The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 107

107. Richard’s Thoughts

“….”

It is often said that politicians have skin as thick as iron.

Strictly speaking, Richard is my superior, so I’ve always been mindful of my facial expressions. But at this moment, I couldn’t help but show surprise.

Good heavens.

Marrying Adelaide to James? The Lionheart’s daughter as my daughter-in-law?

Of course, marriages between cousins were allowed in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. Considering the political dynamics, it’s not impossible.

Didn’t Henry and Geoffrey also express their intention to form an alliance by becoming in-laws?

What really surprised me was the ‘look of assured victory.’

When Richard said that, it meant he was already confident of winning this civil war. Richard’s confidence.

That was truly remarkable.

It would be understandable if he were a genius blessed by God, but I sensed that his confidence wasn’t just baseless.

‘In the original history, Richard fought with his other brothers… especially Geoffrey.’

“Why are you so surprised?”

Richard smiled when he saw my expression.

Usually solemn, he suddenly got up, smiled, and stroked my head.

In the original history, King Richard doted on his youngest brother, but still, it’s a bit much to do to the father of three children.

“John, you’ve grown up so much… but to my eyes, you’re still like a child. Just like when you first received swordsmanship training from me.”

No, he suddenly started talking about swordsmanship after suggesting a marriage alliance. Memories of childhood. Of course, they weren’t all beautiful.

He spectacularly crushed me, who was significantly smaller. It was so hard that I realized how much training a medieval knight had to undergo to become a privileged class.

As I was lost in old memories, Richard said,

“I have won this war.”

“Pardon?”

“Why, does it seem strange that I’m acting as if I’ve already won this civil war?”

I didn’t say anything.

In times like these, I should listen rather than speak.

People who are so self-assured usually dislike flattery and want to hear what they want to hear. Without ‘lies.’

“John, war is usually visible before it’s fought. I already see the path to victory. Henry started the war in haste, which is why I’m confident of winning.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Look at this.”

Unless they were children of royalty or great nobles, people usually wrote a lot on letters to save on expensive paper.

But this letter had very few words.

[Richard, I am still alive and well.]

But the handwriting and the seal amplified the shock.

‘Look at this, damn father!’

If he’s perfectly fine, he should send news to Ireland. He informs Richard of this happy news first, but this youngest son hears nothing.

I felt a slight surge of filial piety towards my father, but I understood. The main player in this game of thrones is Richard, not me.

“This is…”

It’s our father, Henry II’s handwriting. No one would be bold enough to forge this, and Richard’s meaningful expression confirms it’s him.

I really don’t know what kind of enormous plot he’s scheming.

“Is it true?”

But I asked again.

Is it true that our father, who collapsed pathetically while playing around with young women, has really woken up?

“Yes, our shrewd King is still alive and well.”

“Ha….”

I couldn’t hide my dismay this time. I’ve never felt so betrayed.

“The Duke of Norfolk is the only one who knows the truth. And he didn’t even tell his son, Robin, about this secret.”

Robin will also feel betrayed. But there’s a difference between a noble’s heir not knowing that Henry II is healthy and the King’s youngest son not knowing.

“Before collapsing pathetically, I told the King one secret.”

“What secret are you talking about?”

I asked cautiously.

“After giving birth to Adelaide, Sybil was diagnosed with infertility.”

Good heavens.

It’s good news for me, but isn’t it unfortunate for Richard?

But Richard said calmly.

“It’s better this way. If she had given birth to a son, decades later, I would have treated that child like my father treated me. A son born of my blood… what a terrifying existence. There would be a civil war more terrible than a major rebellion.”

Richard calmly said that if it were a son, he would cause a civil war more terrible than a ‘major rebellion.’

Now that I think about it, if it were a son born from that ambitious former princess of Israel and the Lionheart’s blood, he might be cute now, but scary in 20 years.

But conversely, wouldn’t it be possible to educate the son well? Considering the fate of the Angevin family, would a son born of Richard’s blood be docile?

As my thoughts became complicated,

Richard looked at me affectionately and said,

“John, isn’t this great luck for you? It’s been revealed that I… no longer need to purge you.”

How chilling.

* * *

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived?”

Godfrey.

Charles.

Robin.

Evil-Not-Smiling [a nickname for one of John’s commanders].

I called the practical commanders of my legion.

The leaders of the Safe Knights.

“Anyway, thank you all for your hard work.”

“Not at all. Isn’t it thanks to Your Highness’s excellent leadership?”

“That’s basic.”

Godfrey’s praise of me as a ‘commander’ was praising me for taking good care of myself.

No matter how excellent the subordinate commanders are, the commander-in-chief must always manage his own body.

Unlike Richard III, who entrusted the front lines to his clan at the Battle of Bosworth and retreated to the rear at the right time, and was properly defeated by the Tudor family for reacting emotionally, I don’t do such things. Isn’t there only a fine line between courage and ignorance?

Anyway, I gladly accepted such praise.

“First, let’s hear the battle report. Lord Robin.”

“Yes, I have prepared it.”

Richard will plan the future grand strategy, but in order to command in detail, there must be preparation for the strategy.

Anyway, after reviewing the Battle of Manche, this battle was strange. To be precise, Geoffrey’s army was.

“Geoffrey is strange.”

“I thought so too.”

William Marshal didn’t hold back. He targeted me properly, to the extent that the ‘convict unit’ I had set up as a shield was sacrificed a lot.

At this point, he’s not just playing with the young prince, but really trying to make Safe John dangerous for Prince Henry.

