The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 205

[Episode 205, The End]

[England. Or rather, Great John, revered as the father of the great British Empire, wished to be called Safe John until the very end. Why did he desire that title with such ambiguous origins? It was because he genuinely wanted England to be safe. Of course, neighboring countries that were wary of Safe John at the time might not have felt the same way. ‘Cardinal Mazarin—Grand John, the Father of the British Empire—Part 2’]

[In my childhood, during a moment of crisis when my life was threatened, I saw the diary left by Safe John. And through it, I was able to learn a great deal. ‘Louis the Great—The Dream of Safe Louis—Part 2’]

* * *

—Kingdom of France—

The foreign power most interested in England in this world is undoubtedly the Kingdom of France.

Historically and politically, it has always been the first to scrutinize England whenever it showed suspicious movements.

Perhaps because of this, the young King Louis VIII of France was surprised to hear the news of the large-scale withdrawal of the English legions.

“What? The English army is returning quietly?”

He was hearing unexpected news.

“Yes, Your Majesty. They have already reported to the Vatican and are formally carrying out the withdrawal operation.”

Upon hearing the confirmation, Louis VIII was at a loss.

“Unbelievable… they’re already pulling out their troops.”

Louis VIII had expected England, like a jackal, to participate in the pillaging of the Holy Mongol Empire. It was the natural course of events. He had heard through intelligence that the main force of the Holy Mongol Empire had already left Persia.

But he never expected these English fellows to withdraw so gentlemanly, so out of character. France, too, had decided to participate in the great pillaging under the excellent pretext of ‘revenge’ against the Holy Mongol Empire.

However, it was highly questionable that only England was refusing this great pillaging with such a good cause and was returning home.

‘Could England be up to something?’

France, which had its western territories snatched away by Henry II, was not a superpower on the level of the Eastern Roman Empire or the Holy Roman Empire.

With England as its ‘arch-enemy,’ it could not concentrate on pillaging with peace of mind. Sufficient preparation was necessary.

After careful consideration, Louis VIII made a decision.

“Recall only half of our legions.”

The vassal of France looked at his young monarch and asked.

“…What is the matter, Your Majesty?”

“England wouldn’t do anything crazy like attacking France without cause, but I have a bad feeling.”

If the deceased Philip II had heard warnings about England from the late King Louis VII, especially negative remarks about Henry II, Louis VIII had grown up listening to his father, Philip II, say that Safe John was by no means easy to deal with.

Everything has its meaning.

Although King John still calls himself Safe John and boasts that he is safer than anyone else in the world ‘if no one touches him,’ who knows when he might turn into Dangerous John the moment the Kingdom of France falters.

Moreover, Louis VIII was worried about something else.

“Aren’t there those everywhere who think I am not as good as my father and have other ideas?”

“Your Majesty, what do you mean?”

“I must visit Safe John.”

* * *

—England, Rouen—

A letter came to Godfrey, who had passed through the Holy Roman Empire. Fortunately, there were no traitors. Of course, that letter should not be interpreted literally.

It was true that there was no one ‘immediately’ planning a rebellion. However, commanders are those who lead armies. Therefore, they are also those who can have second thoughts at any time and may harbor dire thoughts, so they must always be kept in check.

Although most of them are our people, including Godfrey, the Earl of Hartford, and Charles, could nobles who have bet everything on ‘rebellion’ suddenly cross the ‘Rubicon’ [a point of no return]?

‘Still, they wouldn’t think of doing that. Look at how much I’ve experienced.’

I had watched my brothers and mother plot against my father in my childhood, suppressed rebellions many times since my days as a lord, and won countless victories in civil wars, so I was always prepared for the worst.

Of course, to prepare for any potential ‘traitors,’ I had to meet with one of the commanders.

“Can you move now?”

“Have I ever not been in England?”

“To be honest, I don’t know if you are a knight of England or a knight of the Angevin lands.”

“Henry II already made a contract to make me a vassal of the one who won the civil war. Don’t you know that? Contracts are very sacred.”

If the Earl of Hartford is the ultimate greatsword of England that I think of, then the nobleman William Marshal in front of me could be called the musket of England.

Frankly, both Richard and I thought of William Marshal as a commander to be used only in situations where we were ‘defending.’

Not because he was incompetent, but because he was too competent.

You can’t carelessly use a sharp sword, a sword that you might get hurt using. Richard was confident enough to use him as a commander during the civil war, but I didn’t have that confidence.

‘Especially you, King John, you messed things up because you couldn’t handle William Marshal properly.’

[Ahem, that… wasn’t my true intention. It was because of the treacherous subjects.]

How pathetic, John.

Anyway, I put on a serious expression and said to William.

