The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 10

[Episode 10, Bastard of Mom’s Friend]

Spring of 1181.

When the scent of flowers tickled people’s noses.

The news of Prince John’s marriage spread throughout the land.

Prince John was already known for his devoted, albeit unrequited, love, having repeatedly proposed to Princess Agnes despite her rejections.

The announcement that he would marry Mary, the heiress of the Claire family,

surfaced faster than Henry II, known as the David of England, changed his mistresses.

“The lover~ has found a new love~”

“His choice is the heiress of the Claire family~”

“It’s Mary~”

The minstrels who admired John sang of his newfound affection.

Soon after, Mary of the Claire family and John of the Plantagenet family exchanged engagement rings.

Immediately, the date for John and Mary’s wedding mass was set.

At first, some whispered that John sought a new love to forget Agnes, but soon they acknowledged a different truth.

That the John-Mary couple seemed well-suited for each other.

However, amidst this excited atmosphere,

there was one person with many concerns.

That person was Peter, who served ‘John’ as his lord.

Of course, Peter, Prince John’s closest aide,

could never idly watch his lord’s wedding mass.

Because he thought, ‘Now it truly begins.’

In the time leading up to this, Peter had assisted John, who was still merely a prince, not yet a lord with lands.

In fact, John wasn’t particularly threatened within Westminster Palace, shielded as he was by the considerable power of Henry II.

‘Mortain.’

‘Normandy.’

And.

Even the ‘Island of Rebels,’ Ireland.

Thinking of the three territories immediately connected to his lord, John,

Peter’s worries deepened.

John, who would become the Count of Mortain, had relinquished his ambition to inherit the throne, mindful of his elder brothers.

But Peter harbored the ambition to make John at least a great nobleman who could not be ignored, in order to ensure his own security and influence.

So Peter felt both excitement and trepidation at the same time.

But thinking of the benevolent John, he renewed his determination.

‘For Prince John’s secure power, we must first gather the strength of the bastards.’

Bastards, those born out of wedlock, who are never recognized by the Catholic Church or the state.

But.

Henry II’s handsome face and virile nature

had created countless bastards throughout England, France, and even Italy.

Although only a few bastards could operate openly, including Peter himself,

there were surprisingly many bastards lurking in the shadows.

They were valuable in their own way.

‘Prince John would respect them.’

Prince John was the legitimate youngest prince of the Plantagenet family,

but he was the most compassionate man toward illegitimate children.

Having thought that way, Peter

looked at John running with his brothers and thought.

‘I will lay the foundation for my lord.’

He would become Simon Peter [one of the twelve apostles, known for his unwavering loyalty].

**

Dressed smartly in a Byzantine-style ceremonial robe,

I arrived at Canterbury Cathedral under the escort of my brothers.

Riding a white horse, I was literally Prince John on a white horse [a figure of romance and nobility].

The wedding venue was,

Canterbury Cathedral, which had been destroyed by fire when I was young but had been somewhat restored over time!

Arriving inside the cathedral, I looked at Mary, who looked more beautiful than ever today.

Looking at Mary’s face, it seemed difficult for her to manage her expression.

Of course, I felt the same way.

“We will now begin the wedding mass.”

In the late 12th century, the current England has Roman Catholicism as its state religion, not the Church of England (Anglican Church).

So my medieval wedding mass is presided over by a clergyman,

and the priest officiating this mass is my teacher and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket.

‘Am I really getting married?’

Guests from the Angevin family [the ruling dynasty of England at the time],

and guests sent by Philip II, who had not been king for long, came to celebrate.

And, those East French bastards I hate to see.

Of course, other guests from France were precious to me.

They are members of the youngest club who ran to sincerely celebrate my marriage.

Although they were born as the youngest and still have no power,

seeing them helping me when Philip was trying to plot,

I felt full even without eating bread.

The wedding mass was boring, but it was bearable because Mary was next to me.

Modern (post-Renaissance) wedding masses at least have a splendid taste, but the crude medieval mass is very boring.

