The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 185

185. The Red Eagle (1)

Short skirmishes aren’t exclusive to the East. In the West, grand duels between knights were also quite famous.

Temujin’s massive spear clashed against Richard’s heavy halberd.

-Clang.

A tremendous sonic boom erupted.

‘Interesting… so this is the strength of a large Westerner?’

Temujin registered the impact with a satisfied expression. He felt a pleasant tingle.

‘I didn’t know there were Easterners like this.’

Richard also felt a thrill. It had been a long time since he’d experienced such a powerful impact.

He had been on many battlefields throughout his life, but people with such strength were rare even in Europe.

Both men thought the world was indeed vast.

-Clang.

They clashed again without a word.

-Neigh.

-Neigh.

The strongest warhorses in the world also sized each other up, engaging in a battle of wills.

“Are you the Lionheart?”

Fluent Latin.

The Great Emperor of the East, Temujin, had already learned several foreign languages while conquering the West. He was well aware of how useful Latin was in Europe.

‘For an Easterner to speak such fluent Latin… it’s quite surprising.’

Richard was amazed. He hadn’t expected Temujin to speak Latin so perfectly.

The Eastern knight, Ak Bul-hoe, was also quite good at Latin, but his pronunciation wasn’t as polished as Temujin’s.

For someone in their position to learn a Western language…

But he didn’t mind. It meant they could communicate.

“Yes, I am Richard.”

-Clang.

Once again, spear and halberd collided. The impact was truly weighty.

Temujin also seemed surprised that there was such a warrior in the West.

Though a Mongol, Temujin was more skilled with a spear than a bow.

Already regarded by the Han Chinese as a warrior surpassing ‘Hang Jeok’ [a legendary heroic figure], Temujin had never met a warrior who could withstand his attack head-on.

‘Is this the one who will be my match?’

-Clang.

Neither of them landed a single effective hit.

As outstanding heroes often do, they recognized each other’s strength and decided to reveal their true intentions.

“I want to end this war by taking your head.”

“I feel the same. I want to kill the descendant of Attila for the peace of Europe.”

But both of them knew.

They couldn’t afford to continue their duel leisurely while the battle raged on around them.

Their weapons were aimed at each other, but their eyes and ears were focused on the battlefield.

What is a duel in the first place?

It is to enhance one’s honor by facing a worthy opponent.

And in ancient times, duels between tribal chiefs aimed to unite tribes under a single leader.

Of course, times have changed. In the Middle Ages, the rulers of nations were well aware that they were the center of their countries.

The conversation continued, punctuated by the sounds of battle.

-Clang.

“What is your purpose?”

To Richard’s question.

“World conquest!”

Temujin replied.

World conquest.

It was truly an arrogant declaration.

“Hahahaha, yes, it has to be that much.”

Richard I was the war leader of England, tasked with stopping the Mongol invasion in other countries. Wasn’t he risking his life on the battlefield because of the Eastern emperor before him?

“Richard, was it? You are like a wild beast. I will hunt you down.”

The outcome was not easily decided.

As is often the case with the world’s strongest warriors, their contest would be decided by a hair’s breadth. Since neither of them was letting their guard down, the outcome was uncertain.

Clang.

Sparks flew as their weapons collided.

* * *

Those watching this duel were truly thrilled.

“Long live Richard I!”

“The Great Emperor will defeat the Westerner!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

It was only natural that the heat of the battlefield intensified.

How could the blood of men not boil when the leaders of two mighty forces clashed in a duel with spears and halberds?

Though times had changed and gunpowder weapons were partially introduced, it was still a time of romance in the Middle Ages, where cold weapons were the main force.

“Die, you heretic.”

-Thwack.

However, there was someone who wasn’t happy while cutting down Mongols.

“Do they not even see me?”

“Your Majesty….”

It was King Philip II of France.

He complained to Count Blois, his close aide.

