The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 164

164. Your Name

A happy moment.

What a joy to name a grandson who has been safely born.

Originally, my grandson would have become Edward I, burdened with cleaning up the mess left by his grandfather, King John. But since I’m not just Lackland John, but Safe John reborn, much of history has already changed.

Henry II, who would have lamented ‘Even you, John!’ before dying, is still alive, though he did abdicate.

The Angevin family was peaceful today as well. My wife is a princess from the Eastern Roman Empire [Byzantine Empire], twelve years my junior, and my sister-in-law is a princess of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

And since James and Adelaide also engaged in Habsburg-style inbreeding [a dynastic marriage strategy to maintain power within the family], our Angevin family enjoys all sorts of bloodline premiums.

‘Whatever the name, my grandson will shine.’

This child is special. This child is the future of Anjou.

Safe John and Dangerous Richard and their wives gathered.

To be honest, it was a little awkward since it had been so long since the four of us had been together.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this. Anyway, shall we decide? The name of our beloved grandson!”

Sister-in-law Sibylla said happily.

Of course, I felt happy too.

‘Of course, everyone has come with names for my grandson, right?’

Richard probably prepared a traditional name in the English style, using the names of brothers or fathers. Maybe he prepared the name ‘Henry’ or ‘Richard’?

I first showed courtesy and said to Richard.

“Brother, why don’t you go first? What would be a good name for our grandson?”

It was right for the most important person in this gathering to offer their opinion first. I asked for Richard’s opinion, who was practically the head of our family.

However.

Instead of saying the name he had in mind, Richard asked me back.

“John, the child is your eldest grandson. Shouldn’t you be the one to say?”

“What? What do you mean?”

I asked Richard back, not understanding.

Richard smiled at me as if wondering why I was even asking.

“The grandfather is supposed to name his grandson.”

I did prepare a name, but it feels burdensome to be asked so directly like this.

“John, how did you come up with the name?”

“The Duke of Normandy is naming him. I’m looking forward to it.”

Moreover, Mary and my sister-in-law asked me for my opinion as if they had been waiting. No, it felt like they were practically forcing me. It seems the three of them had already coordinated beforehand. Was I the only one who didn’t know?

‘Well, if others say the name I have in mind is strange, I can ask for their thoughts then.’

Well, they’ve set the stage this much, so I can’t just stay still.

“The name I thought of is….”

So I said the name I hoped for, and the reaction was better than expected.

“Not bad. Perhaps that name is needed in this era.”

“My daughter will like that name too.”

“It’s a good name in many ways.”

Of course, it received a passing grade.

* * *

Ending the reminiscence, I spoke the name out loud.

“James, the name we’ve given to the royal grandson is… William!”

“William?”

“Our grandson will enjoy the same glory as William the Great of Normandy. Of course, he will walk a much better path than him.”

“A very good name. Father, I understand your wishes well.”

I stroked my son’s shoulder as he nodded as if he had realized something.

“Isn’t it obvious? William the Great is a great part of our English history.”

William. Of course, I’m talking about William the Conqueror, who founded the Norman dynasty.

Honestly, if you want to be picky, it’s from my and Richard’s grandmother’s bloodline, but aren’t we clearly descendants of the William family?

Actually, I originally wanted to give him the name Edward, just like in the original history.

Later, when my grandson ascends the throne as Edward I, isn’t that a wonderful name?

But the original history and the current history are very different, so I named my grandson William.

Like our ancestor William, who completely subjugated England from the ruler of Normandy, I hope my grandson will also achieve ‘great’ dreams.

Of course, I won’t be able to see my grandson achieve those great dreams before I die.

“William, let your great-grandfather hug you.”

“Ahboo?”

William was still fiddling with his fingers, as if reacting to our words.

‘Looking at it like this, it’s a bit like a Habsburg family tree.’

William’s great-uncle and maternal grandfather, Richard, lifted the baby up.

It was like watching a famous scene from The Lion King. Is it because the Lionheart is holding him?

