The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 115

115. A Harmonious Family (1)

The War of the Lions.

The conflict between the Black Lion Army and the White Lion Army.

A civil war ostensibly to determine new titles for Richard I and Henry III, respectively.

Some believed this war was merely a conflict between princes, but.

Behind the visible battles was a war of pride between the royal couple.

It was no coincidence that Henry II nearly died from overexertion during his “adult games” (a euphemism for his extramarital affairs).

The incident was orchestrated by a woman sent by Queen Eleanor, his legal wife, who knew Henry II’s sexual preferences intimately.

Henry II, who almost died from exhaustion, was initially unaware of this. However, perhaps due to his brush with death, he feigned illness and had the matter investigated.

‘That damned woman.’

He discovered that the person who plotted his demise by sending beautiful women was none other than his wife, Eleanor, whom he both loved and resented.

However, upon learning this, Henry II felt regret rather than anger, a departure from his younger days when he would freely curse Eleanor.

Henry II immediately signaled the Duke of Norfolk using a prearranged code on the bed.

The Duke of Norfolk enforced a strict blockade, forbidding anyone except the Earl of Surrey, a vassal completely loyal to Henry II, from entering the bedroom.

Even when the Earl of Surrey went to Ireland to indirectly assist Prince John, Henry II felt a profound regret.

‘Am I regretting my life so far… that’s impossible.’

This was a thought that Henry II, a man accustomed to arrogance, would never have entertained.

‘Was I neglectful?’

How else could Eleanor, even in her old age, attempt to assassinate him through a beautiful woman? It must be because she harbored years of resentment towards her husband.

“But… I did my best.”

It might be an excuse, but just as Eleanor, born as the Duchess of Aquitaine, could not become an ordinary woman, Henry II, who inherited the blood of the William family through his mother, could not become an ordinary man.

He was born when England was still ascendant and spent his adolescence as England began to falter. He became a young man again, overcoming numerous near-death experiences to maintain his position as the Count of Anjou and the King of England. In his later years, he endured suffocating times keeping his ambitious children in check.

He had lived his life doing his best, enough to hold his head high before anyone.

But as he reflected, another thought crept into Henry II’s mind.

“No, maybe I’m just an old man who neglected his family, like King Solomon.”

Seeing the strange events unfolding as he aged, he was reminded of his past.

He used to be angry at Eleanor, his legal wife, for her perceived mistreatment and lack of understanding, leading to a prolonged cold war, but.

Now, in retrospect, it seemed pointless.

Perhaps, this was an opportunity.

To give his wife Eleanor what she wanted most. To give his beloved youngest son, John, what he desired.

That is, to elevate Prince Richard to Richard I.

“What should I do….”

But Henry II, in conversation with the Duke of Norfolk, hesitated. Should he actively support this or not?

“If Your Majesty has made up your mind, you must immediately provide proper support to the Black Lion Army. In the name of the Seven Aristocrats (the most powerful noble families).”

“But Duke of Norfolk, wouldn’t that undermine the purpose of the civil war?”

“I am sorry to say, but does Your Majesty wish for the princes to waste their strength?”

It was a blunt statement, but Henry II wasn’t offended. His intentions were transparent anyway.

‘Above all, John, that child, to survive under his brother… he must demonstrate to the world that he is contributing to his brother’s success.’

Complete trust is an illusion. Just as Henry II himself betrayed Eleanor, and Eleanor instigated a major rebellion using them as pawns, trust and promises are always fragile.

Even though he outwardly refrained from direct assistance, Henry II, who had always cherished Prince John, secretly aided the Black Lion Army in subtle ways.

He discreetly wrote letters to Eleanor and his daughter-in-law Mary, as well as to Richard, with whom he had a strained relationship.

Time passed.

“Your Majesty, Prince John’s Black Lion Army has captured all of Brittany except for Nantes.”

“Huh, I’m proud of my son!”

Henry II, upon hearing from his informants that Prince John had virtually conquered Brittany and was on the verge of capturing Nantes’ inner castle, exclaimed.

“Now I must announce my recovery to the world.”

* * *

―1191, Nantes Castle―

The fact that our esteemed father appeared to me on the battlefield signifies to the world that he is healthy and well.

Perhaps, he has already taken care of the subsequent arrangements.

Henry II, who collapsed while indulging in women, feigned his collapse, and then made a triumphant return.

I think he’s truly amazing, to the point where my chest swells with pride.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“I’ve been through a lot.”

When I wore a sulky expression, my father’s lips curved into a slight smile, and he said.

“Let’s take a walk for a while.”

“What about Geoffrey?”

When I mentioned my brother Geoffrey, who was under house arrest, my father frowned.

“We can see the prisoner later.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Thus, the walk began.

No, it wasn’t a leisurely stroll. Our destination wasn’t a scenic spot. It was the citadel of Nantes.

The facilities of Nantes, which had served as a base for the White Lion and resisted me, were utterly devastated.

While I am generally a benevolent lord, I am also a ruthless commander to my enemies. I mercilessly ‘destroy’ military personnel and military facilities.

“If I had personally led the campaign, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Our precious father was showing off too much, which irked me.

“Of course. Your Majesty is the great general who defeated those rebels in the past, won the Breton Civil War, became the true King of England, and annihilated the mighty Kingdom of France, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. If it weren’t for a great general and wise ruler like this father, England would be on the verge of collapse now.”

“Of course. Of course. It’s all thanks to King Henry.”

Of course, now that I was in front of the ‘judge’ of the civil war, the person who would end it, I smiled kindly and flattered him.

Henry II, pleased with my appearance as a victorious commander being considerate, stroked my head and said.

“John, you are the only son who understands my heart.”

“Of course, I’m the only one.”

