The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 30

[30. The Pirates of Allah (2)]

-1184 AD, Mediterranean Sea-

“Those damn bastards!”

Charles, the commander of our Irish territory’s fleet, cursed.

It was because we were in a terrible situation.

‘Sh… sh…!’

I honestly felt like cursing too.

The pirate ships over there just kept increasing.

Have you ever seen such Zerg-like pirates?

They just keep coming!

“Fire the arrows.”

Lord Robin of Norfolk (the son of a nobleman) gave the order.

Today, the longbowmen shouted their loyalty and fired their arrows diligently.

-Phew.

A rain of arrows.

Expensive arrows made with my precious money.

Sending the pirates far away to Valhalla [Norse mythological hall for slain warriors].

But.

Like the Chinese army’s human wave tactics during the Korean War.

The tenacious Islamic pirates didn’t decrease in number.

Ah, Mother! Are you watching?

The Safe Zone is now Dangerous.

Those damn pirates!

What are our Crusader fleets even doing?

Seriously.

Why does a kind and wonderful prince like me, who volunteered as a diplomat in the Eastern Roman Empire, have to face this much interference?

Isn’t this going too far!

‘Endless swarms of Islamic pirates! This is so blatant. Is this the work of the Islamic Empire?’

Wow.

I took a moment to sort out my thoughts on this situation.

The endless pirate ships before my eyes.

It’s true that there are many crazy people in the Islamic Empire, which controls even the Persian region.

But.

To think there are guys who are even high on opium (poppy) and targeting me.

This isn’t just some impulsive act!

Even if rough winds and high waves block their path.

They just shout Allahu Akbar [God is the greatest].

As they began to swarm near our flagship.

The fanatical and dog-like voices were heard clearly again.

“Capture Prince John!”

“We must capture the infidel prince.”

‘Oh, another one added. Crazy bastards.’

This isn’t the Age of Exploration.

The Islamic bastards drooling over me.

Please just go away.

I’m not a capable commander like my brothers.

I’m just Prince Safe Zone!

The sight of them rushing at me with terrifying slogans.

But, even if they boarded our deck and tried to engage in close combat, I wasn’t that scared.

The difference between ‘pirates’ and regular soldiers is too clear.

The state of armament and the level of training.

The regular army’s standards couldn’t be easily matched.

Even if we killed everyone on the deck.

They increased again.

Ah, I need gunpowder.

“Capture the infidel prince!”

Of course, we have our troops on the deck.

“How dare you approach Prince John!”

The pirates who boarded the deck, like before.

-Phew.

Were hit by arrows.

-Swish.

Or were wildly sliced by greatswords.

“Waaaaa!”

But again, the number of pirates increased.

At this point, I was starting to feel a little uneasy.

“Ha, there’s no end to them.”

Godfrey said.

“Those bastards are targeting Your Highness.”

“It seems so.”

This.

Isn’t this exactly that?

They’re willing to die to take Safe Zone hostage?

Those bastards were making moves to capture me, a high-ranking noble and royal, to make a fortune.

It’s the Middle Ages now.

If an ordinary soldier or commander became a prisoner of war, they had to be prepared to have their head cut off or become a slave.

However, royals or influential nobles among the prisoners received special treatment. They were naturally not enslaved, and were usually not executed either.

Why is that?

Is it because medieval people had a consensus that they wouldn’t dare to touch their ‘superiors’ according to the class system?

Unfortunately, that’s not why medieval people did that.

The reason is that precious people are valuable.

Whether they were Muslims or Christians.

If they captured a precious person as a hostage, they would receive a huge amount of money as ransom.

Ha, the pirates increased again!

“Allahu Akbar!”

I’m speechless.

This, this. Ha.

Our Muslim friends.

So many.

So relentlessly!

“There are Moors (North Africans) too!”

PC [politically correct] black Muslim pirates also infiltrated.

Amazing, Medieval World!

“Are you crazy?”

Am I that tempting!

“Ha, I guess that means I’m the weak point of the Angevin-Plantagenet family. They must think I’m easier to deal with than my brothers.”

“Your Highness, I’m afraid something is suspicious. Our movements seem to have been exposed too much.”

