< 140. Shield and Spear (5) >
“I, along with young Henry and Richard, owe the Duke a great debt,” Eleanor said.
The port of Dover was bustling with thousands of people.
It wasn’t just citizens who came to the farewell ceremony; even Henry II’s advance party was present.
Soldiers and knights boarded their assigned transport ships.
“Jerusalem was truly a beautiful place. I wish I had another chance to go there…”
“England and Aquitaine were also beautiful places,” I replied.
‘Isn’t she going to ask about Geoffrey?’ I wondered.
Perhaps she already knew the truth.
I slowly opened my mouth. “And I also received help from the Queen. You don’t owe me anything.”
The lords who turned away from following Henry II did so thanks to Eleanor’s groundwork.
It would be more accurate to say that our interests aligned.
I looked at her. Still a classic, regal aura.
‘I can’t imagine what it would have been like if she were a man,’ I mused.
Perhaps she would have become a great monarch who unified France and England.
“I think you are like a mix of Louis and Henry. You are pious and full of power.”
I bowed my head instead of answering.
Louis VII and Henry II… The praise is praise, but it feels strange.
I exchanged brief farewells with Eleanor.
Now it was young Henry’s turn.
He approached me wearing a crown.
“Y-you have done a great service for m-me and the English royal family, Duke.”
I hugged him.
“I-if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here now.”
“I just did what was already decided,” I replied with a smile.
What will happen to English history now?
Young Henry solidified his control over England and Normandy.
‘And Richard protected Aquitaine, which he inherited from his mother,’ I thought.
Now that Geoffrey is dead, Brittany will return to young Henry or John.
My appearance brought peace back to the Plantagenet family.
Only Philip, the King of France, is in a bad situation.
“I have a gift to give you before I leave.”
At my signal, Aig brought a sword.
At the same time, the murmuring grew louder.
“This is my gift and a sign from heaven to Your Majesty.”
I handed the sword to young Henry.
The sword, made by the Knights Templar’s blacksmiths, was beautiful – a wide blade with a red ruby in the center of the handle.
It looked more like a treasure than a weapon.
“T-this is…”
“Although it’s not Caliburnus [Excalibur], you could call it a holy sword.”
“Holy sword,” young Henry muttered in surprise.
I smiled as I watched him.
“His Holiness the Pope has also approved.”
Me, who came from Jerusalem, is handing a holy sword to the King of England. This might become a legend in a few decades.
“Y-you always surprise me, Duke.”
As young Henry accepted the sword, cheers erupted around him.
“Long live King Henry!”
“Blessings to the English royal family and Jerusalem!”
Young Henry said, holding up the sword. “I-I can promise you one thing, Duke. W-we, England, will spare no support for the Holy Land.”
I bowed my head instead of answering.
With this much, no fool would attack young Henry’s legitimacy.
I had given him all the gifts I could give.
After the final farewell with him, only Richard remained.
“A holy sword approved by the Roman Pope. I think this is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
“Most of the things I do are like that,” I replied with a smile.
“I’ll give you your gift in Jerusalem, Duke.”
“You’ll have to give me something better. I already have more swords than I can handle.”
He smiled and patted my shoulder. His hands sparkled with rings.
“You go first, Duke. I’ll drag Philip along.”
“Then I’ll go ahead and wait,” I nodded.
Supplies and provisions to support the expedition were already being prepared. It’s enough for Richard to fight.
The Lionheart. How much will his abilities be unleashed when freed from logistics and political maneuvering? Even I couldn’t predict it.
“I’ll see you in Jerusalem next time.”
“I won’t forgive you if you die before that, Duke,” Richard nodded.
I boarded the ship amidst the cheers of citizens and soldiers.
Kang, Loarc, and Aig greeted me on the deck.
Then Kang’s outfit caught my eye – an outfit that was ridiculously green.
I asked with a smile, “Kang, I didn’t know you liked those kinds of clothes.”
“I didn’t wear it because I wanted to,” Kang replied, his face flushed.
“I heard the citizens of Lincoln made it. Queen Eleanor gave it as a reward herself.”
“It looks better than I thought,” I said.
“Congratulations on becoming the official Robin Hood.”
Everyone on the deck burst into laughter.
I raised my hand and signaled to set sail.
It was time to leave England.
Aig sighed and said, “Finally, the return journey.”
“Finally, the return journey,” I nodded.
Aquitaine, Italy, Cyprus, and Jerusalem… Now, the important thing was time.
“Let’s hurry.”
* * *
Rome
The Lateran Palace
The cardinals exchanged words.
“No, he has no intention of coming directly to Rome! Are you saying that Duke Baldwin ignored His Holiness the Pope’s invitation?”
“He said that his schedule was so tight that he didn’t have time to stop by Rome…”
“His Holiness the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, the Vicar of Christ on Earth, and holds the keys to Heaven!” Cardinal Hombert said.
“But to ignore the Pope’s official invitation with the excuse of being busy! This is absolutely unacceptable!”
“That’s right! That’s right!”
“…”
The cardinals nodded.
Pope Lucius, sitting in the center, remained silent. He slowly opened his mouth.
