The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 18

[Became a Duke (1)]

-England, London-

Sigh.

The smell of the sea, the dry weather.

It’s been a while since I returned to my homeland.

Of course, the weather in England was awful. Gloomy, depressing, and overcast.

After being in the sticks called Mortain.

Seeing such a thriving city, I truly felt the difference between the city and the countryside.

I finally realized the value of London.

My father looked at me with satisfaction and asked.

“How do you feel coming back to your homeland after so long?”

“I feel very good, but I don’t like the weather.”

“Hahaha.”

My father laughed heartily at my words.

“Our homeland’s weather isn’t great.”

Anyway, I landed on the English mainland in this ambiguous weather,

and the welcoming crowd was larger than expected.

“Long live King Henry!”

“Long live England!”

Cheers!

Henry II is getting old,

but still possesses formidable power.

He demonstrated his ability to mobilize his sons, who are like enemies, for this ‘discipline enforcement’ campaign.

Of course, except for me.

I’m just in the safe zone.

Anyway, as I was thinking that.

“Long live Prince John!”

“Long live the gentle Prince John!”

“Long live the virtuous Earl!”

I heard voices welcoming me.

Was I this popular?

It doesn’t feel bad, but rather bewildering?

We went to Westminster Palace.

Upon arriving in a private room, my father patted me on the shoulder and said.

“You’re really becoming an adult now.”

“Why are you saying something so obvious?”

Well, I’m about to become a father, so I guess I am an adult.

“The other princes are quite capable of taking care of themselves. If you give them a sword, they’ll take care of their own interests.”

“I know that too.”

My father acknowledges his brothers’ abilities, even though they committed treason like the ‘Great Rebellion.’

“Those guys inherited my strength. But you don’t.”

I felt a bit sad.

But it’s not exactly wrong, is it?

“Haha, but I’m a prince who has successfully developed a tiny territory.”

“Learn to be a little humble, youngest. Hahaha.”

I’m not smarter than my fearsome brothers,

nor do I have a power base,

nor am I a walking human weapon like Richard.

This Irish conquest can’t be attributed solely to my efforts.

When the lords were messing up,

The Earl of Hartford, Lionheart, and Godfrey, the Three Musketeers, fought well by my side,

and I just rode on my horse and shouted, ‘Charge!’

“Long live King Henry!”

“Long live Prince John!”

The cheers still echoed, and I felt the impact of this event.

‘The Great Army of Lions.’

That’s what people called this discipline enforcement campaign by England.

It was an event where Ireland, an island next to England, Wales, a neighboring town, and Scotland and France, who instigated them, were utterly defeated by England.

Seeing the people cheering from afar, I felt good without realizing it.

Indeed, that’s why people value ‘public sentiment.’

By the way, what did the original King John do during this period?

Ah, he kept telling his father, Henry II,

‘John needs territory!’

He even asked for a honey-sweet territory that his brothers were eyeing.

Of course, it’s perfectly natural for medieval royalty to secure territory, but getting such a good territory for free is.

No different from stirring up trouble yourself.

The original John, who got territory by whining to his father, was unnecessarily checked by his brothers and lost public sentiment.

But I, Safe John.

Rather, I chose a small territory and accepted French talent.

While thinking that.

“I will give you Ireland.”

I even received Ireland from my father, Henry II.

“Then what about Mortain?”

“That’s naturally your territory.”

So, I’m becoming the owner of Ireland?

But I can’t just be happy right now.

Does that mean I have more than two territories?

“I’m still… lacking in ability.”

“I told your brothers. Since it’s a rebellious island anyway, they willingly agreed to give it to you.”

The Clare family.

It’s a family that holds considerable territory in Ireland.

“The Clare family isn’t a great family in terms of territory and power, but you can say they are good warlords.”

My father, who was vague, said.

“Ireland is a territory prepared for you.”

“Haha.”

I just chuckled,

but what’s really surprising is my father’s next words.

“Ah… and, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

Upon hearing my father’s words.

I was shocked.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, it’s the ‘stakes’ I won in a bet with the Holy Roman Emperor.”

I.

Changed history.

What on earth,

did I do?

Of course, that’s another matter.

Now, I need to play innocent.

“Your Majesty, this achievement is solely due to Your Majesty and my brothers. Ireland is too much to handle, so please don’t pass this bitter cup to me.”

I’m in the safe zone.

**

-Aquitaine Territory, England-

The rumors spreading from England reached the ears of the princes.

Prince John, the Earl of Mortain, who conquered the fierce Ireland in one fell swoop,

[All glory belongs to my great father and my brothers, who are masterminds themselves. Mortain is enough for me, and Ireland is for my brothers.]

Because the rumor that he said that spread.

“Our John, how can he be so cute?”

The young King Henry smiled.

From the standpoint of the eldest son, it didn’t matter much even if John’s reputation spread.

Unlike other threatening brothers,

Prince John was rather a reassuring brother.

Especially in the last meeting, he suddenly tested John, but John maintained the attitude of a ‘vassal’ on his own.

“Elder brother, I hope Philip comes to his senses this time. He thinks he’s using us. But aren’t we the ones using him?”

“Geoffrey, that’s not wrong.”

“Duke John of Ireland.”

Is he a duke now?

Anyway, they were already princes who had the title of duke and the skills to match the title.

For that reason, the news that John became a ‘duke’ itself didn’t sound threatening.

“I have the same thought as my brother.”

Richard, who directly taught John swordsmanship in his childhood, also believed that John would not harbor ambition.

If he had ambition, he would have aimed for a female heir with fertile territory, not the Clare family.

But John chose an ambiguous family,

and seeing that, the brothers came to think of John as just a cute youngest brother.

