The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 133

133. Someone’s Sister (1)

—Southern Coast of France—

Though insignificant compared to the future Age of Exploration, piracy was still rampant in this era.

Of course, whether it was the Somali pirates of the 21st century or the pirates of the 12th century, the life itself was equally dangerous. Yet, there were always enough people willing to become pirates.

The reason was simple: piracy paid.

Muslim, Christian, even Jewish pirates. The reason universal pirates, regardless of religion, thrived was that the profits matched the risks.

‘Our secret weapon is coastal pillaging!’

From the pirates’ perspective, plundering merchant ships at sea was fun, but coastal pillaging was the most enjoyable. The desperate screams and the ‘money’ were so sweet.

“Please, spare me!”

“Oh… such tempting treasures. And such tempting women.”

However, business wasn’t easy these days.

The Spanish and Sicilians were cracking down on Islam, frequently patrolling the sea routes. This put the pirates on alert.

Angering the original pirate nations of Sicily or Castile (Spain) would be a disaster, so they had to change their pillaging routes. Moreover, the fact that the Safe Zone’s territory had moved to Aquitaine in northwestern France was causing their pillaging to become more passive.

But pirates are inherently bold!

‘Cowards, pirates are supposed to take risks when they pillage!’

However, true pirates, filled with Viking DNA, were willing to risk their lives for one big score, even today.

They were brave pirates with the Hunnic and Germanic spirit, thinking they would do one last pillage and die, even if the world was about to end.

It’s just that their luck wasn’t good.

There were villains who considered pirates themselves as nourishment.

They looked like a naval fleet, but in reality, they were a force composed solely of talent from West France—England.

They were targeting brave pirate ships that didn’t know the ways of the world.

“It’s John’s fleet, damn it!”

“This is dangerous!”

“You crazy bastards, I told you to be careful!”

Far more ruthless than Jos, they generously showered the pirate ship foolishly passing by the southern coast of France with countless arrows.

—Phew.

Following the will of Peter, the fisherman of men [a biblical reference to spreading Christianity], they sharpened their hooks properly.

—Thunk.

Hooked by the shark-tooth-like hooks, they had no choice but to engage in a deck battle.

The righteous navy soldiers climbing onto the deck began to shout, wielding their swords.

“Oh, pirates!”

“I love pirates so much!”

“Attack!”

“Cut off their heads and return the loot to the people!”

They were realizing justice. For the sake of the creative economy.

“Another full haul today.”

Charles, the commander of the officially recognized Aquitaine vanguard fleet, was Aquitaine’s exclusive fisherman of men. A fisherman who made a considerable profit by catching pirates.

‘The French Kingdom, to let go of a high-caliber talent like me. The only one who recognizes me is Safe Zone.’

Charles was originally French. His father was a vassal of the French Kingdom. However, he was favored by Safe Zone and, despite being from the French Kingdom, fought for John of England, who had a mutual contract with him more than anyone else. This was a publicly known fact in Europe.

But digging deeper, there was the fact that his father was used and abandoned by Louis VII, suffering all sorts of hardships. That’s why when Charles first entered the service of Prince John.

‘The French Kingdom dared to use and abandon my father. Then I will become a vassal of England, the most troublesome, and take revenge,’ was his mindset.

But now, there were some changes.

‘Unless they betray me first, I trust everyone.’

‘Our Angevin power [referring to the Angevin dynasty] comes from the fleet. So my admirals will be respected.’

But Safe Zone showed it not only with words but also with actions. Charles showed a more ‘reasoned’ loyalty, and soon after, he became a key member under Prince John.

So today, Charles turns over pirates for the future of Aquitaine.

* * *

—Territory of Aquitaine—

The spring and summer of 1193 passed without anything special.

Ah, now that I think about it, I remembered a story about some desperate guys who almost committed atrocities.

If I had been careless after seizing the territory of Aquitaine, I would have become the foolish John and died miserably, just like in the original history.

But I, Safe Zone, lived up to my name.

I nipped the friends who threatened the territory of Aquitaine in the bud before they became sweet potatoes [meaning to stop problems before they escalate].

[Your Highness, they planned a terrible deed, taking advantage of when Your Highness went hunting.]

[Take care of it.]

The terrible deed was, of course, assassination.

Rebellion is an event that reveals the flaws of the ruler, but the public sentiment towards me was such that a rebellion attempt broke out.

In the first place, the nobles who started the rebellion were mediocre individuals who couldn’t even gather public sentiment from their own territory residents. And unlike last year, I had firmly grasped public sentiment this year.

‘Public executions are dangerous. They unnecessarily stir up public opinion.’

Behind the scenes, I executed a few people underground and confiscated their territories with the clear justification of corruption, tearing them apart and giving them to my close aides.

Of course, I didn’t just punish them, but also showed some mercy. I excluded innocent people who were not directly involved as much as possible. Sadly, I needed them because they were still adapting to the Aquitaine territory management.

At this point, I could be called the tolerant Duke John. In the meantime, I worked so hard to maintain the trinity of peace-loving shield diplomacy and internal affairs—plunder—production—stockpiling that I was overworked.

As I embraced Aquitaine, the calendar quickly changed, and autumn of 1193 arrived.

Aquitaine, filled with the scent of grapes and wheat, once again made me feel good.

Whether it’s the late 12th century Middle Ages or the 21st century world, the world is maintained by eating.

