The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 194

[John I (2)]

-England, Capital Rouen-

The fact that the Holy Mongol Empire was able to grasp the situation in Europe and ravage the European forces in Poland was due to the betrayal of fellow Europeans.

This fact has long been spread throughout Europe.

Some people referred to this incident as:

‘An insidious betrayal.’

A similar theory arose, reminiscent of the claim that ‘Jews’ and ‘Communists’ were to blame for the country’s downfall in the defeated nations after World War I.

The Albigensians [a Gnostic religious movement that flourished in Southern France in the 12th and 13th centuries], hiding in their shadows, are more hateful and terrifying than the distant Mongols.

This was the sentiment of the European people.

“Everyone is starting to move.”

Robin said in response to my words.

“Wouldn’t they feel the need to rectify the situation now, even belatedly?”

Europe was in a state of belatedly fixing the barn after losing the cow [taking action after a loss that should have been prevented], reassessing European security. They began to hunt down Albigensians or those associated with them.

“Yes, that’s why everyone is confused now.”

The Albigensian hunt put everyone under suspicion: the nobles who hunted together yesterday, the friendly merchants, and even the serfs who seemed only capable of farming.

However, I did not immediately start hunting Albigensians. I wanted the root cause.

‘That’s why I invested a lot of money in the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct investigations. And I got decent results.’

Today, as the Central Intelligence Agency finished its investigation, the silence is over.

A mountain of documents as high as a small hill. The information uncovered by the Central Intelligence Agency detailed how the Albigensians’ atrocities were carried out.

Whether in the Middle Ages or modern times, money ultimately commands people and makes difficult things possible. Thanks to that, I couldn’t enjoy healthy luxuries for a while, but I can enjoy luxuries later.

‘I was surprised to receive a shocking letter from the Eastern Roman Empire, but this might be even more shocking.’

The story that Maria, who would have been my sister-in-law, was alive and captured by the Eastern Roman Emperor, becoming a bird in a cage [a person held captive], was not as shocking as the current state of the Albigensians hiding in England.

There is no result without a cause in this world. And that cause is not simple.

After reviewing the information obtained by the Central Intelligence Agency, I could understand.

The tragedy in Poland is not simply a collaboration between the Albigensians and the Mongols. It’s a problem mixed with more complex factors.

‘The real traitors were the nobles of the Holy Roman Empire who sheltered the Albigensians.’

The Holy Roman Empire, after the death of Friedrich, a hero of the era, was shaken.

In the first place, the civil war between Crown Prince Heinrich and Otto was an event that arose from such chaos.

The Holy Roman Empire seemed peaceful on the surface after the civil war ended, but the vassals under Crown Prince Heinrich were too aggrieved.

Just as the Germans swallowed their resentment after being defeated in World War I, the pro-Crown Prince nobles said that all of this was because of ‘England’ and began to think about getting back at England.

That was the Albigensians who were biding their time in southern France, and the North German merchants who suffered losses due to trade between Poland and England joined them.

That was the real ’cause’ of the insidious betrayal.

“Your Majesty, have you confirmed it?”

“I have confirmed it very well.”

I confirmed it.

The only fortunate thing is that,

In the southern French territories occupied by our England, there are fewer Albigensians than expected.

Rather, they left for the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. It’s fortunate for us.

“Lord Robin, Duke Robin of Norfolk… Thanks to your diligent investigation, I was able to obtain high-quality information. Thank you very much.”

“As much as Your Majesty trusts me, I have only done my best.”

Robin.

A figure who opposed King John in legends.

A figure presumed to be one of the nobles who opposed King John in actual history.

His forte is archery, but in my opinion, what he does best is catching the bad guys hiding in the shadows. The real-life Robin I experienced would have done well as a prosecutor or police officer if he had been born in the future.

After Robin left, I opened the door and looked at the scenery outside.

“Beautiful.”

I looked at the red sunset.

The scenery of Rouen, which Richard had made the capital, was not bad today either.

I know why my brother made this place the capital.

It wasn’t because the scenery was beautiful, but because of legitimacy.

‘In the first place, this was the base of William the Conqueror, and my brother’s identity was on the French side.’

Right then.

-Ding, ding, ding.

The Angelus [a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation] rang.

The same afternoon as usual.

A quiet time to think about the end of the day, but I didn’t have the same feeling as usual.

I need to think about what to do next.

‘Now I need to have a coronation.’

All revenge must be thorough.

But before that, I had to hold a coronation to reaffirm my authority. Even if it was held modestly, I had to show everyone that I was the ruler of England, not the Duke of Aquitaine.

After finishing that thought, I thought about the adversary.

‘After the enthronement, how should I bring down the Mongols?’

The Holy Mongol Empire. This era’s superpower, wearing the guise of Christianity, is not invincible.

I know the limits of the Mongols because I am a person who was reincarnated from the future into the Middle Ages.

‘Temujin’s sons’

‘The subjugated ruled class’

And even ‘the disputes among Temujin’s vassals.’

There is no perfect empire, and the larger it gets, the more gaps there will be.

The good news is that the Mongols did not conquer the entire vast territory of India.

‘In the first place, what they conquered was a part of North India. Of course, developed North India will soon be India, but India is ultimately a country of local lords.

After finishing that thought, I called the new Count of Champagne.

“Your Majesty, my father passed away honorably.”

