How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony

They had no choice but to lie flat on the ground, rambling with typical excuses that they were not traitors to Her Majesty the Queen but had only intended to deal with the bad people around her.

In the midst of this, they had to internally purge Catholics who were 'really' colluding with Spain, and plead with the Queen to please return.

Now, with just one word from Elizabeth.

With just one word, civil war would begin.

...

...

...

And the Queen kept her mouth shut in that state.

While everyone was just steadily gathering weapons, making a mess of things in confusion, and James VI was supporting the English loyalists by mobilizing even non-existent resources.

The Queen maintained her silence.

So.

Um...

England was surprisingly quiet.

"It's because of Spain. As soon as civil war breaks out, Spain will land troops, you see."

That's right. Everyone had forgotten, but the English were at war.

In the end, following the Queen's silence, England fell quiet again as the state of tension continued.

"Does that... make any sense? First of all, a monarch abandoning the throne and fleeing? And why do that when the rebellion could have been sufficiently suppressed?"

"...Her Majesty the Queen is simply that kind of person."

"More incomprehensible than anything else is maintaining the status quo like this! No, what is there to gain from doing this?"

"..."

"..."

"...There is something to gain."

"What is it, Walter?"

"..."

Raleigh nodded to me.

"Her Majesty the Queen no longer has to handle official duties."

"...Pardon?"

"More precisely, she only has to deal with the duties she wants to. Co-monarch James is on a leash because of the resources coming from Virginia, and all other English people still nominally remain loyal to Her Majesty, don't they?"

"..."

"So, Her Majesty can now do whatever she pleases."

"..."

What is... this?

There was a rebellion, but she didn't suppress it.

She partially outsourced the tedious work to someone else and fled while retaining actual authority.

For what purpose?

...For her YOLO lifestyle?

I was astounded by the Queen's progressiveness, leading the FIRE movement culture about 400 years earlier than the original history. Indeed, it was because of such an advanced Queen that England would later lead the world...

No.

I don't understand at all.

A "genius" that couldn't possibly be grasped by ordinary human thinking flashed in Elizabeth's mind, and she exercised that genius following her animal instinct.

That's the only way to see it.

And...

"But, wouldn't James I not leave her alone...?"

"Pardon? 'I'?"

"...No, I mean, wouldn't King James not leave her alone? He would try to eliminate the Queen somehow, wouldn't he?"

"Yes, that's true. Isn't that why Her Majesty made such a bold decision?"

'Bold decision.'

Is it right... to attach such a positive word to that?

I briefly looked out at Raleigh's mansion built on Roanoke Island.

We were standing on a ship floating near Roanoke.

Being only a few kilometers away, the island's coast was clearly visible.

There were fences to prevent English artisans settled across the island from crossing over, and soldiers standing guard were visible here and there.

And there, workers were renovating and expanding Raleigh's mansion.

It was due to recent events. A reason had suddenly emerged to urgently expand Raleigh's mansion.

As I peered at the coast through a telescope, I saw a familiar face among numerous ladies-in-waiting.

Margaret Lawrence, the Saint of London and our doctor.

And beside her, an elderly woman was chattering away with a happy smile as if she couldn't be more satisfied here.

"Um... Margaret has come all the way here, and rebels have taken control of London, so how is the London clinic being operated?"

"Ah, I hear it was long since dismantled and moved to a city under loyalist control. Don't worry, we'll continue to supply medicines there."

...Well, whatever.

Though it's a bit slapdash, everything will work out somehow.

I focused the telescope again. The elderly woman's face came into clearer view.

That's right.

Worried that James I might threaten her life? Then come to a land where he 'absolutely' cannot touch.

And it would be even better if it's a land where she can directly control the distribution of resources from the New World.

That conclusion was right before my eyes.

"..."

"..."

Elizabeth Tudor was currently chatting idly with Margaret on Roanoke Island.

==

"Your Majesty?"

"Hmm, what is it? Are we going to play cards together again?"

Elizabeth answered Margaret's question with a broad smile. She was adorned with aluminum accessories all over her body and wrapped in furs.

It's March now.

Free from various work stresses and enjoying all sorts of luxuries, the Queen's face looked brighter and healthier than ever. She was excessively vibrant for a 68-year-old woman.

"Ah, no. That's not it... I was just curious..."

"About what?"

When the Queen asked, Margaret opened her mouth haltingly and asked:

"...Um, didn't Your Majesty say that you fled to Scotland for the safety of your royal person?"

"That's right?"

"But... um... isn't crossing the ocean to the Atlantic also sufficiently dangerous? How did you come to make such a decision... Staying in London and suppressing the rebellion would have been entirely possible..."

Clack.

"...Pardon?"

"Oh, my Margaret. You still don't understand?"

The Queen gripped Margaret's shoulders and said with a bright smile:

"There is only one reason."

Margaret swallowed hard at the Queen's face, which somehow became serious. Finally, she could understand the true intentions of Her Majesty, who seemed to have abandoned her kingdom and fled...

"Now both England and Scotland are mine."

"..."

"Whether I play cards, go bowling, or hunting, everything is mine."

"..."

"If it's hard to understand, fine. I'll keep it brief. Isn't this... more fun?"

"...What?"

Margaret asked back stupidly.

The Queen laughed loudly and walked again on the sandy beach of Roanoke Island.

Behind her, a large mansion was being constructed as an extension to Raleigh's mansion.

It was all being built with funds provided by James of Scotland.

Now she only needed to give orders without lifting a finger, occasionally giving advice on incoming news and making the English people's heads ache.

Her father, Henry VIII, was a degenerate king. He changed wives according to his mood and changed churches like changing shoes when he was upset.

Everyone failed to understand her father then... but now she could understand.

Now she had far surpassed her father's eccentricities. No, perhaps she had already surpassed her father when she decided to plunder Spain.

She can now overturn England with a single flick of her finger.

She had won at gambling once again.

==

Wow, what is this.

Seriously, what is this.