Things went downhill in the English court after the death of Queen Jane Seymour. Elizabeth took the role as ruling regent in stead of her father. She made sure that her half brother was kept safe and protected but allowed him to socialize with others. She didn't want the boy to experience what she had experienced or what her father had experienced when they were both young. The regent was thrilled to know that her half brother wouldn't live to be without a mother figure in his life since he would be under guardianship by Mary and her husband with Catherine, or Cate as she was affectionately called, as a playmate align with Elizabeth's son. The only problem was finding a bride for Elizabeth's father. Elizabeth called for a council meeting to discuss possible contestants. The harold announced, as Elizabeth entered the council room followed by her husband and her sister with her sister's husband, "Their Royal Highnesses; Princess Elizabeth and Prince James of France and Princess Mary and the Duke of Sussex." The council members all stood and bowed the royals as they entered the room. Elizabeth went to stand at the head of the table and her husband moved the chair, allowing her to sit in it, then pushed it into the table, gently.
James then took his seat on the right hand side of Elizabeth. Nathaniel did the same for Mary, who sat on the left side of Elizabeth, then sat next to her. Elizabeth said, "Let's begin this council meeting, shall we, milords? What news do we have today?" A council member stood and replied, "We have received countless letters from King Charles of Spain, begging for your forgiveness and to be in your good graces, Your Highness." Elizabeth held the urge to roll her eyes and said, "He will never receive my forgiveness for what he did to me when he held me hostage. England will never align with Spain for what he has done to its regent. It doesn't matter if he is the nephew of my late mother." Mary looked at her sister with a hint of sadness as her sister mention her abduction in Spain. Another council member stood and said, "Sir Edward Seymour asks why you won't allow him to see his nephew, the Prince Edward." Elizabeth replied, "Until he can show his loyalty to the crown and change his ruthless behavior, then he will be allowed to see the prince. Until then, my half-brother will stay with my sister and her family. What about the search of a bride for my father? How is that coming along?" Thomas Cromwell stood and said, "We are still searching, Your Highness." Elizabeth replied, "Of course. Sometime later today, I would like a private meeting with you, Master Cromwell, to discuss the possible contestants. *She stood, causing everyone to stand* For now, the meeting is dismissed. I must go visit my father and check on my son and half-brother." The council members bowed to the princess as she left the room, followed by her husband and her sister and sister's husband.
Ever since Jane died, Henry excluded himself from court to mourn his favorite wife. The only people he allowed to visit him was Elizabeth and his fool, Will Sommers. Elizabeth entered her father's bedchambers and took a deep breath. She said, as she looked around the bedchambers for her father, "Papa? It's me, Elizabeth." Henry looked up from his drawings of a new palace and replied, "Elizabeth? Where are you?" Elizabeth came up to her father and said, gently, "I'm right here, Papa. How are you feeling today?" Henry held a glare on his face and replied, "Must you ask that everyday, Elizabeth? The same as yesterday." Elizabeth sighed sadly and said, changing the subject, "We had a council meeting today, Papa. Thomas Cromwell and the other council members are still searching for a bride for you. I do wish that you would come back to court and look at the contestants for you. I can't rule this court by myself as regent. England needs to see its King. I'm not asking for your permission, Papa. I'm only begging as a daughter to a father." By this time, Elizabeth had tears rolling down her cheeks and her voice grew soft. Knowing that her father would want to be alone, the princess curtsied and left. It pained her to see her father in such of a state. She knew that her father loved Jane so much but he only did because Jane gave him a son. Now, she couldn't worry about her father, she had her son and half-brother to visit.
In the castle gardens, Prince Edward ran around the gardens as he hid from his half-brother-in-law, Duke Nathaniel of Sussex, with his half nephew and half niece. The playful moment was watched closely by Mary and her half-sister, Elizabeth 2nd. Nathaniel laughed and said, as he chased the young children, "I'm going to get you!" His daughter, Cate, let out a squeal and giggled. Mary smiled at the sound of her daughter's giggles as she read from her bible underneath a tree with her half-sister next to her, who practiced her Latin. The sound of the horns blaring grabbed the other's attention and they turned to see Elizabeth 1st entering the gardens, followed by her four ladies-in-waiting. Mary made her way over to her husband, gently ushering her daughter to stand in front of them. Elizabeth 2nd then ushered her half-brother and half nephew to stand in front of her. Elizabeth 1st smiled at her family as they curtsied/bowed to her. She said, chuckling, "Enough of that. Please, continue." Nicholas' face lit up and said, running over to his mother, "Mama!!" Elizabeth knelt down to her son's height and said, opening her arms, "Nicholas!"
Elizabeth's four ladies-in-waiting all smiled at the mother-son moment. The moment was ended when Cate called for her cousin. Cate said, as she stood next to Edward with her father, "Nicholas, come! Papa's going to take us to the stables to go horseback riding!" Nicholas turned to his mother and said to her, "May I, Mama?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, following over to the other children and Nathaniel, "Of course, my darling." She took Nathaniel aside and whispered to him, "I want you to be careful with them, Nathaniel. There are others who will take the advantage of them. *Nathaniel nodded* Another thing, if you come across Sir Edward, absolutely under no circumstance, is allowed be near or with Edward." Nathaniel nodded and bowed to his sister-in-law.