The first task I've overtaken as a king - after the regent has retired when I've passed my adult ceremony - was out of the blue.

I, Felipe II, the King of Spain, hand over 17 Netherland provinces to Edward VII - the prince of Spain and king of England.

That was the message which the Spanish ambassador - after he got my permission to - read aloud on behalf of my father, Felipe II. Okay, let me get this straight. This is not a common situation. Felipe II is neither seriously ill nor in an urgent situation. On the contrary, he won the Battle of Lepanto a year ago(1571) and Spain was at the height of its power.

Also, even though I'm his son, I was also the king of England. This rudeness only means one thing. He doesn't want any rival to compete with his successor - a son who was born from him and his 4th wife Anna, the princess of Austria. That's why he killed my half brother, Don Carlos, by locking him up in a tower, isn't it?

And that's why he gave me what he promised with my mother - Queen Mary - in such a hurry, to silence my claim of the throne to the King of Spain after his death.

I had no intention to hide my feelings. So I sneered at the Spanish ambassador, saying

"Well, I guess my father is very busy, fighting with Muslim pirates, isn't he?"

even though I knew he wasn't.

"Y...Yes...His Majesty said he was so sorry that he couldn't make it to your adult ceremony and coronation, your majesty."

After hearing my words, the Spanish ambassador's face became red, but he quickly changed his expression and bowed his head before me. It's the Middle Ages, man! Although I'm very young and my kingdom England is very weak compared with Spain, I'm still King of England and Prince of Spain and will be the King of the Netherlands. So no Spanish noble will dare to challenge me.

Seeing his expression, I felt better, so I told him.

"Please tell my father, that I'll be waiting for his victory."

With these words and a luxurious banquet, the Spanish ambassador returned happily. My coronation as a King of the Netherlands was held at Brussels in the year(1572) during autumn. Dutch's public opinion at that time was far from good.

Felipe II's cruel rule which occurred due to his craving of centralization caused Iconoclasm which occurred 6 years ago and it led to the establishment of Inquisition and the massacre of 8,000 Calvinists. The Dutch craved independence. England, which was their trade counterpart and their neighboring country, was the last resort.

So that's why the Dutch looked at me with suspicion at the coronation ceremony.

They didn't have the faintest clue what kind of policy the young Tudor King & Habsburg Prince will enact.

My answer to their question, in their minds, was this.

I hereby accept the petition of 1566, and will establish the self-governing parliament of the United Netherlands in Amsterdam!

Also, from next year(1573), all Protestants who pay religious tax shall not be punished as heresy!

"Long live the King!" , "Long live King Edward VII!" , "Yippee! Yippee! Hurray!"

It was possible since the English were not that die-hard at Catholicism like Spain.

Also, myself was not that eager at Catholic faith deep inside my heart like either of my parents - Felipe II, Queen Mary - although I had no intention of abandoning that faith myself. I just didn't want to lose my new dominion for that kind of thing.

So that's why I also applied the latter - the collection of religious tax in exchange of religious freedom for the Protestants - to England as well.

"Your majesty! You mustn't!" "Do you really want to commit the sin of apostasy, my lord?"

Silence! I've already made up my mind! Don't discuss this matter or I'll not tolerate your rudeness!

Why am I doing this? You fools! I just pretended to be a loyal Catholic, in order to survive and claim my rightful throne to the King of England! I was a just a normal 21C British, who graduated from Oxford, major in economy and history but was jobless. I died in a car accident, but I was reborn as a person who never existed in real history, a son of Blood Mary and Felipe II!

How could I miss this perfect opportunity! Of course, I've never told anyone about it.

I am the Tudor king now. No one in England can challenge me since both my mother - Queen Mary - and my aunt - Queen Elizabeth - are both dead, no other Tudor who has the right and claim to challenge my rule exists. Also, since this decree was just following precedents of some moderate lords in Holy Roman Empire(Germany) at that time, all that Felipe II could do - after hearing this news - was this.

"That bastard! He's insulting the Virgin Mary!"

No attack from Spain occurred. Also, after I had used the collected religious tax money to repair the old and outworn cathedrals, even the Catholic priests and fervent Catholic believers in England Parliament who opposed my idea found themselves dumb.

* The current domain of Edward VII - England and the Netherlands (Nowadays the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg)