The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 11

[Episode 11, Peaceful Territory]

To understand the secret of the Plantagenet family, you need to know Godfrey is truly a ‘bastard of my mother’s friend.’

[How could you impregnate my friend Adele and pass the child off as belonging to that whore Ykenai?

You, I’m really going to kill you.]

[Your Majesty, please listen to me.]

[Shut up, Henry!]

In fact, his biological mother is a close friend who grew up with my mother since she was a princess.

Anyway, when considering Godfrey’s background and choosing what to say, Peter spoke first, not me.

“What brings you here, Brother Godfrey?”

“I simply came to see Prince John.”

Among countless bastards,

Only Godfrey and Peter are special people.

Of course, I feel sorry for Peter, but Godfrey, as the first and most accomplished bastard, has a slightly higher reputation.

If Peter is a typical civil official who uses strategy rather than force,

Godfrey was a man of both literary and military talent, good at fighting and smart.

“Amazing. I didn’t expect Lord Godfrey to come find me himself.

First, I’d like to clarify my title. I am now the Count of Mortain.”

Although I spoke kindly, considering it was my first meeting with Godfrey,

I wanted him to call me Count, not Prince.

It’s because I wanted to present myself as a lord, not just a prince, to Godfrey.

“Then I will call you Count of Mortain.”

“Anyway, nice to meet you, Lord Godfrey.”

Godfrey.

He is, after all, the most capable of all the bastards Henry II fathered.

A talent on par with my mother’s friend’s bastard!

Would such a smart man come to me for no reason?

Absolutely not.

“Let’s go inside first.”

Conscious of the eyes and ears around us, I moved the conversation to a more private location and addressed Godfrey directly.

“Lord Godfrey, what brings you to the Mortain territory? Did Peter ask you to come?”

I said that while looking at Peter. But Peter wore an innocent expression.

It meant that he didn’t know Godfrey would come here either.

“I came to this territory of my own volition, but I hope you don’t expect anything. I have no intention of becoming your vassal, Count.”

Godfrey, who slightly softened his words, looked at me and said.

“The Count knows the reason well.”

I was a little upset because of his firm stance, but he wasn’t wrong.

If he were to attach himself to legitimate royalty, it would be Henry, Richard, or Geoffrey.

There’s no way he would come to me, who is just starting to build power.

“I know it well. I don’t have a solid base yet.”

As I acknowledged the fact,

Godfrey told me another fact.

“Count, I apologize, but I would like to speak frankly. The Count of Mortain must feel a sense of crisis now.”

“What do you mean?”

A warning from the start; he is extraordinary in many ways. Godfrey!

“The moment you took the territory, the game of thrones has already begun.”

“Isn’t that a story for brothers who are likely to aim for succession or control valuable territories?”

Yes, frankly, I’m still in a safe zone where I don’t want to get involved in that game.

I’ll back Richard [Richard the Lionheart, John’s older brother] at the right time later.

I don’t care if those scary brothers have a family fight among themselves.

Anyway, I’m quietly gathering strength, and I’ll show something during the next ‘rebellion’.

But objectively, I’m just a novice lord right now.

There’s no way my brothers would leave me alone!

While thinking that,

Godfrey, who took a sip of wine, said to me.

“Even if the Count declares neutrality, the world doesn’t work that easily.”

“What do you mean?”

I’m just trying to live diligently in the safe zone,

In the remote Mortain territory.

When I made a questioning expression, thinking, ‘Who would try to harm me?’

“What if the Capetian dynasty [The ruling house of France] intervenes in the Mortain territory when the other princes stand by?”

Godfrey said, looking at me indifferently.

Capetian

Dynasty!

In an instant, Peter and my expressions hardened.

King Philip II of France, who recently ascended the throne,

I don’t know what kind of conspiracy that sinister guy will plot.

Thinking of France, the source of all evil, my hands trembled, and I barely held back my anger.

‘I’m sorry, Louis XIII. I’m not talking about the Kingdom of France. I’m talking about those East France bastards.’

In my previous life, because of French dramas,

I was a passionate fan of Bourbon France.

But now I like France so much that I wish it would be divided into three parts.

Just as I became alert, Godfrey raised the corners of his lips and said.

“I actually came to sell information to the Count.”

That’s mean.

Even though we were born of the same seed, he’s going to get paid for the information.

But I couldn’t refuse.

“Okay. I’ll buy information from you.”

Information is like life to me, who has just started managing the territory.

**

‘This is a hopeless neighborhood.’

Lady Mary, the Countess of Mortain, who heard the information from the Earl of Hartford,

From the beginning, she knew that this Mortain territory was full of filth.

Of course, she could have dug deeper,

But she didn’t forget that moving people openly could arouse vigilance.

‘Then I should use the noble ladies.’

There are many cunning noble ladies, but there are more who are not.

Originally, the mouths of women steeped in vanity are light.

Mary, who invited the noble ladies with the authority of the Countess, said with a calm smile.

“I’m Mary, the mistress of Mortain.”

She spoke in fluent French, as befitting a noblewoman of England,

But it was mixed with a unique Norman accent.

“Everyone, I have one thing to say. Please take good care of me in the future.”

“Yes, Countess.”

The noble ladies pretended to comply, watching my mood, but Mary could feel it with a woman’s sense.

That there are many noble ladies looking at her with bad feelings.

‘Interesting.’

Mary, who had already obtained information about what kind of place Mortain territory was before her husband took office.