Seriously, my father should thank God that a kind reincarnator like me was born as John.

In the original history, in 1189, two years prior.

[Really, is that really my son John? Is that my son John, the one I love the most? Who have I endured all kinds of hardships for until now, and that John betrayed me? Say no more. I will now let go of everything. I will no longer care about the burden, nor anything that happens in the world!]

The guy who would have been backstabbed by the original John and died miserably in Chinon, uttering those words.

Well, only Henry II of the original history died after being betrayed by his youngest son, the original John, like Judas. Our father is a scary person.

In fact, he is a merciless person who doesn’t treat people as human beings if they are not people he likes, or if there is even a slight discord, and he is a ruthless monarch like any emperor in the East.

Isn’t it possible that he loved his youngest son, the original John, because the original John was incompetent?

So, I knew very well.

If I were a threat to my father, he wouldn’t treat me as sweetly as he does now.

Look at him now.

“Let’s see your prisoner.”

“You’re being too harsh. He’s still your son.”

Isn’t he calling Geoffrey a prisoner?

“I only have you as my son.”

“What about Richard?”

“That child is the successor.”

My father, who drew a line with Richard, looked at me and said.

“John, you’re really amazing.”

“Me?”

Why the sudden praise? When I looked bewildered for a moment.

“Your abilities may be inferior to Geoffrey’s, but your subordinates… were excellent. In particular, Ark (Akbulhoe) had limitations as a convert from Kitai (China), but he was active in many ways. Godfrey, Charles, and Robin. The three knights each fulfilled their assigned tasks. But it was John, your strength, that created the environment for them to be active.

Secondly, your schemes. Above all, the agreement with the French nobles. They are wary of you, but they kept your brothers in check, who seemed more capable than you. John, you used this fact to create pro-Ireland forces in France. In addition, it is also amazing that you have developed tactics that have made many nobles in the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and the Low Countries maintain neutrality even if they do not directly help you.

Third, the use of allies. John, you have been preparing for the civil war for a long time. So you made many helpers in advance, and you got their cooperation when the civil war broke out. The support of your youngest daughter-in-law Mary was also great, but you received proper support from foreign figures such as Count Habsburg, Dandolo, Count Sulzbach, and Elector of Saxony Heinrich.

Anyway, broadly speaking, you could have won for these three reasons.”

“I’m scared if you suddenly… praise me like this.”

I don’t know how to react to my conceited father’s sudden praise.

“But what’s really amazing is that others didn’t know this. They’ll think you won because you were lucky.”

“…No, that’s.”

“Okay, anyway, that’s it for the walk. Now let’s go see the prisoner.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Soon, Safe John and my father came to meet Geoffrey, who was no different from a prisoner in a dignified room, except that he wasn’t wearing handcuffs.

Our father had a very complicated expression.

“Geoffrey….”

“Did you come to laugh at me?”

Instead of the title Duke of Brittany, which my father always used, he called him by his name, and the noble prisoner Geoffrey was losing his composure.

But I have to instill etiquette here!

“Brother, what kind of manners are you using with Your Majesty? Please be polite in front of our father.”

“That’s enough. How sad Geoffrey must be feeling now. But the time of tragedy has passed. We are one in the Lord, and is there a need for fellow Christians who desire only one Jesus to persecute each other, even if our purposes are different?”

At that moment, Geoffrey’s face turned pale. He couldn’t believe the words coming out of our father’s mouth.

‘Ew.’

I felt the same. Frankly, if it weren’t for my superhuman patience, I wouldn’t have been able to control my expression. Although I am a kind and filial John, like a mutant of the Anjou family, I know very well how my father views my brothers.

“Geoffrey, I realize now. I was actually a very bad father.”

Our father was truly a cruel person.

“Ha… What kind of wealth and glory would I enjoy, pushing the incompetent Henry… Ugh!”

Geoffrey began to regret it too late.

* * *

―Ireland―

The fact that Prince John had finally won throughout Brittany, and the surprise appearance of Henry II, who had been in hiding, was.

It was first known in Prince John’s territory, Ireland.

This is because Mary and Eleanor’s informants heard the latest news first.

Soon, the rulers of Ireland were in a festive mood. Originally, any battle brought great benefits to the victor.

Among the battlefields of English-controlled Western France, Aquitaine, Normandy, Anjou, and Brittany, it was encouraging that the Black Lion had occupied Brittany.

The feat of Prince John making Prince Geoffrey, an important commander and prince, a noble prisoner was an indescribable achievement.

Outwardly, Henry II, the ruler of the Anjou territory and the King of England, overcame his illness and even sided with the Black Lion.

No matter how much the mistresses lead politics in Ireland, it is the husbands’ area to lead soldiers and wage war. So Mary focused on watching her husband John’s war.

And the result was a great victory.

Prince John won the 1:1 battle with Prince Geoffrey in the political, diplomatic, and military categories and virtually conquered Brittany.

It is one of several regions, but the military significance of the region of Brittany was enormous.

That meant that the civil war was leaning towards the Black Lion Army.

And the recovery of Henry II.

William Marshal is cooperating with Prince Henry under a bilateral contract, but he is a loyal subject of Henry II. Prince Richard has not shown his true strength so far.

In conclusion, the Black Lion’s victory is not far away.

Of course, Queen Eleanor was enjoying Henry II’s return.

“It’s fun. Our husband is now pretending to be a father. If it weren’t for our Richard, that little rascal would have fallen off his horse long ago!”

“Mother, it’s heartbreaking. My husband has always been a good father to the children.”

“Mary, are you mocking me by writing a history book?”

“Of course. How fun it is.”

The Duchess of Ireland was writing a history book without any intention of hiding it.

She was writing the constantly updated epic ‘Safe John’ from Prince John’s babyhood to the present.