However, the third brother, Geoffrey, had a completely different thought from his brothers.

The insidious third brother, Geoffrey, thought that there were absolutely no kind-hearted royals in this world.

“Brothers, my thoughts are different.”

“….!”

At Geoffrey’s words, the brothers’ gazes moved.

“I hate Philip in Paris, but I can’t completely deny his words.”

With that, Geoffrey showed Philip II’s letter to him.

As befits the Middle Ages.

There was a vague introduction of respecting peace between France and England.

But the main content of the letter sent by Philip II was simple.

[John is the same person as the young Henry II during the Duke of Anjou era. If you don’t be wary of his current weak appearance, Geoffrey, you will be the one to suffer.]

That’s what it said!

The first and second princes who read the letter reacted.

“Geoffrey, I hope you haven’t been fooled by Philip’s obvious attempt to drive a wedge between us.”

“…. I don’t know.”

“I’m not saying we should unconditionally check the docile youngest. John needs a test.”

“A test?”

“I’m curious what kind of test it is.”

Geoffrey, reading his brothers’ curiosity, said.

“Send him a very upright and ambitious young priest like the second Thomas Becket…”

**

-Mortain Territory-

While Prince John was playing the role of ‘Prince’s Return’ in London.

Anyway, in the peaceful territory of Mortain.

John’s wife and John’s trusted confidant,

were drinking warm milk and talking.

“Does the Countess want a trial?”

“I wonder?”

Peter.

He is one of King John’s wise confidants.

Although several fortunes overlapped,

Peter was a capable person who revived the Mortain territory, which was as thin as a winter tree, into a lush green.

Of course, to get to this point,

there was his half-brother, King John, who was one year older than him, who cherished and supported him.

But, as capable as he is, he knows how to see the unseen side.

The financial state of the Mortain territory was unusual.

The financial state, which was like an oak barrel with wine leaking everywhere from the beginning,

was suspiciously good.

No matter how much King John gave up luxury as a lord and poured in all the money he had,

It was incomprehensible that the financial state had improved.

“I don’t know if the Clare family hid a secret, or if the Countess hid a secret.”

“Why should I tell you, a vassal, the ‘truth’?”

“I am the bedrock that exists for the great history of the Prince.”

He unfolded parchment in front of Mary, who was vague.

Written on it were material evidence containing various circumstances.

“Oh my, you must be busy with territory matters, when did you prepare this?”

“The important thing is not how I found out about the flow of funds, but the identity of the Countess who has this much ‘financial power,’ isn’t it? First of all, I know that the Countess is not a real heiress of the Clare family.”

“Hmm, my identity won’t be a threat to John. If it’s Peter, who is tight-lipped and loyal, I might tell him my identity.”

At that time,

Peter, looking at Mary, showed a sharp look and said.

“I’ve changed my mind. I won’t ask about the Countess’s identity anymore.”

“…”

Peter’s unexpected words.

“Oh, what’s the reason?”

“There are no eternal secrets in the world, but I don’t want my relationship with the Prince to be strained because I found out about the Countess’s identity.”

“Can you trust me?”

“From the moment the Countess accepted King John’s marriage, I thought she would never betray him.”

“Hoh hoh hoh.”

Mary looked at Peter and burst into laughter.

Mary had been watching Peter, who was the most loyal to King John among the illegitimate children born to Henry II, for over a year.

Would Peter, who might have the unique inferiority complex of a European illegitimate child,

harm his lord, John, whom he serves?

Would he use him?

Mary had many concerns.

But as far as she had observed.

Peter never betrays John.

Aside from being a political community of destiny,

If Peter wasn’t a loyal vassal.

She might have used a slightly extreme measure.

But Peter was a loyal vassal.

Especially today, seeing him say that he would not reveal Mary’s identity for King John’s sake,

Mary came to fully believe in Peter’s loyalty.

“Peter. I have something to tell you.”

“As I said before, I’m not interested in the Countess’s identity.”

Then Mary picked up a pen and drew a picture on the parchment.

“It’s not my identity, but I can give you a hint, right? I’ll show you ‘part’ of our family crest.”

After a while, Peter, who saw the picture Mary drew, was speechless for a moment.

He said with an awkward expression.

“I can think of several families. Whichever family it is, you have a really great lineage. The Clare family hid such a precious person.”

“Well, it’s useless. It’s not my family anymore.”

“But doesn’t the Countess secretly use the power of her family?”

‘The mistress was hiding such an identity.’

Peter shuddered.

Even if Mary was born into the lineage of any of the families he had expected, King John.

Because he had a wife with special blood.

**

Now, in the Papal States of Italy (the Pope’s territory),

Another history was about to unfold.

As a result of the Third Lateran Council,

a new pope could only be elected with the votes of more than two-thirds.

And the one who rose to the papacy as a result of the vote,

was the second English cardinal in history.

It was impossible with the political calculations laid out in the Vatican, but several cardinals succumbed to England’s pressure and temptation.

Even if they were English, they could not ignore the achievements that Thomas Becket had made as a servant of the Lord.

Thus,

The English sage who would not have existed in the first place.

did not die thanks to Prince John,

became a cardinal thanks to Prince John a while ago,

and became the new pope today thanks to Henry II, who loved Prince John.

The new Pope Thomas Becket,

chose the name Pius II.

Because Pius (Pius, the merciful one) was the result he had reached in his long religious life.

Of course, that mercy,

was to be done quite calculatedly,

and Pius II had that much power.

Because the pope of medieval Europe at the end of the 12th century was such an existence.

“John…”

He thought of his secular disciple at one time.

Perhaps he would not have become pope without John.

-Ding, ding.

With the sound of the bell,

The sunlight of Rome shone brilliantly.

Became a Duke (2)