‘They are our enemies.’

I realized for sure.

That only a very small number of noble ladies here can be trusted.

But Mary didn’t show it.

A lion hides in the bushes before catching its prey.

The moment these local nobles show a gap.

The full-scale hunt will begin.

‘First, shall we see what my husband is doing?’

Having finished thinking that, Mary drank fresh milk.

**

I had a territory just for me,

But I wasn’t in a position to leisurely manage the territory like the main character in a medieval territory management novel (a novel in which you manage a territory and later become a lord).

Because there were many problems in the Mortain territory.

According to the information I bought from Godfrey at a high price,

The current state of the Mortain territory was ‘very unstable’.

‘I knew they gave me the title of Count so easily.’

I already knew that managing the Mortain territory would not be easy when I was in England.

Still, I was confident because

The agent my father sent would solve some of the territory’s problems.

But my father’s agent was a mop-up pitcher, not the savior I expected.

“What on earth did the agent my father sent do?”

“Still, you have to thank King Henry II. At least he maintained the status quo, didn’t he?”

Listening to Peter, maintaining the status quo alone is a great thing.

“That’s right, I have to be satisfied with just that much.”

I was able to properly understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world,

And I think I know why my brothers readily agreed to let me have the Mortain territory.

“Still, this is a decent piece of land for a first-time lord.”

It was a territory I wanted to pass on to others right away,

But Peter said it was a good territory for a first-timer.

Amazing, the Middle Ages.

Do first-time lords take on territories that are all messed up?

I expected it after seeing the ragged clothes of the free people a while ago,

But how much did these nobles eat here?

“Ha… these guys.”

I can understand to some extent that the local nobles of the feudal Middle Ages eat this and that.

But in the Mortain territory, which could be a strategic stronghold in Normandy,

Defense corruption is crossing the line.

Stealing or not paying the salaries of the knights, who are the core of military power.

“Ha… these guys.”

I was very angry,

But I can’t just step out because I’m angry.

“Peter, what should I do?”

“Now that we have secured the evidence, we must deal with the rats.”

Rats.

Of course, I have to deal with them.

Mortain is the first territory I have taken.

There’s a problem here, so I ask Richard [Richard the Lionheart, John’s older brother] for help?

Then it’s perfect for ruining my reputation.

‘Should I deal with the nobles?’

But, if possible, I don’t want to turn against the local noble forces of Mortain.

I think I need to think a little differently.

The authority of the local nobles that I respect is only for the nobles who pay for bread.

The bastards who ruined the territory’s finances are going to get a beating.

“Ha…”

“You must control your emotions.”

“I need to think for a while.”

It’s a problem that I can’t easily make a decision on.

Even if I’m a successful prince of England,

I am now an independent first-time lord.

I have to think about that point.

“Prince, I will tell you the plan according to whatever decision you make.”

That’s why I like Peter.

That there is an answer to any choice.

Thinking about it,

The nobles who committed corruption were swollen with guts,

I thought it was because there was something they believed in.

“This smells like a conspiracy? It’s a corruption that they can’t do unless they’re crazy.

There is definitely a mastermind.”

“That person wants the Prince’s frustration.”

I think I know who it is.

That’s why I’m annoyed.

“Should I ask Richard [Richard the Lionheart, John’s older brother] for help with this?”

“Prince Richard will never get involved in this situation. He is testing Prince John.”

That’s right.

Duke Richard of Normandy did not interfere with my territory, which belonged to his command.

I have to do it myself.

Ha, I have a long way to go.

I thought it was just doing whatever I wanted in medieval Europe,

But there were surprisingly many things to think about.

I can’t just pretend I don’t know.

Because if you look too ridiculous, you will be used in the medieval world.

While worrying about that,

A knight from Mortain came to me urgently.

“Your Excellency, Count, we are in big trouble now. Bandits have invaded the outer castle.”

“What?”

Bandits are aiming for the outer castle.

Is the day of judgment near?

“These damn bastards.”

In an instant, a thought flashed through my mind.

“Everyone except Peter, step back.”

“Yes, Your Excellency, Count.”

Having moved people like that, we began a conversation in hushed voices.

Of course, in Greek, which I recently learned.

“Prince, that’s obviously a lie.”

“Yeah, it’s obviously a lie, right?”

“How can bandits aim for the outer castle walls? It’s probably mercenaries disguised as bandits.”

Peter’s statement was not wrong. What crazy bandit in the world would try to siege?

Of course, it must be mercenaries disguised as bandits.

Bandits my ass.

“There may be mercenaries playing tricks. But there must be other intentions.”

Yes, it’s obvious that they’re trying to lure me to the outer castle.

“Is it a lure?”

“Yes, that’s right. The Prince must step up in this kind of situation.”

“That’s right. As long as I’m a first-time lord, there are things I need to show.”

In England, where titles are precious, I am a Count with suspiciously many powers,

Moreover, I am a precious prince of England.

Originally, it is right to send subordinates to take care of bandits and mercenaries.

But I have to instill in the people the perception that I, John, am a reliable fence.

“The problem is what those rats want.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Then what should we do?”

“You can be fooled. Anyway, we have the troops that the Claire family lent us, right?”

Not long after that,

Wearing a medieval lord set such as armor and helmet, I got on the saddle of a white horse and said.

“It’s a subjugation!”

Brother-in-law Heinrich [Heinrich the Young, son of Henry II]