The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 163

콩가루집 막내왕자-163화(163/205)

163. Grandfather John

-Kingdom of Jerusalem, Palace of Lamentation-

Geoffrey I transformed his royal palace into the Palace of Lamentation. The official reason given was to mourn the death of Baldwin IV, who had suffered from illness throughout his life.

Everyone understood the true meaning behind Geoffrey I’s lament. It was because he had narrowly missed claiming the crown of England.

Geoffrey I, the ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, lamented once more today.

He had just learned from Philip II’s letter that John’s grandson had been born.

“Hahaha. They don’t even inform me of the joyous news that my nephew’s grandson has arrived. Does that mean I’m no longer considered a member of the Angevin family?”

“Father, please calm yourself.”

“Calm down, you say?”

Geoffrey I, composing himself slightly at his son’s words, continued.

“Son, this marks the definitive end of my failure. While I haven’t lost my head literally, it’s as good as gone. I’ve lost all influence in the mainland.”

If Safe John were present, he would likely accuse his brother of being ungrateful, considering he owed him the Kingdom of Jerusalem. However, Geoffrey was genuinely consumed by frustration.

Prince Arthur grasped his father’s hand, offering reassurance.

“But you still have me, Father! You have this Arthur!”

Geoffrey gazed upon his son, whose imposing physique mirrored that of his despised brother Richard, and replied.

“Yes, I have you.”

With those words, Geoffrey broke down, shedding tears of despair.

For Geoffrey, who felt he had lost everything, Prince Arthur was the only treasure remaining.

It was this sentiment that allowed Geoffrey to suppress his anger towards the damned ‘Safe John’ and the entire Angevin family.

* * *

-1204, Rouen, England-

All the nobles anticipated political conflict.

This stemmed from Richard I’s decree a year prior, in 1203, which appointed John as the Grand Justiciar (Chancellor) of the Kingdom of England.

The self-proclaimed Safe John, once known for reciting poetry to Princess Agnes, now found himself in a position where his political abilities would be scrutinized as King Richard I’s confidant and the empire’s chancellor.

Looking back, it was a truly pivotal moment.

Both the younger generation of nobles, contemporaries of John, and the older nobles who had long served Duke Henry of Brittany, united to keep John in check, setting aside their past differences.

Despite managing several territories, John’s newfound position granted him significant power. Moreover, King Richard I’s decision to appoint him as chancellor implied a genuine trust in his brother’s capabilities, regardless of their familial connection.

Many nobles hoped John would display the same aggressive tendencies in Rouen as he had in Aquitaine. Ideally, they wanted him to flaunt his power recklessly and without justification.

The moment a confident young royal becomes intoxicated with power, he inevitably reveals the ‘gap’ that ambitious nobles seek to exploit.

However, the man who called himself Safe John proved to be different.

‘Rouen is the capital of England, and the capital operates differently from other territories.’

His first action was to cultivate friendships with nobles who were neither staunch allies nor bitter enemies – the bystanders.

John refrained from pressuring these neutral nobles to join his faction, even if it seemed advantageous. Instead, he simply respected their existing positions. In essence, his approach was one of ‘wait and see.’

John recognized the limitations of his influence and understood that he couldn’t win everyone over, a pragmatic realization that prevented him from creating unnecessary enemies.

Furthermore, he avoided direct confrontation with the nobles who were scrutinizing him and refrained from pushing for radical reforms.

Instead, he quietly prepared a system of ‘imprisonment’ to address corruption among a select few nobles in ambiguous positions, such as those in minor branches of power.

In this era, prisons typically served as temporary holding places for criminals awaiting punishment.

However, the imprisonment system that John implemented with the administrators’ consent involved working and living in prison for a specified duration.

He abolished extreme penalties like amputation, hanging, or mutilation, even for minor offenses, arguing that killing people who could ‘work’ was a waste of valuable manpower.

Beyond advocating for the training of a strong army to counter the looming threat of the Mongol heretical forces, he remained largely silent on other policy matters.

Robert, a handsome young man from Oxford who had yet to inherit his father’s title, was genuinely impressed.

