I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 127

I am the way, the truth, and the life (2)

* * *

England

Buckinghamshire, Luzzershell Castle

“Can’t you just get lost?!”

“How dare you speak so carelessly in front of the Duke!”

Kang took a deep breath.

The stuffy air filled his lungs.

The courtyard inside the castle.

Two groups glared at each other.

On one side were the members of the Sacred Tomb and Richard’s knights.

On the other side were the knights of Luzzershell Castle.

The atmosphere was tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment.

John approached Kang and whispered.

“It looks like they’re about to fight?”

“Not yet. Maybe they’ll let us go peacefully.”

Kang replied.

He looked at the knights of Luzzershell Castle.

All warriors clad in chainmail.

They were the complete opposite of the mercenaries he had faced a few days ago.

‘They even have chains around their necks.’

The only vulnerable spot was their eyes.

Or he could just pour arrows at them relentlessly.

“If a fight breaks out, we need to take out those archers first.”

Kang whispered.

“Go tell the guys to form a wing formation. Starting from the left, one by one.”

“Understood, ‘Robin Hood’.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“The rumors have already spread. The mysterious man accompanying Duke Baldwin….”

“Just go quickly.”

Soon, his men walked out to the sides.

A formation to encircle the opponent widely.

The knights seemed too focused on their argument to notice.

“My son has come to see his mother, and you’re saying that’s not allowed?”

Richard stepped forward.

His imposing attitude made the knights of Luzzershell hesitate.

A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the captain of the knights, blocked Richard.

“Her Majesty the Queen is not feeling well. No one is allowed to enter except for the maids and the doctor.”

“Not feeling well? What illness does she have?”

“Her Majesty the Queen cannot come out of her room. That is all I can tell you.”

“I feel like I’m talking to a goose. Is that all you can say?”

Richard burst into laughter.

He walked forward and stood right in front of the knight captain.

“Are you going to cut me down? Me, the son of Henry II and the Duke of Aquitaine?”

“It is His Majesty the King’s strict order. There are no exceptions.”

The knight captain said.

“The princes are also included.”

“You follow orders well. But what will happen to your lord if you cut me down?”

“…”

Kang watched them, holding his breath.

Richard showed no signs of excitement.

“You must have heard what happened in Lincoln? Just as Duke Baldwin prophesied, an earthquake occurred and the cathedral collapsed.”

Richard said.

“God is already on my brother’s, my mother’s, and my side. But what will happen if you cut me down now? To the lord you serve?”

Richard smiled.

“On the other hand, if you step aside willingly, you will be rewarded.”

“…”

The knight captain looked at Richard, his mouth shut.

“Then let’s do this. You will be ‘forced’ to retreat after receiving an attack from me and my knights.”

Richard shrugged.

“You will have fulfilled your duty to the end. Wouldn’t that protect your honor?”

“…I need to get permission from the lord.”

“Then go quickly.”

Richard said.

“I’ll tell you in advance, I don’t like waiting.”

The knight captain disappeared inside the castle.

John approached Kang.

“This seems to be going well?”

“They probably can’t bring themselves to strike down a prince.”

Kang replied.

The atmosphere eased.

The knights chatted and the archers showed off their bows.

It was then that the sound of hooves echoed.

A carriage burst out of the stable and charged towards the gate.

Everyone screamed and dodged to the sides at the sudden appearance of the carriage.

The first to react was Richard.

He picked up a spear and shouted.

“Stop that carriage! My mother is inside!”

“They kidnapped Her Majesty the Queen!”

The carriage passed through the bewildered knights.

The archers raised their bows, but no one fired.

The knights shouted.

“What are you all doing?! Shoot quickly!”

“You shoot! Do you want to ruin your life by accidentally hitting the Queen?!”

Holding a bow in one hand, Kang ran towards the gate.

‘If it gets out of the gate, there’s no way to catch it.’

He had to settle it before that.

He climbed onto the wall, took a breath, and drew the string.

The carriage was now right in front of the gate.

He could see the face of the coachman whipping the reins.

Kang took a deep breath and released his finger.

The arrow flew through the air in a straight line.

“Argh!!!”

The coachman screamed and collapsed, hit by the arrow in the shoulder.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate.

Knights and archers surrounded it.

Kang drew his bow and shouted.

“The guy inside, come out! Throw your sword out!”

The knight inside threw his sword out and came out.

Richard approached the carriage.

“Richard?”

“Mother, are you hurt?”

“I bumped my head a little, but I think I’m fine.”

Kang glanced inside.

A woman in silk clothes.

Her age was hard to guess.

“To try to take my mother away right in front of my eyes. I’ll tear all of their skin off….”

“There’s no need to get angry over something like this. There’s something more urgent.”

As the woman came out of the carriage, all the knights and soldiers knelt.

Kang also knelt and looked at the woman.

Queen Eleanor.

She looked around.

“Which one of you hit the coachman?”

“…”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Kang.

Holding his head down, Kang stood up.

“It is I, Your Most Gracious Majesty.”

“Excellent archery skills. I owe you a great debt. Your name is….”

“My colleagues call me Caen.”

“Caen. An interesting name. I won’t forget the reward for this.”

She turned her head and looked at her son.

“Richard, it seems like it’s time to return to London.”

“I have brought a horse for Mother to ride.”

Richard smiled and replied.

He gestured, and a knight led out a white horse.

“Father will be happy to see Mother too.”

* * *

London Palace

“Your Majesty! Her Majesty the Queen has been released! There are reports that she is coming to London with Duke Richard….”

