The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 141

141. Well, That’s Just How the Germans Are (1)

Let’s think calmly.

Actually, when you think about it, there are many suspects.

Of course, not me. I’m not the type to plot carelessly; I’m a statesman with a grand vision, aren’t I?

Frankly, this assassination is a massive event, like an earthquake.

We should have recognized it when old Friedrich, like a future Louis XV, said, ‘After my reign, the flood.’ Yes, that will was practically a ‘death’ flag for the nation!

Unfortunately, it’s the moment when ‘holy’ and ‘Roman’ are about to be removed from the Germans’ Roman Empire. Ah, what will be left for the poor Germans? It already breaks my heart.

I may have some German blood, but thinking about those German kids doesn’t make my head spin.

‘I didn’t know the Holy Roman Empire would be shaken like this. But is it necessarily a loss? Frankly, it’s a good thing for a superpower like the Holy Roman Empire to weaken.’

Ah, it might be a slight loss. Because that Venetian guy is chattering so much. Even the beautiful Mary would struggle with so much talking. The insidious Venetian’s machine-gun-like words are not pleasant to hear, even as a formality.

“Prince John wishes to avenge his old comrade.”

He’s calling me ‘Prince’ this time. Does he want to appeal to my noble status? Well, I have something to say to that.

Revenge for an old comrade, huh?

“Isn’t it your father’s revenge you’re asking for? Admiral?”

I addressed Raniero Dandolo as ‘Admiral.’ Of course, this wasn’t just mentioning his title. It was a roundabout way of saying, ‘If you don’t like it, turn the Holy Roman Empire’s coast upside down with your fleet.’

‘Should I go with the Genoese coin [ally with Genoa instead of Venice]?’

Honestly, I’ve been friendly with Venice, but we’re starting to distance ourselves due to liquidity issues. Why should I avenge old Enrico? It’s annoying and bothersome.

Soon, Raniero, who couldn’t possibly miss my meaning in mentioning ‘Admiral,’ wore the guise of a good-natured merchant, unlike before.

Ah, that’s practically the ‘Breath of a Traitor’ [a subtle shift in demeanor revealing ulterior motives].

“But isn’t this a great opportunity for Prince John as well? You can intervene in their problems by helping Venice.”

At this point, I feel like his earlier anger was a bit of an exaggeration.

As expected, I sense the demeanor of a merchant trying to profit from my father’s death.

A great opportunity, huh?

Of course, the military supply business is always lucrative. And I already have plans to exploit it properly. Well, I can let the Safe Company I created experience ‘real combat.’

Like the politicians who profited from the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century.

‘We already have veteran commanders who honed their skills since the Crusades, and mid-level mercenaries who experienced the civil war are passing on their know-how.’

But as a great lord of Aquitaine, there are unavoidable considerations.

“If our Duchy of Aquitaine participates, the Kingdom of France and Spain won’t stand idly by. And… more than anything.”

I deliberately trailed off, and Raniero looked at me with strange eyes. But hey, did you think you could do as you please just because I’m a ‘Duke’?

After a moment of silence, I paused.

“I haven’t received permission from my brother Richard.”

I gave a perfectly reasonable excuse.

“…!”

Ah, as the Duke of Normandy, the heir to the great King of England, I can’t take military action without his approval.

But you should always listen to the end of what people say.

“However, I think I can help in other ways.”

We… have a lot to sell. We haven’t been idle for seven years!

“Aquitaine has prepared a lot of military supplies in the meantime.”

“Military supplies, you say?”

“Godfrey, bring what we’ve prepared.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Now is the time to do business.

By the way, I thought of someone who must be having a headache in this situation, just like me. Poor teacher.

‘I wonder what Teacher is going to do.’

Considering the relationship between the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope, he must be having a really hard time right now.

Well, it’s a burden that the successor of Peter must bear.

* * *

―Italy, Vatican―

John was driving him crazy, and many other countries were causing headaches, but it couldn’t compare to the Pope, who was working hard in the Vatican.

As the successor of Peter, mediating the world, Pope Pius II was.

“Heh heh.”

He was so out of his mind that he could only let out a meaningless laugh.

In fact, the civil war in the Holy Roman Empire was a planned disaster. But what came back was assassination.

Two big figures dying suddenly in Aachen, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, without even knowing why. Such a thing unfolding in the world.

Pius II, who avoided his destined assassination thanks to Safe John and is now living a long life. Formerly Thomas Becket. He was clearly a great Pope who achieved the greatest glory in the Third Crusade, but.

If he wants to maintain this reputation, he needs to properly mediate a Europe where such variables have occurred.

‘Why did it have to be the Holy Roman Empire….’

Pius II’s mind began to become complicated.

The Holy Roman Empire is a country that is secretly close to the Pope.

The reason why Pius II, breaking the limitations of being from England, was able to ascend to the papacy was not only due to his political power and ability, but also because England and the Holy Roman Empire were pushing him.

“Where on earth… would such a petty conspiracy be plotted? It’s obvious.”

England, France, the Eastern Roman Empire. These are the three candidate countries that Pius II immediately thinks of.

They are the most cunning countries in Europe.

But you never know in this world.

Perhaps it’s not a foreign conspiracy, but nobles within the Holy Roman Empire who want chaos who are playing tricks.

Aren’t the nobles inside the Holy Roman Empire also incredibly insidious?

First of all, before mediating.

There was something Pius II had to do as Pope.

“Secretary of State, we must protect the bishoprics within the Holy Roman Empire right now. Immediately, protect Mainz, Trier, and Cologne.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

He said protect, but he meant counterattack if things go wrong.