But conversely, the movements of Geoffrey, a strong competitor, were strange. You could say he showed ambiguous movements?

After discussing the Battle of Manche and the Western France front, I said to my vassals.

“Prince Richard has mentioned the betrothal of Adelaide and our James.”

“…!”

I told the surprised vassals everything I had discussed with Henry, except for the story that Henry II was eating meat well.

At that moment. The faces of my vassals brightened considerably. They seemed brighter than when they won the Crusades, but I guess it’s just my imagination.

In conclusion, although we haven’t won yet. Eventually, if we win this war, the Angevin dynasty will continue with the bloodline of Safe John.

The marriage of my niece Adelaide and my son.

For example, even if I suffer an unfortunate death before Richard dies, my son will inherit the throne.

Of course, Geoffrey and Henry have also decided to become in-laws, but if Sister-in-law Marguerite suddenly gives birth to a prince, it’s never say goodbye [it’s never over until it’s over].

But Sister-in-law Sybil received a reliable doctor’s diagnosis that she was ‘infertile.’

Unlike that terrible Henry VIII, a romantic, Richard wanted to be safe by joining hands with Safe John, a potential competitor, rather than abandoning his wife to see a son.

So my alliance with Richard is more solid than the eldest and third sons in the White Lion team.

“That’s great. It’s really great.”

The one who likes it the most is the best bastard, Godfrey. Having suffered from being a bastard with mixed blood, he paradoxically knew the power of bloodline well.

“At this point, my father has a reason to support Your Highness.”

Robin, the son of the Duke of Norfolk, also felt good. The reason to support means that the internal conflict factor of the John-Richard alliance has disappeared.

“Now the true dragon emperor has the blood of the lord.”

Evil-Not-Smiling spoke difficult Chinese.

“Enough. Let’s prepare to fight now. We need to cut off the rebels’ heads.”

Charles, as a warlike Frenchman, only thought about fighting.

Right then. Someone came and reported.

“Your Highness, a liaison from Ireland has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Coming at this time. There will be no bad news.

The knight who came in after hearing my words said with an excited face.

“Your Highness, the item you ordered has arrived.”

“Oh… finally.”

The secret weapon made with Safe John’s sincerity and love is finally complete.

I said to my vassals.

“A cheat, no, something very good has arrived. That thing we’ve been preparing for a long time.”

* * *

Although we won the first battle, our Justice League boss Richard was never satisfied.

‘It’s just a small victory for us. Since the short-term battle failed. There is no Hastings now.’

Hastings is the decision that allowed our maternal ancestor, William the Conqueror, to become king.

He didn’t like the fact that the last battle wasn’t a definite conclusion. The game of thrones, which was supposed to end in one go, now has to go to a long-term battle.

‘Well, is it so easy to wear a crown?’

Even total wars after the Early Modern period didn’t end in one go. Civil war is also a war after all. I don’t intend to eat it so easily [win so easily].

Besides, Henry II intervened with considerable meaning.

If I were to oppose Henry as the main player in the war of succession. Even that great father would have supported me.

I can become a Safe John who knows how to give up power appropriately.

However, I decided to become Richard’s kingmaker, and the main player is Richard. So this time, my father had bad thoughts.

As I expected. Our civil war became longer.

Our army came to be called the Black Lion Army, and their army came to be called the White Lion Army.

A war of lions far more magnificent than the War of the Roses had begun.

Richard gathered us together again. It was a military conference.

Reviewing the past battles and preparing for future battles.

In conclusion, we will move south from southern Normandy to secure Henry II, who will be our justification.

At the same time, we were thinking of pushing away Henry’s power base, Aquitaine, and razing the port cities of Brittany.

As the meeting progressed to some extent, Richard looked at me and said.

“I have already seen your abilities. Seeing you defend well even in crisis situations, you are a commander more solid than Zion Castle, Safe John.”

A Safe John more solid than Zion Castle, what a strange compliment? One thing is certain, he uniquely acknowledged me in front of several commanders like this. It was a kind of show of trust.

‘The foolish original John didn’t enjoy this luxury. As expected of Safe John.’

Self-praise was achieved in my heart. I’m not yet a ‘king,’ but to be so praised by the Lionheart.

It’s a very pleasant moment, but I answered Richard’s praise with a solemn expression.

“I was just following Your Highness’s orders as a commander.”

“This old man didn’t know that Prince John would fight like this. You are the lord chosen by Duke Robin of Norfolk.”

“Count, thank you for praising me so much.”

The old Duke of Oxford, praising me and smiling at Robin at the same time.

Again, I felt even better.

I’m being praised by that Norman’s last sword, a master general. Of course, it’s not that I didn’t contribute to buying time until he joined my left wing.

It’s a different matter when a nobleman other than my brother praises me. Besides, isn’t that white-haired Earl of Oxford the most ‘solemn’ great nobleman in England?

In such a good mood.

As the chief strategist of the Black Lions, there was something I had to say.

“I have something to say to the Duke of Normandy.”

“What is it?”

“I have introduced a new weapon for the victory of this war.”

“A new weapon?”

“After the Crusades, I had many thoughts about weapons. So, for quite some time, the subordinate developed weapons in preparation for any eventuality and secretly succeeded in production.”

“Yes, show it to me.”

“Clap, I will show the Duke of Normandy a new weapon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Soon, heavy boxes were opened.

“This… this is.”

“I’ve never seen such a weapon!”

Inside was the cheat key [game-breaking advantage] reproduced by Safe John, who had memories of the future.