How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 275: The Elector (2)

Spain suffered repeated defeats at the hands of England, which received help from Virginia, and Henry IV of France, who received financial support from Virginia, pushed out the pro-Spanish faction within France.

As Spain’s burden of war costs increased and room for maneuver narrowed, they entered into armistice negotiations with the Netherlands despite the war with England not having ended.

England and France were rising while Spain was declining compared to the original history.

In such circumstances, Friedrich, a fellow Calvinist believer, had become linked by blood to James, King of England and Scotland, and received tangible and intangible support from his father-in-law.

Henry IV of France also had established himself near Friedrich’s territory and supported him in various ways, as Friedrich had received a French education in his youth.

Mainly in the form of providing luxury goods from Virginia at low prices.

He sold these luxury goods at high prices to surrounding lords, making a profit and growing his funds.

Additionally, the wealthy Netherlands, also believing in Calvinism, sponsored him as a nearby Protestant great lord.

And with those funds, he indulged in massive luxury and further expanded his influence.

He felt nothing but confidence now.

This strange feeling that the world was moving for him.

He was intoxicated by the feeling that fate was twisting itself to help him. (And that was actually true.)

"If we ever build our power, even the Habsburgs won’t dare to ignore us!"

"Please be careful with your words..."

"Wife! What do we have to fear? Fate is helping us! Of course, I’ll be careful outside! I’m only like this at home!"

But of course that wasn’t true. The young lord, practically still a boy, couldn’t possibly contain his overflowing confidence outside.

His luxury, his showing off, his actions caught the eye of the newly enthroned Emperor Matthias, but... being initially favorable toward Protestants with Bohemian support, he left the young Elector alone.

Concerned that keeping him in check might be seen as general oppression of Protestants.

However, if another emperor ascended, the situation could change.

And Matthias was old.

His death was not far off.

Nor was the day the emperor would change.

Nor the day this time bomb would explode.

==

"In France, Henry IV seems to be holding up the recent treaty in Ireland as a kind of model case. Something like ’excellently preserving religious freedom and the peace of the kingdom...’ or so."

I nodded at Raleigh’s report. I had a general understanding of how Europe had been turned upside down.

Especially the British Isles, which were not merely turned upside down but boiling with events from all sides, though it was no longer my concern.

"Thank you, Walter. You may go back now."

"Yes. Her Majesty..."

"Probably isn’t in good condition."

That’s only natural. Even in the 21st century, an 80-year-old traveling abroad would accumulate fatigue, and in those days, overseas travel meant stuffing oneself between wooden planks for months.

There’s no way her body could be fine. But still.

"Despite just returning from travel and being exhausted, she called for me. She even said she wanted a private audience. Then I have no choice but to respect the Queen’s will."

This is Roanoke Island, the Queen’s mansion.

Needless to say, without proper infrastructure across the Atlantic, a grand palace couldn’t be built, so it was merely a rather large wooden mansion. Quite modest for a monarch to live in.

At my words, Raleigh bowed and stepped back. I knocked on the door, and a servant came out to open it and guided me inside.

After passing through a not-so-long corridor, I opened the innermost room door and entered...

"...You’ve come."

The Queen was there.

Lying in bed.

I had to maintain my composure and focus my eyes, trying not to show my surprise.

The Queen’s gaze was not that of the energetic monarch I had known.

It was listless.

An adjective that didn’t suit her, but now things were different. It seemed like she had become a different person in just a few months.

As I pulled out a chair and sat down, Margaret, who had been nursing the Queen, gave me a nod and stepped outside. As the door closed.

It was just the two of us.

"It’s been a while."

I greeted her, and she raised her upper body, putting strength into her drowsy eyes. That made her look somewhat closer to her former state.

The Queen raised her hand to point somewhere, and there was a freshly brewed cup of coffee. It was for me.

I took a sip and said to the Queen:

"Why did you do it?"

It was a sentence without a subject or object, but she seemed to understand what I meant to say.

Now it was time to hear her answer.

"...I already told you. I did it because I was bored."

She moved her dry lips as if a fish were gaping.

As I opened my mouth to ask if that wasn’t all, her words quickly continued.

"Being bored means having nothing to do. With this old body, I can no longer play bowls, and I thought hunting or fishing would be too difficult. So I did it."

"..."

Ah.

I see. I understand roughly.

I’m starting to understand why the Queen did what she did. I’m getting the sense of it.

Still, I wanted to hear the answer directly from her lips.

So I asked.

"What exactly was that promise?"

As Raleigh had said. Before the Queen departed, she had said something like, ’I must go to keep my promise with the angel.’

Upon hearing this, a spark flashed momentarily in the Queen’s eyes. As if strength had returned to her body, she straightened up from leaning against the headboard and said:

"Ah, finally that question comes."

The Queen smiled and stared directly at me.

I met the spark that had risen in her eyes. She had always moved full of will and desire for life, and it was like a flame.

And that flame was gradually...

"It’s very enjoyable. Conversing with you is always enjoyable."

...dying out.

It was the natural fate for an 80-year-old.

Elizabeth’s fate was approaching her.

Most naturally.

She was dying.

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