Chapter 4

4_ I am the Queen of □□ (3)

In the old days, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty sent a painting of peonies as a gift to Queen Seondeok.

When all the ministers marveled at the gift, Queen Seondeok remarked that the flowers in the painting had neither bees nor butterflies, and thus must be flowers without fragrance.

She interpreted it as a gift sent to mock her, a woman without a husband.

However, that was not the case.

In fact, traditionally in China, peonies are painted that way.

The gift was a simple, innocent painting without any intention to insult.

If so, why did Queen Seondeok react that way?

Was it simply because she was unaware of Chinese customs and had an absurd hysterical outburst?

Or perhaps, was it to correct the ministers who, charmed by the gift, were sending unwarranted favors to the threatening superpower?

She equated the kindness shown to the Tang Dynasty with an insult to herself.

I don't know the truth, but from today, I will push this theory with all my might.

###

"Flowers without fragrance! The flowers are blooming, yet neither bees nor butterflies are attracted? Isn't this mocking me, a woman without a husband to marry!"

"Your Majesty, it's a misunderstanding. A gem is just a gem; it couldn't possibly carry such a meaning!"

"But didn't you say you prepared lilies, the symbol of Mary, based on my name? Isn't that equating me with these fragrance-less flowers?"

"That is just..."

Felipe struggled to come up with an excuse on the spot, but it didn't seem easy.

I, on the other hand, had been preparing for this situation since I obtained the list of gifts sent by Spain a few days ago, but for him, it was a sudden event.

"No, wait. The Virgin Mary is also symbolized by roses. Since the Tudor family's emblem is a rose, wouldn't a rose have been more appropriate for a gift? Why specifically lilies? Lilies, which symbolize purity? There's no doubt about it. You were mocking me!"

I acted as if I was deeply insulted and couldn't control my anger.

Everyone around me was so shocked that their jaws dropped to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please stop. This gift has no such meaning."

Prince Felipe, his face turning red, tried to stop me.

"Is that so? Then tell me, what meaning did your brother Charles intend to convey with this gift?"

"I simply didn't think of roses. Lilies are also a flower that suits Your Majesty's name. Making this flower into an eternal gemstone means that Your Majesty's reign will also be eternal—"

"Aha, so it's an eternal gemstone made from lilies?"

I interrupted Felipe's words.

"So, this is a mockery of my eternal purity! Telling me, a queen who must continue the royal line, to die a virgin. This is a far more terrible insult than I expected!"

I deliberately shuddered.

Felipe, now speechless, seemed at a loss for words.

In fact, this necklace is not really based on lilies.

Would a lily have a red carbuncle in the center?

Just like changing the name of a perfectly good ship to the Mary Rose to win my favor, I fabricated the story that the necklace was shaped like a lily.

In other words, there could be no other excuse for the gift.

Good. Let's deliver the final blow here.

"Under different circumstances, I might have laughed off your rudeness for the sake of the country. But now, there is no one in England who can rightfully inherit the throne. If I die, the country might once again face a terrible civil war! To wish that my heir does not continue is to wish for the destruction of this country, England!"

Small gasps were heard from all around.

Mocking the queen was one thing, but wishing for the country's destruction?

Felipe, seeing the situation escalate, seemed more flustered than angry.

"···I seem to have made a mistake. I will take the gift back and send a more appropriate one."

I said to Felipe, who was trying to defuse the situation and leave.

"Tell my brother Charles that I received the message but could not accept the necklace."

Are you not thinking of taking the ship as well?

The necklace is fine, but the ship, once given, is mine.

"···I understand."

Felipe answered, biting his lip.

I could almost see blood between his lips, but was it just an illusion?

That's how my chaotic coronation ceremony came to an end.

Or, for those who were seething with anger at the sight of my coronation, was this just the beginning?

##

Three days after the queen's coronation.

Some foreign envoys were still enjoying the banquet.

However, the Spanish envoys, led by Prince Felipe, were all hastily returning to their country.

The expected alliance proposal was never even mentioned.

A truly unprecedented situation.

To discuss this matter, a secret meeting was held in a London mansion.

"What do you think of the new queen?"

The question hung in the air, and the room fell silent for a moment.

"···A deeply patriotic person, wouldn't you say?"

A young nobleman with blond hair, Edward Courtenay, shrugged and answered.

The first to speak, Sir William, laughed and said,

"Come now. Is there any reason for us to be so dishonest with each other?"

He looked around the room, expecting a response, but no one spoke up.

There was no choice. He had to take the lead.

"The queen humiliated the Spanish prince with her absurd talk about flowers, which was meant to show kindness. And that ridiculous oath! Should we just stand by and do nothing?"

But the atmosphere in the room remained unchanged, not as he had hoped.

"What can we do if we don't stand by?"

Edward Courtenay frowned and said,

"Admittedly, the coronation was a series of unexpected events. We need to keep a close eye on the situation. But are you suggesting we overthrow the queen?"

The conversation had turned into a debate between Edward Courtenay and Sir William.

