Of Pride and Power Chapter 2

Some interesting things are developing and I have added a can of worms to this story. You now know there's more than just an alternate England in this story at play, we also have a different and more bloody version of the reformation going on in Europe.

Yes, modern technology and knowledge have reached this world, but it has not been transferred fully to the point of mass production. While it is true, that you could produce tanks and aircraft with Renaissance-era manufacturing techniques, i.e. Leonardo Da Vinci had an entire notebook of inventions and ideas that were prototypes for tanks, planes, and helicopters, doing it in mass scale and with proper quality control is going to be tough. Industrialization is required to adequately achieve this. While it was a smart move to take over an institution like the Catholic Church of this era with its vast social network, military connections, and territory, Italy is not an ideal center of industrial development due to the distances between various resources. It's something Isekai manga authors have considered, like Er Mu about the introduction of modern weapons technology or Harry Turtledove in his WorldWar series. Local battlefield advantage does not mean instant conquest.

As for the introduction of Robert Dudley, it's history. Eli is bossy, but at times, can be quite fragile. Someone needs to be Eli's confidante, friend, and partner just as Elizabeth had Robert Dudley. Despite what historians have said about him, Robert Dudley played several important roles in Elizabeth reign, including helping establish English industries, trading companies, and the navy. His last letter to Elizabeth was kept in her private collection until her death, with her hand-written note on it "His Last Letter", underpinning her own love for him. They had one of my favorite love stories from that era, so I will try to do my own version of it, hopefully with less tragedy.

Lastly, this is the 13th rule of power: "When asking for help appeal to people's self-interest, Never to their mercy or gratitude". The concept can apply two fold to both Lord Ashley seeking Eli's help with the royal court's in-fighting and the dynamic between Eli and Robert. Self-interest exist in both. 

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Notes:

1. Some foreshadowing in the story, but it's going to get very bloody. Edward, Mary, and Eli will each have to fight and maneuver, both against each other and outsiders. This was a tumultuous time in European history between the reformation between protestants and catholics, along with the changing rulers on the thrones of European nations like England, France, and Holy Roman Empire. 

2. Interesting fact, Elizabeth I was a real polygot, she could speak a lot of native languages of the UK along with Latin at a young age. Additionally, she learned French, Greek, Spanish, and Portuguese, I was inspired to add this unusual gift for language as a special ability to Eli, which is my nod to the historical figure I am basing the character on.

3. As for table manners, to all those interested in writing historical fiction stories in this era, please remember "England did not adopt Utensils" until the 17th century. Meaning a lot of their meals were eaten by hand and knives. Modern people imagine English dining as refined and formal with various utensils to symbolize upper-crust refinement, but Aristocrats back in the 16th century were nothing like their modern counterparts. The French, Italians, and Spanish adopted the use of spoons an forks far earlier. Dining etiquette was limited in England.