I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 116

Became the King of the Crusaders – Episode 116

The Eagle of Broken Oath (1)

* * *

“How was pretending to be me?”

“Let me just say this: I thought I was going to suffocate.”

Aig said, taking off his helmet.

I received the helmet he handed me.

“I never knew pretending to be a young master all day would be this difficult.”

Aig said.

“I used to want to live as royalty for just one day.”

“It’s not a very pleasant experience.”

I replied with a smile.

I couldn’t adapt when I first arrived in this world either.

There were all sorts of traditions and rules.

It was like a jungle where you’d be eaten alive if you stood still for even a moment.

Well, I’m used to it now.

“What happened with stopping the mercenaries?”

“I caught them attacking the village red-handed. Actually, it’s a bit of a longer story than that.”

I said, leaving the tent.

Marshall and Richard were bringing in the captured mercenaries.

This is a really strange situation, too.

Jeffrey’s mercenary band attacked young Henry’s territory.

And Marshall and Richard suppressed them.

I was curious about how Jeffrey and Bertrand would react.

They must have thought they had chased Marshall away.

Now it was time to shatter those expectations.

First of all, to do that, Bertrand…

I need to target that guy first.

“King Henry the Younger is waiting for you, sir. He said he also summoned Bertrand.”

Aig said, sticking close to me.

We passed through the tent together and headed towards the center of the camp.

The sun was slowly setting.

Some soldiers walked around and lit torches.

“Exactly what kind of person is Bertrand that you’re going to such lengths? He just seemed like an ordinary poet or nobleman.”

“He’s no ordinary minstrel. He’s practically the one who instigated this war.”

I said.

The nobles of this era used war for their own benefit.

Bertrand went a little too far.

He was also the one who spread the rumor that William Marshall had committed adultery with the Queen.

He must have used the minstrels under his command.

‘Troubadours (traveling poets and musicians)’

They swayed the court’s public opinion.

At the same time, they also acted as spies.

“So, are you going to kill him?”

“There’s no need to kill him right now. He’s still got some use.”

As we approached the tent in the center of the camp, the guards bowed and stepped aside.

“Your Majesty is waiting, sir.”

As I went inside, I saw huge tables.

But there were only two people inside: young Henry and Bertrand.

The two of them looked at me at the same time.

Henry smiled and stood up.

“Y-you, sir! Please come this way. I don’t think I’ve had the chance to introduce Bertrand y-yet.”

“I don’t think introductions are necessary.”

I looked at Bertrand.

I could feel a slight tension from him.

He must be wondering why I suddenly came.

“Because I already know him well.”

* * *

“As Your Majesty said, it seems this is the first time I’ve had a conversation with you, sir. It is a great honor to meet the esteemed one from Jerusalem.”

Bertrand said.

A muscular body could be seen through the silk clothes.

A physique closer to a warrior than a minstrel.

“I’ve also heard many stories about you.”

After saying that, I looked at young Henry.

“Lord Marshall and Duke Richard will probably arrive here around tomorrow. They asked me to give Your Majesty their greetings in advance.”

“I-is that so?”

“Marshall is coming with Duke Richard? What does that mean, Your Majesty?”

Bertrand looked back and forth between me and Henry with wide eyes.

“I-it’s exactly what it s-sounds like. The two of them are c-coming here to see me.”

Henry looked at the minstrel.

A brief silence fell.

“D-did you really think I believed your w-words? That Marshall committed adultery with m-my wife?”

“I never said such a thing. I simply conveyed rumors circulating in the court to Your Majesty….”

“You’re the one who spread those rumors in the first place!”

Henry shouted.

A controlled anger could be felt.

Does he not stutter when he’s angry?

I stood in the center and looked at the two of them.

The atmosphere, which had been soft until just now, suddenly became tense.

“D-did you think I wouldn’t know that y-you joined hands with Jeffrey and sent a mercenary band?”

“Did you perhaps hear that from Marshall? He’s now making up non-existent lies to regain Your Majesty’s favor.”

Bertrand said in a seemingly calm tone.

But he couldn’t even hide the fact that cold sweat was running down his face.

“I don’t know what stories Your Majesty has heard, but it’s clear that Marshall was instigated by Duke Richard.”

“You keep lying.”

I interjected.

Bertrand frowned as he looked at me.

“With all due respect, sir, you have only been in this European land for a few weeks. So how do you know whether I am telling the truth or lying?”

“I know a lot, Bertrand of Born. You must have heard stories about me.”

I smiled slyly.

As if I wouldn’t know you.

If you start in the England camp, you’re the number one target for elimination.

That’s how much information I have about you.

The crimes, betrayals, and misdeeds this guy committed were countless.

Where should I start?

There are so many that it’s harder to pick just one.

“First, explain the funds you received from Duke Jeffrey and King Philip [King of France]. There must also be money you took from young Henry’s treasury.”

In fact, corruption wasn’t a crime in this era.

Rather, it would be strange not to embezzle money.

‘But stealing the king’s money is a different story.’

Which church he hid that embezzled money in.

Which nobles and lords helped him.

I read out the list one by one.

As my words continued, Bertrand’s expression gradually hardened.

The bewilderment gradually turned into fear.

I looked at him and smiled.