“Duke Baldwin has done a lot for Rome and our Church so far. Wasn’t it the Duke who led the Italian cities to defeat Emperor Frederick?”
Pope Lucius looked at the cardinals. They all closed their mouths and bowed their heads.
“Have you obtained Duke Baldwin’s sermon records?”
“We obtained them a few days ago, and the monks are interpreting them. The manuscripts are already spreading not only in Rome but throughout Europe.”
“Were there any parts that contradicted Rome’s traditions and canon law?”
“Duke Baldwin acknowledged the definition of the Trinity proclaimed by the Latin Church,” Cardinal Hombert replied.
“However, his interpretation of the Holy See and his friendly remarks towards Eastern Rome (Byzantium) are controversial,” he said.
“Duke Baldwin must come to Rome in person to resolve this issue.”
“Reports from Jerusalem say that the Saracens have gathered a larger and more powerful army than ever before.”
Pope Lucius shook his head. “If Jerusalem falls, then Constantinople will be next. If they fall too, the Saracens will invade Europe, just like Hispania (Spain) fell centuries ago.”
He added, “Now is the time for Christians to cooperate for the greater good, rather than fighting over minor interpretations.”
“However…”
“Interpret Duke Baldwin’s words with flexibility. We cannot hand over the initiative to the Church of Constantinople.”
Silence fell.
Cardinal Hombert closed his mouth.
“And if Duke Baldwin doesn’t have time to come here, I can just go. Won’t he stop by the Italian port before going to Jerusalem?”
“Your Holiness is going in person!” The cardinals exclaimed, their eyes wide.
“This is unprecedented!”
“Christ said, ‘I am the Way,’ not ‘I am tradition,'” Pope Lucius stood up and said.
“Think about what Duke Baldwin has done so far. He brought the Holy Roman Empire to its knees, stopped the civil war in England, and started a new Crusade.”
He added, “Isn’t it the Pope’s duty to commend and welcome those achievements?”
“…”
The cardinals bowed their heads, their mouths shut. The answer was already decided.
* * *
Jerusalem
The Royal Palace
Valian struggled to suppress a cough as he entered the room. The strong scent stung his nose.
“Your Majesty.”
“Valian, is that you?” A faint voice came from inside.
“Come closer. I can’t hear you well.”
Valian entered the bedroom. The King was lying in bed, surrounded by doctors.
Pus and blood flowed out between the bandages.
“Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need to be surprised. Everyone knows that my condition is getting worse anyway, right?” Baldwin said with a smile.
A phlegm-filled sound echoed every time he laughed.
“Come closer and speak. I can’t even hear properly now.”
Valian approached the King and knelt down. The two eyes visible beyond the silver mask were blurred.
“Isn’t the human body amazing? Even if the eyes, nose, and ears are all broken, you can still feel the pain.”
As Baldwin IV coughed, the doctors hurriedly brought a cloth. Red blood mixed with flesh soaked the cloth.
“Is it day or night now?”
“The sun hasn’t set yet, Your Majesty.”
“I see. It seems you have important news since you’ve come?”
“Duke Baldwin has left England. He plans to go straight to Cyprus after replenishing supplies in Italy.”
“So that child is finally coming. Aquitaine, England, Italy. And then Jerusalem again.”
“No royal family has achieved more since Charlemagne,” Valian nodded.
He put his ear close to the King’s lips.
“The Third Crusade has already begun preparations. The King of England, the King of France, and the Italian cities have announced their expedition preparations.”
“What about Guy [Guy of Lusignan, Baldwin IV’s brother-in-law and a controversial figure]?”
“He is still gathering lords, spreading rumors that Your Majesty’s condition is critical…”
“It’s not wrong to say that my condition is critical, but I have no intention of dying yet.”
Baldwin IV slowly raised his body. He pushed aside the doctors who were trying to support him.
“And I have even less intention of handing over the throne to that Guy.”
“Then shouldn’t we mobilize the army now? I will gather the lords who follow Your Majesty and go to Ascalon.”
“Then it will look like the King is directly attacking a lord. We can somehow drive Guy out. The problem is what comes next,” Baldwin IV said.
“Do you remember when we went bird hunting together when I was young? You told me this: ‘Wait until all the birds show themselves.'”
“But Your Majesty couldn’t wait.”
“Yes, I shot the crossbow as soon as I saw one bird. All the other birds ran away and ruined the hunt.”
“You mean if we move rashly, they will hide.”
Baldwin IV nodded.
“It’s not important to get rid of Guy. If we deal with Guy now, all those who followed him will try to hide.”
Baldwin IV nodded.
“Maybe they will try to shake the kingdom after Baldwin becomes king. I can never allow that situation,” he said.
“Guy has to embrace all the hardliners and perish. That’s why I’ve been waiting for Baldwin to come back like this.”
“But Saladin is still there. Whether Duke Baldwin’s plan will succeed…”
“This is a test,” Baldwin IV coughed.
“The last test to judge whether that child has the qualities to be king. If he can’t handle Guy, the kingdom will perish anyway.”
Valian looked at Baldwin IV. For a brief moment, he felt like the King smiled.
“But that child will be able to do it.”