The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 131

131. Duke Aquitaine John (2)

—1192, Aquitaine Territory—

‘Casimir II is truly as crazy as my descendants. To raise an army this quickly. Well, he’s a great customer, so I can’t just curse him.’

I felt strangely moved by the news that Poland was raising my name and causing a ruckus in Eastern Europe.

[The Kingdom of Poland shall dominate the Vistula and Warta rivers. John Plantagenet has shown us the way to victory!] Look at the lyrics.

“Seriously…”

My name was in Poland’s national anthem.

But somehow, the lyrics remind me of the Polish national anthem I knew. There, Bonaparte (Napoleon) is also praised for helping with independence.

I even exchange letters with Casimir II, and I don’t dislike him. Wasn’t the protagonist of the Civilization 5 Poland civilization I played in my past life Casimir III, a descendant of Casimir II?

I told these guys not to be so obvious. I wonder what will happen if they start selling my name internationally. Embarrassing.

The problem is that other countries have taken this fact sensitively.

Turns out Safe Zone is friends with Poland? They started to check me again because of such a trivial reality.

Look now.

Spain, France, the Holy Roman Empire—frightening countries that could threaten England if they don’t like something—are already sending delegations saying things like, [We have something to say to Prince John].

They were very wary of me. Well, honestly, it’s true that I’m going to divide the Kingdom of France a bit for my sons later, but that doesn’t mean friends like the Holy Roman Empire or Spain need to be wary of me.

In the first place, attacking the divided Kievan Rus’ (a powerful country in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages) might be a natural choice for the Kingdom of Poland. But considering the European tradition of ‘drowning those who stand out,’ [ostracizing successful individuals].

There might be an interpretation that Poland went crazy because it trusted the safety of ‘Safe Zone.’ In fact, Poland is Safe Zone’s VVIP customer. They are overinterpreting that I am the mastermind behind Poland causing conflict.

Moreover, I was heartbroken to see my little sister Eleanor’s letter saying, [John, you’re not turning your eyes to the Kingdom of Poland and coveting the Navarre region, are you?], and that foolish friend, the German King Henry, sent insults in a letter.

Of course, I gave the delegation leaders pocket money with the safest smile I could muster, saying that ‘Safe Zone’ is currently busy assisting my brother Richard and managing the territory.

I sent letters containing my true feelings to my little sister Eleanor and that guy Philip. They probably understand that I am John, who loves peace. I didn’t give any reply to the German king.

And after that, an unexpected thing happened.

The Eastern Roman Empire, having digested things, simply watched Poland’s conquest, implying they were turning a blind eye.

‘The problem is that they’ve talked with the Eastern Roman Empire.’

I glossed over the diplomatic issues and focused on news about my parents.

If our family was a loving family, I could ‘let them enjoy,’ but our family is such a mess that I don’t know what my mother Eleanor is thinking.

‘Mother, what are you thinking?’

But information was limited, and I decided to proceed with the next task: cleaning after moving.

“To think you planned to purge the nobles of Aquitaine through my people, that’s too much.”

“I didn’t use them as my vassals. I just hired them for a price.”

“Next time, it will be more expensive.”

“Isn’t it normal for a husband to give a discount? And if you’re so greedy, it’s not good for our child.”

In simple terms, I paid them fees and used them in information warfare, like hiring mercenaries. Of course, it cost a lot of money.

“Lord Amiar, is business good?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

One of the reasons Poland respects me is that I started trading with Poland, and the reason Venice didn’t stab me in the back first is that I am an excellent partner forming the basis of the ‘Holy Alliance.’

Our sparkling ‘Holy Alliance’ weakened the Hanseatic League, a North German merchant cartel that Poland hates.

And I added Aquitaine to the trade points starting from Venice and ending in Ireland. Aquitaine has both abundant resources and manpower.

“Welcome, servants of the Lord.”

Our teacher sent quite a few clergymen to Aquitaine. This support is still good. Clergymen are really high-quality personnel.

They became a symbol of corruption right before the Reformation because they exploited so much, but clergymen in the Middle Ages were beneficial beings even if they committed corruption.

Because they were protectors of the people.

Churches and monasteries were a kind of refuge, and sometimes clergymen acted as militias. It’s good to be on good terms with them.

I was thinking of staying moderately close to the monasteries like the great King Henry VII of England I knew. My teacher is the current king, and I was on good terms with the Cardinal Secretary of State, who is likely to become the next Pope, and Bishop Lothair, who will become Pope in the distant future, wasn’t on bad terms either.

The important thing is to maintain a neutral stance among the church forces or create many priests who will take my side.

In the first place, the Catholic forces are not just one, but there are countless denominations.

However, I appropriately expressed sincerity to the Italian cardinals, and politically, I will be a much more reliable Safe Zone than fake Catholic believers like France or Spain.

Didn’t I used to be famous as a descendant of Saint Patrick?

‘The biggest weakness of France, both in pre-modern and modern times, is the vagrants who collapse public order.’

I’m already making a lot of money.

But you shouldn’t just hoard money. You should also make some adventurous investments and donate to the weak.

And you have to show kindness and make a good impression on the Knights Hospitaller, who are hidden powerhouses.

* * *

“I will give just rewards to my vassals.”

After subduing the nobles, Prince John distributed territories and gave titles to his vassals.

