The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 114

Noble Prisoner

—1191, Nantes Castle—

The retreating army is visible in the distance.

It is the flag of the Capet royal family, gloriously embroidered with the golden lilies of the French kingdom.

They are truly pathetic. If it were the Burgundians, they would naturally flee with a flag bearing the insignia of their own territory.

To brazenly hold up the Capet royal family’s flag and run as if saying, ‘We are the army of the French kingdom!’ They must truly have no pride.

“The Burgundian army is retreating.”

“Let them be. There’s no benefit in chasing them anyway.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Chasing after them now might lead to an ambush, and our goal is to win the battle against the Breton army anyway.

Besides, my cheat-key brother Richard will take care of them anyway.

People are mistaken. They think Richard is fighting evenly against the armies of Philip II, William Marshal, and Prince Henry. But I, who toiled and sweated in the Crusades with Richard, know the truth.

Richard is hiding his strength.

He himself desires to be king. Richard’s power, which seeks to maintain the Angevin dynasty even by forming a marriage alliance with me, is formidable. In fact, considering only a single force, it would be comparable to Henry’s army.

‘And the Earl of Oxford’s legion has been added to that.’

Moreover, our great mother Eleanor, once considered the power behind the throne of England, has begun to actively support Richard.

Furthermore, the shrewd Richard would not have taken a passive offensive for the sake of the results in the Brittany campaign entrusted to me.

Others thought Richard was already engaged in a proper battle in the Aquitaine region, but his true power has not yet been unleashed.

If Richard had launched a proper all-out offensive, Philip would have already raised the white flag and surrendered faster than six weeks, begging, ‘Spare me,’ even if William Marshal, the sword of England, could stand against Richard.

Anyway, I have done my part. I won in the Brittany campaign.

Of course, I didn’t win solely through my own abilities.

I was lucky in many ways, and considering the interests of the European diplomatic and political scene, many people wanted David John to win over Goliath Geoffrey.

And quite a few of them invested in me.

Perhaps even my father, Henry II, who is probably drinking wine and watching his sons fight in the Angevin territories, has been secretly supporting me.

“Waaaaaah!”

I heard the victory cries of the Black Lion Army I lead.

How difficult must it have been for them?

First of all, I didn’t expect the French 2nd Company and the Burgundian army to come. Philip II would try to use tactics, but I thought he would only block Richard and underestimate me.

But now, none of that matters.

“Everyone, lay down your weapons.”

“The righteous English army has won!”

Like dividing the world into government forces and rebels in the Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392 to 1897].

Our Black Lion Army, which annihilated the White Lion Army in the Brittany campaign, was indeed the righteous English army.

Now, I have to see the face of the loser.

“So, where is our esteemed traitor brother?”

Traitor brother.

A truly unfitting title, like ‘Your Majesty, Brother’ from the historical drama Taejo Wang Geon [a Korean historical drama], but so what? I won.

I made self-deprecating jokes about falling off a horse or being poisoned, but if I actually killed a relative in a conspicuous way, there would be too many consequences to bear.

Original John also suffered the consequences of alienating the knights by killing his nephew Arthur (Prince Geoffrey’s son) in a tactless and blatant manner, didn’t he?

Of course, in addition to that, my father and mother are still alive. Now that I have won cleanly, not in a chaotic battle.

I must become John of the High Castle and show Geoffrey what justice is.

“That is…”

But Geoffrey’s vassals seem to know me as the bloodthirsty Dangerous John. I’m really disappointed.

But I spoke with a noble demeanor.

“My royal father and mother are alive. Unless it’s on the battlefield? Now that the battle is over… how could I harm a relative?”

One of the noble prisoners who heard my words said.

“I understand. I will guide you.”

Anyway, when I went to the lord’s room, our noble prisoner Geoffrey seemed to be lying ill in bed. Was being defeated by me such a great source of frustration?

“…You’ve come. But did you really have to bring my captured vassals with you?”

“Don’t you know? I value the eyes of the world the most. I am, after all, Safe John.”

I know the history of how Original John failed miserably because he mismanaged his reputation. Original John couldn’t manage himself, but Safe John always chooses the safe path.

