The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 121

121. End of the Civil War (2)

—1191, Mortain—

The wording of the letter was too direct.

But our brother Richard had more flexibility than that military genius, Napoleon.

[Just reorganize your troops and come. Your soldiers must be tired too.]

He knows my situation well, telling me to take a breather.

As expected of Richard. There’s a reason why he’s loved by his soldiers. He must know that my soldiers are still tired. So, he means he’ll hold off on finishing things until I arrive.

He seems gruff on the outside, but he’s a really kind brother. He treats his youngest sibling very well. In the original history, Richard was said to have favored the foolish John.

I plan to rest for just one day and leave right away. Of course, if Richard’s ‘joining’ is needed urgently, there’s no need to think so leisurely.

And even if it doesn’t show, my soldiers are exhausted. Even though it’s looting, the process isn’t really easy. True looting is a continuous complexity like mathematics.

Well, it’s not like our soldiers gained a huge sense of guilt from plundering the property of the dear citizens of Paris. But looting, if done with class and intelligence rather than just taking, is quite a headache.

Of course, there might be some beatings in between to make things easier, but refraining from rape and murder while looting is not something anyone can do.

And even if they took a break in between, the soldiers suffered in the process of marching to Mortain, so it’s right for them to rest a bit on this occasion.

Anyway, tomorrow, after finishing preparations in Mortain, I’ll head to the front lines.

There won’t be any more interference like before. The Kingdom of France has raised the white flag, and there won’t be any crazy people who would jump into a family feud now.

Having finished thinking, I looked at the troops taking a rest.

Many soldiers believed in me and followed me. Apart from the contractual relationship, they are loyal people who fought for me as much as they could. Later, when I earn more money and become a more powerful noble, some of them will become standing troops who can be mobilized for me at any time.

When I first came to Mortain, the number of my personal guard, which felt like playing house, has now increased. And I’m realizing that my power has grown.

It means that there is enough grain to feed such an army, armor and clothing to dress them, and even jobs to give to the wives who will become widows when they die.

What I’m really proud of is that none of the soldiers I raised like gold and jade died in vain. Of course, civil war is also war, and as I’m not a god, there are casualties.

But the important thing is that there are no guys who died ‘in vain.’ The fact that no soldiers are dying because of my mistakes. Even if I don’t become a capable person. Isn’t it proof that I’m making good use of my subordinate commanders?

I realize it anew. That I can be proud.

‘Now you’re acting like a proper prince.’

Of course, I was satisfied with having such talented people who manage these troops as my own.

The Safe Knights, the bastard and youngest commanders, and the French generals who naturalized a long time ago because they were annoyed by Philippe.

Having finished my impressions, I immediately called the merchants first, then summoned the troops and said.

“Tomorrow, we will put an end to this civil war. You’ve worked hard to loot successfully, so let’s drink and enjoy!”

As I raised my glass and spoke.

—Let’s drink and enjoy!

The subordinates responded.

“Long live Henry II, long live England! He has three abilities.”

Oh, our English national anthem came out.

Of course, Henry IV of the Bourbon dynasty won’t exist in this Earth’s history, so I don’t have any guilt about plagiarizing.

In the future, there won’t be a France in my Europe anyway.

Anyway, I sang the last verse in my heart with revised lyrics.

‘Greed, betrayal, and picking up girls!’

These are the three abilities of my father that I think of, but I can’t bring myself to say it out loud.

Whether it’s my sister or brother, everyone is an unfilial child to my father, so shouldn’t I be a filial son?

‘Come to think of it, we’ve done everything we need to do.’

I, Safe John, one of the pillars of the Black Lion Army, did my part just by not losing any troops in several battles. Besides, while Richard was drawing attention, I finished the looting well.

Richard wants to use the expression ‘finishing’, but doesn’t he really want to ‘annihilate’ the opposing White Lion Army?

Right now, Henry’s army is on the verge of collapse, to exaggerate. Perhaps Richard, who is hiding his ulterior motives, and my nephew, Count Champagne, who is the same age as me, want to have a ‘symbolic’ finish.

A finish where our father Henry II, and the main character Richard, gather in one place to thoroughly educate the rebels who dared to rebel without even enduring the death of the former king.

“Godfrey, Akbulhui, Charles, Robin. Now there is one battle left in the civil war. And that battle will end everything.”

I said it grandly, but the battle that will end everything will be insignificant.

Maybe it will be the Siege of Aquitaine. This battle is one that our Black Lion Army can’t lose no matter how crazy we are and how much we screw up.

No matter how hard Henry tries, having already lost all his troops except for Sir William Marshal, even if Spain goes crazy and provides support. Even if the Holy Roman Empire backstabs, Henry is finished anyway.

I stopped thinking about that and looked at the surrounding scenery.

The soldiers were having a drinking party for the first time in a while. The troops from Mortain, with my permission, were having a good time with their families who came to support the drinking party.

‘I miss my children too. Mary and….’

Looking at that scene warmly, I poured wine one by one for my core commanders, the Safe Knights.

I said my thoughts.

“Gentlemen, honestly, I can’t believe it.”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“That the end of the civil war has come. Even though we’re a dysfunctional family, I didn’t know it would be such a grueling family feud.”

It’s a civil war that would have been more difficult if I didn’t have the experience of the Crusades.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the skills of my commanders, I’d probably still be fighting with Jeffrey.

My words reminded them of the difficult and tiring memories of the suppression army, and the expression of the Safe Knights became subtle, and Godfrey, who has the blood of a dysfunctional family, spoke on their behalf.

“Your Highness, now that the civil war is over, England will change.”

