The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 7

‘She surprisingly resembles Sailor Moon from Japanese anime.’

Anyway, she is a beauty with delicate features and luscious blonde hair, but judging from her sharp eyes, she seems to regard me with distaste.

However, I already understood the reason for her disgust.

This is the Middle Ages.

To compare it to Greek and Roman mythology:

It’s an era where the strong Hercules, who wrestles lions, is more admired than Orpheus, who plays the lute.

Rather than a pretty boy who sings well,

an era where a manly man who reliably protects women is more appealing.

The reason is that the Middle Ages suffered from poor security and frequent wars.

In this world, the romance of a knight is a luxury that only strong knights who have survived countless battlefields can enjoy.

In that sense, my first impression might not be favorable.

The young count’s sister stared at me and said.

“Your Highness, I would be very disappointed if my future husband were weaker than me.”

“Mary, that’s rude!”

Mary’s brother feigned anger.

But I wasn’t bothered by Mary’s words.

“Am I that displeasing to you?”

“Then shall we settle it with a duel?”

At my provocation,

Mary smiled bashfully for the first time and said.

“Your Highness, I’m a little excited. How about a duel with wooden swords?”

“Not bad.”

Of course, the Count said worriedly.

“Your Highness, are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Don’t worry. I am a descendant of the great conqueror. And a duel with wooden swords, not a jousting match, is quite safe, isn’t it?”

As I showed such a positive attitude,

the Count pretended to sigh.

He agreed to our lighthearted duel.

“Start.”

The moment the wooden sword moved.

I saw it.

Mary, who saw me as just a lute-playing amateur, looked at me with arrogant eyes, viewing it as an elementary lesson rather than a sparring match.

‘Well, I like that.’

She was careless. Completely!

She had already lost to me before the duel even started.

The moment the safe zone, where I had been hiding my power, turned into a dangerous zone.

Blocking Mary’s first attack.

The moment Mary was shocked.

Quickly counterattacking, I aimed the tip of my wooden sword at her neck.

The match ended there.

“…”

The duel process is not important.

Winning is all that matters.

Compared to Richard’s terrifying swordsmanship, which inspires fear itself,

and my father Henry II’s amazing swordsmanship, which he only displays on rare occasions,

Mary’s swordsmanship was cute enough to enjoy with a smile.

The youngest prince, who was thought to be weak, is actually a hidden powerhouse?

The blonde beauty Mary looked at me with that expression.

She still couldn’t accept reality,

staring blankly at my wooden sword.

No matter how pretty you are,

the world of competition is ruthless.

The descendants of gum-chewing Vikings [a humorous reference to the Normans’ Viking heritage] should know that.

Anyway, I.

“I’m disappointed, Mary.”

I was genuinely disappointed in Mary.

The reason I won this match so easily was that Mary didn’t take it seriously from the start.

She must have underestimated me.

But even if she had fought properly, I would have won.

The world just mistakenly thinks I’m a weak youngest son who enjoys minnesang [medieval German love songs].

But is our family that easily underestimated?

My grandmother is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Norman family, who inherited the blood of William the Conqueror.

My grandfather was the heir to the Angevin family, who survived the struggles of the shady French nobles.

Father Henry II, born from the combination of Norman and Anjou.

He did not tolerate ‘weak’ sons, and that included me, whom he cherished.

He is a heartless father who put me through the wringer, just like Richard.

Moreover, I have experience killing people in my previous life in the 21st century when World War III broke out.

When I held a sword, I became a dangerous zone.

“…”

Mary still couldn’t speak, as if she was dizzy.

“Your Highness, why did you deceive me?”

“Before that, Miss Mary, let me ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Since when.”

“Yes?”

“Since when did you mistakenly think I was bad at swordsmanship?”

“That… that’s.”

Seeing her flustered, I smiled brightly and said.

“You were careless. If you had dueled properly, I would have lost.”

Woah, I won’t hurt you, miss.

I’m in a safe zone now.

At that time.

Clap clap clap.

The people watching started clapping.

Unexpected twists always excite people.

Prince John, who used to play the lute, is actually quite skilled.

The people who were moved clapped.

“More than expected, Your Highness.”

The young lady’s brother.

My future brother-in-law, Earl of Hartford, was satisfied.

Yes, that’s it.

As I basked in the afterglow of victory,

the Earl of Hartford said.

“As I said before, our Clare family welcomes Prince John. This marriage too.”

The Clare family had been subtly seeking a connection to the royal family for a long time,

and the Plantagenet royal family also desired an alliance with the Clare family.

In common terms, a fateful meeting was made.

At the banquet hosted by the Clare family, the Earl of Hartford said, looking at me holding a glass of wine imported from Gascony [a region in France known for its wine].

“I was surprised in many ways today. Your Highness’s swordsmanship, and your alcohol tolerance.”

Even if my swordsmanship is so-so, I was also strong in alcohol.

I was strong in alcohol to the point of being called a boozehound in my previous life, and in this life, I am the same man who is strong in alcohol.

When the atmosphere was good,

the Earl of Hartford asked me suddenly.

“I’m curious what Prince John will bestow upon our family.”

Of course, I had already decided on the answer.

“I will be the scabbard of the Clare family.”

It means that I will be the justification for advancing to the center of power.

“…”

The Earl of Hartford, his retainers, and Mary were surprised by my answer.

I said nonchalantly, looking at them.

“Didn’t everyone expect it?”

Hey, your acting is too obvious?

The duel is just for the entertainment of the Clare family’s young lady.

