Chapter 41
When Mary confronted Lord Darnley and brought up the annulment of their engagement, the young man's sudden outburst of anger and sorrow nearly alarmed the entire court.
He shouted angrily, accusing the Queen of Scots of treachery, toying with his feelings, and humiliating his dignity.
The Queen of Scots rubbed her temples, looking troubled, and told her maid to close the door to prevent the noise from getting out. Then she calmly asked, "Lord, aren't you worried about your parents?"
Lord Darnley's angry expression froze.
"Are you so eager to wear the crown of the King of Scotland that you don't care at all about your parents who are suffering in the Tower of London?"
“Count and Countess Lennox love you dearly and have poured all their love and care into you. Even if you cannot repay your parents with the same love, you should at least not be an ungrateful person,” Mary said.
"...You know?" Lord Darnley asked hesitantly.
“This is Scotland, and no one has better eyes and ears than I, the Queen. I probably knew about the Earl and Duchess Lennox being imprisoned in the Tower of London even before you did,” Mary said casually.
Lord Darnley's cheeks began to flush, as if from anger and resentment, but more so from shame; it seemed he knew he shouldn't have abandoned his parents.
Mary stared at the handsome face of the young man opposite her for a moment before looking away.
“Listen, Henry, I’ll only say this to you once.”
"What truly made me stop liking you wasn't your frivolity, alcoholism, or arrogance, but your lack of responsibility. You couldn't shoulder the trust others placed in you, nor could you bear the responsibilities others entrusted to you."
"You always let others down, whether it's parents to their children or wives to their husbands. They give you trust and love, but you only know how to squander it without giving back. You will choose to betray those who trust you because of a few words from others, and then regret it and shirk responsibility afterward, cowardly saying that you are innocent. All of this makes me very... tired."
But I'm sorry to you too, Mary thought to herself.
For the sake of so-called love, freedom, and a brand new future, she conspired with Boswell to kill Lord Darnley, a sin that even God would not forgive.
"...I don't know how the Countess Lennox taught you, but the throne of Scotland isn't as good as you imagine, and I'm not a good wife either. You might lose your life after you get what you want. Henry, go back to England. Being a wealthy and leisurely nobleman is much more comfortable than being king. You're young, and you can travel around England and even Europe, see more things, and maybe you'll rediscover the virtues that a human being should have."
After saying this, regardless of whether Lord Darnley would listen or not, Mary turned and left the quiet room.
...
James I died at the hands of an assassin.
James II died on the battlefield.
James III died at the hands of an assassin.
James IV died on the battlefield.
If someone unfamiliar with Scottish history saw these words, they would surely think it was some kind of black nursery rhyme, like Bluebeard's, that had been adapted by the public and spread through misinformation.
However, in reality, the Bluebeard, who evolved from Henry VIII, is an exaggeration. These few sentences are actual historical records without any exaggeration.
None of the Scottish kings throughout history had a good ending. Whoever became king was unlucky. Each one either attempted to weaken the power of the nobility and was then assassinated by the Scottish nobles, or died in war with England. In comparison, Mary's father, James V, was actually quite lucky.
Although he inherited the short lifespan of his predecessors, dying at the unfortunate age of thirty, at least... at least he died of illness, rather than at the hands of the English and the nobles, which could be considered a relatively peaceful death.
Scotland is such a country where the nobles have all developed an arrogant and unruly spirit, showing no loyalty to the king. If they dislike the king, even if they dare not do it openly, they will secretly find a way to kill him without the slightest hesitation or guilt.
The difficulty of ruling such a country is beyond description.
Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by this turmoil, Mary, who had always wanted to centralize power, began to take back the private armies held by other nobles, and implemented unified laws throughout Scotland, allowing the Queen to directly command officials in various regions...
In the eyes of the Queen of Scots, these reforms were perfectly reasonable. How could a small country with a total population of only a few hundred thousand be divided into three major forces—the king, the nobles, and the religious groups—and dozens of smaller forces that depended on each other? Wouldn't it be chaotic enough to make any policy difficult to implement?
To the Scottish nobles, the Queen's reforms were like stabbing them in the heart.
Given the power and status the Queen of Scots now possesses, and the prestige she has accumulated among the common people over the years, the nobles no longer dare to openly oppose her or show their displeasure. However, they have never engaged in any underhanded tactics. Falsifying accounts and concealing the number of serfs are routine operations. In fact, during the integration process, two small-scale rebellions and four assassinations broke out, with no clear mastermind, but the perpetrators were known to everyone.
Although none of these reforms were successful, Mary moved to Edinburgh again to ensure her safety, and continued to work tirelessly and relentlessly to push forward with the reforms.
In recent years, their work has changed from accompanying the Queen in entertainment to assisting her in handling political affairs. As a result, the ladies-in-waiting and Emma, who have been treated as secretaries, have become quite exhausted.
With such a demanding work schedule of only sleeping four or five hours a day, Mary didn't have much energy to investigate the Earl of Morley. She simply sent a formal official letter to Queen Elizabeth, demanding that she hand over the Scottish criminal who had fled to England, or even just behead the traitor on English soil.
Of course, in return, Mary told Elizabeth in her letter that she had dissolved her engagement with Lord Darnley and would not be considering marriage again in the near future.
However, when Albert entered the study with a grim expression and said he had something to report about Earl Morley, Mary knew things wouldn't go smoothly.
In the soft candlelight, Emma and Seton held quill pens, painstakingly calculating the taxes and income of the farmland over the years, occasionally yawning and looking tired.
“Let’s talk outside,” Mary said to Albert, then told the two of them to go and rest as soon as they finished their work.
