1605 Summer(June – August)

In June, when my 2nd daughter Jane reached the age of 11, someone that I’ve almost forgot visited me. It was my wife Anna - Queen of the United Kingdom and the 2nd daughter of the Earl of Ulster, mother of my eldest son Richard and 2nd daughter Jane - but whom I’ve never seen, let alone exchanging words. When I barely asked ‘Why on earth have you visited me almost after 10 years?’, she hit the bull’s eye.

“Stop this war, your majesty.”

“What are you talking about? Are you worried about me or this country? I’m delighted that you’re now trying to act like a queen of this country and my wife, but no thanks. This war is in the bag. No sympathy.”

‘Get lost, you hag. It’s at least 10 years late.’

However, she replied

“Sorry to disappoint you, your majesty, but I’m not worried that you’ll lose this war.”

as she shook her head, strongly denying my words, with the same looks on her face just like 13 years ago when she cursed me and scratched my right cheek.

“...Are you trying to stop me because you’re afraid of my victory, not my defeat?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

‘What the hell!?’

“...Why is that?”

I asked her back. I was so stunned at her words so I wanted to hear her reason before I say no.

“...”

“...”

After a short silence, she replied.

“...Because, at this rate, if ‘your’ kingdom – England – wins this war, my home country – Ireland – will disappear forever.”

“Oh...”

I gulped my breath at her words. I’ve had a hunch so far, but I didn’t know that she would express her feelings straight out.

“For your information, my dear, this kingdom is not just England, but the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands.”

“Not only Ireland, but England will disappear. And so will Scotland, Wales, and the Netherlands. In the end, they will be consolidated under the name of the United Kingdom!”

“Ireland is not a part of the British Isles! It’s a separate island!”

“So does the Netherlands. It’s a part of the European continent but England isn’t. However, right now, Dutch are more than satisfied with my rule. And someday, so will Irish, Scottish, and Welsh.”

“And one day, entire Europe will look upon me as the all pagans bowed before King Solomon during the age of the Old Testament!”

“...Do you wish to be a Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, no, unite Europe again and revive the Roman Empire, your majesty?”

Anna asked me, grinding her teeth. Maybe it’s her last question, implying

‘Do you want the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and try to revive the Roman Empire that has perished a long time ago, just like most Kaisers of the Holy Roman Empire did?’

Rome. Rome. The Imperator-Basileus of the Roman Empire!

What an intriguing suggestion. But my answer was

“Kaiser? Huh! Do you think I wish to take that heavy burden?”

I replied with a snort.

Emperor. Just what’s an emperor of the Roman Empire? He’s the protector of the Western Christianity civilization and the ruler of the European secular World, a supporter of all scholars and artists of entire Europe and rightful owner of the Mediterranean Sea!

That would be a huge honor. Too big honor and glory to be given to just a person and also a tiresome responsibility and burden at the same time.

If I somehow become the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire, let alone revive the Roman Empire again and become the 1st emperor of the New Roman Empire, I have to protect this continent from Barbarians. I can no longer make another country to do proxy war for me against the Ottomans. I have only my wits and Empire’s strength to fight against the Ottomans, just like the Roman Empire fought with Persia and Byzantine fought with several Muslim nations – including the Ottomans.

It will be a troublesome matter. If I continue to fight with the Ottomans, my Empire will soon perish. I may have the wit to make a kingdom that will last for centuries, but I’m not cut out for building an empire that will last for centuries. Even Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire lasted for only 1.5 century, you know.

Neither the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire nor the Emperor of the New Roman Empire is not my cup of tea. I still remember seeing a picture of Obama’s hairs gone white after he has finished his 2 terms of office –8 years in the White House – on SNS in my 1st life. At least he wasn’t on the wheels of the hegemony’s most top rank for life, but I have to when I succeed and I don’t want my hair go white or get bald or...whatever.

“And that why I hate you English, Edward.”

Anna angrily replied, with her face frowning.

“I know, I know, Anna.”

I casually replied at her words.

‘So, you’re now calling me just by my name, and not addressing me properly. And for all this time, you’ve just hated me because I was English? No wonder.’

“If I’m not mistaken, you do not wish to stop the war, right?”

Anna coldly repeated. She seemed to be determined to do something.

‘Tap’

‘Tap’

‘Tap’

as I tapped the golden candleholder three times, signaling the guard waiting outside my bed, I replied.

“Right. Why should I stop this war, which is on the bag now?”

“Well then, fine...iyaaah!”

As she threw off her hood, she ran right into me. At the same time, the guard who was waiting for my call outside my bed swept in. At the same time, I also drew up a dagger which I always hid under my pillow.

And just as I expected, Anna was holding a dagger in her hands. The guard instantly confiscated her knife and tied her both arms from behind.

‘Poof!’

‘Ting’

But, she didn’t give up and threw a needle from her lips, but I tossed it with my dagger.

Then she bent her head and gave up, and I told the guard to lock her up inside the prison tower.

“What, what do you wish to be, your majesty?”

She asked me, as she was pulled out of my room.

‘Okay, since I was your husband anyway, I can answer your last question as mercy.’

I replied.

“I wish to be a king. A king of 6 realms. A king of Great Britain, king of the Netherlands, king of France, king of Spain, king of Portugal and king of Naples. And make whole Europe cheer Edward/Eduardo the Rich King's rule!”

At my words, Anna stared at me with disgusting looks. I shoved my hands, signaling the guard to throw her to prison tower and guard bowed his head and followed suit.

The next day, Anna was officially locked up in a prison tower.

2 weeks later, she was found dead, fallen from a tower, trying to escape.

And I’ve ordered to bury her dead body in Westminster Church as my 2nd wife and former queen of the United Kingdom.

‘Ding dong, the witch is dead. Of course, it was I who killed her. I’ve secretly ordered the assassin to kill her, disguising as an accident. I’m free at last!’