Chapter 48

A long silence followed.

Albert waited anxiously for the Queen of Scots' response, his heart pounding as he desperately tried to guess whether she would be surprised or taken aback, or whether she had already sensed it, or whether it would be a subtle and tactful rejection.

In the end, he was met with a cold laugh from the Queen of Scots, full of disgust.

“Ha, I thought I’d have some peace and quiet after those three suitors left, but I didn’t expect a fourth suitor to be waiting for me here. But I’m curious, you said you’ve fallen in love with me, but do you love me, or do you love the crown on my head?” Mary said.

“Wait, what…” Albert said.

“Why bother hiding it?…” Mary’s tone was laced with contempt. “…You are not the first, nor the last, man to want the Kingdom of Scotland by allowing me to do so. From Edward VI to the King of France, to the Crown Prince of Spain and that string of nobles, I have been accustomed to being surrounded by suitors since I was born, and I see right through your little schemes.”

"Marrying a woman grants you access to all her wealth, while marrying a queen like me allows you to gain regency rights through the title of king. This world is so unfair, and it has given you a shortcut to riches and glory."

“Oh, Albert, I never expected you to have such ideas too. What a surprise! Compared to those nobles, your conditions are truly insignificant. What gives you the courage to say such things to me? Is it this handsome face?”

The Queen of Scots' voice was icy and piercing, filled with undisguised sarcasm, which made Albert's breathing become increasingly rapid.

He was initially surprised and saddened, then his face showed understanding and an eagerness to explain, and finally he began to suppress his anger.

"Do you really think I am that kind of person?! A man who seduces women with sweet words and then secretly plots to seize his wife's property!" Albert couldn't help but question.

“Isn’t that right?” Mary sneered.

Tonight, the bright moonlight, like flowing water, poured down on the green grass and rocks, as if covered with a layer of white frost. On the moat outside Blarney Castle, a few green water plants poked out white buds, making everything look like a scene from a fairy tale.

Surrounded by such beautiful scenery, Mary no longer felt the ease and joy she had when she first came out for a walk. Frustration and anger overwhelmed her reason like a raging fire, making it impossible for her to remain calm as usual.

Mary didn't want to hear anything more from Albert, so she turned and walked towards the castle, but her wrist was grabbed tightly by the blond youth behind her, preventing her from leaving.

“Please… let me explain!” Albert said, each word sounding as if he were gritting his teeth.

Mary tried to shake him off, but found she couldn't shake off the blond youth's strength, so she had to stop.

"Your Majesty, I fell in love with you from the very first time we met."

"Back then, because of my stupidity and recklessness, I put myself in a desperate situation. I was so poor that I didn't have a single gold coin in my pocket, and I didn't have anyone to turn to or rely on. Not only did I have to hide my identity, but I also had to deal with the pursuers who came from Italy. I was as miserable as a stray dog ​​on the street, and I could die at any moment."

“On that ship, now wrecked and burning, I was truly on the verge of death…” Albert paused, a hint of disorientation in his eyes. “…Your Majesty, do you know what it feels like to be in a desperate situation, to be left with only death? It’s as if the whole world has abandoned you, forgotten you. When you open your eyes, all you see are corpses and flames. When you close your eyes, you are plunged into darkness. Hell seems to have opened its jaws wide, and demons are brandishing their pitchforks, grinning maliciously, just waiting for you to fall into their prison. One after another, the pained faces of humans surround those demons, wailing endlessly… It was so hopeless.”

"Thanks to God's grace, the Lord did not abandon me in the end, He sent down a miracle - that was Your Majesty. I opened my eyes and saw you appear before me in the haze, like an angel descending with light. At that moment, I even thought I had arrived in heaven."

“You can’t imagine the significance of your presence in my life… After settling in Scotland, I quickly realized that you were no ordinary woman and could not be won over by passionate pursuit. You are a king who only sees ministers who are useful to him, just like Chartrear. No matter how much love an insignificant person pours out to you, you will not take it to heart. So every day for the past few years, I have been trying my best to become more useful so that I can start to have a place in your heart.”

"You can reject my confession and proposal, but at least don't doubt my sincerity," Albert concluded.

Quiet.

silence.

After a moment, Mary said casually, "Sweet talk is good. If one day you no longer serve in the Scottish court, you can go to the London theater to write lines for love plays. You have a great talent for this. Given time, you will definitely become a great writer like Shakespeare."

Albert's face paled, and he said, "You still don't believe in my sincerity?"

“No…” Just as Albert’s hope began to rise, Mary continued coldly, “…Whether you are sincere or not is of no importance to me. Rather than wasting my time on these trivial matters, I would rather think about the affairs of Scotland. To tell you the truth, I will never, ever marry or have a husband.”

In the darkness of the night, Albert's body was as stiff as a sculpture. He stood in the shadow of a clump of trees, his exposed half-face as pale as the moonlight, devoid of the last trace of color.

This seemed like a huge blow to him, Mary thought uncertainly.

In all the years she'd known him, this was the first time she'd seen such a dejected expression on this Italian man.

But that doesn't matter. She's been out long enough and should go back to the castle to rest. She also warned Seton not to get involved in her private affairs. This is the first and last time, or she will punish Seton severely.

Mary thought to herself, tidied her long black hair, tucked a few stray strands behind her ear, and without looking at Albert again, turned and walked across the suspension bridge, leaving him far behind.

Halfway there, Albert's frustrated voice drifted on the night breeze.

"Haven't you ever fallen in love with anyone? Are you incapable of loving anyone?" Albert asked.

like?

Mary paused for a moment, several faces flashing through her mind.

That was Francis II's pale, swollen, sickly face; Lord Darnley's smug expression; and Boswell's confident, arrogant laughter.

They appeared in the darkness, then vanished in a flash, disappearing into the void.

Mary continued walking forward and said calmly, "I love Scotland, I love all the subjects who live on the land of Scotland, and there may be many more subjects who deserve my love in the future... They have given me loyalty and respect, and I will repay them with all the love I have in my life."