Mary and Albert walked together to the walls outside Edinburgh.
The terrain here is steep, and when you look out, you can see the dark silhouette of the city in the distance. Every now and then, you can hear the distant barking of a hunting dog. The cold white moonlight falls on the dark gray rocks, making the iron cannons built in the last century shine black.
Centuries from now, this place will become a famous tourist attraction, where tourists will walk in small groups along the path she is now on, pointing at or taking photos of the long-abandoned ancient weapons, and listening to guides explain the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, and how she finally lost her head on the guillotine.
But for now, this place still belongs exclusively to the royal family. As Mary walked along, only the patrolling guards bowed their heads in salute.
A cool breeze was blowing, making it refreshing and pleasant.
Mary had been feeling dizzy and lightheaded due to overwork these past few days. After coming out, she kept pressing her temples. Now, with the breeze blowing, she felt refreshed and her mind cleared up considerably.
Albert reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to help her, but then withdrew it halfway through.
“You should take care of your health! Your Majesty, many people are like you, squandering their health when they are young, only to regret it when they are old.” Albert said with a frown, his tone even somewhat stern.
"These words are really unpleasant to hear," Mary thought, while at the same time she couldn't help but think of the few years before she died in her previous life, when she was tormented by rheumatism and her legs were in excruciating pain, making it difficult to even walk.
"Will Queen Elizabeth protect that traitor?" Mary asked.
“Yes, the Queen of England rejected our envoy’s request and granted Earl Morrie the right to political asylum,” Albert said.
"What reason did she give?" Mary asked.
“A…” The blond youth didn’t know how to reiterate the message sent back by the messenger Melville, and carefully considered his words as he lowered his head, “…a performance that everyone knew the truth about, but was all just for show.”
...
It is said that on that day, Queen Elizabeth first received the French envoy, the Scottish envoy, and other envoys from various countries, and then they discussed some minor matters on the border. At that moment, a male servant entered the hall and informed Queen Elizabeth that the Earl of Morley requested an audience.
Then, in front of everyone, Queen Elizabeth first expressed her surprise at why the Earl of Morley had come to London, and then angrily declared that she would never meet this despicable man who had betrayed her sister, the Queen of Scots, and that she would expel him from England!
Cecil, who was standing next to the Queen, spoke up in time, sincerely advising Queen Elizabeth to listen to what the Earl of Morrie had to say, so as to avoid any misunderstandings.
At the urging of her senior ministers, Queen Elizabeth reluctantly agreed to meet with the Earl of Morley, but the conversation and meeting had to be in the presence of all the guests!
Because his injuries had not yet healed, the Earl of Morley limped into Whitehall Palace and began a question-and-answer session with Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth asked the Earl of Morrie why he had come to London.
The Earl of Maurice knelt on one knee in front of a large crowd and declared his unwavering loyalty to the Queen of Scots. He explained that he had foolishly assembled an army to protect himself due to a misunderstanding and fears of being harmed. He stated that his visit to London to meet the Queen was solely to plead with her to intercede with the Queen of Scots and allow him to return to his homeland of Scotland as a commoner.
Queen Elizabeth then asked, "Are you aware of the vicious rumors circulating throughout Britain and Scotland that Britain supported his rebellion?"
The Earl of Morley immediately swore to God and the envoys of various countries that there was absolutely no such thing, that the Queen of England was of noble character and innocence, and that she was completely unaware of the rebellion and could not possibly support him!
Finally, in front of the European envoys, Elizabeth I loudly rebuked the Earl of Morley for his foolish act of arbitrarily assembling an army. However, she softened under the Earl of Morley's humble pleas and agreed to write a letter to the Queen of Scots on his behalf. She also allowed him to stay in London temporarily until the Queen of Scots and her half-brother cleared up the misunderstanding.
—The play ends here.
...
The two lead actors possess the acting skills expected of seasoned politicians, while the foreign envoys observing from Whitehall Palace also demonstrate the professionalism expected of actors.
Everyone believed everything that had happened in public, and throughout the conversation, they occasionally expressed surprise, hatred, and understanding.
After listening, Mary imagined the scene Melville described and couldn't help but regret that she wasn't there to witness that wonderful moment.
It seems she still needs to learn how to thicken her skin.
"Mr. Melville said that, to prevent language barriers from misunderstanding the other envoys, the two of them did not speak English or Scots from beginning to end, but spoke French," Albert concluded.
Mary "..."
“I remember Boswell also found 50,000 pounds at Earl Maurice’s place, all of which was military aid given to him by Elizabeth,” Mary said.
Unfortunately, the gold coins don't have the name of the previous owner written on them, so they can't be used as direct evidence.
“Your Majesty, should Melville continue to protest to the Queen of England?” Albert asked.
“Protesting won’t do any good; it’s a waste of time,” Mary said.
The Earl of Morley's bloodline can still be useful if used properly, and Elizabeth wouldn't discard such a good card just because of a few words from the messenger.
Queen of Scots stood by the city wall, tapped the cold granite with her index finger, hesitated between Albert and Boswell, and ultimately chose the former.
“Albert, after the reforms are complete, I will be making a secret trip to Ireland. I will need a highly skilled bodyguard like you by my side,” Mary said.
“It would be my pleasure, but may I ask what you are going to do?” Albert said, Ireland being a British territory.
The Queen of Scots looked around, then pointed to a sack of potatoes, the soldiers' new harvest piled in the corner, and smiled, "Of course—to recommend a brand new food to those poor farmers and solve the Irish famine."
Potatoes are a food that yields more than six times the yield of wheat.
It was also a major contributor to the doubling of Ireland's population in the 18th century.
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