Her Majesty’s Secret Service

059. Request

After Ambassador Antoine’s remarks were finished, the Queen declared that it had been a while since the meeting began and that she would take a short break before continuing the meeting, and sent Ambassador Antoine out of the room.

Naturally, not a single noble got up from their seats.

“Okay, everyone heard the story, right? Valois is about to challenge the Habsburgs again. “Whose hand should we hold?”

It was clear that my story of victory and Jane’s marriage had been forgotten in the minds of the nobles. Everyone was talking about the French proposal brought by Ambassador Antoine.

“Is there anything else to think about?”

“you’re right. Your Majesty, what you want from France is neither military support nor material support. Maintaining neutrality. “If that’s all the French want, why can’t they give it to them?”

“Isn’t there something to be gained by helping Spain? “Please think about the attitude that arrogant man Felipe showed towards Her Majesty the Queen the other day.”

Regardless of whether it was the Old Church or the New Church, the nobles came together as one to denounce Felipe and Spain.

The queen also seemed to listen to the opinions of those nobles.

“Hmm… “I received a grant from Carl to rebuild the navy, but this was in return for the disrespect Felipe had shown me.”

The nobles wanted to join hands with France rather than Spain, and the queen seemed to be thinking that too. Crucially, the conditions that Count Antoine offered her were enough to move the queen’s heart.

‘What did Count Antoine say earlier? Oh, that’s right, Calais. Didn’t I say that I would free Calais’ blocked trade route?’

Calais’ tax revenue accounted for a large portion of the royal family’s income, amounting to 30 to 40 percent, and from the time the queen ascended the throne and received subsidies from Spain, France had surrounded Calais and blocked the movement of merchants.

I heard that because of this, the royal family’s revenue has decreased significantly. In such a situation, Count Antoine came to visit and begged them to remain neutral in the upcoming war between Spain and France, saying that he would lift the siege of Calais.

“Are you all willing to side with France?”

“yes. If the Habsburgs are left like this, they will definitely reach out to England. “I don’t know if it’s Emperor Charles, but if it’s his son Felipe, that’s enough.”

“So, that’s what you think, right? Anne, tell someone to call Ambassador Antoine. “I need to give him an answer.”

Although she seemed to be contemplating, the queen had clearly already made a decision. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been so firm in ordering the ambassador to come.

Soon, Ambassador Antoine, who had been summoned by the Queen, appeared in the office again.

Ambassador Antoine’s gaze was focused on the queen, as if he was slightly nervous, waiting for her to open her mouth.

Eventually, the queen’s mouth opened, and a faint smile appeared on Ambassador Antoine’s face, which was full of tension.

* * *

Louvre Palace, Paris, France.

Henry II, King of the Kingdom of France, who was preparing to take on the challenge of regaining European hegemony that had been lost to Spain, was glaring at his subjects sitting in his seat with a dissatisfied face.

“Am I doing something wrong? Was the distance from London to Paris really that far? Isn’t it normal to receive a response from the Queen within a week at the latest? “Isn’t it time to bring news that they have rejected our offer?”

A little more than a week had passed since the king’s order to find out England’s position in the upcoming war was delivered.

Because the plan to attack Spain would change greatly depending on how England behaved, King Henry was waiting for England’s response from Count Antoine.

“After all, work is work, so wouldn’t the Queen be cautious as well?”

It was François, Duke of Guise, who was scheduled to be the commander of this war, who opened his mouth to King Henry, who was looking around at each of his subjects in his office with a wrinkled face.

“The queen is cautious? That’s no excuse. She simply gave the order to hear England’s answer, didn’t she? I didn’t necessarily give an order to bring England over to our side, I just gave a simple order to find out England’s reaction. Okay… Did I rate Antoine’s abilities too highly?”

After answering the Duke of Guise’s words, Henry placed his hand on his forehead and groaned in discomfort as if he had a headache.

“first… Assuming that England has turned into an enemy country, the strategy… .”

It was at that time that Henri let out a short groan and was about to continue the meeting.

“Henry, news from London.”

Henry received a letter from the servant who rushed over and confirmed that the seal on the envelope belonged to Count Antoine. Then, with a bright smile on his face, he opened the seal and checked the contents.

“… “I made a mistake, Antoine did his job well.”