I looked at Geoffrey and felt something strange, so I immediately spoke.

“Brother, we should have a family reunion after a long time, but I don’t see your wife and Arthur.”

“Do you think I would fight while leaving my weaknesses exposed?”

‘Since you seem like you’re going to mess with my family, I made the first move. Even if something bad happens to me, my family must be safe.’ It’s like a father’s desperate appearance.

I protested to Geoffrey.

“Surely… you don’t think I would harm your wife and my cute nephew, do you?”

Geoffrey glared at me as if asking why I was asking something so obvious. I’m disappointed. The moronic Original John and Safe John are different!

“Anyway, we won the civil war. Ah, noble prisoners, please watch. My innocence. I am Safe John, who hates being slandered.”

“Yes… Your Highness.”

If you look at medieval Europe in a bad light, it’s the Dark Ages, and if you look at it in a good light, it’s the age of knights and faith. Of course, I feel that in the Middle Ages, you could have your nose cut off if you made a slight mistake.

So much so that even the French historians of the Baroque era, who were filled with medieval ‘뽕 [ppong, Korean slang for nationalistic pride],’ recalled what their sinister medieval French ancestors had done to England and said, ‘Ah, that was a bit much.’

Of course, those medieval Frenchmen are, of course, Philip and his friends who stole all sorts of territories from Original John.

I shouldn’t give those guys an excuse to spread strange rumors.

Anyway, I should have a conversation with our loser Geoffrey, right?

* * *

Approaching the bed where Geoffrey was, I didn’t make any unnatural expressions.

Of course, I didn’t bother to smile just because I wasn’t acting out an expression. Smiling in front of a loser, especially a sick person who is suffering, is something that requires considering national borders.

We are both English, and we were born with the blood of Anjou. Even so, could I commit the atrocity of mocking Geoffrey?

Anyway, Geoffrey was lying in bed.

‘This… isn’t this a scene from a historical drama?’

I thought this was a composition I had seen a lot. It’s a composition that reminds me of a scene that always appears in historical dramas, where a cherished subordinate dies, and the subordinate’s lord mourns beside him.

“Hmph, judging by your appearance. It seems you don’t intend to kill me.”

Geoffrey sighed as if relieved.

“Surely I wouldn’t do that, would I? Unlike my other brothers, I don’t like seeing others bleed.”

“Yeah, right.”

Of course, I was worried about malicious rumors spreading, so I winked at Geoffrey’s vassals inside, to put it bluntly, the nobles who had become high-ranking prisoners. I gave them a look that said I was safe, so don’t worry.

Of course, I have no intention of giving the defeated brother persimmons, marinated crab, or a glass of wine [traditional gifts given as a sign of reconciliation].

I’m just going to have a leisurely conversation in my own way.

“Your Highness, Prince John did not harm innocent lives. He also treated the prisoners well.”

Sir Courtney, one of the people who called me a traitor and Geoffrey’s right-hand man. He said with a complicated face.

Of course, if I interpret this, it is a loyal admonition to the lord, telling him not to provoke Safe John, who won as the brother, because he is still a good commander.

Then Geoffrey sighed.

“I was defeated by you.”

“You were defeated by me.”

Who was Geoffrey defeated by? Of course, he was defeated by me.

“How did you know my movements?”

“I predicted it based on the Great Rebellion.”

To be exact, not only the Great Rebellion. I know about the plan in the original history where Geoffrey and Philip II tried to take down Henry II and Prince Richard.

“John, come a little closer.”

Geoffrey suddenly called me in a friendly voice. Anyone who saw it would think it was a historical drama where we were close friends from the past, but our crossed fates made us fight.

But I am Safe John. I am someone who cannot take hasty actions until I confirm safety. If I become careless and get attacked by Geoffrey, my family’s life will become difficult. No matter how much my wife is ‘Hanna,’ there is a limit.

So, I said to my brother with a very cautious face.

“I will conduct a search to ensure safety.”

“What?”

“Just in case, I’ll have you searched for sharp objects.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It was a surprise inspection.

