The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 175

175. Eve of the Storm

European nations, already troubled by the Mongol invasions, closely watched the movements of the Kingdom of England.

England was the first to advocate for vigilance against the Mongols.

As the powers of Europe monitored England, new tidings arrived.

The news of the passing of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor reached them.

Henry and Eleanor had dedicated their lives to transforming England from a backwater kingdom into a dominant force in Western Europe. Consequently, numerous delegations were dispatched to England to pay their respects.

Upon hearing the reports from the returning delegations, the monarchs pondered.

‘England will now be completely different.’

Even though Henry II had abdicated, created the strange title of Grand Duke of Britain [a title held by his son Richard before becoming king], and passed all his power to his sons.

Henry II’s influence and history were significant, so foreign rulers anticipated that England’s actions would become even more unrestrained.

Not long after completing the funeral mass for his father and the inheritance process, the English royal family quietly signaled to Europe, which had been observing.

‘England is the sharpest sword defending Christianity.’

Shortly after Richard I announced the implementation of the co-rule system, he extensively revealed a massive standing army.

And then.

‘From now on, our England is one large barrack.’

John I, formerly the Duke of Normandy, decided to actively display his actions as king.

Of course, some underestimated John I.

‘At best, John will be a puppet listening to King Richard’s orders. Anyone can see he’s just struggling with his brother’s war preparations.’

Those who knew nothing about the unique co-rule of England assumed that John would merely act as a figurehead monarch.

However, those who knew the true nature of Prince John and Prince Richard were surprised by something else.

‘John himself has elevated Richard to the status of a great king, right?’

‘Richard has never once rejected John’s policies.’

‘What on earth are Richard and John thinking?’

‘There must be a reason why they accepted the nominal co-kingship.’

At that moment.

‘I, the protector of the people and the second King of England, John, declare.’

John I, who called himself the second King of England, proclaimed to all of Europe.

‘The Mongol hordes, claiming to be Eastern Christians, are targeting Europe. What we must do now is to temporarily form a European Union.’

European Union.

Many began to react differently to the words of a man reincarnated from the 21st century.

[Kingdom of France]

In the Kingdom of France, which had recently experienced many troubles, upon hearing the news of Henry and Eleanor’s deaths.

“Hooray!”

“The Antichrist is dead!”

“Justice has prevailed!”

They rejoiced in the deaths of their two enemies while intoxicated with wine.

Henry II was the Englishman who had troubled the Kingdom of France the most, and Eleanor, once the Queen of France, had handed Aquitaine [a region in southwestern France] to Henry II as a dowry.

However, the French, who were rejoicing, also heard the significant words of John, who had been inaugurated as co-ruler in neighboring England.

[The only way to confront the Mongols is for all of Europe to unite.]

King Philip II of France, who was already very interested in John, wore a serious expression.

He always became serious when dealing with the Angevin family [the ruling dynasty of England at the time], but this time his expression was even worse.

European Union? What nonsense is that?

“Your Majesty, you must forget the grudges of the past and declare a European Union. At least, John I is absolutely right that we must unite to stop the Mongols.”

The words of the Count of Blois, his nephew and most cherished vassal, could disturb the king’s mind.

However, Philip II was now a wise monarch.

“That is not wrong. We will temporarily forget our grievances with England. If the Mongols thoroughly destroy Poland, the Eastern Roman Empire, and Jerusalem, then Europe will be next.”

The Kingdom of France, possessing territories in the Middle East, knew the threat of the Mongols better than anyone.

Now was not the time to argue with England.

“Summon the army.”

So, King Philip II of France donned his armor for the first time in a long while.

[Eastern Roman Empire]

The grand strategy devised by the Eastern Roman Empire to confront the Mongols was nearing its conclusion.

“You must follow my will. Now is not a time for peace, but for war. For the sake of the great Roman Empire, I will relinquish my authority, so it is right that you also give up some of your interests.”

Emperor Alexios II of the Eastern Roman Empire, now showing his experience, pushed his ideas forward decisively.

“We will follow Your Majesty’s will.”

The nobles, persuaded by the emperor’s opinion, which held the moral high ground, agreed despite their discomfort. ‘Mongols’ were that dangerous.

Of course, there were still governors in the provinces who were making noise, but the emperor held a significant advantage in both justification and power.

The young emperor, who had barely overcome the rebellion in the year of his ascension, had now become a mature emperor and taken the lead in state affairs.

In any case, after the state affairs meeting ended, the emperor returned to the palace and said to his most beloved wife.

“John, that man, has ascended to the throne of England. Although he is a co-ruler.”

“Is that so?”

Agnes showed no reaction.

As if she had no feelings for John.

“I thought you would be quite curious?”

“Isn’t the Kingdom of France more important to us anyway? That’s why the late Emperor accepted me as his daughter-in-law.”

When Agnes brought up the story of the Kingdom of France first, Alexios II showed her a letter sealed with a lily [the symbol of the French monarchy].

“Empress, your brother Philip has contacted me.”

“What does it say?”

“France will unconditionally… protect the Eastern Roman Empire.”

“Is that so?”

Princess Agnes smiled with multiple meanings.

[Kingdom of Jerusalem]

The news of Henry II’s obituary also reached the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

“Ha…. Why didn’t you acknowledge me when you were going to leave like this?”

Geoffrey wept silently. Henry and Eleanor were parents who evoked both love and resentment.

Later, Geoffrey heard about the co-rule declaration and the European Union.