Henry muttered softly and immediately turned his head towards Duke François. Then he opened his mouth and spoke loudly so that everyone could hear:

“England opened the way for us.”

Henri, who shouted in joy, had a brighter smile on his face than ever before.

“ruler. Let’s find a way to stab them in the heart before the Emperor notices. Duke François!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Calais is open. The Habsburgs don’t know this yet. “Do you know what I’m trying to say?”

“Is it Flemish?”

“As expected, you are intelligent. okay. Flemish. “They can’t even imagine.”

During the Hundred Years War, and even now. The Lord was always with France.

Thinking this to himself, Henry began to work together with the nobles of the court to devise a strategy to attack Spain.

* * *

There are a few things that have changed from the original history, but the fact that there is a war between Spain and France has not changed.

What changed was that the queen decided to remain neutral in the war between the two. No, it should be said to be neutral, close to France.

Eventually, a secret treaty was signed between England and France. Until they attacked Spain in earnest, they had to keep Spain from knowing that England had taken France’s hand.

In return, the queen agreed to receive compensation for the damage suffered due to the French siege. She calculated the usual profits, she said, and set them to the King of France.

Just like that, a week has passed since the negotiations were concluded.

“Who do you want me to meet?”

“that is… He’s a friend I know personally… .”

“Oh, so who is it?”

Ever since the news that I was going to marry Jane spread throughout the palace, people close to me in the kitchen came to me every day with requests and gave me trouble.

A few days ago, I met the head of the London Dry Goods Merchants’ Union. One of the kitchen cooks begged me to meet him just once, so I went outside the palace and met him, and I found out that he really wanted me to use their canvas fabric for the newly built royal flagship.

When I told him that I had already decided on the guild in Deptford as the place to purchase the canvas, he gave me a sly smile as he handed me a heavy-looking box. Of course, I shook off that laughter and got up.

The reason I have listened to the kitchen staff’s requests to meet someone until now is because of the affection I had working with the kitchen staff.

However, aren’t all the requests I’ve received so far asked to purchase materials and consumables for the ship?

Since I had already decided where and from whom to purchase, I had no choice but to reject their request.

It wasn’t something I could have decided on my own in the first place, and how can I overturn something that the Queen has finally confirmed, approved, and signed off on?

Anyway, since I received a request once a day that I couldn’t accept, my face couldn’t help but frown when I heard about it, and George, who was a bit timid, hesitated and was reluctant to talk about it out loud.

“uh… I have a friend who sells bills… .”

“Bill business?”

“Yes, yes Sir Logan. I don’t know where he heard the rumor, but he said he wanted to meet Logan, or rather Lord Logan… Yes, please give me some time… .”

“George, why are you talking so trembling? Are we strangers? How many times has George stirred whipped cream for me? I’m afraid he won’t be able to do such a favor. “Okay, when is the time?”

“go… Thank you, Sir Logan. That friend said that he would come running whenever Sir Logan called, so he would come when it was convenient for Lord Logan… .”

Anyway, recently all I had was time.

Whether it was about building the flagship or food ingredients in the palace, all I did was sit in my office blankly, check the reports that came in from time to time, and sign them, just like before.

“Then let’s go see it right away. It must have already been lunch time. “Shouldn’t you just come in before dinner?”

“Um, are you sure you want to do that? thank you Sir Logan, thank you.”

That was when I was about to leave the palace with George.

“Where are you going, Logan?”

“Anne?”

“Lady Jane is waiting in the garden. “Have you already forgotten that Her Majesty the Queen ordered you to spend time with Lady Jane at least once every two days until her wedding?”

“yes? No, that… .”

The day I was announced as Jane’s remarriage partner, the queen called me aside and ordered me to spend time with Jane.

Damn it, it’s already been two days. To be honest, I don’t know what to talk about with an 18-year-old woman, or even a 16th-century woman.

Even the last time we met, he just walked away and answered Jane’s words, so he didn’t really want to meet Jane.

“that… “It’s the garden of Whitehall Palace, right?”

What can I do just because I don’t feel like it? It is the queen’s order. shit.

In the end, the meeting with the bill salesman that George had introduced had to be delayed by a day.

* * *

Yesterday, I got scolded for being manipulated by Jane. Why was there so much talk? The questions were endless.