Of course, the stockpiled products made me feel good in another sense.

The moment I obtained Mortain, Ireland, and Aquitaine, the trinity of territories, the medieval three-piece set of mercenary business, industry, and agriculture was completed.

Unless I swallow the French kingdom itself and the country becomes a huge granary, I cannot recklessly export the very useful resource called ‘food.’ Even in the early modern French period, when grain production was high, grain exports were a sensitive issue.

But the moment I can do ‘grain’ rotation with three territories. Safe Zone’s power was already strong, but it became much stronger.

Naturally, the power of my vassals who followed me also became stronger. The vassals who absorbed the territories I tore apart this year said with happy faces.

“Your Highness, today is also a bountiful year.”

“It’s more abundant than last year.”

“We have far exceeded the target production.”

“Glory to the Duke of Aquitaine!”

‘My vassals, they’re so happy they could die.’

Seeing the faces of the vassals who looked happy, I was also satisfied. It’s a good thing as their great lord that the vassals who have followed me for a long time receive just rewards.

The authority of Aquitaine belongs to me, the rightful duke, but the production is distributed to the vassals.

I had already divided the land among my vassals who had followed me from the beginning after the pre-emptive strike and the rebellion attempt, so now they are the ones who will be happy when countless bread and wine come out of Aquitaine.

These days, I am so, so happy with the sweet products and manpower.

I can feel the abundance to the extent that I know why my mother buys them expensively from the French and English kings.

Here, you can properly increase your power just by focusing on internal affairs. When I think about the time when I was doing internal affairs with tears in my eyes, holding Mortain and Ireland, I have new feelings.

Now, there are many positions to give to the talents I have been maturing for a while.

“Godfrey, it’s time to appoint Peter and the others as administrators.”

I have countless illegitimate children and bastards as potential workers. It’s not even a task to move them to practical work, having cultivated them with Angevin-style injection education.

As courtiers of the Duke of Aquitaine.

As I was working hard like that, news came from beyond.

“There is news that Princess Marie is in critical condition.”

Princess Marie.

Our mother, Queen Eleanor, had her with her ex-husband, Louis VII.

“My sister?”

At that moment, I felt bitter.

“The Count of Champagne must be sad.”

I don’t know about the other sisters, but the Count of Champagne, Princess Marie’s son, is too close to me.

* * *

—French Kingdom, Paris—

The people living in the French kingdom, which cannot be left out when it comes to national pride, thought they were the rulers of Western Europe. Frankly, aren’t the French the rightful descendants of the Franks and a great people who once produced a great figure named Charlemagne the Great?

The French knights were the bravest knights in Europe, the French clergymen were faithful and devout servants of the Lord, and the French merchants were great merchants who ‘controlled’ the goods of all of Europe.

But that was in the past.

After Henry II and his English friends seized West France and divided France in half. The French kingdom had lost a lot. The glorious France. It was becoming a memory of the old days.

‘England has stolen our capital.’

Moreover, in recent times, the French kingdom tasted the humiliation of Saco di Paris [sack of Paris, referring to its pillaging] thanks to Safe Zone. Since Louis VII lost Aquitaine with his eyes open. It is the greatest humiliation.

From the perspective of those who truly love the French kingdom, the heart of the kingdom has been excised and the blood vessels have been properly damaged.

It was a shameful event for the people of the French kingdom. And it was a tragedy that shackled the soul of Philip II, who called himself the king of France, not the king of the Franks.

But thanks to that tragedy, Philip II became more capable.

“I have taken care of all those you mentioned.”

“You have worked hard, Duke Bouillon.”

Philip II smiled at the voice of the chief secretary.

The nobles who openly respected Prince Richard and took the lead in treason were purged. Philip II was able to purge so quickly because he had confidence.

‘Richard himself has no intention of protecting these nobles anyway.’

Philip II thought. Still not enough.

‘The French kingdom, which is not united, will perish.’

[One France, One King.]

Philip II’s new ideology wanted centralization. But Philip II was not stupid enough to aim for centralization openly like before. Induce the nobles’ territorial wars and form factional fights. And raise a standing army during that time.

Philip II worked hard. For revenge. If he does not give the enemy a gap, and prepares for a good future with patience, the guardian angel of France, Michael, may create an opportunity to take revenge.

‘There is no perfect power in the world.’

Richard became the crown prince, but when John becomes the Duke of Normandy in later generations and changes the regime. If the French kingdom uses that small gap, there may be an opportunity to recapture at least the territory of central France.

Until then, he will properly unite the nobles of the French kingdom and create a proper force to counterattack. No matter how good England is, it will show weaknesses and be defeated.

‘John, I am learning again thanks to you.’

Now that I think about it, Prince John looks great, Philip. In the old days, whenever he was rejected by Princess Agnes, it was Philip’s daily routine as the French crown prince to ridicule John.

Except for the last public proposal, Prince John never reacted to his ridicule even once. However, he returned the humiliation at that time in a completely different way.

Then a knight came and reported.

“Your Majesty, urgent news has arrived.”

It’s news about the family.

The news is that Marie, the eldest daughter of the French kingdom, the Countess of Champagne, is seriously ill.

“My sister Marie has collapsed? That can’t be!”

Philip II is so angry that his nephew, the Count of Champagne, who can be said to be the same age, is on Richard’s side, but apart from that, Philip II has a complex ‘love-hate’ relationship with his older sister Marie, who is much older than him.