The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 127

127. Rewarded (1)

—Italy, Papal States—

“What do you think? Is he suitable as the lord for your greedy nephew, Lothaire?”

“My proud nephew is worthy to serve him.”

Cardinal Paul Scolari, the Secretary of State, saw the famous Prince John for the first time.

Even before Prince John’s visit, Scolari was well aware of Prince John’s thoughts and intended to test him thoroughly during this meeting.

Prince John didn’t come seeking help empty-handed. He subtly mentioned the potential alliance between the Papal States and Ireland to Scolari, a leading candidate for the next Pope.

This included the economic union between the territory of West France, which Prince Richard would soon acquire, and the Papal States. Venice had already signaled its approval. He subtly implied that the Papal States could also participate in Prince John’s Holy Alliance (an economic union).

Venice, not yet having fully monopolized Mediterranean commerce, still needed allies. From France’s perspective, they desired more interconnected trade routes. It was a viable strategy because their economic interests aligned. Frankly, Scolari learned a great deal about John during their meeting.

“I didn’t expect you, who underestimates Prince John, to say such a thing.”

“Wasn’t it thanks to Prince John that the Black Lion [Richard] won this civil war?”

“In principle, the victory can be attributed to the skills of Prince Richard and the Earl of Oxford, as well as the intervention of King Henry II. However, from an objective viewpoint, Prince John orchestrated the victory in this civil war. Without Prince John, this battle would have been prolonged or ended in a stalemate.”

The old Pope closed his eyes for a moment, as if contemplating something.

“It was my disciple who cultivated the nobles in Europe who desired the Black Lion’s victory. King Henry II and Crown Prince Richard are well aware of this.”

War isn’t solely about visible battles. Invisible battles also play a significant role in determining the outcome of a war.

Foolish nobles drink expensive wine, believing that John won with the support he received, but that’s not the complete picture.

“Many have failed despite receiving more covert support than John. But John maximized that support and achieved remarkable results. And he eliminated those who stood in his way. He stained his hands with blood.”

In any era, high-ranking officials have access to objective information. Although the speed of information transmission was slow in medieval Europe, they possessed accurate knowledge of the chaos that unfolded during this civil war.

This civil war concluded swiftly and with minimal bloodshed thanks to Prince John.

In fact, Henry II intended to exhaust his sons as much as possible in a war of attrition, even though his beloved youngest son, John, was involved. However, Prince John discreetly eliminated influential nobles and undermined them economically.

He captured Geoffrey as a noble prisoner sooner than expected, influencing Henry II’s decision and bringing this civil war to a rapid conclusion.

“The world may attribute John’s success to luck, but he is a royal with enough ambition to discuss East France [territories east of France] in front of you and me. Would such a person have succeeded through mere chance?”

[Your Eminence, France is now merely East France. Destroying it would be foolish, but we can control it to prevent resistance.]

Then, Cardinal Secretary of State remembered what John had said.

“I remain wary of the look in Prince John’s eyes when he considers France. The assertion that he intends to make France East France is not something anyone can casually utter.”

“That child likely intends to transform the Kingdom of France into a buffer zone.”

Prince John genuinely seemed to want to make France East France.

Ideally, this implies maintaining the status quo, with England controlling the West France region. Realistically, it means that France may never reclaim its lost territories.

And Prince John intended for the completed East France buffer zone to serve as a check against Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire.

[My primary goal is to establish the absolute authority of the royal family, and my secondary goal is to elevate the kingdom’s greatness.]

“Prince John probably wants to revive the tarnished Angevin dynasty.”

The Pope smiled at the Cardinal Secretary of State’s words.

“Yes, that child desires ‘one’ Anjou.”

“So, Your Holiness informed Prince John about William I?”

“Perhaps.”

The Pope smiled. He was weary from the news from the East and the scandalous events in Poland, but witnessing his disciple’s ambition in his later years was not unpleasant.

Of course, life was becoming increasingly challenging.

* * *

—1191, Ireland—

The death of my beloved wife and children remains a lifelong sorrow, which explains why I became the infamous dictator Charles Lee in my previous life. But the more I dwell on my ‘previous life’ family, the more I feel remorse for my current family. I’ve buried my previous life’s family in my heart, because I must.