“England will change, as Sir Godfrey said.”

By Richard, who hides his kindness, and Safe John, who hides his goodness.

Thinking that, I raised my glass. The sour taste is rather attractive, and Mortain’s wine is a good drink to have sometimes.

At that time.

Suddenly, a knight who looked impatient knelt down and reported.

“Your Highness, His Majesty the Great King has arrived.”

“What?”

There is only one person who can be called the Great King in England. So, I asked back with an absurd expression.

After a while. I saw my father’s magnificent army.

‘When did you prepare this army?’

The Angevin family is a clan with a dysfunctional personality that cannot survive unless they are cunning. Our father’s personality is quite something!

“My beloved son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I came all the way to greet you, aren’t you glad?”

“Ah, I’m glad.”

Of course, I put a lot of soul into it.

* * *

Late evening.

My father and I were strolling through Mortain.

No one dares to interfere while I’m walking and talking with the Great King of England in my area.

However, I kept the guards at a proper distance in preparation for any possible situation and had a conversation with my father in a small voice.

“This place, Mortain, is a good neighborhood even though it’s small. My uncle used to like it as a hunting ground.”

“Is that so?”

“What brings such a precious person to this rural village?”

“I came to exercise.”

Exercising at this age with tens of thousands of soldiers and supplies.

Really, our father is amazing.

“Is Brittany okay?”

“You have Norfolk, Robin’s father and a very efficient worker.”

My proud father, Henry II, corrected me.

Thinking about the black history of almost dying because he couldn’t control his lower body, I wonder if he became more energetic after coming back to life.

“Aren’t you being too relaxed before the final battle?”

“A king should always have composure. Even when your brothers rebelled, I calmly prepared my weapons.”

Really? I don’t think so?

“Were you so relaxed that you went to meet a young woman?”

I only used facts to mock my father, so of course, the answer that came back was fierce.

“You unfilial bastard!”

He says that, but our father was smiling brightly. If he had died so pathetically back then, he could have become the king of the century. Fortunately, he woke up.

“I really prayed a lot for my father.”

“Oh, you prayed?”

“You have to treat me well, Father. I’m probably the only one among many brothers who worried about you as a human being.”

“That’s why I rewarded you in many ways in this civil war.”

That’s true. But even so, I sighed.

“Ha….”

“Why are you sighing?”

“Wasn’t it a war that we would have won even without you, Father? But since you have joined, this war has lost its sincerity.”

“Sincerity?”

Father, Henry II, the monarch of England, looked at me with tax-like eyes. Even in that sharp gaze, I.

I told him my true feelings slightly.

“To be honest, this war should have been ended between the princes. But the fact that you have joined means that the suppression period for me and my brother was long, doesn’t it?”

“Son, you couldn’t finish it quickly. The looting of Paris is an achievement that even I couldn’t do.”

The meaning contained in my words was that since we didn’t give trust, the Munchkin [small and insignificant] Henry II would suddenly appear and raise the hand of the Black Lion.

Of course, my father looked at me with eyes that said, ‘Why are you pretending to be weak when you’ve even looted Paris?’ And then he said with a meaningful look.

“Of course, our wives must have helped a lot, right?”

“Don’t you hate your mother and want to kill her?”

When I asked back at my father’s sudden words, my father said seriously.

“You’ll know the love and hate between couples when you live to this age….”

“Well, Mary and I are so good that I don’t think that will happen?”

* * *

—England, Aquitaine region—

—Heeheehee.

Today, Cromwell cried to live up to his name.

On the saddle of my beloved horse Cromwell.

There was the weight of Thomas Cromwell, who was cowardly beheaded by Henry VII, and Oliver Cromwell, who was dismembered by Charles II.

Let’s watch the end of the dysfunctional family, my proud beloved horse!

Anyway, my father and I were talking side by side in the lead. The fact that there is such leisure means that this battle is the end.

“What happened to Sir William?”

Why is the sword of England taking Henry’s side even though my father has returned? I know the reason, but I wanted to hear Henry II’s thoughts, so I asked.

“It’s an unbreakable contractual relationship. He will take Henry’s side until the end of this civil war. That’s the knight’s code.”

At that time, the other Black Lion commanders who saw our father and my army flocked.

“Your Majesty!”

“Gentlemen, you have suffered a lot. I have failed to educate my children. You have suffered a lot.”

Our father, who showed humility, approached Richard.

“Richard.”

“Have you come, Father?”

At the courteous greeting of the second son, the father came indifferently.

“I have come to see the end.”

At the father’s meaningful words, Richard replied.

“I will show you the end.”

That’s how the end of the civil war was approaching.

—Poo-ooo-ooo.

Middle Ages. In that brutal battlefield.

The fact that the enemies’ shouts were heard meant that they were raising their voices with all their might.

—Fight to the end!

At the very front.

Prince Henry, wearing the most splendid and solemn white armor.

And he is just watching our camp indifferently by his side.

So, I came to know the meaning of Henry II’s sacred contract.

Even for any reason, if there is already a ‘contract’.

Unlike the army of the Later Baekje dysfunctional family, which collapsed as soon as Gyeon Hwon, who joined Goryeo in the historical drama Taejo Wang Geon [a Korean historical drama], appeared, the Aquitaine territory troops, the center of the White Lion Army, were determined.

Maybe they know it too.

“Defeat the rebels.”

But this world is as harsh as the wild. The losing side is the rebel.

“Long live England!”

—Long live England!

Duke Henry of Aquitaine.

Duke Richard of Normandy.

For the last battle, the two lame lions raised their swords for their respective England.