A moment where I feel like singing the Lion King’s Circle of Life.

The moment we decided on the child’s name.

“Wahhhh!”

William, who had just received his new name, cried out loudly. Brighter than anyone else.

Richard, who seemed so happy with his grandson, said cheerfully.

“William, you will soon become England.”

Come to think of it, our grandson is a healthy baby?

He’s really going to inherit the name of William the Conqueror properly?

That’s how my grandson’s name became William.

Of course, there’s someone who can’t be left out at times like this.

My father and mother.

I don’t know if they were watching our mood or giving us grandparents some time, but they came in a little late.

The faces of my parents, who had become great-grandparents, looked good.

“Oh… our great-grandson finally has a name, so it’s William? A very good name.”

“Henry, keep your composure.”

* * *

Infant baptism took place in the cathedral.

“Ahboo!”

Our cute grandson has now become a child recognized by God.

The infant mortality rate in this era was quite high. So there were concerns about William’s health, but I soon dismissed those thoughts.

‘Come to think of it, all my children were healthy.’

From a 21st-century perspective, infant mortality rates were high in medieval Europe, which was primitive and barbaric in many ways. But my three children grew up so healthy. Now that I think about it, they didn’t even catch a common cold, so I wonder if they were blessed by God.

The moment my grandson became Safe William.

I saw my son dreaming of Great James.

“James.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Why are you saying such cheesy things all of a sudden?”

Honestly, I’m so proud of our son.

While I was moving between Caen and Rouen, working as the Chancellor of England, I knew better than anyone else that he had managed Aquitaine well with the cooperation of various vassals, practically without the help of his father, Henry.

“Now, thanks to you, I can push forward with reforms with peace of mind.”

So I can do more work.

“Father, I know you’re busy, but you still have to visit often. William is your grandson, after all.”

My son said to me as I said I would now focus on the capital.

“Now that the road connecting Aquitaine and Normandy is complete, I’ll come to visit often.”

After finishing the conversation with my son, I said to my parents, who had become great-grandparents.

“Father, Mother… thank you so much for living healthily until now. And thank you so much for giving birth to me.”

To me, who lost my parents in an accident in my previous life, my parents Henry and Eleanor, whom I gained after reincarnation, were the most precious people.

“John, you’re still like a child even in your old age. Saying such obvious things.”

My mother had a sorry expression. I could see the guilt in her eyes for not taking care of me properly when I was growing up because she was in exile.

“I love you too, John.”

My father, who had become more sentimental as he got older, also said with a sorry face.

And that evening.

I drank beer with my father for the first time in a while.

Our father is over 70 years old and still very healthy, but seeing his wrinkled face, I’m afraid of the passage of time.

“You always liked drinking beer when you were with me.”

“Beer is a drink, after all.”

“Haha. So, what are you thinking of doing now?”

“I have to do what I have to do… The Mongols will definitely target Poland and the Eastern Roman Empire.”

“Hmph… I’m sorry this old man can’t be of help.”

“No, Father, you should now spend your remaining years in peace.”

“Thank you, son. Perhaps it’s thanks to you that I’ve been able to put everything down and live.”

My father said with a bright smile.

“But I’m worried about the problem in the East. I did grant your request, but will that child be of help?”

“He will be. After all, the blood of Anjou flows in that child too, doesn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

I thought of the guy I sent to the East for England’s grand strategy.

* * *

-Goryeo Kingdom, Dongseonnyeong-

While Safe John was indulging in his newly acquired grandson William, spending happy times and showing filial piety, far away in the East, Goryeo [ancient Korean kingdom] is seeing hell. The name of that hell is Mongol.

The mighty Mongol Empire conquering the world.

I don’t know if it’s holy, but befitting the name of an empire, the Mongols were truly strong. They are a superpower that has conquered even the great China, Western Xia [Tangut Empire], and Khwarazm [Persianate Sunni Muslim empire].

‘Decide whether you will believe in Jesus and submit to the Mongols, or die as infidels.’

