1601 Winter(January-February)

After the first manufacturing complex built in Portsmouth in 1598, 2 others were made in Manchester and Birmingham. If the first one was made for providing military supplies, these two were prepared to meet the demands of the private sectors. Also, unlike Portsmouth, which the auctioneers were only limited to guilds, these were purely free-auction. So, other kinds of auctioneers besides guilds, like bankers and the nobles were present. But, who cares?

‘How should I do my revenge? With bombs? Or hire assassins and disguise them as robbers? No, maybe pushing from the top of the handrail and faking it as an accident is also a good choice. Or maybe a car...I mean wagon accident, a wagon falling from the cliff. Of course, poisoning is always simple. I think I’ll use plutonium...no, I’m not Putin and it’s not 21C, so I'll just have to do with arsenic.‘

‘How should I kill? Who should I kill first? Is it better for the others to know that I’m behind this or not?‘

These ideas kept flowing in my mind. Mercy? There’s no mercy. I’m not Jesus Christ. An eye for an eye.

This is the Medival age, man! If you’re a noble in this era and you can’t do revenge, you should leave the transient world. Either go to the cemetery as dead or go to the monastery as alive.

“...So, what do you want, Richard?”

And that’s why I asked my eldest son - Prince of Wales - Richard. I omitted who or how. Isn’t it obvious? He was shot by an arrow during the hunt and his son – my grandson and Duke of Cambridge – Henry was almost suffocated to death. And all circumstantial evidence leads to his older half-sister and my eldest daughter – the Queen o France and wife of Henry IV, Elizabeth(*Not Elizabeth I in original history. But a girl born between me and my late wife Maria – the Princess of Austria. She’s currently the Queen of France and the wife of Henry IV.)

If he doesn’t understand this, he doesn’t deserve to be the Prince of Wales.

“...There should be a fair trial by the law, your majesty.”

Richard answered with a trembling voice. In other words, ‘Father, count me out of vendetta.’

“You call yourself a noble, without doing any dirty work?”

“What’s so special about being a noble? Is being a noble is more sacred than the testaments made by the Holy Father in heaven?”

“Nope, it’s not sacred. On the contrary, it’s disgusting. So, we aristocrats rule the land on behalf of the Holy Father in heaven.”

Father – me, Edward VII, son of Felipe II and Mary I, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands – and son – Richard, my son and the Prince of Wales – didn’t have a good command of each other.

I, on one hand, have always been afraid of being assassinated or executed by my aunt Elizabeth(*Elizabeth I in the original history.) and her followers during my youth. I only escaped from that fear after I’ve defeated her army at the battle of Cornwall and burned her to death in 1564. Also, I’ve conquered Scotland by assassinating my other aunt, Mary Stuart, and her husband Count Boswell and their baby boy – would-have-been-James I in original history – during my honeymoon period with the late Maria.

Richard, on the other hand, has only been bullied by his half-sister Elizabeth, deserted from his mother Anna, who had been scolded by his tutors during his studies.

In short, Richard learned politics with books such as works of Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, and biography of Caesar-like Commentarii de Bello Gallico, while I mastered it by killing my rivals who threatened my throne. So, I didn’t expect he would understand me and he sure was.

“F...I mean, your majesty. You rule this kingdom on behalf of God, and you call yourself disgusting?”

Richard asked me with his trembling voice and eyes wide open.

“Ruling the country on behalf of God! Ha! You’re married and have a son, and you’re still thinking that Santa Claus delivers a gift every Christmas?”

I just sneered at him and told him to get out of my room.

Next month, Charlotte of Glasgow(*A closest maiden of my daughter Elizabeth, who was a daughter of her nanny.)’s carriage fell off from a cliff due to coachman’s violent driving. The investigator reported that she was thought to be alive even after the carriage fell from the cliff. But, there were scars on her neck which seem like biting signs of stray dogs and there were signs of her resistance according to his report.

At her funeral mass which was held at St. Mungo’s Church in Glasgow, Elizabeth – the Queen of France and wife of Henry IV – was also present. Her eyes were swollen with tears. Of course, with her mother died when she was 2(*She was born in 1574 and her mother, Maria was dead in 1576), her closest friend and family was her nanny and her daughter, Charlotte of Glasgow.

Although I was close with both my late mother(Mary I) and my late nanny, Elizabeth didn't have time to have bonds with her mother and her true family was her nanny and her daughter - Charlotte of Glasgow, since I - who was her father - was too busy in securing my throne and my kingdom and didn't have time to play with her or Richard.

“Are you satisfied with killing Charlotte, my father?”

After the mass, she asked me fiercely.

And I simply replied, smiling,

“You foolish girl. My late aunt, who had the same name as you, would have never come near me before she had successfully put her dagger at my heart.”

