The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 123

The End of the Civil War (4)

While Mary was summoning her vassals to discuss John.

In a secret chamber, Queen Eleanor, exiled but living lavishly in Ireland, summoned her own vassals.

Just as Eleanor had said Mary was like a daughter to her, they shared a similarity.

They both secretly gathered their vassals to ‘speak’ about what had already been decided.

As she appeared, the loyal vassals who followed her even in exile rose from their seats and paid their respects.

“Her Majesty the Queen has arrived!”

“Long live the Queen of England!”

“God save the Queen of England!”

Of course, no one present was naive enough to take Eleanor’s words at face value. The vassals knew she was in a very good mood as she addressed them.

“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for responding to my summons despite your busy schedules. Indeed, my vassals are as loyal as Mary’s.”

Eleanor, a beautiful woman from France who appeared to be only in her late 30s, spoke.

“As expected of my son Richard. He deserved to win. Yes, no one can defeat Richard.”

Eleanor, who doted on Richard so much that she was jokingly accused by her daughter-in-law Mary of Oedipal tendencies and even incest, was in high spirits.

Of course, incest was not the case, despite the crude joke from her daughter-in-law. Seeing Richard reminded her of her late father, the former Duke of Aquitaine, William X.

Remembering her father, Duke William X of Aquitaine, who always emerged victorious and whom even the King of France and England could not easily dismiss, Eleanor couldn’t help but wear a satisfied smile.

“But didn’t Prince John also make a great contribution?”

At the words of a vassal from France, Eleanor pondered for a moment before responding with a calculated smile.

“Yes, our Jean [French for John] did very well….”

John was the same. The son she had the least expectations for had now created a significant impact throughout the world (contemporary Europe and the Middle East), which had helped Richard win.

“Anyway, you all prevented my daughters from meddling, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eleanor had intended to completely ruin the political careers of her two sons, Philip and Geoffrey, in this civil war, but she was absolutely against her daughters’ interference.

Whether they were the older daughters she had with Louis VII, that rabbit-like fellow, or the shrewd daughters she had with Henry II, that womanizer, they were not to interfere in the affairs of her ‘sons.’

Of course, preventing the meddling of those formidable daughters was not something Queen Eleanor could do alone. Even if the Queen of England, active behind the scenes, was powerful, could she handle all of this alone?

“You and Mary have done very well.”

With that, Eleanor discussed with her vassals what needed to be done after the civil war, including her daughter-in-law.

Then, she addressed one vassal in particular.

“You, sir, please remain for a moment. The rest of you may leave.”

After everyone except the old vassal from France had left, Eleanor spoke.

“The fact that our daughter-in-law has summoned her vassals means that John knows about her identity.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Queen Eleanor already knew that Mary was Anna, one of Manuel’s daughters. Of course, she hadn’t told John about this.

However, she hadn’t expected her son to discover the identity of his wife Mary, which was hidden behind layers of secrets like the Theodosian Walls [ancient defensive walls of Constantinople], through his own efforts.

“Peter or Bishop Lothair, perhaps?”

Mary had mentioned the names of Prince John’s inner circle of vassals, who had remained silent all along, as likely candidates, but the vassal shook his head.

“Neither of them. They actually preferred that their lord not know the identity of his mistress. Sometimes, it’s more advantageous not to know. It seems Prince John himself suspected, and Duke Robin of Norfolk investigated to uncover her identity.”

“John has many talented people, just like you. Anyway, let’s go to where all the civil wars will end. We must go to Anjou. I need to meet that damned old man and Richard and John.”

“Aren’t you officially in exile?”

A vassal asked worriedly. Queen Eleanor was officially in exile, and violating that could be seen as a ‘challenge’ to King Henry II of England.

However, Queen Eleanor said as if it were nothing.

“It’s already been discussed with that Henry fellow. I’m no longer an exile, but the mistress of England. I must go and meet the new heir.”

Queen Eleanor was one of the unseen ‘hands’ that had supported the Black Lion Army in this civil war, and she herself was qualified to be at the scene of the aftermath.

At that moment, the door opened, and a maid said.

“The Duchess of Ireland has entered.”

“Mother, did the story end well?”

“Oh, my daughter has come.”

“Daughter, you say.”

“A daughter-in-law who is like a daughter is better than a hateful biological daughter!”

“Haha, your words are truly appreciated.”

For a woman as calculating as Eleanor to call her daughter-in-law Mary ‘daughter’ meant that all calculations between the two women were complete.

The two shared what would happen in a few days.

“Have a safe trip, Mother.”

“I will. Hannah [a pet name for Mary].”

They parted with faces so warm that they seemed like a real mother and daughter.

* * *

—1191, Anjou Castle—

I didn’t properly appreciate the autumn last year because of the civil war, but at least I had the leisure to appreciate the autumn in this place.

It’s truly poetic. Seeing this poetry made it feel real. That the battle of Aquitaine was over.

And we have now come to Anjou, one of the territories in western France. Anjou is Henry II’s base.

To be honest, it’s not like Henry II did nothing. When I liberated Brittany from Geoffrey’s grasp, his surprise appearance and support for our Black Lion Army with his living legitimacy was worth more than enough.

I looked at the man riding a horse with a vacant look in his eyes, strategist Geoffrey, a noble prisoner without any weapons, and said.

“Brother.”

“….”

However, whether he was still shocked by various things, or he didn’t want to open his mouth in front of me, Geoffrey was silent. He probably didn’t want to deal with me.

Acting like the chief strategist of the White Lion Army, he probably wanted to talk to Seif John, the chief strategist of the victorious Black Lion Army on the opposite side.

