth curled up slightly. Although the oil was exhausted, she still made a contemptuous expression so vividly, "Unless a whale comes to the surface at this time, give us Spit out a Jonah... No, even with a priest, I wouldn't waste my remaining precious time confessing."

"I thought you'd want my forgiveness." Robert shrugged.

"You know that I won't lower my value like that, even before I die." Elizabeth coughed a few times, "Since you are on the gambling table, if you win, you will take all the chips, if you lose, you will give up. Go away. I'm too lazy to forgive, and I don't need anyone to forgive me. If you like this kind of vulgar drama, read the scriptures and hymns."

"You want to talk to me about this kid," Robert leaned on the wet back of the chair, the four legs of the chair crackling suspiciously at the same time, "you want to talk to me about his future."

Elizabeth shook her head slightly up and down.

"But you must understand that the future of this child is completely in Edward's hands. He can bring your son one of the most glorious crowns in Europe, or let him get nothing."

"But he is not here now, so I can only talk to you first." Elizabeth said, "In my opinion, there is no difference between talking to you and talking to him directly."

Robert pouted noncommittally.

"My child is the closest heir to his blood, the only grandchild of my father. If Edward makes him the heir, then there is hope for the succession of the dynasty... He may not be able to sit on the throne of Portugal, but the British It is his right to inherit the crown." Elizabeth's face was convulsed with exertion, and her eyes burned with the last flame, like a candle suddenly brightened before being extinguished.

"He will be the heir to the throne with the closest lineage, and the succession of those pretenders will be behind him. Edward will no longer be under the pressure of marrying a wife and having children. There is no need for him to marry a foreign princess in order to continue the dynasty. You are no longer a stumbling block that hinders the inheritance of the country...my son is the solution to all problems between you."

"What you said sounds like we owe you a favor." Robert smiled wryly, and gently pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Isn't it?" Elizabeth's voice brought her usual self-confidence again, although it was weak, it did not diminish her determination, "If Edward has no heirs, who else can he pass the throne to? The two Grays Silly girl? Or the son of Mary Stuart and the Dauphin of France? You have to admit that my son is his best choice. He can raise the child from a young age and make him an heir who can continue his policy. "

What she said was correct, Robert thought, this child was indeed ranked first in blood, of course, this was based on the premise of excluding the suspicious paternal blood.But those rumors are rumors after all, as long as King Edward admits that his nephew is the son of the King of Portugal, then he is.After all, who can prove that he is not?This kind of bedside secrets has been a mess of inexplicable bad debts since ancient times, so what's the point of adding more money?With a legitimate heir, the nobility and other claimants to the throne would be much more at ease, and the bureaucracy would feel much more at ease.

"You're right." Robert nodded, Queen Elizabeth's logic is indeed irrefutable, "Your son can indeed alleviate a lot of threats for Edward, but isn't he himself the biggest threat? There are countless rebellions of heirs against the reigning monarch, and you yourself are an expert in this matter. As the saying goes, like mother like son, maybe this child has inherited your talent for conspiracy. If he can't wait then, do If you make the same choice as you, then we will repeat the old tune again!"

"Did I hear you right, my lord?" Queen Elizabeth smiled miserably, "The great British King and his trusted ministers, when they breath out cold air, Europe will catch a cold; if they stomp their feet, the continent will tremble. Such two How could a giant be afraid of a baby who was still in its infancy?"

"Children will grow up, and giants will decay." Robert said lightly, "Who can predict what will happen in 20 years?"

"You also said that it will be 20 years later." Elizabeth reached out and grabbed Robert's wrist. Robert tried to shake her off, but she held on tighter and tighter, like an eagle unwilling to give up an overweight bird. Like the prey of the "Wait until he grows up, until he is full-fledged, it will be more than twenty years later. If Edward and you want to, you can deal with him at any time in these 20 years... You have nothing to worry about .”

"But his father..."

"That's his Achilles' heel." Elizabeth seemed to have expected Robert to bring up this topic, "This is double insurance for you and Edward... If Edward doesn't want him to inherit the throne in the future, just announce that he is not married The secret of having a child, then he will automatically lose the right to inherit... Maybe he will feel unwilling and instigate a small rebellion, but that is nothing more than hitting a stone with a pebble. After all, his biggest card is his bloodline. If you destroy that card, he won't be able to make any waves anymore."

