The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 16

[Episode 16 The Great Army of Lions (3)]

-Cock-a-doodle-doo.

The daily routine begins with the crowing of a rooster.

“Labor is prayer~ Prayer is labor~”

“A new morning has dawned~”

“Wake up, the morning sun is up. Let’s go farm~”

Another peaceful morning in the Mortain estate, starting with the serfs singing labor songs.

I looked at Mary’s swollen belly.

“The baby is kicking my belly excitedly.”

“You little rascal, giving your mother a hard time.”

“It’s more amazing and wonderful, actually.”

Mary trailed off, stroking her belly as she said,

“The moment I feel this child’s kicks, I realize that I am carrying a life.”

“Is that so?”

I decided to speak casually to Mary.

Now Mary is the closest person to me.

“Everything is peaceful.”

“Our estate is indeed peaceful.”

Even though the atmosphere outside seems to be turning chaotic,

our estate, located in a rural part of Normandy, was peaceful.

Of course, my daily life was also peaceful.

The lord is busy, but there are more people to do the work instead.

Unlike a country, the management of an estate can be done as the lord pleases.

In the beginning, I suffered a lot because there were no people to work,

but thanks to Peter (the fisherman) becoming a fisher of men, the workforce increased.

Unless it’s a special or sensitive issue,

all I have to do is offer words of comfort like a president nearing retirement, and diligently attend mass at the cathedral.

I occasionally hear complaints like [You’re too much…],

but I never forgot the ‘compensation’.

The people sent by the Claire family, Duke Lion and his cronies, Godfrey and the bastard legion, the youngest sons of wealthy noble families who couldn’t expect to find employment in the estate.

I make sure to take care of everyone according to their hard work, without exception.

That became the biggest secret to peace.

Then, a while later,

incredible news came to our rural Mortain estate.

The news that my father, Henry II, had suddenly gone mad and was rampaging.

If he was crazy about women, I would have admired my father’s great energy!

“….so it is said.”

As I heard from Peter the reason why my father was rampaging,

I became a stone statue for a while.

Oh, Lord.

Wow.

Oh my god.

Th… th…

Words wouldn’t come out.

The words that were about to burst out of my throat came out and then didn’t,

but now they finally burst out.

“I can’t believe it! How could such a thing happen.”

I almost collapsed because my neck hurt so much.

“You mustn’t faint, Your Highness.”

I didn’t faint,

but it was shocking news.

England began to ‘establish discipline’ based on Western Europe.

As if declaring, Western Europe is our territory, you guys!

they raised an army and began to move around.

But why am I, who is not even involved, having such a headache?

It’s because it’s a family matter.

I felt like my father was out of his mind.

How could he trust the grown lions who would immediately ‘rebel’ against their father and brothers at the slightest opportunity and start such a thing?

Of course, my curiosity grew,

but what I need to do now is to wisely deal with this situation as a lord.

I told Peter, my aide, about this fact.

Peter said,

“Wasn’t it His Majesty the King’s intention for the Earl of Hartford to come to this estate?”

‘Yes, the Earl of Hartford must know everything.’

I quickly ran to the small annex where Hartford was staying,

and the Earl of Hartford, who was wearing armor like everyday clothes, asked me with a surprised expression.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“The English legions have moved.”

“Is that true?”

Liar!

He must have heard everything before coming to our estate.

He’s putting on a face like ‘I don’t know anything’.

“Then what should I do?”

“You must train the troops and prepare for mobilization.”

“Mobilization?”

“Your Highness’s title is Earl of Mortain, so if Duke Richard of Normandy calls, you must lead the troops.”

“Because we will have to send troops somewhere soon.”

England is the predecessor of the British Empire (Great Britain).

As expected, the ancestor of the Hemsong nation [likely a humorous reference to a Korean perception of British history].

Amazing, the ancestor of Hemsong, England!

What was the reason why the brothers, who were always ready to commit patricide [killing of one’s father], agreed to this decision of their father?

Why else? Because there is a benefit.

My brothers are terrifying incarnations of rebellion,

children of patricide from hell.

Even those brothers,

are people who can move with one mind and one heart as long as it benefits them.

Those brothers pretended to land on the island of Britain (the island where England, Scotland, and Wales are located) to test the waters, and then suddenly joined their father’s army.

Once again, I emphasize, it’s joining, not rebellion!

“Why didn’t they call me?”

“Isn’t it because Your Highness doesn’t have a power base yet?”