He received the title of Count of Kitai and divided some territories of Aquitaine to give down.

Akbulhoe also received territory in such a good position and became a lord.

Akbulhoe likes good weather. But he liked the mild weather with a good status.

Now he could feel his power. He was sold as a slave to the Middle East, but eventually, he became a knight and a nobleman with a proper territory.

Such Akbulhoe said to his son.

“Son.”

Akbulhoe called his son. His son, a mixed-race child with both his handsome face and his wife’s beauty.

“Father, you called?”

“Yes, son… The weather is nice today, so I want to ask you something. What is your dream?”

It might be easy to think what the good French weather and his dream have to do with each other, but Akbulhoe’s son quickly noticed his father’s thoughts and gave an appropriate answer.

“To become a knight.”

Akbulhoe looked at his son, who was mixed-race but resembled his wife more than him, and wondered if he might be able to fit into this society unlike him.

‘But is that really the case?’

With countless efforts, he became quite close to John’s vassals and became an Eastern knight recognized by the people, but Akbulhoe still knows the distance that comes from racial differences. He didn’t receive discrimination, but he felt like there would be a distinction.

In fact, Akbulhoe himself was filled with worries that if it weren’t for Prince John, he would be sold to Middle Eastern nobles and become a spectacle. Because of such worries, he was even more concerned about his mixed-race son.

“It won’t be easy?”

A knight.

Looking at his son talking about knights, Akbulhoe was reminded of himself who wanted to be a general in the past.

“I also wanted to become a famous general like my grandfather Akbi. Now that I think about it, I miss my homeland.”

“You don’t even think about going.”

At Akbulhoe’s words, his son Akui smiled.

His father still hasn’t forgotten the Central Plains [historical region of China]. But he heard the story that he couldn’t even get a wife there and harbored resentment for becoming a political sacrifice and a spy for the Jin Dynasty.

Of course, Akbulhoe told the story while drunk, but Akui, who heard the story, swore that only England was his homeland, not China.

“Akui, you shouldn’t say such things.”

“Father always keeps in mind discrimination and distinction, but I don’t feel such things.”

“Isn’t that because Prince James cherishes you?”

“Oh, how benevolent and great Prince James is. He is the one who will become the King to rule England of my ‘generation.'”

Akbulhoe knows that his son is not an ordinary boy. He also knew well the reason why he was mature beyond his age. Looking at his son, he was reminded of his brothers who became a family of traitors in the Song Dynasty but devoted themselves to studying hard to succeed as much as possible.

It’s not his choice, but he felt that his son’s life was quite tiring.

“The reason why I don’t forget Chinese according to my father’s wishes and study Latin diligently is because I see the possibility of becoming mainstream.”

“Why did you feel that way?”

“Think about it, wouldn’t our family, who would wither and die if we didn’t pledge allegiance, naturally become a pro-government force? And I think here is better than China I heard from my father. There are opportunities. Above all, I am a special mixed-race person who is not easily distinguished from Westerners.”

‘Should I still say it’s good?’

As soon as he was born, he was branded as the child of the traitor Akbi, and even when Akbi was reinstated by the emperor, he received unspoken pressure from the government (emperor) to become a civil official, not a military officer.

In fact, maybe this place is better than the China he was loyal to.

Above all, his son gets along well with Prince James. Above all, the person named Safe Zone is clear about rewards and punishments, but at least he is not a narrow-minded person who abandons his subordinates after they have outlived their usefulness, is he?

“Yes… You’re probably right….”

Just as Akbulhoe was slowly acknowledging his son’s words.

“The Duke of Aquitaine has arrived!”

The Duke of Aquitaine is Safe Zone’s title. Akbulhoe and his son showed John the Chinese etiquette that he liked to receive in private.

In simple terms, it’s showing a slight bow to the emperor in a Confucian style.

“Nice to meet you. Descendants of the East.”

John said with a smile.

“Akbulhoe, I have something for you to do.”

* * *

—Aquitaine Territory, Main Palace—

When the Holy Mongol Empire pops out and the history of Europe flows completely differently from what I know, staying still is incompetent.

I gave instructions to Akbulhoe and was frequently checking on him. Of course, it won’t be easy.

Anyway, the rule was smooth.

Aquitaine is a prosperous territory. Aquitaine, a region that can see all kinds of economic benefits, was peaceful today as well.

What I always realize is that there are many wolves in areas with a lot of food. But those wolves are being scared off by the wolves loyal to Safe Zone.

Of course, I won’t touch them if they properly keep their place and don’t show any signs of crossing the line.

While checking the nobles, time began to pass.

Once again, Mary was about to give birth.

Doctors from the Eastern Roman Empire, who were always on standby as before, presided over the birth.

—Wah!

The sound of a new life being born again. Judging by the loud sound, it seems like a boy?

“Congratulations. It’s a prince.”

It was as expected. I was worried about Mary. Unlike what is known externally, Mary and I are twelve years apart.

“How is the mother?”

“She is healthy.”

I know and Mary knows that this is the last birth of my twelve-year-old Mary.

Several hours later. My wife asked me.

“John, have you decided on this child’s name?”

“Name him Louis.”

Mary smiled at my words.

What does it mean to name my son Louis in the French style, not the English Lewis? It means to divide and conquer the Kingdom of France in the distant future.