Her Majesty’s Secret Service

011. Forced Residency

As soon as Bishop Steve left, the queen, who had ordered Logan to be brought to her, was displeased by the visit of an unexpected guest she had forgotten.

The uninvited guest was none other than John Russell, Earl of Bedford, a prominent member of the Privy Council and the Keeper of the Privy Seal.

“Did you have business with me today? Well, what is it? Have you come to discuss the coronation procedures?”

Count Russell bowed politely, responding to Mary’s voice with due reverence.

—

Greetings, Your Majesty. I’ve come to inquire about the coronation procedures and to convey the Privy Council’s decision… It’s a visit with multiple purposes. And… perhaps it’s time Your Majesty also begins to consider the succession.”

Upon hearing Count Russell’s words, the displeasure that had lingered just moments before eased somewhat.

Marriage. The word made Mary’s heart flutter. Though a spinster at 37, she had not given up on the prospect entirely.

“Has… a marriage partner been decided?”

A hint of hope laced Mary’s voice as she asked.

She had heard whispers from the Privy Council about discussions of a royal marriage. It seemed her marriage partner had finally been chosen.

“Nothing is confirmed yet… we merely seek your thoughts. Your Majesty, the Privy Council wishes to propose Archbishop Reginald of the Plantagenet lineage as your consort. What are your thoughts?”

Mary’s face, filled with anticipation, soured.

Archbishop Reginald? He was an old man of 53. Moreover, there were several unpleasant issues between the mentioned Reginald Pole and herself.

“Are you jesting with me? Do you not remember what my father did to him?”

“That matter has no relevance to Your Majesty. Rather, it was Your Majesty who was hurt by it, so it shouldn’t be a problem…”

In the year Henry VIII sought a divorce, Archbishop Reginald, then the Dean of Exeter and a member of the Council of Salisbury, was asked by Henry VIII to assist in his divorce from Catherine. Henry offered the position of Bishop of Winchester in return.

Yet, Reginald declined the king’s request without batting an eye, rudely sending his theological treatise instead. The treatise criticized the request for annulment.

Enraged by the response, Henry VIII decided to make an example of those who opposed his divorce. He branded Reginald’s entire family as traitors and executed them all. Witnessing this, Reginald felt his life threatened.

Having fled to the Vatican, Reginald, despite Henry VIII’s demise, had yet to return to England.

“Is that what you think? I do not. After all, am I not my father’s daughter? Would you wish to marry the daughter of the man who killed your family?”

“Your Majesty, that is…”

Mary understood why her subjects were stepping forward.

The Tudor lineage was precious, and after her, the only remaining heirs to the Tudor throne were Elizabeth and Jane Grey.

“And to speak frankly, he is too old. Do you truly believe a child could be born from a union between the Archbishop and me?”

“Well…”

“You too, cannot give a definite answer. In that case, it might be better for me to decide on the counterpart and inform you all.”

At Mary’s brusque words, Count Russell’s expression hardened. With a stern face, he carefully began to speak.

“Perhaps… is there someone Your Majesty holds dear in your heart?”

Upon hearing Count Russell’s words, a slight blush seemed to appear on Mary’s face. Count Russell did not miss this.

“If I must say…”

Count Russell’s gaze was fixed on the queen’s lips, intent on remembering the name that would come from them.

Just as her lips were about to part, a voice came from outside the door.

“Your Majesty the Queen, it’s Logan. I have come at your summons.”

With that, Mary’s gaze also turned towards the door. Mary, who had glanced at the door, turned her gaze back to Count Russell.

“Unfortunately, this story will have to wait for another time. I had a prior engagement.”

“A prior engagement… did you say?”

At the queen’s mention of a prior engagement, Count Russell’s face hardened. The queen, unconcerned with Count Russell’s reaction, continued.

“Yes. There was someone I called upon before you arrived, so you may leave now. I will send someone later with an answer.”

“Yes… Your Majesty… Then, I shall take my leave.”

To Count Russell, it seemed the queen had no intention of revealing who she had made the ‘prior engagement’ with.

Fearing to upset the queen’s mood, Count Russell did not inquire further about who she had called and carefully bowed his head in respect. Then, he opened the door and walked out.

Upon opening the door, he saw a man he had never seen before standing outside.

Judging by the unfamiliar face, he could only guess it was the foreign chef he had heard rumors about.

There was no one else standing outside but the man presumed to be the foreign chef. Soon after, the foreign chef entered the queen’s chamber.

‘Could it be… The one with a prior engagement is this foreign chef? No… It can’t be, surely not. Her Majesty wouldn’t.’

Count Russell thought his imagination had gotten the better of him.

A mere chef, and a foreigner of uncertain status at that, could not be the reason for postponing their conversation.

‘Could it be Edward Courtney, that man? Hmm… Does Her Majesty have a fondness for him? Or is it merely pity?’

Count Russell was certain the person Her Majesty had summoned was ‘Edward Courtney’.

He had a childhood as unfortunate as the Queen’s. Perhaps because of this shared past, the Queen showed a particular softness when it came to matters involving Courtney.

Even right after her accession, she had floated the idea of releasing him from the prison tower, and before a month had passed, she had done just that. There were others who needed freeing more urgently.

Recently, she had even broached the subject of making him the Earl of Devonshire, so it was clear to Russell that it must be Edward Courtney who had come calling.

“Tell me, who is this noble with the… ‘prior engagement’? No, let me rephrase, is Edward Courtney scheduled to meet Her Majesty?”