James is now mature enough to understand my suffering, but the other children don’t.

It’s unfortunate that a father must depart for a distant battlefield during his children’s formative years, when both parents should be present.

Even now, Charles is gazing at me with sparkling eyes.

“Daddy, tell me a story.”

He’s asking for a story, isn’t he?

I know Korean folktales mixed with Japanese stories that my father told me in my previous life, but I tell them European stories.

“Okay, then Red Riding Hood cleverly…”

“Hans caught the wolf with that sword!”

“…So Cinderella lived happily ever after with the prince.”

As I was telling the last story while sipping wine, the two younger children fell asleep. It’s still early, but young children need plenty of sleep.

I glanced at my eldest son, who was studying in another room. He… seems to be fluent in Latin now. He’s started reading books in Latin.

“You’re working hard.”

“Of course, I have to work hard. Both studying and training!”

I looked at James, who spoke confidently, with satisfaction. At least he won’t become a hot-blooded, overly devoted member of the Angevin family.

He may already be bearing the burden of a successor, but I’m reassured by his resilience.

“James.”

“Father.”

He’s transitioned from calling me Dad to Father.

“Call me Dad.”

Then I won’t seem too old.

As a member of the cursed Angevin family, where my uncles grab my father by the collar and engage in civil war-level disputes, I felt a bit strange.

Besides, isn’t that child a descendant of the Eastern Roman Empire, where civil war is practically a national sport?

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“I have to grow more. I have to drink more milk too.”

Seeing him so focused on milk and height, he truly seems like my son.

Then my wife came and said.

“James, you need to go to bed now. It’s late. You come here too, John.”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

After watching James and his three siblings fall asleep, Mary and I went to the master bedroom and fulfilled our overdue marital duties.

They say life is hard when you’re away from home. I certainly suffered a bit during the civil war. I believe the safest place is home.

Anyway, after fulfilling our obligations after a long time, Mary asked me.

“You don’t ask much, do you?”

“Why bother?”

Mary’s story, as the princess of the Eastern Roman Empire, would be interesting, but I don’t want to hear it in detail until she chooses to tell me.

These stories should be shared by the person involved. You shouldn’t carelessly pry into other people’s painful family history.

“I heard my story roughly from someone else. Maybe His Holiness the Pope, or perhaps my father-in-law.”

As expected, she’s intelligent. That’s how she was able to conceal her identity and survive for so long.

“….”

When I responded with a meaningful silence, Mary simply looked at me playfully and answered.

“Did you hear everything?”

“Yeah. That you’re Hanna (nickname for Anna)?”

Anna Komnene. The real identity of my beloved wife. It’s ironic that someone who was supposed to vanish from history due to ‘sudden death’ is here and thriving.

“Huhu. It was bound to be revealed eventually. However, it seems you found out sooner than I expected.”

“Something to be revealed?”

“John, as you know, there are no eternal secrets in the world.”

That’s right. There are no eternal secrets in this world, except that it’s difficult to protect a secret until you can use it to your advantage.

“Didn’t you… choose me knowing everything?”

Mary looked at me with a sly expression.

“The reason I needed you was because you were handsome and I coveted your family’s mercenaries.”

To be honest, there was no lie in that statement.

“John.”

“Why?”

“But your attitude towards me hasn’t changed?”

It has changed.

Well, my wife, who I thought was the daughter of a small, medium-sized noble, is actually the princess of the Eastern Roman Empire, and more than a decade younger than me!

I was surprised, but the age difference was even more shocking.

To the world, my wife is more than a decade younger than me, but she looks so youthful that I naturally assume I’m younger too.

“What is that look? You’re not thinking about ‘age’, are you?”

Age is a sensitive issue for women in both the 21st and 12th centuries, so I was going to remain silent, but…

“Tell me quickly. Is that what you’re thinking?”

My wife’s voice, though soft, is sharp. So I hugged her again and answered.

“I’m so glad to have an experienced wife.”

“Tsk, do you think I’m letting you off the hook?”