The moment Henry II agreed to my will and sent a letter to the Earl of Hartford,

this marriage has already been decided.

The duel must have been a formality for entertainment.

And a few days later, I went on a date with Mary.

“Lady Mary, is this a date?”

“This is our family’s way of dating. So don’t go easy on me this time.”

Mary, who has now become a persistent challenger with a wooden sword, wanted a rematch.

It was really difficult in the Middle Ages.

**

Henry II, who saw me asking for an audience after a long time, said.

“Now I understand. The proposal to the French princess was not your true feelings.”

“That was an act to promote the name of this youngest son.”

I spread the image of Prince John in love to various countries around the world.

“Name?”

“Father, originally, the youngest prince with three great older brothers tends to have no presence. But now the world knows my name along with Princess Agnes.”

“Now your brothers will see you, John, not as a lovely younger brother, but as a political rival.”

Even at my father’s words,

I didn’t change my expression.

“Rather, I think I will become a more lovable youngest son to my brothers. A youngest son who hides his ambition until the end is shady, but how cute is a youngest son who openly shows small greed.”

I hope so.

**

This is the Normandy territory in the French region.

The news that the youngest John is about to get married brought the married brothers together.

The young King Henry, the joint King of England and Southern France.

Duke Richard of Gascony, who is increasing his influence through territories bordering France.

The fearsome and shady Geoffrey, called the ruler of the cold Northwest.

The brothers who joined forces against their indifferent father Henry II during the Great Rebellion.

Now brothers are fighting an invisible battle.

They gathered in one place like this.

Of course, they gathered because of the youngest John’s marriage partner.

“The Clare family. It’s a useful but ambiguous family. Our youngest is not very charming.”

The young King Henry was pleased.

In a sense, it is the youngest son who revealed his ambition.

John’s thinking of marrying them is to externally reveal his ambition to make external force his own.

But as the next English monarch, young King Henry was not so upset.

‘A new variable is created in this game.’

Rather, he was relieved. He saw the purpose of the youngest son.

“The eldest brother is mistaken. John didn’t hide it in the first place.”

Geoffrey said nonchalantly.

The rulers of England, who inherited the blood of the Normans, are not as cowardly as the effeminate French.

Especially the princes who have already committed patricide [the act of killing one’s father].

Geoffrey smiled.

He could see exactly how that arrogant eldest brother Henry thought of John.

The emergence of a new figure to check Richard and Geoffrey, that is the youngest brother John.

“I also think the same as Geoffrey. John, that guy didn’t hide his ambition from the beginning. An ambition that kept the line.”

Young King Henry said to those brothers.

“What shall we give our cute youngest as a gift? Ah, that would be good.”

Soon after, when young King Henry said what the gift was.

“It’s a good gift.”

“John, that guy will like it very much.”

Richard and Geoffrey barely held back their laughter.

What young King Henry mentioned is a gift suitable for the youngest.

**

My marriage news became a big topic in England. The combination of the Clare family’s young lady and Prince John means the birth of another force.

Of course, I only got in-laws.

Now I needed the power of the clergy.

“I want the help of the clergy, but it’s impossible to get the support of my teacher’s forces yet. How can such cunning people like the clergy believe in me?”

Late 12th century.

In this era, the clergy were another power.

The clergy are not only using power in religion.

Those who can use power in religion!

Of course, their power can threaten the royal power.

But should we unconditionally reject it just because it’s poison?

The biggest reason why the original King John failed was not only his unique arrogant personality,

but also because his base was weaker than he thought.

Above all, the original King John did not know the hearts of people.

‘He didn’t have many people following him, and he couldn’t even trust those people.

It’s natural to lose to Philip [likely referring to Philip II of France].’

At that moment, I usually got along with the English Catholic forces,

and I thought of the person who would be the center of their forces.

“But before that, there is someone who can introduce the clergy. The first illegitimate son, Sir Godfrey.”

Of course, Godfrey is not a clergyman but a knight. The problem is that he is a knight who is really close to the clergy.

I looked at Peter’s reaction as I said that.

Then Peter said.

“Your Highness, please wait a moment. I am already in contact with Brother Godfrey.”

“As expected, Peter.”

“Before that, there is something you need to do, Your Highness.”

“What?”

“It’s untangling the tangled thread.”

A few days later, I finished class and had a private meeting with my teacher.

Thomas Becket [Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170].

I don’t know English history well.

I was unfamiliar with his existence.

I could tell.

This person is a born politician.

Well, there is no high-ranking clergyman in the Middle Ages who can’t do politics.

That’s why he was at odds with his father Henry II!

Peter said that he had to reconcile his teacher and Henry II. I agreed with that.

There must have been a lot of resentment, but time has passed, so now we have to resolve the resentment.

“Teacher, I have something to say earnestly.”

“Please speak.”

Even though I used the word earnestly, my teacher’s expression did not change at all.

“Can’t you forget the past and reconcile with my father now?”

“Hahaha.”

The phrase often used as an introduction to a makjang drama [Korean melodramatic television series] is paradoxically forgiveness and reconciliation.

Of course, this forgiveness and reconciliation was necessary for Henry II now.

But my teacher laughed at my words.

Is forgiveness and reconciliation too difficult for the English version of Song Si-yeol [a prominent Korean Neo-Confucian scholar known for his rigid principles]?

At that time.

My teacher, who had been laughing for a while, showed a side that I never expected.

“Sob sob, I expected you to say something like this, Your Highness.”

Suddenly, he shed tears.

Found it, my love