"Keep a close eye on the situation?"

Sir William said, sounding exasperated.

"Will the Spanish prince do the same?"

"Spain cannot move."

Courtenay stated firmly.

"Will they start a war? Ha, I doubt it. What could Spain gain from a war with us? The prince will only be humiliated, win or lose. To protect his honor, he will bury this incident."

"Hmm, even so... the queen did act too emotionally. Can we really entrust the country to such a queen?"

As the baron spoke, Edward Courtenay hesitated, and a deep voice interjected.

"Baron, are you still so slow? Can't you understand what Sir Courtenay is trying to say?"

It was the Duke of Norfolk.

He looked unusually displeased.

The room's attention turned to the Duke of Norfolk.

"What do you mean?"

The baron asked, but the Duke of Norfolk did not answer. Instead, he walked to the window and pulled back the curtains, letting light flood in.

"Open your eyes and look at them. Listen to what they are saying!"

Outside the window, London was in the midst of a festival celebrating the coronation.

"Long live the Queen!"

"Did you hear? The queen gave the Spanish prince a taste of his own medicine!"

"Who hasn't heard? Ha, what a sight."

"The queen seems very intelligent. I wouldn't have thought of such a plot."

"But won't this lead to war? What if Spain invades?"

"Pfft, why would they come to this island for food? On the contrary, the queen prevented a war!"

"What do you mean, prevented a war?"

"Well, they say the gem was cursed. Wearing that necklace would result in dying without an heir. When Queen Mary passed away, who else would become king? The evil Spanish prince was after that! He wanted to start another terrible war on this land!"

The people listening shuddered.

A civil war that lasted 30 years, sparked by unclear succession, had left countless dead, and its scars had yet to heal.

"Our grandfather still can't sleep because of those memories! And the queen received such a necklace? It's the same as wishing for the country's destruction. The queen had every right to be angry."

"Right. Right. The wise queen handled it well!"

"Long live the Queen!"

Praises for the queen echoed through the streets.

"Tsk!"

The duke, after a moment, closed the curtains again.

"Did you see? These ignorant people still believe in witches, magicians, and curses. They don't know how terrifying Spain is. They just cheer for a dramatic queen story, like something from a cheap play. As a result, the queen's popularity, already high, is soaring even higher."

"No, it's more than that. The queen has become a unique figure."

Edward Courtenay added.

"The moment the queen dies, the country will fall. The queen has imprinted this idea on the citizens of London. Even if Elizabeth, the daughter of the six-fingered witch Anne Boleyn, or Jane Grey, who rebelled from the Tower of London, tried to rise up, no one would support them."

Sir William asked slyly,

"Why are you leaving yourself out? Aren't you a descendant of the York family? You have more potential than those two women."

Edward, a descendant of the fallen royal family, smiled and ran his hand through his hair.

"I can't do it now."

Now, he said.

The baron finally understood the significance of Courtenay's words.

He will keep a close eye on the situation. At least for now, he won't move.

But if the queen makes even a small mistake...

"···I understand. We must wait for now."

Sir William nodded.

The Duke of Norfolk surveyed the room and summarized the situation.

"It seems everyone understands. Let's end the meeting here. Until the next gathering, I hope you all take care of yourselves."

The meeting concluded.

The nobles bowed and left the room one by one.

Soon, the Duke of Norfolk was alone in the dark room.

'This is getting troublesome.'

The duke rubbed his face in frustration.

He maintained his composure in front of the other nobles, but he was not at ease.

One of his long-held wishes was for Queen Mary to ascend the throne.

A devout Catholic queen. Moreover, she had no other support base.

He believed she would undoubtedly rely on him, a fellow Catholic with seasoned political skills.

'That's how it should have been, but things are going strangely.'

What did those significant words at the coronation mean?

What about the sudden actions against the Spanish prince?

Moreover, there was a more critical issue.

'Who spread those rumors for the queen?'

The rumors are spreading at an alarming rate.

Moreover, the content is excessively favorable to the queen.

There is definitely someone behind it.

That someone is undoubtedly a trusted confidant of the queen.

If he can't find this person, his own power base will be unstable.

In fact, this meeting was held to find the mysterious confidant.

But even by openly discussing the rumors, he couldn't identify any suspicious individuals.

'Damn, this is giving me a headache. Where is Wyatt at this crucial time?'

Thomas Wyatt.

Thinking of that stubborn fool made the duke's head throb even more.

He's not much help anyway.

But not seeing him, who causes trouble at every opportunity, made him even more uneasy.

'Is he causing some bizarre trouble somewhere?'

###

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Wyatt was meeting someone at a monastery on the outskirts of London.

"The rumors have firmly taken root in London. It will be extremely difficult to oppose the queen in this situation."

The queen, hidden behind a nun's veil, smiled and replied,

"Well done, Wyatt. Not only did you obtain the list of gifts from Spain in advance, but you also secured the hearts of the people in London. Your contribution is immense."

It was news that would make the Duke of Norfolk clutch his throat.