“That damn John, he’s making the right noises for once since becoming co-ruler. Yes. We need support now.”

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was in dire straits.

Due to various circumstances, the heretical Mongols, who had ground down the Islamic forces, were targeting them.

Geoffrey I knew that now was the time to receive help from his Christian brothers, and he hoped that the European Union, or whatever it was, would quickly form and reach them.

So, Geoffrey I hurriedly sent letters containing requests for aid to several major powers simultaneously.

Pride?

This was not the time to worry about such things. They were about to be massacred by the Mongol bastards.

“Request as much support as possible as soon as possible. If we fall, then Egypt is next.”

Geoffrey I abandoned his pride.

He immediately sent a desperate request for help to his brother and enemy, John I.

Egypt, the world’s granary.

Originally owned by Islamic forces, but reclaimed by Christians.

There, there were capable individuals from Islamic backgrounds who had converted to Christianity, like Masoud, and second sons sent from noble families.

“Mongols….”

Geoffrey I.

In the original history, he should have died long ago as a prince of England. Now, he was desperately surviving as the ruler of the Holy Land, the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

A monarch is someone who must rule and protect at the same time.

[Kingdom of Poland]

Kazimierz II quietly gazed at the army.

“Soon… a storm will rage.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The newly emerging power, the Kingdom of Poland, which had absorbed all of Kievan Rus [a medieval state in Eastern Europe], had been preparing for war with the Mongols for a long time.

They knew what it meant to be on the front lines against the Mongols.

That they would shed countless blood because of it.

-Thud.

What they believed in were the new weapons muskets sold by England.

“We are prepared to die. Your Majesty.”

And the strong soldiers they had trained over a long period.

[Papal States, Rome]

Innocentius III, the head of the Papal States and successor to Peter, looked at several letters.

They were letters from the monarchs of various countries.

The response to the Holy Mongol Empire had been decided. Eastern Christianity itself could not be considered heretical in principle, but various circumstances made them an unacceptable heresy.

“Your Holiness, what are you planning to do now?”

“There is no time to hesitate now.”

The Pope, who would have been in a power struggle with the monarchs of Europe in the original history, was now facing a religious war unlike the original history.

“Our Papal States cannot tolerate Eastern heresy.”

He chose the existing order rather than an unfamiliar and incorrect heresy.

So, he decided to give more justification to the monarchs of each country.

* * *

-1205, England, Rouen-

‘To leave me, on the same day and at the same time.’

The sky is clear.

The weather was nice.

But I didn’t feel very good.

Because my heart is still empty.

I didn’t know that the fact that my father and mother were no longer here would be so bitter.

No, it was a farewell I had expected since they left Aquitaine and went to London, but when I heard of their deaths.

‘John… stop crying.’

‘The tears won’t stop.’

I really cried like a baby.

I, Safe John, was already an adult, and even a grandfather with a grandson, William.

But I was also someone’s child.

My father, who had cherished me since childhood, and my mother, who was indifferent but had reflected in many ways in her later years, had passed away.

My heart was empty. Really.

But I couldn’t stay like a child who had lost his parents forever.

“Your Majesty, this is Masoud’s report.”

I read a letter sent by my close friend Masoud in the Middle East.

Masoud moved according to what I had requested.

“The monarch of the Kingdom of Jerusalem has sent a letter.”

“Is it my brother Geoffrey?”

My dear brother Geoffrey even sent a letter begging for help. It was such an affectionate and touching letter that anyone would think we were close.

‘I’ll save you, brother Geoffrey.’

He must have felt a great sense of crisis as well.

Anyway, after reading the letter from Charles about the movements of the Mongols, I almost had goosebumps seeing the changed history.

“Those Mongols… Mongols who have even learned cunning.”

The Mongols I knew were just horse riders. I thought they were just a simple warrior race whose purpose in life was just plunder and conquest, but the current Mongols also had the cunning of conquerors.

They were sending missionaries, declaring, ‘It is truly unfair that we became heretics in the old Roman era.’

I’m not a clergyman, so I don’t want to say anything about heresy. Aren’t the Mongols practically a darkly evolved Tengriism [an ancient Central Asian religion]?

Why are they holding up flags with crosses and revealing the name of Christianity? Are these people really okay?

“Sigh…”

A sigh came out. This world was really difficult.

The Mongols are now preparing to invade, how afraid would the person who has to stop them be?

The ambiguous position of co-ruler was also a position, but the political environment was too different from what I had imagined.

Damn feudal era.

The nobles were really cunning to the extreme.

Today is a peaceful England, but peace will soon be forgotten.

Peter said.

“Your Majesty, the engagement ceremony is about to begin.”

The engagement between Spain and England is about to begin.

At least at this point, the interests of Spain and England aligned.

No, they had no choice but to align. Because they properly sympathized with how scary the Holy Mongol Empire’s power was.

That’s why.

Our England pursued a royal marriage.

‘It’s just an engagement for now, though.’

“May the Lord bless the future of Charles and Isabella.”

Since it was done in a simplified manner anyway, the engagement ceremony ended quickly.

My older sister, Eleanor the Younger, said with a complicated face.

“John, the wedding will be held in Spain. You don’t object, do you?”

“Of course not.”

And a few days later.

“Rather than the empty title of Great King, I will become a War King. What I have been preparing for during these years is to protect this country, England, and the Lord’s country. The Holy Mongol Empire, which claims to be a heresy, will not be allowed in this world.”

The vanguard led by my brother moved out.