“….”

“Besides, this is definitely not something pirates would plan.”

“Lord Godfrey, is there time to breathe!”

“Lord Norfolk, I’m sorry.”

I’m getting intimidated by mere pirates.

“They might not be pirates. Among those bastards. There seem to be retired soldiers too.”

“How can you tell?”

-Phew.

Shooting the Chinese army-like pirates of the Korean War. Cutting them down, sending them to the sea.

Some were dragged away as slaves.

Our Irish fleet.

We’re going to be overworked like this!

“Why are those Venetians so slow and sluggish.”

I cut down the pirates targeting me and complained.

“They’re doing piracy perfectly.”

Killing, killing, and killing again.

“Ha…”

But the pirates still don’t decrease.

Ha, I want to fire cannons.

But Safe Zone doesn’t know the gunpowder manufacturing method, nor does he have the foundation to make gunpowder.

Right then.

There was salvation from the Christians!

“Is that the Komnenos dynasty’s emblem?”

“Greek Fire! [incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine navy]”

“It’s the Eastern Roman Empire’s navy!”

“We’re saved!”

Soon after.

The Eastern Roman Empire’s fleet, which had incinerated the countless fleets of pirates with Greek Fire, approached us.

Our fleet gratefully welcomed the Eastern Roman Empire’s fleet.

Ah, ah.

Is this the true Roman Empire?

The Holy Roman Empire is neither holy nor Roman.

The Eastern Roman Empire, the direct descendants of Emperor Constantine, is the real Roman Empire.

Yes! That’s right.

Not long after.

The admiral who moved the Eastern Roman Empire’s fleet safely boarded our deck and greeted us.

“I am Isakios Komnenos, protecting the seas of the ‘Roman’ Empire. Welcome, distinguished guest.”

To think that even a more distant relative of the imperial family than that uncle Andronikos came out to greet me.

Surely, they didn’t just wait until I was exhausted before helping me, did they?

**

-Eastern Roman Empire, Peloponnese Theme-

Sigh.

The somewhat unsafe Dangerous John.

Overcame countless fears of death and finally arrived on land.

And returned to Safe Zone once again.

I said to my subordinates.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

My vassals, ‘Safe Friends!’

If it weren’t for these people.

I would have already been captured as a hostage and become a valuable commodity.

Wow! Just thinking about it makes me shudder.

Anyway, I felt grateful to the commanders who faithfully supported me like this.

Charles.

Robin.

Godfrey.

Anyway, I’m grateful and reassured! My happy safe friends, like Robin Hood’s merry men!

Having become safe like that, I went to the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Seeing the magnificent palace in front of me.

‘Wow, this is a real palace.’

I couldn’t help but admire it.

I’ve seen the palace in the South France territory and the palace in England proper.

But this palace is truly worthy of the name ‘Roman Empire.’

They say the name is also a sacred palace.

Just looking at the colors makes it incredibly sacred.

“Your Highness?”

Oops.

I’m not here to play, am I?

Anyway, I have a lot of work to do here.

Is it because the Emperor suppressed the rebellion that claimed to hate the West?

“Prince John has come to the Roman Empire!”

“A member of the Crusades has come!”

People who claim that they are the rightful heirs to the Roman Empire along with the Holy Roman Empire.

They pride themselves on being the honorable ‘best citizens in the world.’

And the place where they are is a place they call the ‘brilliant capital of the world.’

Having received a warm welcome, I paid my respects to Alexios, whom I had met once in England, and greeted him.

“I greet the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.”

“Welcome, my friend.”

I was deeply moved by the sight of Alexios II before me.

To think that the little boy stopped the rebellion of his uncle and sister.

And now reigns as the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.

“Welcome. To our Roman Empire.”

“Thank you for welcoming me, Empress.”

Empress Agnes, who is not as beautiful as my wife, but can be called a bit of a beauty, greeted me.

That little lady has completely become the Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire!

**

-Ireland, Leinster-

In the study that John, who had just safely arrived in the Eastern Roman Empire, had left behind.

There is a young child experiencing the pain of separation.

This child is James, born in ’82.

A child is already missing his departed father.

Anyone would think.