Despite the Count’s confident tone, the guard remained silent. It was only after the Count had badgered him several times that he got a response.

“Your Excellency… What I said is strictly confidential.”

“Yes, yes, I know. Just tell me. It’s Courtney, right?”

“It’s… the chef you just saw.”

“What? What did you just say?”

Count Russell doubted his ears, wondering if he had heard wrong.

The protagonist of the prior engagement was that foreigner who had just entered. The Count pressed the guard for confirmation.

“Speak clearly, say it again. Did Her Majesty summon that foreigner? A mere chef?”

“Yes… Why would I lie to Your Excellency?”

The guard looked frightened under the Count’s interrogation.

Seeing his reaction, Count Russell, convinced he was not being lied to, began to ponder once more.

‘It was Bishop Steve who brought this foreigner, wasn’t it? The old man who clings to His Majesty’s side and refuses to leave… It was he who insisted on bringing this stranger, and Her Majesty the Queen employed him in the royal kitchen to take charge of the dinner preparations… No matter how skilled a cook, to trust a stranger we hardly know… Wait, could it be?’

Count Russell’s face turned pale as he thought this far.

Could it be? Even if she is King Henry’s daughter, would she have inherited that trait as well?

It can’t be. It must not be.

If what he suspects is true, this is not a matter to be left alone. Being the first queen in the kingdom’s history, he was at a loss for what to do in such a situation.

‘A queen with a foreigner as a consort… This is… truly…’

With a grave expression, Count Russell headed towards Bishop Steve’s residence.

He had to sort things out before more people became aware of this fact.

* * *

Arriving at the door, I knocked and waited only for the Queen’s response.

Before the Queen could reply, the door opened from the inside. The one who emerged was an old man I had never seen before.

The old man scanned me with a displeased look and soon grimaced.

“What are you doing standing there? Come in.”

The Queen’s voice was heard.

Ignoring the old man’s gaze, I followed the sound of the Queen’s voice into the room.

I felt the eyes of the Queen and the standing maid upon me.

“I apologize for my tardiness, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm… I had heard you were within the palace grounds. Was the servant mistaken?”

Realizing a misstep in my words could cause harm to Oliver because of my lateness, I thought it best to skirt around the truth.

“How could I present myself to Your Majesty in any state? I took a little time to tidy up my appearance.”

Upon hearing my words, the corners of the Queen’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Now I see you’ve also coated your words with honey.”

Contrary to her expression, the voice that came from the Queen seemed to mock me.

No, on second thought, it wasn’t so much mocking as it was playful.

“Ha ha…”

Unable to think of a reply, I responded to the Queen’s words with laughter.

Fortunately, the Queen didn’t seem to take my awkward laughter as rudeness.

“Aren’t you curious why I summoned you? I thought you would ask that first…”

“Ah… That is…”

“What, did you fear I would take it as rudeness?”

Of course, I was afraid.

Even though watching the Queen had diluted many of the prejudices I held against her, the infamous ‘Bloody Mary’ still made me cautious.

“It’s not that…”

“It’s evident. It’s all over your face.”

I thought I was managing my expression, but it seemed not so in the Queen’s eyes.

“I find that aspect of you pleasing.”

“Tha… Thank goodness you find it pleasing.”

“I called you because of the conversation we had last night, do you remember yesterday’s events?”

Yesterday she told me to forget, and now she speaks of it. It was clear the Queen was testing me.

“I’m not quite sure what Your Majesty is referring to. Last night’s events?”

I’ve seen it a lot in dramas and movies. To be tested like this, and if you misspeak, your head could literally fly off. I didn’t want to die over a slip of the tongue.

Upon hearing my words, the queen burst into raucous laughter.

“Perhaps because you were brought by Bishop Steve, you resemble him so. Indeed! You are exceedingly loyal! You may remember yesterday’s event. Yesterday, thanks to you, I realized something I had forgotten. You have been of great help to me.”

Yesterday, she forgave my rudeness, and now she says I was of help.

Unable to comprehend what happened, my expression froze, which must have amused her, as the queen looked at me as if she found it entertaining.

“Do not be so tense. The words you gave me have been of great help. For that reason, I have called you to bestow a reward.”

“Are… Are you speaking to me?”

It seems that the words I blurted out last night were of help to the queen.

Having no desire to grow closer to Queen Mary, I hoped she would give me some money to become independent.

“Indeed. I heard you are still living in Bishop Steve’s residence, is that true?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Your Majesty.”

“Then, I would like to grant you a place to stay. What do you think about that?”

Listening to the queen, it seemed she intended to bestow upon me a suitable manor.

I wasn’t sure what help I had provided, but naturally, I should accept a house being offered for free.

“It would be an honor, Your Majesty.”

A deep smile spread across the queen’s face upon hearing my words. I couldn’t help but let my own lips rise.

‘First, I need to save money until Queen Elizabeth ascends to the throne, starting with the manor I received from the queen…’

I was pondering what to do after receiving the manor from Queen Mary.

The voice that came from the queen’s lips made me doubt my ears.

“Then, I shall give you a room in the palace. From next week, you shall stay there. Oh, and from now on, you will also take care of the morning meals.”

“Yes?”

Startled by the sudden summons to enter the palace, I could only look at the queen with a bewildered expression.

Unlike me, the queen’s face was unperturbed.

“What are you staring at so intently? Why, are you too overjoyed?”

Not at all, not at all happy.