The chamberlain stopped speaking.

Henry II rose from his bed.

Adel was lying next to him.

Naked, without a single thread on.

“Who released Eleanor?”

“Duke Richard threatened the knights. Duke Baldwin’s Sacred Tomb members accompanied him.”

“So they ‘had no choice’ but to release her?”

Henry II frowned.

Adel covered her body with the blanket and said.

“Your Majesty, surely you’re not going to stand still? Even now, you can release the army….”

“First, put a defense force on the walls. Block even a rat from entering.”

Henry II said, frowning.

He sighed.

“A comet in King Arthur’s tomb. And now an earthquake. It seems God has truly abandoned me.”

“Your Majesty.”

The chamberlain said in a cautious tone.

“If we are not careful, a civil war could break out. It would be better for Your Majesty to personally greet Duke Richard and Her Majesty the Queen.”

“…”

“I have no intention of returning to France now.”

Adel said.

She gasped.

“Please, marry me to Richard instead. So I can stay in England.”

“Your Majesty, and Prince John has also sent a letter.”

The chamberlain said.

He watched the king’s reaction.

“Speak quickly.”

“Like young Henry and Duke Richard, he is demanding the release of Her Majesty the Queen….”

“John. Has even that child turned his back on me?”

Henry II staggered.

“I have suffered so much for that boy. They are all the same. They are all the same.”

He raised his arm and shouted.

“Lord! How many candles, gold coins, land, and glory have I offered you?! Is this the price?!”

He shouted.

“To have the glories I have achieved taken away by a little brat from Jerusalem! Why have I served such a god?!”

Adel put her hand to her mouth.

The chamberlain did the same.

“Your Majesty! Please, calm down.”

The chamberlain said.

“If Your Majesty’s words are known, there will be great repercussions.”

“Yes, there will be repercussions.”

The old king said, laughing.

“Tell them to spread it as much as they want. There is nowhere else to fall. There is no hotter hell below hell.”

Henry II collapsed.

The chamberlain and Adel looked at him.

Silence flowed.

The sound of murmuring leaked in from outside the hallway.

“…”

The king looked out the window and muttered.

“Becket, my friend. Did you hate me so much even in death? How much more do I have to do for you to forgive me?”

He turned his head towards the wall.

“Such a miserable king. Shame, shame.”

* * *

“Open the gates! It is Duke Richard and Her Majesty Queen Eleanor!”

“It is His Majesty the King’s order not to open the gates to anyone!”

Deputy Bailiff Roger Malchat frowned.

More than hundreds of knights and soldiers stood in front of the gate.

At the front was Queen Eleanor riding a white horse.

Alone on her horse, she looked like a knight.

“Deputy Bailiff. Wouldn’t it be better to open the gates now?”

A knight approached and whispered.

“The atmosphere among the soldiers is unusual. If a battle breaks out, we won’t be able to control them.”

“I have no intention of committing treason.”

Roger said.

He glared at the knight.

“It is your job to command the soldiers, Sir Stephen. Whether you wield the whip or coax them gently, do as you see fit.”

“…Understood.”

The knight bowed his head and returned.

In front of the gate, the herald’s voice echoed again.

“His Majesty young King Henry of England commands you to immediately open the gates of London and welcome Her Majesty Queen Eleanor!”

“I have a duty to obey His Majesty Henry’s orders!”

Both sides continued their argument, invoking Henry’s name.

Young Henry and old Henry.

Eleanor yawned at the continued confrontation.

She called Richard.

“It seems difficult to enter London today.”

“We will be able to cross the gates soon, Mother. I guarantee it.”

Richard smiled and replied.

He gestured, and the soldiers advanced towards the walls.

“If you come any closer, we will shoot arrows!”

“Then are you going to shoot arrows at me? Deputy Bailiff Roger Malchat?”

Eleanor waved her hand and approached the gate alone.

“I am here, so feel free to shoot if you want.”

“Wow, Your Majesty. I am only following His Majesty the King’s orders.”

Roger shouted, wiping away his cold sweat.

At that moment, a rumbling sound came from the city inside the walls.

The faint sound grew louder like a drumbeat.

The ground shook.

A soldier standing on the wall shouted.

“P, people are coming!”

“What is that….”

Roger muttered, turning around.

It was more like a wave of flesh than a crowd.

Thousands of citizens were approaching the gate.

They were all cheering and waving their hands.

At the front was a giant Sacred Cross.

A man in a pure white cloak.

“It’s the Jerusalem Knights! It’s Baldwin!”

“Duke Baldwin must be imprisoned….”

Roger muttered.

The citizens’ shouts echoed to the outside of the walls.

“God wills it!” [Deus Vult in Latin]

“Deus Vult!” [A Christian battle cry]

* * *

Additional explanation: Aside from fighting with his sons until the moment of his death, Henry II is known to have loved his children.

[Henry II suspected his son had set a trap and sent a ring as a symbol of forgiveness instead of going himself. On June 11, young Henry faced death holding the ring his father had sent him. When a monk asked why he didn’t give up the ring, young Henry replied, ‘The one who will judge me must know that my father has forgiven me.’

Upon hearing the news of his death, Henry II is said to have cried out, “He caused me much grief. But I would rather he tormented me more as long as he lived.

Henry II was so distraught with grief that Pierre of Blois came and rebuked Henry’s ‘excessive

grief.’]

– English, Korean Wikipedia (Young King Henry) – Eleanor of Aquitaine (Alison Weir)