That something bad happened to the father.

But.

A young child who is not even 2 years old in European age.

Was just sad about John’s absence.

James cried out.

“Waaaaa!”

The maids who were watching how sadly James was crying almost cried with him.

Sniff!

After crying for a while, James said desperately.

“Papa, I miss you, Papa! Papa!”

When the maids were feeling embarrassed.

Mary, the relief pitcher, came in and hugged her son.

“James, stop! Don’t cry.”

“Mama… Where’s Papa?”

“He’ll be back soon. So don’t worry, James.”

“Papa….”

Mary put her son James, who was exhausted from crying, to bed for a nap.

And went to the rear of the lord’s castle.

And there.

Was Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was very beautiful for her age.

Unlike when she first met Mary last time.

“Did you put James to sleep?”

“Yes, I put him to sleep well.”

Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine warmly greeted her youngest daughter-in-law, using familiar language.

Mary also treated her mother-in-law more comfortably than before.

“Mary.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Eleanor looked at her young daughter-in-law Mary for a moment.

And.

Said with a face that showed more kindness than before.

“Would you like to take a walk with me?”

“I’d love to.”

“….”

It’s a walk between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law after a long time.

But the two didn’t talk.

They just enjoyed the cool sea breeze.

Just looking at the scenery of nature.

While being silent like that, Eleanor opened her mouth first.

“Henry d’Anjou (the old name of Henry II), I loved him terribly.”

As if reminiscing about the not-so-good past with Henry II, Eleanor smiled bitterly and continued.

“But our love ended in tragedy.”

“….”

Knowing that it was a reminiscence that didn’t expect an answer, Mary sympathized with her mother-in-law’s words with her ‘expression.’

“But you’re lucky. To have a good husband who doesn’t have a mistress yet.”

Regardless of whether they were English or French.

It was common to have a mistress less than a month after getting married.

John’s brothers, Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey, also.

Made quite a few mistresses according to that tradition.

To the mother-in-law’s words, who seemed to envy her daughter-in-law as the same ‘woman.’

Mary said with a relaxed smile.

“He’s an undeserved husband for me.”

“It’s humble even though you know I know everything about you…

But John will walk a very difficult path now. Nature is not kind to a lion cub that has just grown up.”

To the mother-in-law, who compared her son to a lion cub and was very ‘worried.’

Mary said with a lime-like refreshing smile.

“Mother. John… is no longer a spoiled youngest child. He is a ‘real adult’ with great dreams.”

“A real adult… That’s a phrase Henry used to use. Anyway, if that’s the case, I’m happy too.”

A few days after Mary and Eleanor’s walk ended.

A guest came to the Irish territory.

Matilda, the sister-in-law who was welcome to Eleanor but annoying to Mary, came.

“Have you arrived?”

“Have you come?”

“Mom, did you miss me? Your beloved daughter! I came to see this mother. Mary, long time no see.”

“Don’t bother Mary and stay still.”

“Tsk, how hard did I serve Mary in Mortain.”

Princess Matilda, who was doing odd jobs in the Mortain territory.

Brought one of her sons.

Matilda, who had already neatly folded her conscience and sent it flying into the sky, said while holding her son’s hand.

“Come on, come on~ Our cute Friedrich is here~ Mary, I’ll be in your care for a while.”

“That’s good, James needs a reliable older brother too.”

Mary greeted her sister-in-law with an adult-like smile.

Eleanor asked about her son-in-law.

“Matilda, where’s your good-for-nothing husband?”

“He joined the Duke of Norfolk.”

“He succeeded. He became a powerful figure in England, albeit temporarily.”

Eleanor smiled brightly.

Matilda looked at her mother and said.

“A powerful figure is just a powerful figure. It’s a position where you eat crow and sip wine.”

Matilda said to her son, who was making an awkward expression.

“Friedrich, you have to greet your cousin.”

“Hello James… My name is Friedrich.”

“….”

The son of Safe Zone, who had been silent for a moment.

“Hyung [Korean word for older brother], let’s play!”

James, who looked at his cousin, who was 7 years older than him, with innocent eyes,

Started to forget about his father John.

The wind of the desert and the sea