Philip II, who had suddenly become an extra in this grand drama, was annoyed. Even if Richard I was the de facto commander-in-chief, he was still the King of France. Wasn’t this treatment a bit too much?

-Clang.

However, after hearing the deafening noise of the duel, Philip II decided to accept reality.

“But I can’t fight that recklessly. I have to admit his strength is impressive.”

Of course, Philip II didn’t want to fight like that. As the ruler of France, he had to cherish his life. There were moments when he had to show courage, but this wasn’t one of them.

‘Louis, I miss you’ [referring to his deceased father, Louis VII].

-Clang.

-Clang.

The two leaders were still exchanging blows at the front.

But the battle continued.

“Don’t be afraid of the enemy.”

“Ugh… he’s going to give me a headache again.”

The Count of Champagne observed the battlefield with a weary expression.

He knew his lord liked duels, but a duel with the enemy commander from the East…

Of course, he knew the reason well.

It was to boost morale.

Most of the English army were not forcibly conscripted but were mercenaries who fought for a salary to make a living.

The army was quite exhausted from marching to Poland, so he knew that such a heated duel was necessary to invigorate them.

Now that his lord had stepped forward, he had to give orders.

“The 2nd Cavalry Brigade will neutralize the enemy’s artillery.”

At the command of the Count of Champagne, who was waving his baton, the cavalry began to charge.

-Thud thud thud.

“Longbowmen, cover fire!”

-Phew.

The Count of Champagne, watching the scene of the battlefield where arrows rained down and cavalry charged, thought.

“Now… it’s time for them to step up.”

The red eagle had to spread its wings.

* * *

-Eastern Roman Empire, Holy Palace-

Alexios II drank a glass of wine from Athens.

“Good….”

He was relieving stress with wine and thinking about the empire.

‘If the neutrals hadn’t sided with me when my sister rebelled… I would already be dead.’

The Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Alexios II, was sensitive to rebellions because he had faced one early in his reign.

If it were the unstable Eastern Roman Empire of the past, it might have already suffered successive rebellions. The folk game of the Eastern Roman Empire was to occupy Constantinople and drown the emperor [a common occurrence in their history].

Just in case, he carefully scrutinized the governors. He had already made extensive preparations to purge them if they gave him even a slight excuse.

But not a single one of them had the absurd idea of starting a rebellion.

So the emperor asked the imperial chancellor.

“Why are there no rebellions?”

“Isn’t it because those who start rebellions are immediately eliminated?”

At the chancellor’s words, the emperor said with a regretful expression, wondering what he was thinking.

“It would have been a really great opportunity.”

“To Your Majesty?”

The emperor made a regretful expression, so the imperial chancellor spoke cautiously, and the emperor said with a smile.

“I just want to stabilize the country properly like Safe Zone [John I of England], that guy.”

The fact that John I had seized all sorts of justifications and purged the nobles was already well known in the Eastern Roman Empire.

“So, how is our great army doing?”

“There are no problems with the army either. Supplies, morale, and ‘pride’ are all complete. The governors of each theme [administrative division] do not have absurd thoughts because of Your Majesty’s army!”

“We must let the world know with our strength. The true Rome, I mean.”

The Eastern Roman Empire, having perfectly integrated Anatolia and the other acquired territories, reorganized its army once again, and completed its armament, was confident.

The world calls it the Eastern Roman Empire, but in their opinion, there is only one true Roman Empire. Although they had to receive help like the Third Crusade, they gave diplomatic rhetoric, saying, ‘It seems you are also Rome.’

But now it’s different.

How can we allow those rootless Germanic things to use the name of the Roman Empire? They are just the successors of the Frankish Empire.

The true Rome is here in Constantinople, where the successor of the great Constantine is. And Alexios II, the owner of this place, believed that he would be able to assert that claim without having to defer to others.

“Zenon, who went to the Papal States, has returned.”

At the news that the special envoy sent to the Papal States had arrived, Alexios II said.

“Let him in.”