‘Can’t understand this situation itself?’

A suddenly appearing Jerusalem royal is rattling off his most secret secrets.

A stranger who knows all his secrets.

There was no scarier opponent than this.

Bertrand shouted, his face red.

“These are outrageous fabrications! Your Majesty, I have served Your Majesty and the English royal family all my life.”

“I-I have believed your w-words all along, Bertrand. I decided on th-this war because of you and your troubadours (minstrels).”

Young Henry said.

A controlled anger could still be felt.

“But a-after listening to the sir’s words, I understand why y-you wanted this war.”

He added.

“A-after investigating myself, everything the sir said was true. Are you g-going to deny even this?”

Bertrand turned his head towards me.

“S-sir, you probably don’t know how many men I have persuaded to join the Crusades so far. How can you falsely accuse a devout Christian like me of such things?”

He said.

“The believers of Europe will not tolerate your oppressive behavior, sir.”

“That’s a really funny claim. It seems like you still haven’t grasped the situation….”

I scoffed, as if to show off.

Now he’s even making such ridiculous threats.

“If I just send one letter to Rome, you’ll be excommunicated immediately. His Majesty Henry wouldn’t help you either.”

I looked at young Henry.

He nodded as if agreeing.

“Who would believe the words of an excommunicated person? Once it’s known that you embezzled money from the royal treasury, no one will take your side.”

“B-but that’s….”

Bertrand stood up and stammered.

His face was now white as a sheet.

Fear.

I could feel fear flowing through his whole body.

He grabbed Henry’s sleeve.

“Your Majesty, everything I have done has been for Your Majesty. I can explain everything!”

He said.

“Didn’t Your Majesty want to become a true King of England, not a puppet of his father?”

“…”

“If Your Majesty wins this war, no one will doubt Your Majesty’s power and strength! Everyone will praise and extol Your Majesty’s name!”

“So, you c-coaxed me into starting a war and kicked Marshall out? That was all for me?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Bertrand shouted, kneeling down.

He repeatedly kissed Henry’s instep as if begging for forgiveness.

“I am already the King of England.”

Young Henry frowned.

He said in a contemptuous tone.

“Whether you or others acknowledge it, I am already the King of England.”

“O-of course, Your Majesty!”

“I want to cut off your head right now, but….”

Henry said.

“I’ll give you a chance to save your life. Guard! Go and summon Jeffrey and the lords.”

He turned his head towards me.

“Sir, I owe you a great d-debt. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“I think it’s a little too early to thank me yet.”

I replied with a smile.

Soon Jeffrey and the other lords will come.

“Because tonight is just beginning.”

* * *

The nobles and lords entered the tent.

Each of them had a dissatisfied expression at the sudden summons.

Jeffrey was the last to enter.

He led the Frenchmen inside.

I looked at them one by one.

‘Philip II’s delegation.’

King Philip [King of France] must have also supported this war.

The King of France was officially a higher sovereign than the King of England.

But the territory he actually ruled was similar to Aquitaine or Brittany.

From France’s point of view, it was beneficial for Henry II’s sons to fight each other.

While the brothers were fighting each other, they could expand French territory.

“Oh, the reason I called you all here tonight is simple. Just yesterday, the t-troops led by Lord Marshall….”

Young Henry continued the explanation.

That the troops led by Marshall, Richard, and I had captured Jeffrey’s mercenary band.

A heavy silence fell as Henry’s words ended.

The lords were all just looking at each other, and no one opened their mouths.

Jeffrey was the first to speak.

He looked at me.

“Didn’t Sir Baudouin go hunting with Your Majesty for the past few days? So how did you go down south with Lord Marshall?”

“I can do many things.”

I replied with a smile.

I can’t say that Aig was there instead of me.

Because they can accuse me of deception.

It was an argument to distract from the point.

“Y-you committed a disgusting act, Jeffrey! Making it look like your mercenary bands were sent by L-Richard….”

“Brother, are you doubting me now? I rushed here immediately for you as soon as the war broke out.”

Jeffrey shrugged and asked.

His gaze turned to me again.

“I don’t know ‘who’ did it, but you’ve fallen into a conspiracy, brother.”

He said.

“I never sent a mercenary band to attack your village.”

“The ones who attacked the village were the mercenaries you d-dismissed, Jeffrey.”

“Someone may have re-recruited the mercenaries I dismissed, using my name. Anyone can do it if they set their mind to it.”

“…”

“This is really disappointing.”

Jeffrey burst into laughter.

“Are you doubting me with such flimsy evidence? I thought you were better than that, brother.”

I could feel a sense of relief from him.

He can be so calm even when his plan is exposed.

No matter how much evidence you present, he can just deny it.

But he won’t be able to deny this.

“Duke Jeffrey is right. Someone may have plotted this conspiracy to frame Duke Jeffrey.”

I said, standing up.

Everyone in the tent turned their attention to me.

Jeffrey smiled as if he thought I had surrendered.

He said.

“But everyone makes mistakes. I also….”

“But what if someone comes forward and testifies?”

“Testify? What do you mean?”

Jeffrey frowned.

I smiled at him.

Slowly turning my head, I looked at Bertrand.

A sinner trembling with a pale face.

“Bertrand of Born, don’t you have something to say?”