Now, my beautiful wife Mary is standing next to me, wearing a splendid Byzantine-style ceremonial robe.

Finally, the wedding vows.

A pure prayer to Jesus Christ.

The Eucharist [Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper].

The benediction [a blessing].

Yes, it’s slowly coming to an end.

My teacher, looking at me and Mary alternately, said in a calm voice.

“The Lord be with you.”

-And with your spirit. “Lord, now a new couple has been born. Grant them your merciful blessing.”

-Amen.

“Lord, may this couple keep their faith, live purely without denying it.”

-Amen.

“Lord, bless this new couple who have seen the fruit of love, and let them be fruitful and multiply.”

-Amen.

Of course, the highlight of the wedding mass is

not this long and tedious order, but after the wedding mass is over.

The banquet that took place after the mass.

Compared to the splendid banquet of the French Bourbon royal family that I liked,

the English banquet was as crude as the mass.

Now it’s time to be congratulated.

“Congratulations. Our youngest is now a head of household.”

Brother Henry looked really happy and pleased.

“You have to do better from now on. Because you are in a position of responsibility.”

Brother Richard said bluntly and stroked my shoulder.

“John, now you are the lord of Mortain, who cannot be called Lackland (landless) [a derogatory nickname for John, implying he had no inheritance].”

Geoffrey congratulated me with the most benevolent face.

And my father, Henry II, looked at me with trembling eyes and said.

“Don’t forget what I said last time. You are now someone’s husband and will be a father.”

Of course, there were also foreign guests.

“I came from the Kingdom of Castile.”

“I came from the Kingdom of Jerusalem.”

“I came from the Kingdom of France.”

“I came from the Roman Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).”

.

.

.

-Congratulations on the marriage of the Count of Mortain.

Of course, the congratulatory greetings to me, the person getting married, were simple.

After all, their real purpose was not me but my father, Henry II.

Anyway, with the banquet as the end,

the wedding mass, which marks the beginning of life as a real adult, ended.

Of course, my mother could not come to this place.

Because she is still in exile.

As before, I didn’t miss my mother.

The unfilial son weeps.

**

The next day.

Mary, who woke up in bed, looked at me.

“Mary, it’s morning.”

“Ha, I couldn’t sleep properly thanks to you. How did you hide such power!”

Mary, who was admiring, smiled and said to me.

“Anyway, John, am I now the Countess?”

“Isn’t that right?”

Countess.

Come to think of it, Countess is as wonderful a title as Count.

Compared to Baroness, Viscountess, or something like that, it feels like a real aristocrat.

Now Mary and I had to leave England.

The territory of Mortain was waiting for us.

Of course, I said goodbye to my father before leaving.

“Yes, did you have a good night?”

“I had a great night.”

I K.O.’d Mary [a reference to knocking someone out, implying a passionate night].

A 2nd-round newlywed who was married in his previous life is too strong!

“Haha, now you’re a real man.”

“Now you, as a count, must protect the people of the territory.”

My father’s eyes looking at me looked complicated.

“John! Now you have to do everything with your own strength, without my halo.”

After parting with my father like that.

I immediately said to my wife.

“Mary, I am not as promiscuous as my father.”

“Really?”

“Male wolves are said to love only one female for the rest of their lives.”

“Well, to be honest, you were like a wolf last time. More than that, what benefits will our marriage bring to me and my brother?”

What can I do for the Claire family, who became a shield (military power) to protect me, John?

“I heard that the Claire family has always maintained a third-party position, except for the opportunity to gain merit.”

“That’s right.”

“Except for the decisive moment, I also intend to maintain complete neutrality.”

“Oh my, then what benefits will you get?”

“No one will mess with your family or me.”

Right now, I am like the chicken ribs (chicken ribs) [a Chinese idiom referring to something of little value, but not worth discarding] in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, something that has nothing to eat but is too good to throw away.

**

I came to the territory of Mortain with Mary, Peter, and the Plantagenet retainers who followed me.