* * *

―Holy Roman Empire, Electorate of Saxony―

The atmosphere in the Electorate of Saxony, where the victims’ families were, was colder than the Arctic.

“…!”

Silence fell as if an ice age had arrived.

What broke this silence was.

A handsome nobleman slamming the desk.

This nobleman was Otto (formerly Friedrich), who once lived under Mortain and Ireland. He was still confused about how to accept this major event.

He had already secured a majority among the electors, so he was waiting for his father to become the Holy Roman Emperor while protecting his territory. Then, out of nowhere, his father was assassinated.

“What on earth were the guards doing?”

And a roar like a lion’s roar echoed.

“Your Excellency, I’m sorry.”

“Does your apology resurrect my father like Lazarus [biblical figure resurrected by Jesus]?”

“That’s….”

“The greatest moment is the most dangerous moment. Didn’t Caesar already prove that with his own death?”

Assassination is a dishonorable death.

The assassins had already been killed by someone else, so it was impossible to know who the mastermind was, but he really couldn’t forgive it.

To cowardly commit assassination. How lightly did they see Saxony?

At that time.

“Duchess Matilda has arrived.”

“Mother?”

The door opened and the nobleman’s mother entered.

She had a beautiful face inherited from Eleanor, but she was a noblewoman who couldn’t hide the wrinkled years.

“Sob, Otto, what should we do?”

Young Otto spoke to his crying mother, Matilda.

“I’ve been caught in a petty trick to make the German King the culprit. There’s still a lot to confirm, but I have to take action.”

“Surely you don’t suspect your uncles?”

Frankly, it’s a reasonable suspicion anyone could have. The Anjou family has done insidious things more than once or twice. Otto continued.

“My grandmother and grandfather, who are working on the succession of power, wouldn’t do that, so I suspect Uncle Geoffrey.”

Today, Geoffrey was suspected first again. But looking at Geoffrey’s actions so far, it’s true that he’s the most suspicious.

Unlike John, who always says [Safe Zone is always safe.] and slowly plots in the shadows.

Geoffrey, who openly tells people around him [Yeah, our family is a messed up family that would sell its soul to the devil for power. I’m one of them too.], already has a bad reputation.

So suspecting Geoffrey is the truth of Europe.

“Isn’t it a useful scheme to make things difficult for Prince Richard?”

Above all, if it’s a plot to repay the grudge of exiling himself and the dead Prince Henry to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, wouldn’t there be some plausible relevance?

If it’s Geoffrey I, whom Europe envies and fears, it’s plausible.

But Matilda, who had been crying for a while, had a different thought.

“But Otto… my intelligent son, there’s something you’ve forgotten. Aren’t you thinking about your aunts? Don’t you suspect your maternal grandmother?”

“Yes?”

“The blood of Anjou doesn’t discriminate between men and women.”

Otto’s expression darkened at what his mother said.

‘Absolutely, Uncle John and Richard wouldn’t need to do this. After all, they are supporting forces that will support me. But… my aunts?’

Indeed, like his uncles, Otto’s aunts were all formidable women.

“But Otto, it’s the aftermath, not the culprit.”

Otto thought about what his mother, who had reddened eyes, said.

‘Mother is right. First of all… I have to prepare for a fight.’

Anyway, the assassination happened, and now he has to avenge his father, whether he likes it or not. To be filial to his father in heaven. At least, he has to wear the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire himself.

Under the name of ‘Otto IV’.

But the world is not easy.

“Your Excellency, vassals of the German King have revolted.”

“What are you talking about?”

Otto hadn’t even taken military action, but a 막장 [makjang – Korean slang for an extreme, over-the-top drama] drama was already unfolding.

* * *

―Holy Roman Empire, Somewhere―

The unprecedented incident of the assassination of Duke Heinrich the Lion of Saxony and Enrico Dandolo at once. Thanks to this, the Holy Roman Empire is already experiencing labor pains that seem to tear it into thousands of pieces.

But who is the most wronged in this matter?

Heinrich, born in ’65!

King Heinrich of Germany, thinking, ‘Duke Heinrich the Lion, my father and I recognized you as a worthy opponent. I look forward to an honorable civil war with you,’ was expecting a fair civil war.

He wanted to gather nobles who matched his family’s intentions, citing the electors’ election as a ‘rigged election,’ and lead the civil war to victory with justice and justification, properly evaluating his abilities.

But in this world, tragedy always happens in a direction you don’t want. The German King was really unlucky. The reason is simple.

There are many guys like Richelieu (Prime Minister of the French Bourbon Dynasty, specialty: tearing the New Roman Empire well) who like the successful Holy Roman Empire among the current European powers so much that they want it torn into thousands of pieces.

It’s natural for things to split when they come together. There were too many people who wanted the Holy Roman Empire, which had been united by the strong rule of Friedrich I, to be divided. And there were reckless people who wanted to ‘do something’ since things had turned out this way.

That was a big problem for the German King.

Some of the vassals he had bestowed gold and wine upon suddenly claimed that their lord was the mastermind behind the assassination and then revolted.

“Let’s overthrow the tyrant!”

“Let’s punish the dishonorable one!”

‘No, I didn’t even become the Emperor.’

The German King was wronged.

At least if this had happened after wearing the imperial crown, he wouldn’t feel so wronged. Didn’t he suddenly experience a major incident called assassination and get driven into a corner like this?

In a silent scream, King Heinrich of Germany said.

“Quickly ask for reinforcements, we will all wither and die like this.”

“Fight back!”

In the end, there was nothing but fighting.