How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 150: Treason (1)

"How is the situation, Walter?"

"Excellent! This time, we'll finalize a trade large enough to shake all of England!"

As February arrived, the farming off-season was gradually ending. Merchants began planning the last major voyage of the early year.

They prepared for exports to England by carrying firewood and loading wheat and grapes that had been harvested quite some time ago onto carts.

England was suffering from chronic food shortages, firewood shortages, and financial shortages. And our community had helped resolve these issues to some extent.

According to the catalog, when Elizabeth was in her later years of reign, she had no resources to draw from and sold off royal lands and all sorts of rights.

...Well, that's what happens when you keep warring with the world's strongest country. Anyway, the karma of recklessly selling off royal assets later returned in the form of Charles I getting his head chopped off.

But now it's different.

Because we're filling in those shortages.

Though I've never been to England and don't know much, Elizabeth's royal authority must have become overwhelmingly stronger compared to the original history.

Thanks to us.

...Although, despite that, we haven't brought about as dramatic a change as expected so far.

Well, what does it matter how history flows in that distant land?

It's enough if our community is peaceful and people around the world live more abundantly and happily. As long as we export food for tens of thousands of people, at least the number of starving people in England should have decreased.

"Hmm... but this time, the quantity will be less than what was previously announced?"

"That can't be helped. It's sad that we can't give the Queen the amount we promised, but even this much is a massive quantity, so everyone will be satisfied."

Raleigh said to me as he checked the cargo loaded on the Enterprise.

"Her Majesty the Queen must be counting the days until those ships arrive. All of her joy will be on that ship! Meanwhile, let's think about how to lead this community for the next year."

"Um... Walter isn't going this time?"

"Wasn't I elected as the head of government this time? I can't easily leave my position. If possible, I plan to entrust trips to England to others in the future."

"...Well, if that's the case. Won't Queen Elizabeth be disappointed?"

At those words, Raleigh smiled and said to me:

"Don't worry. She always chases new pleasures. She might be spending time with other beautiful lovers by now."

...Is that why she disliked it so much when Raleigh had affairs?

I still don't understand what kind of person Queen Elizabeth is.

I just thought she was a great queen of England because I was told so.

Clearly, she seems great, but...

Judging from what I hear from Raleigh, she seems like a strange person.

==

The Queen tapped the table with her slender fingers as she looked around the court.

New furs were spread all around. The nobles of the court eyed them like hawks, coveting them intently.

Items that arrived a few days after spending splendid days celebrating the new year of 1601.

Elizabeth, the legitimate monarch of England and Ireland, loved all sorts of splendid and beautiful things in the world.

Elizabeth loved luxury. And she loved the dignity and authority that luxury brought.

When the Queen wore a fur cloak, it became her wealth.

Because she monopolized furs from the New World.

When the Queen wore aluminum rings and ate grapes stored in styrofoam, that too became her power.

Because she held all those things in her grasp.

With such abundant wealth, she could gift more splendid pleasures to the person she loved most in the world.

To herself.

Gleaming treasures, sweet sugar, and soft men.

Enjoying all these things, Elizabeth was experiencing the best moments of her life.

'These days I'm bored without Raleigh...'

The Baron of Roanoke, Raleigh, one of her favored courtiers, had become the wealthiest man at court. It was quite sorrowful that he no longer played along in her palm so obediently.

But it's fine.

Because there are other pleasures.

If she had been the type of person who only pursued jewels and gold themselves, she would never have obtained such treasures.

If she had been immersed only in the sweetness brought by sugar and men, she couldn't have lived immersed in such pleasure.

She knew what was gleaming, sweet, and soft more than anything else.

She was addicted to power.

Her eyes, seemingly lost in luxury, suddenly gleam sharply. The moment she loves most approaches.

"Your Majesty, Baron Raleigh has monopolized resources from the New World for far too long. Entrusting him entirely with trade with the native emperor is too excessive for him..."

Ah, this is when I enjoy myself the most.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

"Earl of Southampton?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Do you not know shame?"

Crushing the face of someone who doesn't know their place.

Many say she is indecisive. Perhaps that's true.

But during her 40-plus years of reign, political opponents who tried to bring her down all met their downfall without exception.

"W-what did you say..."

"Virginia is a land directly explored by Raleigh and his subordinates. And it was not I who gave the rights to trade by having the Baron of Roanoke close by and trusting him, but the native emperor you mentioned."

"..."

"This is merely a foreign matter, and even if Virginia belonged to my kingdom, I have no intention of taking away Raleigh's rights. Because..."

Because he's the most manageable.

Because he pays tribute to me best.

"...it is his rightful right."

Above all, because he deals mainly with me.

Therefore, in reality, Raleigh's monopoly belonged to the Queen.

Indeed, Raleigh was a talent who knew how to do only things that pleased her. His intuition for her desires was unmatched among courtiers. For no reason, she recalled his face, who wasn't even present, and smiled with satisfaction. The sharp angles of his jaw, those knowing eyes that sparkled with ambition yet always showed proper deference when meeting hers.

My great courtier.

The man who brought me wealth and glory.

The Queen reprimanded the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, making him step back considerably. Her fingers, adorned with precious gems that caught the afternoon light streaming through the high palace windows, gestured dismissively as her voice cut through the hushed atmosphere of the privy chamber.

Already annoyed by the Earl and others, she enjoyed this thrilling moment to the fullest.