“Amazing. The Duke of Normandy.”

It was a compliment laden with meaning.

“Isn’t he also a descendant of King Henry?”

“And he carries the blood of the Norman royal family. Of course, that’s not the only thing that impresses me.”

The Earl of Oxford inquired about his young son’s true thoughts.

Robert shared his genuine assessment of the Duke of Normandy.

“He calls himself Safe John and cultivates a frivolous image, but in reality, he’s more cold-hearted than anyone else.”

Considering his repeated declarations of love to Princess Agnes in his youth, it was undeniable that he appeared lighthearted.

However, no one now considered John a ‘frivolous person.’ Some even referred to him as Octavianus [Augustus Caesar] wearing a clown’s mask, implying that he was a formidable and dangerous individual.

After the last civil war of the lions concluded, many nobles still remembered the words of Geoffrey, the infamous English viper.

[People of England, remember, John is more cold-hearted and cruel than I am]

Meanwhile, another celebration took place within the Angevin family.

“His Majesty and the Duke of Normandy’s grandson is born. Now… the Duke of Normandy will have a significant advantage.”

In both the West and the East, a talented individual with a secure heir gains considerable power from his descendants.

A daughter born to Sibylla and Richard I, and a son born to Prince John.

Naturally, this child would be considered a precious member of the royal bloodline. Robert, however, was more intrigued by something else.

“Perhaps the Duke of Normandy might reveal a genuine weakness.”

“A weakness?”

“The Duke of Normandy, now with a grandson, not a granddaughter, might exploit this legitimacy to create enemies, might he not?”

“So, what are your intentions? Are you planning to oppose the royal family?”

The old Earl of Oxford had served the Norman and Angevin families for a long time, but the term ‘royal family’ as uttered by the Earl of Oxford now lacked its usual grandeur.

It was spoken with a distinctly pessimistic tone.

“Of course not… Father, do you not know me well? I’m not like those foolish nobles in Aquitaine.”

“Then I know you very well. Our son, born to me in my later years, is not such a degenerate human being.”

Robert, smiling at the Earl of Oxford’s words, replied.

“I’m not trying to oppose them. I’m not that foolish. Didn’t you teach me when I was young? Rebellion is suicide.”

“A man who understands that… what are you planning?”

Robert responded after hearing his father’s question.

“As a loyal vassal, I’m simply capitalizing on situations that favor me.”

“Do as you please; I’ll permit anything as long as it’s not treason.”

The Earl of Oxford, now awaiting his final days, spoke sincerely. As long as his son’s ambitions didn’t involve treason, he was indifferent to the specifics.

* * *

-England-

My brother Richard and I journeyed swiftly to Aquitaine. Of course, I couldn’t ride a horse like a true warrior, so we traveled by carriage, as my sister-in-law was accompanying us.

My sister-in-law was even more overjoyed than Richard and I at the birth of our grandson.

“Sob, a grandson… I’m finally seeing a grandson….”

Tears streamed down her face.

“Richard, we have a grandson!”

She was truly happy.

My sister-in-law, her face radiant with joy, turned to me with a meaningful expression.

“John, I truly never imagined this moment would arrive.”

“Nor did I, Your Majesty.”

In Korean terms, she was also my in-law [a respectful term for a relative by marriage].

A woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth, yet who had endured much hardship from a young age. She had suffered through marriages to unsuitable men and even lost her beloved son Baldwin (Baldwin V in original history).

She had lost her son but gained her precious daughter Adelaide, who had grown up safely and given birth to a grandson. Naturally, my sister-in-law’s heart must be overflowing with joy.

‘Of course, I hadn’t even realized that my sister-in-law was a princess of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, not the Kingdom of Navarre.’

“Oh, and I’m constantly receiving help from Mary. I heard she volunteered to be a nanny and has been caring for our daughter?”

In fact, Mary was supposed to move to Rouen with me, but she insisted on staying to care for my pregnant daughter-in-law, Adelaide.

As expected, couples often resemble each other, and my positive influence seemed to have rubbed off on my wife, Mary.