In the end, I, who am only the owner of a small estate, am not qualified to be on the big stage.

Should I like this?

Or should I be sad?

Of course, I don’t intend to get involved in such a game yet.

I’m closer to feeling good!

but somehow I feel strange, like I’ve lost something.

Anyway, I pulled myself together,

and was faithful to my role as the owner of Mortain.

But lately, the eyes of the estate residents looking at me are unusual.

“Could it be another riot?”

Maybe Philip is plotting another scheme.

“Prince John, that’s not it.”

“If it’s not that, then what is it?”

“They respect Prince John.”

“You accepted the refugees of people that no one would accept.”

That’s because my brother-in-law stayed in Mortain without any tact.

“You accepted the youngest sons of noble families.”

That’s because the youngest sons of noble families who have nothing to do are at least elite, so I use them,

and some of them were appointed as barons. To get them to do some work on their own.

“Haha.”

In addition, Peter explained how kind and wonderful I am as a lord.

Tax and conscription relief, facility expansion paid for out of my own pocket, etc.

There are many parts that I don’t understand,

“Your Highness is a good lord.”

Even if I listen to Peter, I don’t understand it from the beginning. What did I do to be good!

**

“Developing a small estate is good, but

eventually, acquiring several estates and finding vassals to manage those estates is

the first step to becoming a great lord.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

Not everything is achieved by bloodline alone.

I’m royalty! I’m the son of Henry II!

If everything could be easily achieved with just one bloodline,

the history of Europe wouldn’t have gone so badly.

In the end, to me, who is in an estate as small as a rat’s tail compared to my brothers.

You have to get people.

For example, someone like Sir Godfrey.

“Peter, let’s go find Lord Godfrey.”

“Again today?”

“Yes.”

I decided to become the Liu Bei [a historical figure known for his persistence in recruiting talent] to recruit Zhuge Liang [a famous strategist].

Anyway, I have to escape the bleak future, Philip II’s plot, and my brothers’ checks.

‘In the end, I need people.’

“Even Charlemagne suffered to get the 12 knights.”

Could Charlemagne, who is said to have designed Europe, have created a myth without the capable 12 knights?

“Peter, people are the future.”

“Knowing that well, I follow Your Highness without complaint.”

The prickly Zhuge Kongming [another name for Zhuge Liang] served Liu Bei as his lord after three visits,

but Godfrey, who has rejected Safe Zone [a reference that needs more context, but implying the estate is a safe haven], me with virtue and grace, more than four times.

If he really becomes my vassal, I plan to use him like Hwang Hee Jeongseung [a famous Korean official known for his diligence] until he is old.

Of course, Godfrey continues to refuse.

It was like seeing Princess Agnes in the past.

“Your Highness, something terrible has happened.”

“What is it this time?”

I thought Philip had sent a spy,

but the news is that quite a few refugees are flocking in.

Why are they crawling in here?

“xxxxxxx”

Friends from the Eastern Roman Empire who speak Greek are requesting asylum.

“We want to live safely here.”

Venetian merchant friends also rushed in.

“We heard that you don’t persecute Jews.”

Even Jews wearing kippahs (Jewish skullcaps) were barging in.

Why?

Besides.

“I was a wandering knight, but I want to pledge allegiance to the lord.”

There were even wandering knights asking me to be their vassal.

“Peter, why are people coming to our estate?”

“Your Highness, that’s not important. A letter has come from Henry II.”

“What?”

I wanted to live quietly taking care of the estate,

but I feel like unwanted things keep happening to me?

[My beloved youngest son John, behold. There is something this father would like to ask of you.]

I was reading my father’s letter, which was dripping with affection,

“What… what is this…!”

**

There was a rumor that ‘the princes are rebelling once again to save Queen Eleanor.’

But that was a rumor unilaterally spread by England!

Now, led by Henry II,

Young King Henry.

Duke Richard of Normandy.

Duke of Brittany.

The strongest people in England have joined forces.

It is the moment when the sleeping lion, England, roars.

The Holy Roman Empire and its elector princes, who had entered a battle of nerves,

the remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire, which were going to ruin again,

the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which seemed to be truly ruined now,

even the Islamic forces trying to destroy the Christian bastards, who were pagans,

were all surprised.

Suddenly, at the French naval port of Calais, the armies of Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey,

began movements that said, I’m the boss of this area, starting with landing exercises!