‘kick’

‘clash’

‘thud’

and I kicked the rear wheel of her carriage. The wheel was thrown out by my single kick, and it whirled like peg-top before it landed in front of her feet.

As her face paled, I put my hand on her shoulder and whispered to her ears.

“Thank your late mother, Maria, the princess of Austria. If you didn’t have her looks, you would have never returned to France alive.”

‘shove’

She roughly shoved my hand and stared at me with disgusting looks. She must have thought I would not try to kill at least her, which was my daughter, with his own hands.

After staring at me for a while, her eyes got wide, as if she realized something. And she bent her head, giggling

“...Thank you for your hospitality, your majesty.”

And she left for Paris, after kissing at the back of my hand.

1601 Spring

Duchess of Cornwall, Emilia – my daughter-in-law and younger sister of Maurice the Prince of Orange – was again pregnant. And so, I again moved the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the safehouse and doubled the number of guards for safety. Also, I put a more trustworthy nanny to the Duke of Cambridge – eldest son of Prince of Wales and my grandson – and made her be with him at all times.

Meanwhile, according to the report from the East India Company, there was a rebellion in Joseon(*Korean Dynasty at that time.) When the famous admiral Yi Sun-sin, who attributed most to the victory, was charged with plotting the coup, his troops went bananas and rose up and proclaimed him as king.

Unfortunately, it failed. Why? Although the Head of the Joseon Branch of the East India Company first wanted to support the rebels, they were reluctant to get the foreigner’s help. On the contrary, the Joseon government was more eager and that’s why the company supported the Joseon government, which led to the rebel’s failure.

‘Whoa, Yi Sun-sin...? He’s just like Vespasianus, who got his troops’ support and became the Roman emperor. I wonder whether he’ll succeed or not. I’ve heard and learned from my past life that his feat during the Imjin War is comparable with that of Nelson during the Napoleon War.‘

Anyway, both the Congress and I agreed to the company’s doctrine. Why? Because it’s damn too far! And Congress knows little of the Far East and I have enough on my plates with Europe’s problem.

1601 Fall

I’ve established the Royal Society of London with Francis Bacon appointed as the first head of the society. Its' motto was ‘Suspect everything and find out yourself. (NULLIUS IN VERBA)’

Their research expenses were to be provided by the royal and if any others support their research, that amount will be deducted from the tax. Also, I stripped off the caste from the qualifications of the member, so that anyone talented can join the society. But, since there are not many people who can graduate even university at this time, in reality, you have to be at least a Yeoman to join.

Also, I’ve allowed them the Freedom of Thought. That is, even if they present a theory which is against the royal or the church, as long as they don’t violate the Criminal Law, I pardoned that they’re not punished.

“Yeah! Long live the King!“

“Long live the benevolent Edward VII!“

While the representatives of the House of Commons cheered at my decision,

“No, your majesty!”

“It’s against the Holy Father and a challenge to the church’s authority!”

the senators – mostly high-rank Catholic priests – of the House of Lords strongly opposed.

And I replied to those who oppose

“How is the effort to more fully, thoroughly, deeply understand this beautiful world that almighty God made, can be a challenge to the church? Then, are you saying Thomas Aquinas, who was not only a priest but also a philosopher is a heresy?”

and I forced my original idea.

At the same time, in the Far East – Joseon, to be more exact – the rebels were crushed by the Joseon government. Since the rebels were mostly former Joseon navy who fought most during the Imjin War, the East India Company tried to take them as a refugee to Tsushima Island, which is currently the Company’s colony. Some accepted its’ offers and others didn’t.

In the end, those who refused the offer of the company were beheaded and those who accepted became their naval strategy advisor in the Far East and settled at Tsushima.

But the would-have-been-Vespasianus-former-navy-admiral and the head of the rebel, Yi Sun-sin was nowhere to be found. He was neither beheaded nor fled to Tsushima. The head of the Joseon Branch of East India Company suggested that he has either killed himself by throwing himself on the ocean during the battle or fled to Ming. (*Chinese Dynasty at that time.)

‘Well...It so sorry that I couldn’t make him as my man...but it’s too far...‘

Anyway, thanks to this rebellion, Joseon’s former king had to take responsibility and he stepped down, with his second son – his first son was a lunatic, so his 2nd son was a crown prince – becoming a new king. And the former king was locked up in a temple, with only meals provided.

The new king was favorable to the East India Company who took their sides and fought against the rebels. And he suggested to the company that he wants to buy our weapons and battleships.

‘So...I humbly ask the Royal and the Parliament's opinion, your majesty.‘

And that was the end of the report from the Far East.

“Your majesty. Selling just simple weapons is not a big matter. But battleships? That’s too much!”

“Yes, I agree with that opinion. They might attack our Far East ports and colonies like Macau, Malacca, Cylon, Goa, Taiwan or Tsushima with those ships, your majesty!”

And the Congress expressed worries of selling battleships to the heretics.

