monarch

"Although we are now on the opposite side, such a way of dying is really terrible." Edward said in a low voice.

He imagined that terrible picture in his mind, blood mixed with sea water, flowing around on the dark floor, while Elizabeth was lying on the wet and dirty sheets, shaking like chaff, feeling herself being boundless. The cold and darkness gradually surrounded her, and the only thing that could irritate her nerves and prevent her from passing out was the severe pain that was like tearing.

He looked out through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. A thick layer of rough ice had formed on the surface of the Hampton Court Palace's rectangular viewing lake.Countless brightly dressed men and women are skating or sledding on the ice.The sleds, like the Russian three-set carts, were pulled by sled dogs and flew like lightning across the ice.The gentlemen and ladies chatted and laughed with each other on the ice, and the joyful voices floated into the king's office in the cold north wind.

Edward heard the slight sound of Cecil in the chair behind him, and whenever the minister felt nervous, he always fidgeted, like a hedgehog with its spikes on its back.

The king looked down at the ruby ​​ring on his index finger, one of the few relics left by Queen Anne Boleyn, when she gave birth to Princess Elizabeth 21 years ago, when King Henry VIII Disappointed, he gave the ring as a gift to his second wife.Since Princess Elizabeth left Britain, the imprint of her in the court has been gradually erased intentionally or unintentionally. Now the ring worn by the king is one of the few remaining objects that can be associated with her.

"I haven't had time to express my condolences to you yet." Cecil opened his mouth. Since the news that Robert and his party landed in Bordeaux, France, he has not closed his eyes for a day and a night.

"You are the first person to say this to me." The king took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly. "As for the others, their attention is on that child."

"The newspapers on Fleet Street called him the 'Son of Miracles'." Cecil's voice was a little disturbed. "Some comments even suggested that a grand celebration should be held across the country...to celebrate the birth of the direct heir to the royal family."

"It seems that Elizabeth still has a few remaining friends in Britain." Edward sounded absent-minded, but Cecil knew very well that monarchs usually care most about what they show indifference.

"Some newspapers do take money for their work." Cecil replied cautiously, "But it's not just those who have connections with Princess Elizabeth...Many people are happy to see the succession issue settled, mine Many subordinates expressed similar sentiments."

"Besides, there are some people who are planning to ask for directions. They publish these things in the newspapers, hoping to get a glimpse of your attitude towards the little prince from your reaction, so as to determine how to place a bet."

"Is it just insinuating like this?" asked the king.

"Not only that, the Mayor of London and the Bankers Association will present you with a gift to congratulate your nephew on the birth. It is said that many nobles have prepared gifts. As long as your reaction is positive, they will immediately follow the city. long strides."

The king closed the French windows that opened outwards again, and the lock made a crisp "click", and the laughter on the lake was cut off from the outside.

"Then what do you think?" The king turned around, looking very relaxed, as if chatting, "Do you think this child is my destined heir?"

"It all depends on what you want." Cecil carefully considered his reply, "Compared with your will, the order of succession is nothing. Besides, you are only 21 years old now, and the child will be 20 years old when he grows up." Years, you don't need to make a decision now."

He is guessing what kind of answer I want to hear, Edward thought a little annoyedly, this is the dilemma faced by a strong monarch, his subjects will degenerate into humble servants.What they spit out of their mouths is no longer what they think is correct, but what they think His Majesty wants to hear.

But at least one of them won't, he thought, and that's enough, I'm luckier than any other king.

"The gentlemen behind those newspapers can't wait now." Edward's lips were drawn into a straight line. "If they wait patiently for another 20 years, it will almost kill them."

"You know, this entire court is a big casino." Cecil said, "and the most important bet is on the heir to the throne... For many people, they will only encounter such a situation in their entire lives." One chance and one choice will determine the future fate of themselves and their family. No matter how you say it, this child has the best odds now, provided that...you have no heirs."

Cecil's probing gaze made Edward a little uncomfortable, and he turned slightly to avoid that gaze.

"Just pretend I don't have it," said the king in a low voice.

"Then you should think about the issue of future inheritance." Cecil said, without judging the king's decision, "You can make a decision in 20 years, but you should start to make corresponding decisions now." Prepare."

"It seems that you also think this child is a perfect heir." The king looked at his most important advisor.

"If you don't consider talent and just look at external factors, then yes." Cecil nodded, "He is your closest relative, if your sister is still alive, then his birth will make Princess Elizabeth very famous But now, his mother has passed away, at least in the next ten years, he will not pose a threat to you."

"A child is like a blank canvas. The final product depends on how the painter applies paint. You can educate the child, you can be his uncle, or you can be his father. You have a chance to cultivate it according to your heart. The heir you want, this is a rare opportunity." Cecil smiled wryly, "I never thought that there would be such a good opportunity."

"But what if I fail? What if the final finished painting is a mess?" Edward sighed, "Maybe his talent is blunt, maybe he is cruel by nature, maybe I'm not good enough... Anyway, if in the end I If you find him unfit to be king, what shall you do?"

"You know what to do." Cecil swallowed, "You just don't want to think about it."