“Brother Geoffrey, we were all deceived. By a cruel fate.”

“….”

Geoffrey still remained silent, demanding his right to remain silent. As the victor, I could tease Geoffrey more, but I didn’t say anything more.

Anyway, as we entered the castle, a show trial was in progress.

The judges appointed by my father Henry II and my brother Richard were speaking with solemn expressions.

“…The following are sentenced to death. However, their loyalty is acknowledged, and they will be sent off honorably.”

First, a few commanders were sacrificed as offerings, their heads to be cut off. Their charges were seducing the princes. But seeing that no one seemed to feel wronged, it seemed that a political ‘compromise’ had been reached. Their honor would be elevated, and their remaining families would receive ‘support.’

Here, I realized. Our great father and brother would not kill Prince Henry—Geoffrey.

Indeed, if they had intended to kill them on charges of treason, all my brothers above me would have died after the suppression of the great rebellion. But at the same time, the question arose. Why did my mother, who was supposed to be in exile, suddenly appear?

Now, next is.

“Now, the sentencing of the leaders of the rebellion, Prince Henry and Prince Geoffrey….”

“Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen has entered.”

“That old hag?”

It’s my mother’s intrusion event.

“No! Your Majesty, you must never harm Henry and Geoffrey. They are our fruits!”

Queen Eleanor appeared, shedding hot tears.

My mother, who had said that her children were the great Richard and John, was shedding tears for Henry and Geoffrey? No other woman, let alone my mother, could be so emotional!

This was not sincerity but a calculated act. Could the high-ranking nobles present not know this? But sometimes, there are times when you have to pretend not to know.

Looking at Richard’s expression, it seemed that our wonderful parents had already made a compromise, not a compromise, with Richard to avoid the extreme measure of executing relatives for no reason.

But her acting is truly amazing.

At this rate, if you just chimed in, you could easily create a family tragedy story. Our mournful Queen was shedding tears over the tragedy of brothers fighting each other.

“Your Majesty….”

“Your Majesty, you must not come here.”

Even though they knew their mother’s intentions, they pretended not to know, becoming observers of this sad tragedy with unavoidable faces.

It’s hard for the lower ones. It’s about matching the mood of the superiors. I, Seif John, also belong to the lower ranks. Looking at the situation, I said.

“Mother, how did you come from Ireland?”

How did she come? It must have been discussed with my wife Mary, with Henry II, and with Richard.

But pretending not to know, my mother hugged me and said.

“Oh, my beloved youngest son, I came to stop the tragedy after hearing that your brothers were being tried.”

Then our excellent brother Richard approached such a mother and said.

“Mother, it’s already over. The brothers are traitors.”

“Why should I save these traitors?”

Our father, looking at his mother with a bitter expression, said.

“The execution of the Duke of Aquitaine and the Duke of Brittany will be postponed for a while.”

But everyone understood the meaning. They would give punishment, but they would ‘save’ them anyway.

* * *

Richard invites me with plenty of wine and snacks.

“Brother, let’s have a toast now. Unlike last time, I have plenty of time, so you can eat as much as you want.”

“Yes, Brother.”

Since he won, he would have this kind of leisure.

“Did you feel anything in this civil war?”

“A lot.”

“I also felt a lot. I felt very well that power is not everything.”

Indeed, the fierce diplomatic war, intelligence war, and supply war that took place outside the battlefield where the civil war was unfolding. If it weren’t for these three things, the fight would have been more disadvantageous.

Even the Thirty Years’ War, which created the ‘modern history’ of Europe, wasn’t originally a war of succession?

The moment I openly say that I felt the impermanence of power, I will become a hypocritical person. I knew it well. In fact, I wanted a civil war.

Although the next generation will be an exception due to genetic disease, when I decided to form a relationship with Richard by marrying my son James and niece Adelaide. Henry and Geoffrey were people who should have received at least a political death sentence.

I will smoothly proceed with brother succession as in the original history. I only have to work hard in various ways for ‘Anjou,’ which my son will lead.

But then I had to hear the latest news that I didn’t expect.

“Your Majesty, a Knight Templar from the Papal States has arrived.”

Knight Templar.

“Let him in.”

“Did he come because of Brother?”

“Maybe.”

For political neutrality, it is highly likely that the faithful Pope, who had not said a word about the exciting civil war that took place in our England, called for a congratulatory envoy.

It would be the perfect time to congratulate Richard, who became the Crown Prince, and to congratulate the next monarch of England.

“His Holiness sent a person.”

What’s wrong with my proud teacher, who has been surviving without difficulty so far? Is it a congratulatory greeting?

But he is tearing the seal of the letter and reading the contents carefully.

From the Holy Mongol Empire.

News that letters were sent simultaneously to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Roman Catholic Church in succession.

Now the East is the land of God, or something.

From the perspective of my beloved and respected Pope Pius II, the letter reveals a feeling of shock and more shock at the news that the Nestorianism [an early Christian doctrine], which had previously been treated as ‘heresy,’ had suddenly created a Christian empire that swept the East.

It’s a mountain over a mountain.

Things in the world do not always go according to my will, according to the curriculum I planned.

“The Holy Mongol Empire, it’s not like Prester John [a legendary Christian patriarch and king] appeared in the East. But John, why is your expression so good?”

“Brother, a Christian empire has appeared in the East. That country has already destroyed the northern Khitai (Jin Dynasty) [a former Chinese dynasty].”

After that, I explained the situation in the East to Richard as quickly as possible.

“Interesting, the legend of Prester John is twisted like this. A huge religious war will break out in the near future.”

Richard’s lips curled up.