I don’t remember where I came from, why I came here, who I learned to cook from, or what I responded to Jane who was constantly chattering.

Anyway, since I met Jane yesterday, I was able to have my own time today.

I took some time in the afternoon and went out of the palace. Of course, George, who would connect me to the bill merchant, was also there.

“Lord Logan! “It’s been so long since I last saw you!”

I was supposed to see the bill dealer near London Bridge, but the bill dealer didn’t show up because I was a little late. Instead, the soldiers I had learned a little from during the previous rebellion recognized me and greeted me, so I accepted their greetings and wasted time.

While chatting with the soldiers, I heard a young man’s voice from behind.

“George! I’m sorry, was I too late?! that… Is the person next to you… ?”

The man who rushed over to say hello to George looked at me and showed a cautious attitude.

George began to lash out at that man.

“Hey Robert! I don’t know what’s keeping Lord Logan waiting. What a case! “What kind of disrespect is this to a precious person who took special time for you!”

“George, I’m fine, so…” .”

George was overreacting, so I calmed him down a bit.

Even though I was a timid person, there were times when I was like this. Usually, he would get angry like this when he made a cake or dish and it wasn’t done properly, but he also seemed to get angry when the promised time was broken.

“I’m sorry, Sir Logan. I sincerely apologize once again for taking up your valuable time due to my poor schedule. My name is Robert Every. We deal in all types of bills, but usually we buy and sell sailors’ bills. “You can call me Robert or Every, whatever you want.”

The bill merchant who introduced himself as Robert Evry repeatedly nodded his head and apologized to me. When I waved my hand and said it was okay, he said he was thankful for the mercy and said a big thank you, then calmed down his expression and started to get to the point.

“The reason why I wanted to meet this precious person is none other than… .”

After a while, after listening to Every’s story, I was looking at Every with a very interested expression.

“So, would you like me to introduce you to the crew who will be boarding the newly built royal flagship?”

“That’s right.”

Usually, salaries paid to sailors were sometimes paid in kind and sometimes by bills, but most of the time they were paid by bills.

The bills issued as wages were to be paid in kind one to two months later, but to the sailors, the bills were nothing more than pieces of paper. This was because most bars did not accept bills.

To relieve the fatigue of hard work at sea, sailors went to bars near ports and enjoyed entertainment such as drinking alcohol or buying women, but the owners of companies that provided such entertainment preferred shiny gold coins, not bills of exchange.

Therefore, sailors who received bills with a long due date for payment naturally went to bill dealers and sold the bills at a low price to receive gold coins. I heard that this was not uncommon.

The merchants who bought the sailors’ bills made a profit by waiting until the bill’s maturity date and collecting the full price, and this merchant named Robert was one of those merchants.

“I heard that the size of the ship built this time is incredibly large. Sir Logan was in charge of this construction, right? I don’t know how many crew members they will hire. “Please introduce some of them to me.”

“Sailor? It’s not like I can’t do it… .”

I don’t know where I heard the story, but it was quite surprising to know that the royal flagship was larger than usual. Knowing facts that are not yet known to the private sector seemed like a lot of preparation. Or maybe there is a nobleman with a rather sharp ear behind this merchant.

“Of course, I’m not shameless enough to want to be introduced with my bare mouth. “Every time a deal is concluded, I will dedicate half of the profits to the Lord.”

The only requests I have received so far have been beyond my authority. I would like to supply ship parts or consumables used on ships, so please use your strength. Are you telling me to touch the report that goes to the Queen?

However, it was enough to just introduce the sailor. Although crew members have not been selected yet.

Additionally, I really liked his humble attitude of handing over half of his profits to me. I was just about to reply to Robert that I would grant his request.

‘wait for a sec… ?’

One thought passed through my head. I opened my mouth, looking at Robert, whose eyes seemed calm but showed signs of nervousness.

“Do you, by any chance, receive investment?”

“Investment?”

Robert’s eyes widened slightly when he heard what I said. Looking at Robert, the bill dealer, who was looking at me with such a surprised face, I nodded.

“Yes, investment.”

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*This region, called Flemish or Flanders, refers to northern Belgium. In order for France to attack the Flanders region directly, it had to pass through a region called Artois, which in the 1550s was the territory of the Habsburg family, or Spain. The region immediately above Artois is the Calais region, which was owned by Britain.