How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

In an instant, dozens of armed men freeze at that single word. Many of them have served the Queen since birth.

A moment of silence descends...

Before they realize their advantage, the Queen shouts first:

"Do you know who stands before you! Your rightful monarch is here! Kneel and show respect!"

"Y-Your Majesty... we have discovered that Lord Robert Cecil has conspired with Spain to threaten Your Majesty..."

"Now! Didn't I tell you to kneel!"

"..."

For now, the strong men kneel on one knee before the roaring lioness without even thinking. Then the Queen turns her back to them.

"I... I understand your words well. Wait. My grooming is not complete."

At the Queen's gesture, the ladies-in-waiting hurriedly close the palace doors. While everyone is confused and murmuring in fear, the Queen grabs Margaret's arm and whispers:

"...Look down below the window."

"Y-y-yes...? Y-Your Majesty... the traitors...!"

"Stop whining and look down below the window!"

The Queen pulls her shoulder and looks out the window, right below.

Well-trimmed boxwood bushes were spread out below.

It was three stories down.

"I, I... Your Majesty?"

"Can you jump down there?"

"What?"

"I asked if you can jump down. Actually, I didn't really ask; it's an order."

"...What?"

"Jump down right now."

A moment later.

"What's taking so long?"

"There, let's check on Her Majesty's well-being."

The traitors outside the room quietly gather in front of the room and knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

"Are you there? Your Majesty?"

"..."

"..."

Only silence returned. It was then that they felt something eerie and hurriedly broke down the door to enter.

What they saw was an empty room and a vanity,

And curtains that had been torn lengthwise and tied to the vanity leg.

The Queen was nowhere to be found.

Nowhere.

==

"Huff, huff...! Cough...!"

The 67-year-old Elizabeth was now running for her life. Beside her followed Margaret Lawrence and other ladies-in-waiting.

They escaped the maze-like palace garden as quickly as possible, then ran to the prepared escape route and boarded a carriage.

And just before the carriage departed, the Queen gestured to stop the driver.

The sounds of clashing metal and shouts echoed throughout Whitehall Palace. Amidst the terrible confusion, several of her courtiers were seen running around in panic.

Elizabeth chewed her nails as she mentally organized the situation.

Is it a serious situation?

Yes.

The masterminds of the conspiracy?

...There are too many suspects to consider all of them.

At least, judging from the fact that they didn't try to kill her on sight, it seemed that the Queen's assassination wasn't part of their plan.

Perhaps it was because she had frightened them excessively with the standing army business.

'...Even so, how could I not have known until now?'

Elizabeth blinks quietly, feeling a chill at that fact.

Yes. Whoever masterminded this rebellion, it was clear that it had quite widespread support within London.

Of course, she was still a queen beloved by citizens. Thanks to the Virginia colony, she was able to be called a sage ruler by dispensing tax reduction benefits relentlessly even during wartime.

If the Queen went to the square in front of St. Paul's Cathedral right now and addressed London citizens, she could defeat them sufficiently. The probability was more than 50 to 60 percent.

She imagined herself bravely leading the citizens and defeating those rebellious ruffians. Upon returning to the blood-stained Whitehall Palace and sitting on the throne...

Then, her goal would be achieved in one breath.

After removing all annoyances, she could grip power more strongly than ever before and wield this kingdom as she wished.

"..."

"Y-Your Majesty! The traitors are killing the guards and coming here now!"

"You must depart!"

"Wait. Just a little more."

If so, there could be nothing more desirable. It's the best situation to make Spain and other pesky flies all suffer.

It's a golden opportunity to draw the 'power' she loves so much into the palm of her hand as much as possible.

...However.

There was one fatal flaw in this plan.

When she suppressed those rebels with London citizens.

The probability that she would die or be injured by their blind swords in desperation...

About... more than 10 percent.

She had always loved gambling.

She took gambles when waging war against the Spanish, and when refusing numerous proposals and delaying the designation of a successor.

And she eventually won. The arduous journey toward greater power continued, but she mostly won.

"...Hmm."

"Your Majesty!"

"Yes. Yes. Let's depart now."

"W-where to..."

But, there was something she valued more than power.

It was love, the happiness of her subjects, the peace of the kingdom, the glory of the Lord...

No, it was herself.

She loved herself too much to risk her life for such things.

If she wasn't that kind of person, she wouldn't have thrown the kingdom into confusion by delaying the designation of a successor until just before her death.

First, she'll leave London.

After that... what to do? Initially, she thought she should go to another region, lead an army, and recapture London.

But no. She didn't want to do that either. That would require owing favors to other fools, and now she didn't want to leave any political debts domestically.

She wanted to enjoy the rest of her life sufficiently, however many more years she might live. Not living a hard life dealing with rebellion suppression.

Hmm...

What should she do?

Ah, right.

"First, let's go to the port and get a ship."

"Yes, Your Majesty... uh, what?"

The progressive way of thinking that the state is the people (me), and where the people (I) are is the state.

Such an advanced way of thinking was not widely spread on Earth at that time, except for Japan's mobile monarch, Emperor Go-Yōzei.

Elizabeth hadn't reached such thinking either. She had only reached the thought that where she was, was the English court, and she was the center of England.

Therefore, just as Emperor Go-Yōzei came up with the groundbreaking idea of fleeing the Japanese archipelago to avoid foreign enemies.

"Abandon London. No, leave England."

She too could reach a groundbreaking conclusion.

For a more comfortable retirement.

A brilliant plan for a more beautiful remainder of life came to mind.

Thus, a ship arrived in Scotland several months later.

"Why do... you come out here?"

"Asylum."

Carrying the Queen's ambition for her retirement preparation.