“John, so… now that I’ve cleaned up the house, what are you going to do in the future?”

“I have to prepare to move soon.”

Mary’s eyes lit up at my words.

“I see. Are we going to the European continent now?”

We won the civil war.

The two defeated brothers went to Jerusalem, which is easier to control in many ways.

Of course, my brother Richard, who holds real power as the heir to the throne, took the bait. And of course, I worked hard in the civil war for this outcome.

After finishing that thought, I asked a surprise question.

“Is my cousin William (William I) alive?”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“The Papal States.”

“At least he wasn’t assassinated in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. My aides tried to protect William I as much as possible. However, there has been no news since he fled with our help… Where on earth did he go?”

The lord of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and my same-age cousin, who was presumed murdered or assassinated.

They held a fake funeral mass, but he’s alive.

Still, he’s the son of the Earl of Surrey, so he’s a good friend. I’ll share the news soon.

* * *

Coming to Ireland was like a dream.

It’s natural that our island of Ireland in the corner is much more comfortable than the chaotic battlefield.

The people I rely on when I use force are:

Godfrey, Yue Buqun, Charles, Robin… four key commanders.

My key administrators who manage the territory are Lothaire, Amiar, and Peter.

‘There are so many people.’

They are a diverse group, with French, English, and even Chinese individuals among them.

‘I’m so glad I recruited Amiar.’

Chevalier (knight) Amiar, a talented individual I recruited from the Kingdom of France. Originally, he was destined to become a close aide to Philip II, catching his eye during the power transition from Louis VII to Philip II and becoming a valuable asset in the 21st century. But I acquired him, with money!

Anyway, having Amiar with me is beneficial. He’s already a talented individual, possessing the intelligence and ability to effectively utilize his helpers, Lothaire of the church and Peter of the lord’s castle.

“I fought a civil war, yet there’s even more money accumulated in my territories.”

It’s not just a surplus; it’s a surplus even without the substantial income from ‘plunder’ that I acquired during the war. It’s lucrative simply to profit from military rations, weapons, and the slave trade.

“Thank you for your dedication. I will provide you with considerable rewards and livestock.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I need to consider new ventures with this money.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve been able to accomplish more of the Lord’s work.”

My vassals’ faces lit up when I mentioned rewarding them with the most valuable commodities of this era. See, I’m not a corrupt lord.

The happiest person is Lothaire, the clergyman. Of course, the more clergy you have, the more money you need. To compete in their world, you need plenty of resources, like bullets in the 21st century.

“But there’s a limit to this. Mortain and Ireland are too small to accommodate the Angevin plan, which will expand significantly in the future. But now your lord’s territory will increase.”

I smiled at Amiar’s words and said.

“Yes, the main house will also be granted territory as a reward.”

Now it’s time to advance to the European continent.

Isn’t Mortain also French territory? Let’s overlook such small and insignificant territories.

* * *

—January 1192—

The new year has dawned.

I’m now in my late 20s.

There’s much for me to do, although not as much as my brother Richard, who is managing the aftermath of the civil war.

The world is more complex than a historical strategy simulation game. In a historical simulation, you can save and load if something goes wrong. But in history, the moment you make a mistake, a catastrophe is bound to occur.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but if I make the wrong decision and fail, Mary, James, Charles, and Elizabeth will all be in danger.

Initially, I had the typical mindset of a reincarnated person: ‘Ah, it’s all because the original history’s John was foolish!’ But to survive in this turbulent world, you have to abandon your conscience depending on the circumstances.

“The carriage is ready.”

As I was about to return home after the New Year’s memorial service, an unwanted visitor arrived.

An elegant beauty emerged from a carriage that appeared expensive at first glance.

‘Come to think of it, my mother and Mary look alike! Despite the age difference of more than 11 years and that youthful face.’

Queen Eleanor. My mother.

“Have you come?”

“Ta-da, I’m back! Did you miss your mom, John?”

No, the exile sentence must have been lifted due to my contributions in the civil war, so why did you come here?

“John, I came to deliver good news.”

At that moment, another person got out of the carriage and said.

“Your Majesty!”

“We decided to live together again.”