Pierre, the son of the late Count of Champagne, Henri, said indifferently.

“My coronation will be a place to show my will for revenge for my brother. Do you trust me, the new Count of Champagne?”

“I will give everything I have. Not as an oath for the coronation, but as a sincere oath.”

He answered me with a resolute attitude.

It’s a very satisfactory answer.

“I accept your oath of allegiance, so please leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

A few days later.

I drank wine with Mary, who had a hard time comforting my sister-in-law.

“I heard you gained the loyalty of the Count of Champagne, that’s good. To gain a new vassal like this.”

“In fact, the Count of Champagne is a friend who will serve James, not me.”

Of course, I will use that child in politics, but I felt that that child’s era would come later, not now.

“By the way, how can someone who wants revenge have such an indifferent expression?”

“Queen, revenge must be done with a cold heart. Like you.”

I said, showing the letter from the Eastern Roman Empire in the drawer.

“A cold heart… That’s a good saying. Well, I couldn’t kill that bitch Maria, but I took everything else away from her. I couldn’t cut off her nose or gouge out her eyes…”

I laughed at my wife’s words.

As expected, the Eastern Romans were ruthless.

* * *

It wasn’t just the rulers of Europe who were harmed by the Albigensians. Even the nobles in Europe who had not contacted the Albigensians launched an Albigensian hunt.

“Albigensians, those vile bastards!”

The nobles were also furious at the Albigensians’ behavior. As educated people, the nobles knew very well that the moment they were involved with the Albigensians, it would be the end of their lives.

“Our King has been angered.”

“It’s unbelievable that such people were hiding in the shadows of our England.”

The expression of the Earl of Oxford was not good. No matter how good his relationship with the royal family was, he did not forget that he was also a proud English noble.

“There aren’t any Albigensians related to our people, right? It would be very difficult for me if there were.”

Someone said in response to the Earl of Oxford’s question.

“Your Excellency, such a person can never be in our shadow.”

“That’s a relief. That’s really a relief.”

The vassals smiled gently as they looked at the Earl of Oxford. And they had pride.

Their lord already knew everything, but he was showing off like that. But they didn’t dislike such showing off.

“Didn’t the Earl of Oxford and the late Earl of Oxford reject suspicious people?”

“Because you never know when suspicious people will become my weakness. That means you are all verified people.”

Becoming the head of a faction, the most important thing is to hide my own weaknesses. Sometimes, ‘weaknesses’ could become subordinates to politicians. The Earl of Oxford was talking about that point.

“I heard that the only King of England is preparing for a coronation soon,”

“A coronation… But isn’t His Majesty’s political base in Aquitaine?”

The Earl of Oxford, hearing the vassals chattering like that, said.

“It is common sense for the ruler of England to hold the enthronement ceremony in London. Would His Majesty, who was born in Britain, not know the symbolism of London?”

England was a truly strange country.

Both the royal family and the nobles held their bases in both Britain and southern France.

But they all knew one thing.

No matter how much they changed the capital to Rouen, the enthronement ceremony should always be held in London.

* * *

-England, London-

Westminster Abbey (Catholic temple).

That is the place of coronation that the Anglo-Saxon ruler desires.

I simplified the coronation and eliminated the after-party hunting or banquets.

After my brother’s tragic death, I didn’t want to enjoy unnecessary luxuries for the sake of the coronation.

The nobles knew my feelings and didn’t have any particular resistance.

Above all, isn’t it wartime now?

I will save the cost of the coronation ceremony and give that money to the priests of London, and under Robin’s supervision, I will provide large-scale relief.

After a few simplified steps, the old Archbishop of Canterbury asked me.

“Do you swear to govern the territories and people you have been entrusted with as the master of Britain, Ireland, and southern France, in accordance with the law and tradition?”

“I solemnly swear.”

“Do you swear to execute fair law and justice?”

“I solemnly swear.”

“Do you swear, as Christ’s representative, to respect the church, not forget the gospel, and to nurture and prosper the people?”

“I solemnly swear.”

-O God, the crown of the faithful, bless our calling to you, and our King, as you do today, may you crown his head with a crown of pure gold.

-Therefore, enrich the kingdom with your abundant grace, and crown him with all kingly virtues through our Lord, the eternal Jesus Christ. Amen.

After the hymn ended, the Bishop of Canterbury placed ‘William’s Crown’ on my head.

Now I was the undisputed master of England.

“I, Duke of Norfolk…”

A noble of the old era.

“I, Earl of Oxford…”

A noble of the same era.

“I, Count of Champagne…”

A noble of the later era.

-We offer everything to the noble representative of Christ and the ruler of England, and enrich the kingdom with our lives and faith.

The three nobles came forward and pledged allegiance in unison.

And I said with a benevolent face.

“I accept your loyalty.”

After the religious-political coronation ended.

I decided to show myself to the people as a sole ruler, not a co-ruler, and reveal my aspirations to them in a firm voice.

I said, breathing deeply.

“Listen to the people.”

“I have never abandoned London even once. So from now on, my title is John I!”

The title John I in Angevin was a slightly embellished title to distinguish Richard and me, who had English titles.

Now that I have become the definite King John, I reversed the method of the title. And it contained my hidden intention.

‘Never neglect Britain.’

The people who noticed what I was saying began to praise me with open arms.

“Long live John I!”

“Long live England!”

“Long live!”

Now.

I am England.

< John I (3)] >