The king looked at Cecil sternly, without answering his words.

"If you are unfortunate, then if we plan ahead from now on, we will have other options." Cecil touched the tip of his nose, "The two girls from the Gray family are now under the guardianship of the royal family." Now, they are all adults, it is time to find suitable spouses for them... As for the heirs of Mary Stuart and the French Crown Prince, they can be excluded, it is not the twelfth century, and the British cannot accept a The French-speaking king sits on the throne. If Prince Sebastian is unfortunate, or if he commits a blunder that cannot be undone, the Gray sisters are our only hope."

"That child is still the heir of Portugal." Edward changed the subject, "Should we still fight for his crown?"

"I'm afraid there is nothing to hope for in Portugal." Cecil said, "But the Portuguese colony, we can fight for it in his name. I would like to suggest that you make him the Prince of Brazil. Most people in that colony say Portugal If he becomes the titular master of Brazil, he will be very popular with the locals. In addition to Brazil, the remaining colonies of Portugal are also very valuable. The Cape of Good Hope also has commercial ports in India and plantations in the Spice Islands. Fight for it."

"As for Portugal, even if the Spaniards can't annex that country, the final real power will fall into the hands of the Duke of Braganza. Maybe we can reach an agreement with him and let Prince Sebastian become the name of the country. Master above, as for more we can’t do it.”

The king looked at the lake outside the window again. Visitors in various costumes dyed the ice surface into a bright watercolor painting. On the path beside the pool, the audience was enthusiastically admiring the movements of a certain skilled skater. applause.The ice surface becomes a thick mirror, reflecting the world.

"Just a kid," Edward heard himself say softly.

"If they want him to be my heir, let them think so." The king gently wiped the mist of his breath on the window with his fingertips, "he is my sister's son, Now that Elizabeth has passed away, no matter what she did, everything is history... As for Mary, it seems that she is dying, this child is my only blood relative in this world, as long as he doesn't do too much In the future, he will be my heir."

As long as he doesn't do anything too extreme, Cecil thought, it's up to His Majesty the King whether it's too much or not.He began to have some sympathy for the child. The infant Prince Sebastian still didn't know what fate would meet him in Britain.

"Too much blood has been shed for this crown, I hope it will end here." The king's tone was tinged with sadness, "It is covered with the blood of our whole family, this should be enough, right? "

"I hope so," said Cecil, though he didn't believe what he said.The brilliance of the crown depends entirely on the nourishment of blood, and the royal family is destined to use their own blood as nourishment to feed the monsters of power.

"How are you negotiating with the French ambassador? When will the French issue a pass to Lord Robert?" The king changed the subject again.

"They are already on their way from Bordeaux to Paris. As for when they will be allowed to go to Calais, the French court has not yet made a final decision." Cecil said, "The French are now in a dilemma. You don't want to offend us, and you don't want to offend the Spaniards who just signed the peace treaty."

"The king of France can't keep them in Paris." The king sounded a little displeased, "Robert is a British diplomat, Sebastian is my sister's orphan, they are victims of a shipwreck, France People have a responsibility to let them pass safely."

"Yes, this may delay for a while, but the French have no reason not to let Lord Robert and your nephew return to England. What I am worried about is the Portuguese king who is traveling with him. It is said that the Spaniards have always wanted to take him back... ...He is the cousin of King Philip and the uncle of Prince Don Carlos, you want your nephew back, and the Spaniards have reasons to want their cousin back." Cecil said worriedly.

"Maybe they want to hold this card in their hands." Edward added, "He is the king of Portugal after all. Although the French are weak now, they may not want to have a hand in this mess."

"That's exactly what we expected." Cecil squeezed out a dry smile, "The more chaos in Portugal, the better for us. Anyway, we have withdrawn from this quagmire. Now Portugal is a trouble for the Spaniards. If the French want to Add a little fire, and we'll be happy to see it happen."

The king nodded, "You should try your best to negotiate with them, let Lord Robert and Sebastian return to Britain as soon as possible, as for the Portuguese king, try to fight for it, if the French must detain him, then leave him alone." Leave it to them, I don't think they should and won't hand him over to the Spaniards easily."

"As you wish." Cecil nodded, pushed the chair back, and stood up, "Then what do you plan to do with the gift from the Mayor of London?"

"What did they send?" the king asked curiously.

"A crib made of brazilian wood, and a foal, a pony that Prince Sebastian could ride when he was about three or four years old."

"Then take it," said the king, "and do the same with the other presents, so that they won't worry."

Cecil bowed to the king and walked backwards out of the room.

The king walked around the desk and sat down in his own armchair.In the vase on the table was the white rose that was delivered from the greenhouse yesterday. The rose still exuded a strong fragrance, but the petals on the edge had turned yellow slightly.Several fallen petals lay quietly on the table top of the desk. When the king walked past the desk, they swayed slightly with the airflow brought up behind His Majesty, as if beckoning.

He leaned back on the back of the chair, closed his eyes, and stroked the smooth surface of the ruby ​​on the ring with his fingers.At this moment, he suddenly remembered that Princess Elizabeth's hair also showed such a bright red color under the sun.