Of course, before taking office, I had a meaningful conversation with my direct superior, Duke Richard of Normandy.

‘I would like to discuss the management of the Mortain territory with you, brother.’

I said it indirectly, but it was a question of how much he intended to interfere in the management of the territory.

[That’s something for you to take care of, John. However, the lord will bear the responsibility.]

It seems that there will be no major interference.

As expected of Richard the Lionheart, he is cool.

Thus, I arrived in the territory of Mortain,

and I could see the people of Mortain waiting for me beyond.

They enthusiastically welcomed me, the new lord.

“Long live the new Count!”

“Benevolent Count. Protect our territory.”

Looking at them wearing those ragged clothes and praising me, I had complicated thoughts.

It’s not like serfs, but the freemen look like that.

As expected, this is the reality of the Middle Ages.

According to Peter, the people of the territory had a hard time because of the disputes related to the previous lord.

Even the agents sent by my father said that the state of the territory was a mess.

It ended with just maintaining the status quo.

‘Should I try to be like King Saint Louis IX?’

England regarded France as just a distant neighboring country,

but I, who roughly knew French history,

was slowly drawn to the image of John, a good lord.

I am also Prince John, who kept his pure love,

but I am also the faithful youngest John, who had the Archbishop of Canterbury as his teacher.

First of all.

I opened my mouth with the most solemn expression possible.

“Listen, subjects of Mortain.”

Unfortunately, there was no microphone in the Middle Ages.

I did diaphragmatic vocalization like Brother Richard.

Then, the eyes of the territorial people, as well as the nobles who would be under my command, turned to me.

“Having received the blessing of Jesus Christ, I, John Plantagenet, who became the Count of Mortain!”

At my remarks,

not only the territorial people but also the nobles who would become vassals focused.

“…!”

The expressions of the territorial people and the nobles under their command changed.

They had expressions that they didn’t know what I was thinking.

“I have prepared food for all of you here.”

I immediately ordered Peter.

“Now Peter, give them the bread and beer we prepared.”

“I understand.”

So I gave the territorial people beer and bread, which were cheap but generously prepared.

“Wow!!”

“Long live the Lord!”

“Glory to the benevolent Count!”

Unlike when announcing laws or anything,

countless cheers erupted.

‘What a waste of money.’

I gave a good impression to the territorial people with the food I bought with my precious money,

and the first meeting with the vassals of the most important Mortain territory was also held.

The vassal ceremony.

They swore in front of the Bible and kissed my sword in a simplified form.

‘It’s better to just do it roughly.’

As much as I came from mainland England.

As the newly appointed me, I had no intention of confronting the local powerful people.

“As long as you don’t cross the line, I will respect your rights.”

“I will gratefully accept the Count’s mercy.”

So I reassured the nobles who became vassals.

Of course, that’s not the end.

As the ruler of the Mortain territory, there were many things to look back on.

“Ha… I’m tired.”

“You shouldn’t show such an expression already.”

The documents piled up.

This is the level of the core agenda that was processed and sent up from below as much as possible.

“First of all, what should I do first?”

“It’s about securing public order.”

While Peter and I were worrying about the management of Mortain.

“I have come to see Prince John.”

“Oh, brother?”

If it’s a person that Peter would react like this to?

“Prince John. I am Sir Godfrey. It’s nice to meet you like this.”

The man, who resembled my father Henry II, who was a handsome man in his youth, was very handsome and good-looking, is Godfrey, the best bastard.

Why is a bastard, who is the object of contempt in the Christian world, called ‘the best’?

The reason is simple.

[Son, Godfrey did that even though he was a bastard. What are you doing?]

[You are the eldest son, but is that all you can do? Ha, Godfrey, you see…]

[Take after Godfrey, that child was knighted without the support of his biological father. But when are you going to keep drinking wine?]

That’s because he’s Mom’s friend’s bastard!

Moreover, his biological mother was a friend who had been close to our mother Eleanor since she was the Duchess of Aquitaine.