Of course, Henry II is a benevolent monarch who has no intention of touching new kingdoms or weak countries.

He sent a ‘slight’ delegation to the Iberian Peninsula, where the kingdoms of Portugal, Leon, Castile, and Aragon are located,

warning them to ‘bow down on your own!’

To countries that lowered their heads quickly, like the ‘Low Countries’ [historical region encompassing Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg],

he showed the mercy that Jesus Christ preached, saying, ‘Do as you’ve been doing so far. Then I’ll forgive you for causing trouble during the Great Rebellion.’

He began to show the countries that were trying to cross the line these days the fear of England.

[Scotland]

Once opposed to England,

but unlike England, which occupied the territory of Western France. Scotland, ruined by its unique internal strife and rebellion.

They were considering a comeback once again, using the division of the English royal family as an excuse.

But the long-awaited Great Rebellion Season 2 did not happen.

“Is England suddenly allowed to do this?”

“Aren’t you thinking about how you’ve been trying to cross the line these days?”

Prince Geoffrey, looking at his opponent with a sinister expression.

“I’ll let you live. But there will be more to take.”

He looked at the weak with a smile.

[Wales]

Young King Henry, who literally turned the borders of Wales into a mess,

said with a truly regretful expression.

“Consider yourself lucky that you were caught by me, Henry, the co-king, not another prince.”

“I… I can’t believe it.”

The lords of Wales lost their words as they looked at the burning estate in front of them.

“Tsk tsk, just play house quietly in that small Wales. Why did you cross the line?”

Young King Henry smiled and gave an order.

“Kill everyone on the death list.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Blood flowed.

[Burgundy]

Among the four brothers born to Henry II.

Richard, the most outstanding in command and martial prowess,

led the army and put pressure on Burgundy.

The Duke of Burgundy, who couldn’t possibly defeat Richard’s army no matter how much he thought about it.

stood in front of the battlefield with corpses and looked at Richard as if resentful.

“What does England want from us?”

Then Duke Richard of Normandy said calmly.

“Obedience.”

[Kingdom of France – Border with England]

Henry II, leading the army and putting pressure on the Kingdom of France.

Of course, there was resistance from the French army.

But Henry II, knowing that his sons would not stab him in the back,

did not hide his power.

For that, Henry II had aimed for the elite of the troops for a long time after the Great Rebellion,

and promised his hateful sons the benefits of helping this time, not family affection.

He hired his children like ‘mercenaries’.

The old king, who properly showed the ‘difference in power’ to the Kingdom of France in that way,

was able to meet the monarch of France, who had virtually come to lower his eyes, with ease.

“Philip II, I ask you, the monarch of the Franks (the old name of France). Are we that easy?”

“I am not the King of the Franks, but the King of France!”

“Speaking informally?”

“That’s not true.”

Like a certain king of Joseon who suffered the humiliation of Samjeondo [a historical event where a Korean king was forced to submit to the Qing dynasty], Philip II gritted his teeth.

He thought of someone.

‘John… it’s all because of John!’

He blamed Prince John, who was quietly staying put, for no reason.

But it’s half true.

In the original history, Henry II was suspiciously generous to Philip II.

But the current Henry II did not tolerate Philip II, who caused trouble in the estate of his beloved youngest son ‘John’.

[Ireland]

The island of rebellion, Ireland.

They bowed their heads to England and said they would take care of themselves.

But they are a Celtic nation.

They may have antipathy towards England, a Germanic dynasty with Anglo-Saxon and Norman Viking blood.

It is also true that our in-laws attacked Ireland 10 years ago!

But this crossed the line.

I heard the reason why my father started establishing discipline.

The detestable lords of Ireland, instigated by France,

tempted Wales and Scotland, who were living as a harmonious three-family roof.

And that’s how this mess happened.

But the important thing is.

I, who was relieved last time, have also joined this game.

“Why did I become the commander-in-chief of the conquest of Ireland?”

I still don’t understand.

Why did a novice lord like me have to go to the Irish front?

And.

“Hahaha, Earl of Mortain. At such a happy moment, please relax your expression.”

Duke Lion Heinrich, who had become close to me before I knew it, smiled brightly.

In front of me.

An Irishman in rags was visible.

“Sniff, it’s a relief. It’s really a relief that it’s Prince John.”

“….”

No, why are those Irish people crying?

“I will give my all to loyalty.”

Why are the knights striking poses?

The Great Army of Lions (4)