‘I’m worried because she’s getting older.’

Of course, my wife and I had a twelve-year age difference, so I was starting to worry about her health.

“Sibylla, forget the past now. Aren’t we happy now?”

“Richard, I’m so grateful that you didn’t abandon me even though I couldn’t give you a son… truly.”

Witnessing my brother and sister-in-law’s tender affection made me miss my wife even more.

‘James, that little guy has a child.’

And I was eager to see the face of my only grandson, born not long ago.

I was also achieving accomplishments that had eluded me in my previous life.

‘I’m a grandfather.’

I had suspected I would become a grandfather ever since my eldest daughter-in-law, Adelaide, became pregnant, but I hadn’t fully grasped what it would be like to actually see him.

“John, this is just the beginning. With a grandson, our succession is secure, but we must ensure we pass on a prosperous country to the next generation.”

“Of course, I understand that well. So, brother, what is our grandson’s name?”

At my question.

“I’m truly concerned…”

Richard stroked his chin thoughtfully.

As the grandson of Richard and I, his name had to be special.

If he was to be a monarch who would succeed James, who had become an imperial claimant, wouldn’t he need a suitably impressive title?

* * *

-Aquitaine, Territory-

We arrived at the territory as quickly as possible via the Lion’s Road, which connected Rouen to Aquitaine.

-Welcome to Aquitaine.

I arrived in Aquitaine and greeted the people who had come to welcome me.

Naturally, I was more eager to see my wife than my son and his wife, so I immediately embraced Mary.

“Mary~~~~~!”

“What is this disgusting display you’re putting on?”

“Now, prepare to come to Rouen quickly!”

“This man… so frivolous!”

My wife was embarrassed by my actions, but Grandfather John, starved for affection, longed for Mary’s embrace.

And as I had anticipated, Mary’s arms were warm and comforting.

“These guys can’t stand the sight of me right now.”

“Henry, that’s the price you pay for ignoring your children and embracing a young woman.”

“John, that’s too much. No matter how much you wanted to see Mary, you should have greeted your parents first.”

“Ah, were you here, Father and Mother? I momentarily forgot myself while experiencing a thousand years of love.”

“Ha, I miss our cute Prince John, not the heartless Duke of Normandy!”

“It’s all because you went to embrace a woman in Chinon when I was pregnant.”

“Ellie, that’s too harsh.”

“Compared to what you’ve done, I’m being lenient with you.”

Anyway, the reunion was complete.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Richard looked at his daughter Adelaide’s face with satisfaction.

“No. My mother took good care of me… so I was able to give birth comfortably.”

I already knew from my son’s letter how diligently Mary, who had remained in Aquitaine, had cared for her daughter-in-law during her pregnancy.

And my brother and sister-in-law were not people who failed to recognize ‘sincerity’.

“Duchess, thank you so much.”

“Thank you, Mary.”

“No. I didn’t do much. It was Adelaide’s first birth, so it was challenging for her. I simply couldn’t stand by and watch.”

“Mary, I need to speak with you for a moment.”

“What is it?”

“We need to discuss our child’s name.”

I called Mary, one of the grandparents.

To be honest, the baby’s name should be decided in a grand meeting, as it’s a truly significant matter in life.

After concluding the final meeting, the grandparents finally beheld the adorable baby angel, wiggling his tiny hands.

“This baby is ‘our’ descendant.”

“This child… is my grandson.”

While my brother and sister-in-law were deeply moved.

I, too, was overcome with emotion.

“Mary, I… have a grandson.”

“John, don’t cry; it’s embarrassing.”

My heart swelled with emotion. I was now Grandfather John.

“Wah!”

As if aware of his grandparents.

He cried loudly once.

“Ah-boo!”

He continued to wiggle his hands, oblivious to everything.

“…!”

“Hahaha, displaying such an eccentric demeanor, he’s definitely your bloodline, John.”

“My brother’s bloodline is also intertwined with this child.”

While I was reveling in the moment, I turned to my son and said.

“James, the name we have chosen for the royal grandson is….”