Robert stared at Elizabeth dumbfounded, "Are we discussing your son or your enemy?"

"You know I'm saying these things for his own good." Elizabeth's voice was getting weaker, "I know my brother... I know him too well, we are the same people, we will never give up power, because Without power, we are nothing. The heir he chooses does not need any outstanding talents. The only consideration is that it is safe enough not to threaten his status while he is still alive. Since I want to make my son To take shelter for him will naturally make him feel that this child does not pose any threat to him, so that my son can grow up safely!"

She grabbed Robert's wrist fiercely, and seemed to concentrate the last remaining strength in her body on her fingers.

"If I'm alive, the kid is a threat, and when I'm dead, the kid is Edward's asset." There was a gurgling sound in her throat, as if someone had just crushed her Trachea, "Fate has its own arrangements! Edward's birth took our mother's life, and now he sits on the throne...my child is the same! To sit in that position must be paid with blood and life ,I get it now……"

She finally let go of Robert's hand.

"Have you decided on a name for your son?" Robert rubbed his sore wrist and changed the subject.

"Sebastian, use Edward and Henry as middle names." Elizabeth put her hands lightly on both sides of her body, "The surname of the family should be the combination of two great families... Tudor-Avis ..."

"Sebastian Edward Henry de Tudor-Avis." Robert nodded, "As you wish."

"Have you seen the small box I'm holding?" Blood gushed out from Elizabeth's lower body like a dam broke, "It's on the opposite table, please open it and have a look."

Robert stood up and took the little box from the table, which was much heavier than he had expected.

He opened the case and looked at the dazzling jewels inside.

"This is my gift to Edward." Elizabeth murmured.

"I thought you meant to leave it to your son," said Robert.

"What's the use of wealth?" Elizabeth coughed contemptuously. "Wealth is just the shadow of power. With power, gold and jewels are nothing but clay and glass beads. With power, wealth will flow naturally; without power , and the wealth in his hands can’t be kept.”

"300 million pounds...in exchange for a ticket to the heir competition." Elizabeth stuck out her tongue and licked her bloodless lips. "Is such an offer...sincere enough?"

"Your Majesty can take the money for himself." Robert picked up a few diamonds and played with them.

"Of course he can." Elizabeth looked at Robert, and she could see that her vitality was draining rapidly from her pupils, "As I said...Sebastian is weak enough...he can't do anything... .”

"So it's safe enough." Robert put the diamond back in the box.

"Open...the bottom box..." Elizabeth said struggling, "at the bottom...the envelope...take a look..."

She seemed to be out of breath.

Robert opened the lower compartment. Under the bonds and stocks, there was indeed a small envelope.

He tore off the wax from the top of the envelope, and took out a sheet of letter paper folded in four.

"I, Antonio de Alberto, Portuguese court guard, admit that I am the biological father of the firstborn of Princess Elizabeth." Robert read the line on the letter paper in astonishment. Autographed by the now presumably deceased Italian bodyguard.

Robert looked at the bottom of the letter paper again, and Elizabeth wrote another line below in her beautiful cursive script:

"I acknowledge that the above information is all true Elizabeth Tudor"

The mother hung a sword of Damocles on her son's head with her own hands... Robert felt as if he was holding a sharp dagger. With this note, the child would never treat Edward No matter what threat he poses, even if he turns into a ferocious beast one day, his neck will always be covered with the collar he wore before birth... What a clever way to retreat!

"You have achieved this level..." Robert exclaimed, "You signed a death sentence for your child! Is it worth it?"

Robert could never wait for an answer to that question.On the bed in front of her, Queen Elizabeth was still lying motionless as before, with her eyes looking up blankly, she had already swallowed her breath.Just like her mother Anne Pauline 21 years ago, she ushered in the end of her own life on the delivery bed, the death of a life in exchange for the birth of a new life.The daughter eventually repeated the mother's fate.

Robert put the note back in the envelope, and put the envelope back on the bottom of the grid, like it was going to bite.

He closed the box again and held it tightly in his arms.