So they can say these words to weak countries without any burden.

Now, the Mongol Empire is saying to Goryeo.

You, who believe in weak Buddhism or Confucianism, just bow your heads and convert.

After Yi Ui-min, who fought back, was defeated and executed by the Mongols, Goryeo realized how strong the Mongols, who had destroyed the Han Chinese, were, and wanted to bow their heads and avoid the damned war if possible.

Because they knew how terrible war was from Yi Ui-min’s defeat and death.

But what the Mongols wanted was not to make Goryeo a vassal state as their superior, but to completely dominate all of Goryeo. From the perspective of the Goryeo people, they could not just hand over their territory to the barbarians without doing anything.

Goryeo must be protected.

To do so, they would have to stand against the Mongols, who were more fearsome than the previous Khitans [Liao dynasty] and Jurchens [Jin dynasty].

So, the loyalist of Goryeo, Choi Chung-heon, converted all the wealth of the Ubong Choi clan into military funds and staked the family’s fate on the nation’s destiny.

“Martial officials, let us abandon greed and anger. What we must do now is protect this country of Goryeo from the barbarians! Well, am I wrong?”

“The General’s words are not wrong.”

After hearing those words, Deputy Commander Du Gyeong-seung raised his voice and followed Choi Chung-heon’s will.

-The General’s words are not wrong.

The other soldiers shouted after Du Gyeong-seung.

In fact, everyone is terrified. They know how strong the Mongols are, and the fact that this place is likely to become their grave.

General Choi Chung-heon is also a human being, so he felt fear in his heart just like the soldiers.

‘Protect Goryeo.’

But the more he did, the stronger his determination to fight to the death became.

‘I trust the General. Please prevent the destruction of this country of Goryeo.’

The pitiful words of the sovereign and.

‘General. Please save us.’

The desperate words of the weak commoners were the responsibilities and strength on Choi Chung-heon’s shoulders.

“General, the Mongol army is coming.”

-Following Joshua, let’s go forward!

-Our dwelling place is in the Lord’s embrace.

The barbarians singing in Mongolian as they ran. Even if the Goryeo army didn’t know the meaning of the military song the Mongols were singing in Mongolian, they felt the death named Mongol was approaching.

“In the West… there was a man who confessed his love more than 200 times, but was rejected. That man overcame the wounds of heartbreak and grew to fight and defeat the Huihui Muslims [Muslims in China during that time].”

In fact, the people of Goryeo also knew Safe John.

The story of the Westerner who gave up his love with a beautiful princess and protected the greater cause to become a hero through the Byeokrando network communication [an international trade port of Goryeo] was famous even in Goryeo.

Of course, bringing up Prince John now is just a joke.

Even a commoner from the West fought in a harsh environment for his country, so how could Goryeo, a country of nobles with a sense of responsibility, show an ugly appearance?

Of course, there is ‘another’ reason for bringing up Prince John’s name, but Choi Chung-heon did not continue speaking because it was an unnecessary fact on this battlefield.

“General, if we are prepared to die like that Prince John, we can win this war.”

“Yes, we can win. If we give everything.”

To Du Gyeong-seung’s words, Choi Chung-heon raised the corners of his lips.

-Doo doo doo doo.

As expected, many Mongol troops rushed in. And countless Goryeo people began to sacrifice themselves for their country.

“How can these weak barbarians?”

“Resist us.”

However.

Even in the face of the disaster called Mongol, the Goryeo people stepped on each other’s corpses and fought with all their might to kill even one more person.

“Barbarian bastards.”

“Goryeo is.”

“It belongs to the Goryeo people!”

As Goryeo resisted the Mongols while shedding blood.

“General, reinforcements are here!”

-Ppoooo oooo.

Sound of a horn.

-Giddy up, giddy up.

“We will protect Little China Goryeo and achieve the revival of China.”

Even the remnants of the fallen Song Dynasty.

“If Goryeo falls, Shin’guk [Japan] will also fall.”

Even the samurai of Japan.