“I fear that a situation so urgent that you have to move might come.”

“Surely there won’t be such a situation now?”

The situation I am talking about is, of course, the great festival of rebellions in England, like the folk games of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Will England truly be peaceful? Amidst the numerous potential threats, such as the Albigensians [a heretical Christian sect], a heretical sect with a considerable history, as well as the stirrings of the nobles.

“Don’t worry. I will continue to fight for Your Majesty as the shield of England. Isn’t that why Your Majesty cherishes me?”

‘To be precise, I treated William Marshal’s family and acquaintances well. I also liked that he was a neutral party.’

“I will follow Your Majesty’s will. I will cooperate with Lord Robin to deal with all the hidden traitors.”

“Thank you, Lord William. I trust only in you.”

Like Admiral Yi Sun-sin of Joseon [a famous Korean admiral], Napoleon Bonaparte of France, and Caesar of Rome, there were ‘cheat keys’ in every era. To me, William Marshal was such a cheat key.

“I have completed the sacred command.”

And a few days later.

William Marshal brought prisoners for public execution and severed heads.

* * *

After William Marshal’s great search was over, and time passed again, the English army returned amidst the cheers of the people.

The first commander I greeted warmly was not Godfrey, but Longspée.

“Lord Longspée, you have returned safely.”

“Your Majesty, I have returned.”

“Now you will become the greatest general. You have returned alive from that hell.”

“It was difficult. But I do not regret going to dangerous places for the kingdom of Safe John.”

Yes, Longspée, I must use you wisely. Become a loyal steward to me and my son.

Thus, the forces that participated in the Crusades returned. And I called Prince James.

“Son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I am playing the role of Philip. The power I have accumulated will be used by you and your son William.”

“Does that mean…”

“Make the most of the legacy I pass on. In your own way.”

Like King Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, I will lay the foundation, so go crazy after ascending the throne.

The king and the crown prince are sometimes rivals while being father and son. Originally, at this point, I had to test my son.

“But before that, I want to be the crown prince for a long time.”

Looking at this, it seems there is no need to test him.

“Are you going to exploit your father?”

“Yes.”

Because he was a calculating subject, but overly honest when necessary.

* * *

After the English army returned and time passed again, I heard unexpected news.

“The monarch of the Kingdom of France has requested a meeting.”

“Louis VIII?”

The King of France wants to meet me. I didn’t understand. Why? Why at this point?

‘Louis VIII is also a cunning person like his father and grandfather.’

The handsome King of France, with his luscious blond hair and blue eyes, the typical appearance of a Germanic royal, came to me directly.

He got straight to the point with a simple greeting.

“I have come to discuss the marriage of my sister. My sister seems to like Prince Louis.”

‘Is he trying to put me off guard?’

Louis VIII’s sister is the daughter of Philip II. She is considered the most beautiful woman in France at the time. Suddenly, that woman wants my youngest son?

“What are you thinking?”

“I want to have someone with the same name as me as my brother-in-law.”

Louis and Louis are derived from the same name, so it’s not wrong. What he’s saying now seems like a pun.

“I don’t think King Louis came here to make such light jokes.”

“Didn’t Safe John use the power of England to appease or pressure neighboring countries to carry out ‘marriage’ policies?”

“What are you saying?”

“There is a vacant title of a great French noble, and I want to pass that position to Louis. As the respected Safe John already knows, my political base is very weak.”

“…”

[This is interesting. To bring in a foreign prince as a noble to check other nobles.]

When I thought about why he had such a crazy idea, the answer came to me.

According to the news, the Kingdom of France also summoned its troops back to the homeland. Is he doing this because he is afraid that the nobles who have made achievements in the war will cross the line?

Well, there are hunters who eat hunting dogs after the rabbit hunt is over, but there are also hunters who are torn to death by frenzied hunting dogs after the rabbit hunt is over.

“Ha…”

Louis VIII left. And the French king’s marriage proposal was known throughout Europe.

Perhaps thanks to that? A few days later, I saw something I didn’t want to see.

—Ting-a-ling.

“Many years ago,

In a kingdom by the sea

Lived a girl you may or may not know.

Her name is Elizabeth—

She refused to love me and be loved by me, but it was for a heartbreaking reason~”

This petty thief singing a plagiarized song.

Similar to me proposing to Princess Agnes. The problem was his status. That guy is Prince Manuel of the Eastern Roman Empire and Agnes’s eldest son.

Is Empress Agnes taking revenge on me right now?

* * *

—August 25, 1227—

Time passed again.

My wife and sons were doing well, and my grandchildren were also doing well.

The first son, James, became a perfect and obedient crown prince.