“Okay, if you say so.”

And I agreed to their opinion and sent gave them a decree

‘...I, King Edward VII, king of United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands(*The United Kingdom for short from now. I’ve inherited England and Wales from my mother Mary I and received the Netherlands from my father Felipe II and conquered Ireland and Scotland. Also reclaimed Calais from Henry IV in return for supporting him during the French Civil War.), hereby allow the East India Company to sell weapons to the Far East heretics, but forbids selling battleships and merchant ships to them.’

And the East India Company followed suit.

1601 Winter(December)

Duchess of Cornwall, Emilia – my daughter-in-law – gave birth to a girl. I gave the Princess of York – my granddaughter – the name Catherine. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was fond of her and nicknamed the Princess Catherine of York as ‘Cassy’

‘Oh...it’s like a cat. But who cares? She’s their daughter, not mine.‘

And luckily, there were no assassination attempts at this time.

1602 Spring

Richard – my son and the Prince of Wales – joined the Royal Society of London as a member of Jurisprudence, Latins, Ancient History. Being a crown prince was one thing, but being accepted as a member after being admitted from those stubborn scholars? That was his talent!

That’s why I lamented.

‘He would have lived a much happier life if he was born as a 2nd son...’

So, instead of praising him, I scolded him

“You wish to rule this country with law and you distance yourself away from the basket of deplorables who call themselves members of the legislature?”

That is, a criticism that as a would-be-king, he has to focus in reality – of how the Parliament works and how they’re threatening their king every day to bring home more bacon – now, not pacing his studies.

“...I won’t rule as a law, but a law will rule the nation.”

Richard calmly reacted to my reproach. If I stopped at restricting the rights of the crown with the law by introducing the Constitution, he improved one step further.

He claims that the law will rule the country, instead of the king, which was an impressive achievement from his previous answer 1 year ago that King rules this land on behalf of Almighty God.

Yes, we both passed the Divine Rights of God and the Absolute Monarchy era.

The difference is that I’m doing log-rolling with Congress every day and Richard is still looking at the ideals all the time.

“...Even if the law rules the nation, the ones who make and execute the law is the Parliament.”

“...Understood, your majesty.”

After that day, when I was discussing with the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Congress, Richard sometimes appeared and listened to the conversations at the audience seat and left when it was over. At first, the Parliament was surprised at the appearance of the Prince of Wales. But when I didn’t even glance at him, they too, soon ignored him and didn’t care whether he comes or not after 1 month later.

Meanwhile, in France, my daughter Elizabeth, the Queen of France and the wife of Henry IV was again pregnant. I contemplated on whether I should send a messenger, congratulating her, but decided not to.

1602 Summer

In France, Henry IV was assassinated with a knife by a Catholic zealot. Henry IV had too many enemies since he was once a Protestant and gave Huguenots a Freedom of Religion with an Edict of Nantes.

In a funeral mass which was held at Notre-Dame Cathedral, I visited. With Henry IV dead, the next king will be my grandson Louis (*Would-be-Louis-XIII). So I had to remind the French nobles that I’m his grandfather.

“I’m so sorry for what happened. It must have been a hard time for you.”

At the banquet after the mass, I gave my condolence to my 28-year-old daughter (*She was born in 1574 and her birthday has passed.) Elizabeth, now the widow and the regent of France, holding a cup of wine.

At that moment

‘swipe’

Elizabeth snatched the cup from me and threw it on the floor.

‘clash’

As the cup smashed and wine spreading on the floor she said to me, smiling

“You’ve become old, father. If you were younger, you would have never come near me before you had successfully put your dagger at my heart.”

‘sizzle’

And the wine that spread on the marble flow was slowing melting the marble.

‘Oh, a payback of what I said a year ago? You too have grown up, my girl...’

I just smiled and honestly confessed

“I’m sorry for what happened to your husband.”

‘Yes, I hired that Catholic zealot who murdered your husband, and gave him a weapon.’

And Elizabeth replied

“I’m sorry for what happened to your son-in-law.”

‘Yes, I gave way for that zealot so that he can freely kill Henry IV.’

And for a while, we stared at each other’s eyes, exchanging smirks. Then, I’ve realized the fact that I haven’t noticed till now, thanks to her appearance which resembles her mother and my late wife, Maria of Austria.

‘Like father, like daughter!’

I was delighted and proud and too bad.

What a talented and good-minded noble she is! And I have to kill her just because she’s a daughter and can’t become a king! Oh God, you’re too nasty!

Before I change my mind, I said goodbye to her.

“Next time, I’ll see you at Notre-Dame again, my girl.”

‘It’ll be your funeral mass.‘

And she also replied, smiling

“Next time, I’ll see you at Westminster Cathedral, my father.”

‘No, it’ll be your funeral mass.‘

“Hahahahahaha!”

I laughed at my return ship to London.