Not long after, Zenon, who had gone to the Papal States as a special envoy, entered.

“I greet Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Enough with the formalities. So, what did the Pope say?”

The reason Zenon was sent to the Papal States was to secure cooperation from the West. To be precise, it was for a religious-diplomatic agreement in response to the invasion of ‘heretics’ [referring to the Mongols].

“He said he would give our empire as much convenience as possible.”

With those words, Zenon showed the emperor the diplomatic document he had prepared.

“Such a great achievement. Of course, the Archbishop of Rome would not be so cooperative… is it England again?”

“That’s right. Amiar, the special envoy sent to the Papal States by John I of England, offered us convenience and requested that this letter be delivered to Your Majesty.”

“England…”

Now, all of England’s diplomacy is moving under the hand of John I. The Eastern Roman Empire knows that well.

He had the experience of visiting London directly as a child, and he had many contacts with John during the Crusades.

“For now, you may leave.”

The emperor, who had been thinking about various things alone in his office for a while, moved to the emperor’s secret chamber.

Then, he called the head of the Ministry of Immigration, the intelligence agency of the Eastern Roman Empire, and said nonchalantly.

“Bring my sister.”

“I understand.”

As the head of the Ministry of Immigration left, Alexios II muttered.

“It’s been a while since I’ve talked to my family.”

Not long after, a woman entered the emperor’s secret chamber.

She opened her mouth with a bitter face to her younger brother, whom she used to look down on.

“So, my brother, what is the reason for calling your miserably old sister?”

“I just wanted to see you.”

Thanks to the failed rebellion, Maria, who had lost her husband and subordinate nobles, was still a beauty with her unique charm.

She was bitter that she had to come out whenever her brother called her.

‘My situation has become so miserable. Still, should I be satisfied that my nose and eyes are intact and that I am still alive?’

Originally, she should have been executed or suffered ‘physical defects’ such as having her nose or eyes removed, but it was the emperor, her younger brother, who stopped it. But Maria wasn’t necessarily happy with her situation like a bird in a cage.

Whether he knew Maria’s heart or not, the emperor said with an indifferent face.

“Didn’t you secretly want me to call you, sister?”

“Ha… my siblings are really scary. So, why did you call me?”

“There is something I want my sister to help with.”

“I can do anything except fight Anna.”

“It’s not that, it’s something else.”

Alexios II is a ruler who has adapted to his ‘Roman Empire.’

“This is a personal letter from our ‘brother-in-law.'”

Alexios II handed the letter from Safe Zone (John I) to his sister and added.

“Isn’t it interesting? This is England.”

Princess Maria slowly read the letter sent by John I.

Soon, she said with a bitter expression.

“I see… so Anna chose England.”

* * *

-Throughout Eastern Europe-

The Eastern Roman Empire tried to wage war independently.

This is because it is a way to demonstrate the empire’s strength to the people in its vast territory.

To recreate the glory of the Emperor Basil or the Great Justinian in the very distant past, they had to show their greatness with their own power rather than relying on other countries.

So, the great army of the Eastern Roman Empire advanced to face the enemies with its own strength.

“Be careful of ambushes, and launch a full-scale attack when enemies are discovered. Deploy the prepared gunpowder weapons as planned.”

“Yes, General.”

The commander who gave the order went to the rear and showed courtesy to another man and said.

“Your Excellency, I have ordered the operation.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Constefanos, the Grand General of the Eastern Roman Empire, looked at the battlefield far away.

The flag with the wolf and the cross.

It is the flag of the Holy Mongol Empire.

And.

[Jamukha]

A flag in Greek clearly showed the enemy commander’s name.

He already knew through intelligence reports that Jamukha was the chancellor of the Holy Mongol Empire, Temujin’s right-hand man, and a cunning commander.

But now, the red eagle in the name of ‘Rome’ was with them.

“We must protect our Roman Empire.”

“All-out charge!”

-Thud thud thud thud.

Now is the time to spread those wings.

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