My loyal knight Charles led the soldiers and thoroughly searched every nook and cranny for any possible danger.

“You are safe.”

“Then… I’ll go a little closer.”

Of course, I maintained a safe distance. There might be variables.

However, I have loyal knights by my side. Geoffrey’s knights have already been disarmed, so there is not much to worry about.

So, I spoke to Geoffrey with a lighter heart than before.

Really sadly.

“Brother, it breaks my heart to see you like this. Those who wear the crown must bear its weight. But how much blood had to be shed for that damn crown?”

“A viper like the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

The Pharisees and Sadducees were the old-fashioned, corrupt factions of Judaism that plagued Israel during Jesus’ lifetime, and Jesus famously called them ‘you vipers.’ In other words, Geoffrey gave me a special compliment, saying that I was a bad guy like those guys.

Well, I did do a pretty good job in the civil war.

I escaped well.

I ambushed well.

I dragged it out well.

Complete Duke of Ireland for the win, England for the win level, right?

“Thank you for the compliment.”

When I didn’t show humility, Geoffrey said coldly this time.

“Besides, while pretending to be innocent. You attacked my political base.”

“I never did that?”

“You cunning thing.”

Geoffrey’s base is Brittany, but Geoffrey’s political base is the pro-French faction.

To be exact, they are the people who think that although France looks weak, it can be used to check Henry II and Richard’s forces depending on how it is used.

But I secretly created a ‘pro-Safe John’ faction in France.

They don’t openly take my side because of their lord Philip II, but they secretly play a role in checking Geoffrey’s faction.

Of course, Geoffrey would have realized that late. I may not be good at scheming like Geoffrey, but at least I let the French nobles know in a ‘Bourbon’ style that if I fail, they will also be in trouble.

Ah, weren’t the future Bourbon kings, even Louis XIII and Louis XIV, truly terrifying kings who were good at coaxing the nobles?

* * *

First, I sent a letter to Richard, who is fighting hard.

Richard hates unnecessary words, so instead of using frivolous expressions, I sent a letter saying, ‘I have finished pacifying the Brittany region. How much support do you need? Can I come?’

But looking at the reply, Richard didn’t think I needed to come all the way to the Aquitaine region. He only asked for support for the supply unit.

And in the last passage.

He left a meaningful phrase like, ‘The war is already over the moment you defeated Geoffrey and Burgundy’s army!’

Understanding the meaning, I decided to hasten the stabilization of Brittany.

The people in the Brittany territory are a heterogeneous people who are different from England and France in terms of blood and culture, but I know how to control them well. Treat them as Angevins.

The Bretons have probably already heard the rumors. The story of how Safe John, a prince from mainland England, did not treat people from Ireland, Mortain, and Scotland, as well as Copts and converted Middle Easterners, carelessly.

Even though the loser entrusts the treatment to the winners, I did not approach them directly. The reason was simple.

I know very well that if I, the commander of the enemy who had been at odds with them until recently, approached them carelessly as the winner, the people of the territory would feel burdened in many ways.

I indirectly managed public sentiment by using Geoffrey’s vassals, who had become noble prisoners.

“Father.”

A noble that Robin responds to.

Of course, it is a noble that I know very well.

“Hey, His Highness comes first now.”

The noble was more important to me, the prince, than his son.

“Your Highness, you have worked hard.”

“I didn’t do anything. Only the vassals did well.”

A middle-aged noble with sharp eyes in front of me smiled and replied.

“Talent utilization, that is also Your Highness’s ability.”

“That’s… by the way, I have something to say to the person next to you.”

But Duke Norfolk was not important to me now. The person next to him was important.

“I defeated Geoffrey. Does this mean I passed the test?”

I put on my helmet so that my face could not be seen and spoke politely to the person on the right of Duke Norfolk.

“…!”

When I suddenly spoke in polite language, the vassals looked at me with eyes as if asking if this prince had heatstroke.

Ha, how can there be so little trust? Surely this fresh Safe John hasn’t gone senile.

“Yes, you passed.”

As I thought.

The man who took off his helmet is Henry II, the middle-aged king who almost died from a shameful death by overexertion.