The second son, Carlos, became the crown prince of Spain thanks to marrying his cousin, a princess.

The third son, Louis, married the French princess Henriette and became the Grand Duke of Lorraine, a great French noble.

And my only daughter, Elizabeth, married a rogue and became the Crown Princess of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Well, the children are now grown up and in plausible positions.

As my children came of age and enjoyed their respective positions, I became an old man. Perhaps because it is the Middle Ages, aging seemed to be faster.

“Is it time for me to become the Duke of Brittany as well?”

Just as Henry II became the Duke of Brittany, I also decided to take off the crown.

“Father…”

James had a difficult expression, but I knew very well that it was not because he was in trouble, but because he wanted to exploit me more.

“Now do everything you want. Your era has come.”

But it is already decided. There is no eternal throne. My body was not in good condition these days, and my son’s aides were about to run out of patience. Now was the right time.

So I passed on the throne.

“Mary.”

“John.”

“You have accomplished so much.”

“Mary, it’s all thanks to you.”

“Shall we take it easy now?”

Mary was still beautiful, and I was getting older and older. It is a moment when time becomes a little scary.

Time passed again. And my title changed as a sign of respect.

[He is called Great John, not Safe John.]

‘It must be an empty name.’

[I don’t know if he is being humble or self-deprecating.]

‘It could be both.’

Then the ghost opened his eyes wide.

[He has come. You and my brother.]

‘Well, if I had to make a comparison, it would be the difference in parallel worlds, but he is our brother.’

It’s Geoffrey, the former lord of Jerusalem.

“Brother…”

“John…”

Seeing Geoffrey as an old man.

[The person who died earlier in my previous life is alive and well here.]

Even King John seems to be filled with emotion. Of course, I also felt touched.

“The world is peaceful.”

Geoffrey looked at me and mentioned that the world is peaceful.

“It is peaceful…”

Of course, I lightly agreed. Then, a story that was not at all peaceful came out of Geoffrey’s mouth.

“I’m saying this now, but to be honest… even when we were fighting the civil war, I never thought you would spare me, John.”

“Do you think I am that kind of person?”

“I felt the threat of assassination, and I thought your landing forces might come.”

“Was that so?”

“That’s how losers are. They have to live in fear that the winner might issue an execution order at any time.”

Old Geoffrey’s expression is ugly. It’s because he looks full of regret.

“Then why didn’t you win?”

“That was the problem. I shouldn’t have challenged you and Richard in the first place.”

I said to Geoffrey, who was full of regret.

“Brother Geoffrey.”

“…Why?”

I raised the corners of my mouth and said to such Geoffrey.

“Brother Geoffrey, do you remember? The first words you said to me when you first saw me were [John… no, Lackland. I am your brother.]?”

“That… was it?”

I felt good at the sight of the old man panicking.

“Those are the first words you said to me.”

“How can I remember that? You were definitely a baby back then.”

“Are you senile? How could I, as a newborn, understand your words?”

“Ha… this is the fate of the loser.”

“Well… let’s drink some milk together.”

“Milk? Not beer or wine.”

As I got older, I became someone who wanted to share milk with Geoffrey, whom I wanted to kill, and in the sky, I saw a heavy, falling red sunset.

The end.

The Angevin family, which had already done things like a makjang drama [Korean term for over-the-top drama] to the limit, did not feel like a dysfunctional family.

It’s an old thought.

[Old thought or whatever, I want to rest in peace.]

This is the ghost’s thought.

* * *

—1715, Rouen Palace—

Time has passed.

About 450 years have passed since Safe John and King John rested in God’s blessing.

The Angevin-Bourbon dynasty, which rules the British Empire, was now in crisis.

After the death of the Sun King [Louis XIV of France], who had the largest territory since James the Great. The man who became the new emperor was too young. The reason was that the entire family of the crown prince and crown prince’s son had died in an epidemic a few years ago.

Anyway, Louis-Anjou ascended to the throne at the young age of 7. He had no choice but to be swayed by numerous nobles and officials, and he just watched instead of helping the collateral imperial family.

However, under the education of his father, who was the crown prince in his childhood, he had a sense of responsibility and intelligence that did not suit the age of five.

“I… must not falter.”

He faced reality, saying words that were difficult for a mere seven-year-old to say.

Right now, at this moment.

[I was the youngest prince of a dysfunctional family. Unlike my other brothers, I was the youngest and had no abilities.]

I came to read the diary left by Safe John. Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried while reading it.

And the next day.

“Duke of Bouillon, I want to drink milk. I need to grow taller, like my ancestors.”

Louis, who would be called the Great Emperor in the future, began to look for milk.

Because a great monarch must be tall.

** The youngest prince of a dysfunctional family END **